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Reverse Engineering tools. Helpful for ECWolf?

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 0:25
by filipetolhuizen
Hello,
I ran into a few reverse engineering websites lately and I was wondering if they could be helpful for supporting the games that had their source code lost. I tried the corridor 7 executable on one of them and it gave me a lot of assembly code. Since I don't understand much programming I had no idea on what to do next. Whenever you start to work on these titles, is it better to rely on these tools or doing it all from scratch? (of course you have already acomplished a lot and there is much shared between the games).

Re: Reverse Engineering tools. Helpful for ECWolf?

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 1:26
by Blzut3
I already have Corridor 7 mapped out in IDA Free. If the tools you found are not IDA, then sure link them and I'll see if it's anything interesting, but for the most part I'm set as far as the games go (although there's still grind work to do).

Re: Reverse Engineering tools. Helpful for ECWolf?

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 2:24
by filipetolhuizen
Wow, you're quick! I used ODA to try the C7 exe. This is their site: http://www2.onlinedisassembler.com/odaweb/

Re: Reverse Engineering tools. Helpful for ECWolf?

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 2:34
by Blzut3
Kind of interesting, but doesn't even scratch the surface of IDA Free's capabilities. I do like that it provides a reference for what instructions do, but that's about all it does from what I can tell.

Re: Reverse Engineering tools. Helpful for ECWolf?

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 3:29
by filipetolhuizen
Yes it's limited but it's still in beta, so it might improve in time...

Re: Reverse Engineering tools. Helpful for ECWolf?

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 0:44
by filipetolhuizen
But anyway, with what you've done so far, is it possible to compile a Win32 C7 exe already? I'd be glad to test it when possible.

Re: Reverse Engineering tools. Helpful for ECWolf?

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 1:34
by Blzut3
Mapped out in a disassembler means that for any given behavior I can pretty much track down the function in question and analyze the code. I also have what should be a complete listing of the animation frames and stuff like that as well. By "grind work" I mean I need to get with someone familiar with the game so that sprite names can be assigned and the actor states can be translated to DECORATE.

Re: Reverse Engineering tools. Helpful for ECWolf?

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 5:03
by filipetolhuizen
You may wish to contact KBW. He has some connections with the extinct Capstone. His contact wanted to release the source code but realized it has been lost.

Re: Reverse Engineering tools. Helpful for ECWolf?

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 13:44
by Blzut3
His contact is Les Bird IIRC whom I've been in contact with. I do intend to get into contact with KBW, but I don't really have a reason to until Blake Stone and Mac Wolf are completed. The grind work could be done now, but it will be some time before the game gets supported by the engine proper.

Re: Reverse Engineering tools. Helpful for ECWolf?

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 15:51
by filipetolhuizen
Great! Looking forward for AoG and Mac Wolf, too.