Dreaded data.arc

[Arty Dragon]

I want to extract character models from Chaotic: Shadow Warriors and I'm looking at the files in Dolphin and there's this file, data.arc. Besides that, there's system files and movie files, so I'm assuming all of the models is in data.arc. This kind of contradicts the tutorials I've read on extracting arc files where all the game's assets are just listed out for you to pick and choose. I've tried a few arc extractors but they don't recognize the file as an archive. I also read that different companies use different versions of the arc format, or something. I dunno- I'm new to this model extracting thing. I'm used to 3d Ripper dx printscreen-like functionality, but I want the characters in the T-pose.

So... how do I open up data.arc?

Edit: Oh, and I mean the Wii version of Chaotic: Shadow Warriors.

[Friedslick6]

Hmm, okay. According to John2k4 at the Smash World forums, none of the .arc extractors from U8 tools worked on the archive, and neither did ntcompress.exe. Me or someone else may be able to recognise the compression type If you opened the archive with a hex editor, copied the header from it and posted that in a reply.

You do have alternatives, though obviously not as conventional. You could try using 3DVia Printscreen or GameAssassin to obtain unposed models rips from the game, and then import them into 3D Studio Max with the appropriate plugin. You could also use Cheat Engine or a similar program to find and null the animation addresses of models within Dolphin, allowing you to obtain those models unposed with any compatible model capturing method. I should advice that you don't use 3D Ripper DX for Dolphin however, as it incorrectly captures model dimensions.

[John2k4]

I've got that data.arc file still, and here's the info on it:

965MB
NTCompress (New & Old versions) both failed to unpack
U8Tool (I tried 3 different ones) failed to unpack

Some Hex

I was going to memory dump it, but haven't got that process set up quite right yet.

I did a memory dump, and the game appears to be using .DSP files. No sign of any MDL0 files. :/

Spoiler

[Friedslick6]

I'm pretty sure .DSP files are music streams, readable with Winamp's in_cube plugin.

[John2k4]

I'm not sure then, but I did a few searches for MDL0, and got nowhere. :/
--

Dumped it again, and searched a lot more. Here's what I've got:
Still No trace of MDL0.




Some not pictured: .SKIN, .SHD

[Arty Dragon]

So there hasn't really been any success on extracting models from data.arc? I downloaded a hex editor and opened the file up. Some mind blowing stuff I'm seeing. I don't know what to make of anything lol.

I should advice that you don't use 3D Ripper DX for Dolphin however, as it incorrectly captures model dimensions.

Yeah, I'm familiar with that model distortion from using 3d Ripper dx with Dolphin. Dunno why I continue to deal with it lol. I usually try to correct it by scaling along an axis by a factor of 1.5 or 2 but it doesn't always look perfect.

[John2k4]

I memory dumped the game, and if it isn't using MDL0-format models, then I don't think you'd even be able to capture them...but I have not yet tried GameAssassin or 3D Ripper DX.