How do I read .mbm (Multi BitMap) files?

[moondog]

Here's the deal. Back in 1997 a game came out called Chain of Command dealing with squad combat around Normandy. It is a multiplayer type game that was designed by a development group from Israel. The company went belly up in 2 years and allowed anyone that wanted to, to keep hosting the game. There are guys in the group of those who play that have been able to change the maps around ... mostly hit and miss for them. However, none of us has been able to change the files that contain the soldiers as they are contained in .mbm (Multi BitMap) files.

I have found out from some of the guys at the All About Symbian forums that these are NOT Symbian .mbm files so I need help finding out WHAT they are and WHAT PROGRAM I can use to open them. Finding this out would also make things easier on the map guys, so it's not just for me.

Now, it makes sense that these are .mbm (Multi Bitmap) files as there are NO files in the folders or on the server that are any other type of well known graphic. From what I've been able to gather, these files are compressed files. When I installed a couple of the programs recommended by the guys at All About Symbian the "icons" for the .mbm files changed to "unknown" to "winrar" looking. However WinRar doesn't open them. Winzip doesn't open them either.

dog

[v0id]

You cannot be sure that it's some compressed file, or that there's applications for opening such files. Maybe it the Israel development group developed their own file for the game, which almost all development teams does - not only for games, but for everything else too. They does that, so people like you can't change, or read the content. However, I don't know if that's how it works with your files, but I think so.

How is the content of the file, if you're simply open it by an texteditor? Can you read some of it, or is it just a messy file. Anyways, it's a ---- job to find out how the structure is in the files, so my recommendation would be, that you should try to find some of the people in the old Israel development team, and ask them for it. Or if there's some documentation about the game, or such - read it.

[moondog]

You cannot be sure that it's some compressed file, or that there's applications for opening such files. Maybe it the Israel development group developed their own file for the game, which almost all development teams does - not only for games, but for everything else too. They does that, so people like you can't change, or read the content. However, I don't know if that's how it works with your files, but I think so.

How is the content of the file, if you're simply open it by an texteditor? Can
you read some of it, or is it just a messy file. Anyways, it's a ---- job to find out how the structure is in the files, so my recommendation would be, that you should try to find some of the people in the old Israel development team, and ask them for it. Or if there's some documentation about the game, or such - read it.

Actually I can be about 90 to 95% certain that the files I'm talking about ARE compressed image/graphic files. It is the ONLY thing that makes sense as there are NO other "graphic" type files anywhere. Also the size of the file adds to my certainty, but if I get proved wrong that is fine.

However, the rest of your response might be true as well. I have no idea if there is a specific application for opening, that's why I came to you guys. I agree with you that it could be a file specific to the development team, which is why we/I are trying here. The development team no longer exists and none of us has had any contact with them since they abandoned the game to a couple of our more prominent game players.

The content of the files are something I can read but not necessarily understand, but it does look like the files reference specific .bmp files that are NOT a part of the files kept either on the server OR each player's PC. This again supports my theory that the files I need to figure out are Multi BitMap files of some sort. The only documentation mentions nothing about game specifics that might help.

I could post one of the files here if that would help ... that or post a link to one that I have uploaded to a page.

dog

[v0id]

It would be nice, if we could see one of the files, though I don't know if that would help - but you never know. I found this link, but I don't know if it helps you. It was everything I could come up with right know.

File Extension .MBM Details

[moondog]

I would have put it in the initial message of this thread, but wanted to make sure it was okay to do so first. Here is one of them. Just in case I didn't attach it correctly or it was not accepted due to file format ... I have also put a link to where I have it hosted.

LINK

Let me know if you can't get either one.

dog

[v0id]

I'm not able to download the file from your page.
Are you sure you did upload it correct?

[moondog]

I attached the file as a link and for some reason the browsers are "guessing" the .mbm file is some kind of page and it can't find THAT page. I have zipped the file using Winzip and there doesn't seem to be any problem now. Let me know if you still have one.

LINK

[moondog]

I see no one has stepped up to help answer this question in a while .... does this one have people stumped or should I be asking this in a different forum altogether?

Suggestions Please!