[PS1, 1998] Bomberman Wars - BOMB.BIN and BOMB.IDX extraction

[Shiruba]

This is a turn-based strategy game in the Bomberman series for the PS1 and Saturn. All the files are in this BOMB.BIN except the videos and voices which are in .str and .xa like most PS1 games. BOMB.BIN seems to contain all the binary data and BOMB.IDX seems to be the index files table but I'm not experienced enough in reverse engineering to understand this .IDX file. I guess a BMS script should be enough. (I managed to extract the sfx by looking for .vag audio files in BOMB.BIN so the file doesn't seem to be encrypted).

I've also attached "SLPS_013.47" and "SYSTEM.CNF" in the zip file but they shouldn't be of any use.

bomberman-wars-files.zip

Edited June 15 by Shiruba
but looking -> by looking

[ikskoks]

Try this:
https://github.com/bartlomiejduda/Tools/blob/master/NEW Tools/Bomberman Wars/Bomberman_Wars_BIN_IDX_script.bms

[Ukysseus]

Hi, sorry I've never done this before, but I'm also looking for Bomberman Wars sfx and some of the sprites. I managed to get the .xa voice clips and the 4 video files, then used the bms file (Thanks a lot ikskoks! :) ) to extract the BOMB.BIN and .IDX but I end up with a lot of .BIN/BIN1/BIN0/UPA files that I don't know how to open. Do you have any advice on what tool to use? 

[ikskoks]

BIN files are textures, you can see that for example "FIRE.BIN" is a 8-bit spritesheet of fire animation:

 

And here's "WATER.BIN" file:


Another BIN file:

 

And here's one of the BIN1 files:

 

 

But I have no idea what's inside UPA files. They seem to be completely custom.

[Ukysseus]

Wow thank you so much! I didn't know about ImageHeat. Those textures are some of the ones I've been looking for! I tried to use ImageHeat but I'm still struggling with getting the right size and colors.. Like for example with that GIAB_MV_L (Giant Black Move Left) spritesheet. I also can't see any of the .vag files Shiruba was talking about for the sfx, is that normal? 

[ikskoks]

3 hours ago, Ukysseus said:

Like for example with that GIAB_MV_L (Giant Black Move Left) spritesheet.

Seems to be 8-bit 190x54 image

About the colors - ImageHeat doesn't currently support indexed images and those images that you're looking for probably use external palette files which are those:


So you can wait for some time until images with palette will be supported by ImageHeat or you can try to use other tools to load palettes.

3 hours ago, Ukysseus said:

I also can't see any of the .vag files Shiruba was talking about for the sfx, is that normal? 

I think that he meant those audio files:
 - BGM.VH and BGM.VB
 - SE.VH and SE.VB

which are standard VAB Audio files that can be played in Foobar2000 with vgmstream plugin.

[Ukysseus]

Thanks again! The audio files work on Foobar2000! Strangely looks like it's still missing some sfx and most of the tracks are 11 seconds noise, I wonder if that's just how it is in the files or if I've done something wrong.

I don't know any tool that would load those .PAL files with the .bin sprites, so I'll just wait patiently for a palette support update.

Edited November 20 by Ukysseus

[ikskoks]

On 11/20/2024 at 10:44 PM, Ukysseus said:

I don't know any tool that would load those .PAL files with the .bin sprites, so I'll just wait patiently for a palette support update.

Hi. PAL support has been added. You can try to match colors using palette files:

[Ukysseus]

Hi, yes I just saw that it's great! How do you know which Pixel Format/Pal.Offset/.PAL file to use? I'm almost getting the correct colors but I'm not sure what's wrong.

EDIT: I think I got one right! (using 2nd Pal file). But the black background mixes with the sprite. Do you know if we can choose to only change the background color?

Edited November 28 by Ukysseus

[ikskoks]

On 11/28/2024 at 9:33 PM, Ukysseus said:

How do you know which Pixel Format/Pal.Offset/.PAL file to use?

Guessing 😄 And some experience in finding graphics.

 

On 11/28/2024 at 9:33 PM, Ukysseus said:

But the black background mixes with the sprite. Do you know if we can choose to only change the background color?

You can choose one of the formats supporting alpha channel ("A" instead of "X" in the name).
When you export the file and open it in GIMP, you could insert any background you want.

[Ukysseus]

Haha I see thanks!

The only format that gives the correct colors is PAL8_XBGR1555. PAL8_RGB5A3 Is the only format with an A that gets pretty close but Red and Blue are inverted... 

Seems like I should need a sort of "PAL8_BGR5A3" but I can't find it. Does this format even exist?

Edited December 1 by Ukysseus

[ikskoks]

On 12/1/2024 at 5:03 PM, Ukysseus said:

Does this format even exist?

Send me the file from your last comment and I'll see what I can do. 🙂 

If you have more files that need this new format, send them as well.