PAL (Dark Reign)
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| + | {{FormatInfo | ||
| + | |formattype=electronic | ||
| + | |subcat=Graphics | ||
| + | |extensions={{ext|pal}} | ||
| + | }} | ||
A '''.pal''' is a palette format used by the real-time strategy game [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Reign:_The_Future_of_War Dark Reign]. | A '''.pal''' is a palette format used by the real-time strategy game [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Reign:_The_Future_of_War Dark Reign]. | ||
| − | Each of the game's terrains has an associated '''.pal''' file. Dark Reign comes with the following | + | Each of the game's [[TIL (Dark Reign)|terrains]] has an associated '''.pal''' file. |
| + | |||
| + | = Terrains = | ||
| + | |||
| + | Dark Reign comes with the following terrains: | ||
* BARREN | * BARREN | ||
| Line 21: | Line 30: | ||
! Notes | ! Notes | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Signature | + | | style="white-space: nowrap;" | Signature |
| − | | <code> | + | | "<code>PALS</code>" |
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Version | + | | style="white-space: nowrap;" | Version |
| <code>0x0102</code> | | <code>0x0102</code> | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | | style="white-space: nowrap;" | Primary palette |
| <code>bytes[768]</code> | | <code>bytes[768]</code> | ||
| Stored as RGB planes | | Stored as RGB planes | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Dimmed palette | + | | style="white-space: nowrap;" | Dimmed palette |
| <code>bytes[768]</code> | | <code>bytes[768]</code> | ||
| Stored as RGB planes. The purpose of this palette is unknown, but assumed to be the dimmed palette that is used when the game is running but left idle. | | Stored as RGB planes. The purpose of this palette is unknown, but assumed to be the dimmed palette that is used when the game is running but left idle. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Unknown chunks | + | | style="white-space: nowrap;" | Unknown chunks (1) |
| <code>bytes[32768]</code> | | <code>bytes[32768]</code> | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Unknown data | + | | Unknown data (2) |
| All remaining bytes up until the shading tables (last 147,456 bytes of the file) | | All remaining bytes up until the shading tables (last 147,456 bytes of the file) | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Shading tables | + | | style="white-space: nowrap;" | Shading tables |
| <code>bytes[147456]</code> | | <code>bytes[147456]</code> | ||
| | | | ||
|} | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Primary and dimmed palettes == | ||
| + | |||
| + | The palette entries in the '''primary''' and '''dimmed''' palettes are store as red, green, and blue planes: | ||
| + | |||
| + | * The first 256 bytes are the red components in order, the next 256 are the green components, etc. | ||
| + | * Each component is stored in 6-bits (0-63) and will need to be multiplied by 4 to map to the range 0-255. | ||
| + | * Index 0 is always transparent. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The index of the colors within the palettes are important: | ||
| + | |||
| + | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| + | ! Purpose | ||
| + | ! Range | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | Unit palette | ||
| + | | 0-159 and 255 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[TIL (Dark Reign)|Terrain]] palette | ||
| + | | 160-254 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | Team remapping colors (for game units) | ||
| + | | 32-39 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | Team 0 | ||
| + | | 48-55 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | Team 1 | ||
| + | | 40-47 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | Team 2 | ||
| + | | 64-71 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | Team 3 | ||
| + | | 56-63 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | Team 4 | ||
| + | | 72-79 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | Team 5 | ||
| + | | 80-87 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | Team 6 | ||
| + | | 88-95 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | Team 7 | ||
| + | | 32-39 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | User definable | ||
| + | | 96-159 | ||
| + | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Unknown chunks (1) == | ||
| + | |||
| + | * The '''Unknown chunks''' appears to be 32 (or 33) chunks of 1,024 bytes, representing what appears to be a non-looping animation of 32x32 pixel images. | ||
| + | * These chunks do not appear to use the palettes. | ||
| + | * These chunks are different for each palette. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Unknown data (2) == | ||
| + | |||
| + | The '''Unknown data''' is all of the data from the end of the '''Unknown chunks''' up until the start of the '''Shading tables'''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * The purpose of this data is not known, but might be compressed using the same RLE method used by the game's [[SPR (Dark Reign)|sprites]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Shading tables == | ||
| + | |||
| + | The '''shading tables''' comprise 192 chunks each of 768 bytes totaling 14,7456 bytes. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Each chunk appears to be the primary palette mixed 50% with another color, and each byte is an index back to the original palette of a color which most closely matches the color after the blend. It is not know what colors are being blended, or their purpose. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Palettes]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Game data files]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Dark Reign (Game)]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:11, 2 August 2023
A .pal is a palette format used by the real-time strategy game Dark Reign.
Each of the game's terrains has an associated .pal file.
Contents |
[edit] Terrains
Dark Reign comes with the following terrains:
- BARREN
- SNOW
- JUNGLE
- ASTEROID1
- AUSTRALIA1
- VOLCANIC1
- ALIEN2
- These terrains were add-ons released by the developer, Auran, after the game launch.
- This terrain was included in the expansion Dark Reign: Rise of the Shadowhand but also released separately after the game launch.
[edit] Structure
| Variable | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Signature | "PALS"
|
|
| Version | 0x0102
|
|
| Primary palette | bytes[768]
|
Stored as RGB planes |
| Dimmed palette | bytes[768]
|
Stored as RGB planes. The purpose of this palette is unknown, but assumed to be the dimmed palette that is used when the game is running but left idle. |
| Unknown chunks (1) | bytes[32768]
|
|
| Unknown data (2) | All remaining bytes up until the shading tables (last 147,456 bytes of the file) | |
| Shading tables | bytes[147456]
|
[edit] Primary and dimmed palettes
The palette entries in the primary and dimmed palettes are store as red, green, and blue planes:
- The first 256 bytes are the red components in order, the next 256 are the green components, etc.
- Each component is stored in 6-bits (0-63) and will need to be multiplied by 4 to map to the range 0-255.
- Index 0 is always transparent.
The index of the colors within the palettes are important:
| Purpose | Range |
|---|---|
| Unit palette | 0-159 and 255 |
| Terrain palette | 160-254 |
| Team remapping colors (for game units) | 32-39 |
| Team 0 | 48-55 |
| Team 1 | 40-47 |
| Team 2 | 64-71 |
| Team 3 | 56-63 |
| Team 4 | 72-79 |
| Team 5 | 80-87 |
| Team 6 | 88-95 |
| Team 7 | 32-39 |
| User definable | 96-159 |
[edit] Unknown chunks (1)
- The Unknown chunks appears to be 32 (or 33) chunks of 1,024 bytes, representing what appears to be a non-looping animation of 32x32 pixel images.
- These chunks do not appear to use the palettes.
- These chunks are different for each palette.
[edit] Unknown data (2)
The Unknown data is all of the data from the end of the Unknown chunks up until the start of the Shading tables.
- The purpose of this data is not known, but might be compressed using the same RLE method used by the game's sprites.
[edit] Shading tables
The shading tables comprise 192 chunks each of 768 bytes totaling 14,7456 bytes.
Each chunk appears to be the primary palette mixed 50% with another color, and each byte is an index back to the original palette of a color which most closely matches the color after the blend. It is not know what colors are being blended, or their purpose.
