[SOLVED] Modding GameMaker Pro titles? (Ultimate Racing 2D, specifically)

[blackkeys1098]

I just got a pretty fun simple game (Ultimate Racing 2D) from Steam and have some simple tweaks I want to make to it. Car color changes, AI driver names, etc. Nothing too complicated.

The problem I'm finding is that I can't properly open, let alone edit, the data files. Primarily "data.win". I've used notepad++ which opened it but displayed scrambled code, which is aggravating since GameMaker Pro is coded using C++. All the same, any recommended program I've tried doesn't recognize the file.

The game is pretty simple. There's the main application file "ultimate_racing_2d.exe" along with "options.ini", "steam_api.dll", "sound_menu_music.ogg", and of course "data.win".

All other files are for the track sprites in PNG format.

I'm not sure if GameMaker finalizes the titles in way specifically designed to discourage modding but I really want to try if it's at least possible. I'm also not sure if I can edit the game using GameMaker (if I got it).

Can anyone shed some light on this for me? If I can successfully mod this game, I'd be happy to put it in the steam workshop!

 

[USAFRet]

Yes, the vast majority of games are not trivially modifiable.

A lot of game publishers have exposed the code, or an engine, or a modding interface to do that.
If not...then YOU have to do a whole lot of hex editing. This is not point and click easy.

 

[blackkeys1098]

Yes, the vast majority of games are not trivially modifiable.

A lot of game publishers have exposed the code, or an engine, or a modding interface to do that.
If not...then YOU have to do a whole lot of hex editing. This is not point and click easy.

I'm coming to that same conclusion. Is there any way to at least read the code though? Someone suggested Visual Foxpro but so far that hasn't brought up anything.

 

[USAFRet]

Whatever person you know that suggested Visual Foxpro for this should never be listened to, for anything more complex than a pencil.
That is NOT the tool for this.
(Speaking as a former VFP developer)

To 'read the code', you'd need to get the original source code. You can't directly read the compiled thing that is distributed in the game.

 

[blackkeys1098]

Whatever person you know that suggested Visual Foxpro for this should never be listened to, for anything more complex than a pencil.
That is NOT the tool for this.
(Speaking as a former VFP developer)

To 'read the code', you'd need to get the original source code. You can't directly read the compiled thing that is distributed in the game.

Damn. That sucks but thank you anyway!