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MPQDraft Eases Modding of Blizzard Games
1:54 PM | Sean Smith | Comment on this story
On Wednesday, we noted the release of a Mac-compatible ".mpq" distribution of version 1.7 of the V&K Middle Earth Mod for Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, along with instructions for the mod's installation. The cross-platform MPQ format is used not only by Diablo II and its expansion pack, but also by Starcraft, also from Blizzard Entertainment. The many third-party modifications (or "mods") packaged in this format generally run well on the Mac, providing a wealth of new gameplay for the Mac gamer who doesn't mind a bit of tedious file shuffling and renaming and who is careful not to forget which mod is installed. Now, Jean-Francois Roy of MacStorm has alerted us to a Mac utility currently in development called MPQDraft designed to ease the process of loading third-party MPQ mods, and he has provided a demonstration using the V&K Middle Earth Mod: This is to let you know I have created a program that transforms MPQ patches for Blizzard games into self-executing patches that will load and unload themselves automatically.I have created such a Self-Executing MPQ (SEMPQ) for the Middle-Earth mod. It is compatible with Mac OS 8.6 up to 10.1 (using CarbonLib on Classic) and works with Diablo II classic and Diablo II X (includes the expansion). It's quite simple to use: download the file, extract it, then launch the extracted application. The first time it is run, it will ask you to locate the Diablo II application, after which Diablo II will launch (with the patch loaded). Subsequent runs won't ask you to locate the application unless it has moved. When Diablo II quits, the SEMPQ will unload the patch and then quit, leaving you with a clean copy of the game. The program used to create SEMPQs is called MPQDraft and is compatible with Mac OS 8.6 up to 10.1 (using CarbonLib). It supports Starcraft, StarEdit as well as Diablo II. It is currently in beta stage. To download the self-executing MPQ of the V&K Middle Earth Mod, or the MPQDraft application used to create it, use the links below. As MPQDraft is currently in beta testing, readers should exercise caution when using any SEMPQs made with it: back up your characters first. As always, be sure to strip your Diablo II characters of any Set and Unique items before using them with any mod.(As noted on Wednesday, this latest version of the Middle Earth Mod requires an English or German version of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction 1.09d, and will not work with classic Diablo II, earlier versions of Lord of Destruction, or versions localized for other languages.)
 IMG News: Mac Version of Diablo II Middle-Earth Mod
 Diablo II (add to watch list)
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction (add to watch list)
StarCraft (add to watch list)
 MGF: MPQDraft 1.0.0b5r2 (2.5 MB)
VK Middle Earth 1.7 SEMPQ for Lord of Destruction (4 MB)
 Buy Diablo II
Recent Mac Games News Wednesday, May 15, 2002
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