Ripping from High Voltage Software games?

[SpongeBat1]

I want to rip the models from the Billy and Mandy game (so I can post them on VG Resource/check for any unused content to put on TCRF) but I can't find where the models are actually stored in the game's files. There's a file called "graphics.jam" but JAM files refer to programming and Noesis can't read them. Kids Next Door Operation VIDEOGAME uses a similar file format, and I assume other games by High Voltage do as well.

Does anyone more well-versed in ripping games know what file format they might use?

[SpongeBat1]

Okay, I've managed to extract the files from some of the JAM files (in this case, Billy.JAM) using QuickBMS, and while I still can't find anything that will read them, after digging around in Notepad++, I think I at least know what all the different files are actually for:

• .coo (coordinate/animation database)
  
• .emi (emitter files)
  
• .gro (group/box bounding geometry)
  
• .isv (geometry files - maybe)
  
• .gra (graph files, though these just appear to be databases for where the resources are loaded from)
  
• .mes (mesh files)
  
• .num (vfx/particle files)
  
• .rot (coordinate and animation files? According to most file extension websites this is the format Homeworld 2 by Sierra uses for its graphics, so it's possible they might share the same engine/format, though I doubt it)
  
• .seg (seems to refer to "segments" of the character, might be the bone file)
  
• .sha (shaders/textures)
  
• .sou (sound database)
  
• .sta (material files)
  
• .sur (surface texture)
  
• .tex (texture database)
  
• .wei ("weights", though it seems to actually refer to characters' mouths and eyes)
  

However, I'm at a loss for some of the other included file types: .ban (apparently "bank files", though I don't know what for), .dat (trying to open most of them in Notepad just gives me unreadable garbage), and .hvs (according to Google .hvs is used for 3D printers, so there's a slight chance they might be models or some other file relating to them).

If anyone would like to poke around the files I have them zipped here (sorry for all of them being "0000021" or whatever, but that's the name QuickBMS gave them): http://www.mediafire.com/file/yvawvoa215...m.zip/file

As a closing note, someone was able to rip models from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was made by High Voltage, so there definitely has to be some way to get the models from their other games.

EDIT: Found more possible filetypes. Unfortunately at this rate it looks like the only way to get anything out of this game is to just straight-up learn programming. 

[SpongeBat1]

I'm back. Going through the PS2 version's files with Dragon Unpacker has been MUCH more successful. Unfortunately I still can't find out just where the hell the models are, but I might have found the textures/other images. I think they might be stored as .PGG, .PKA, and .PNT files, considering Notepad++ gives me nothing but garbage when opening them. Unfortunately I can't find anything about these file formats online other than .PNT, which is a MacPaint file, but I don't have a Mac and I doubt I'd be able to open it anyway.

The GCN version uses TPLs, which is the standard GameCube/Wii image format. Unfortunately, almost every single TPL editor online is only compatible with Mario Kart Wii and can't read any other TPL.

Anyone? Please?

[Simpsons Dumper]

(edit: seems inserting emojis into this website doesn't work, even if it gives the illusion that it did work until the page is refreshed)

Stop using Notepad++ for this. Use a hex editor to view binary files and see if there's a file header in the first few bytes - this can give a better clue than file extensions.

[SpongeBat1]

?

Stop using Notepad++ for this. Use a hex editor to view binary files and see if there's a file header in the first few bytes - this can give a better clue than file extensions.

Well, I poked around in some files a bit. I didn't find any file signatures associated with graphics, but the filetypes I mentioned all start with "HVSIPNT", "HVSIPGG", and "HVSIPKA", so I'm assuming that's the header for those files. The "HVS" probably stands for High Voltage Software, but other than that I'm still at a loss.

[SpongeBat1]

I'm convinced that every single file this game uses is some custom-made format created by High Voltage and can only be opened by High Voltage. I'm convinced I will never get anything out of this game other than a few TGAs and audio that uses the standard PS2 format. And clearly none of you care or want to help me, so I guess it's all a lost cause.

It also doesn't help that High Voltage Software can't even keep whatever file format they use consistent across their games.

Screw High Voltage Software. I hope they go bankrupt and/or get bought out in a hostile takeover by Activision or EA.

[SpongeBat1]

If anyone would like to poke around the files I have them zipped here (sorry for all of them being "0000021" or whatever, but that's the name QuickBMS gave them): http://www.mediafire.com/file/yvawvoa215...m.zip/file

The billy.jam.zip file has not .mes file.

What does that even mean?

---

Well, I've at least found out that the characters' minor grunts (i.e. getting hurt, attacking, on fire) are in .SBA files like I thought. If I use Audacity to import the raw data with VOX ADPCM encoding I can hear it, but the problem is it's drowned out by loud static.