The Patchotron
| Developer(s) | xtraverse |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 2003-04-28 |
| Development status | Finished |
| Platform | Windows XP, 7-10 |
| Tool Type | Text Editor |
| Engine(s) | Keen:Vorticons, Keen:Galaxy |
| Download | The Patchotron v.1.4.b newest Mirror |
The Patchotron is a patching tool to be used with CKPatch created by xtraverse in 2003. It makes text patching easier but also allows you to change file extensions and cheats with relative ease.
For a more up to date tool check The Neural Stunner
Description
The Patchotron is a tool, which patches the executables of the original Keen Games.
CkPatch works with:
- Keen 1: 1.1 and 1.31
- Keen 2: 1.0 and 1.31
- Keen 3: 1.0 and 1.31
- Keen 4: 1.4
- Keen 5: 1.4
- Keen 6: 1.0 and 1.4
The Patchotron makes patch files read by CKPatch in an easy, user-friendly way, without the tedious work of finding offsets and such in a hex editor. This is Version 1.4b and does have basic support for Keen Galaxy.
Usage
To start, select the Keen game and version you want to patch and click OK. You'll be directed to a screen with a typing area on the right and an array of buttons on the left.
Purpose of Buttons
| Button | Explanation |
|---|---|
| NEW | Clears the text area to start a new patch file. |
| OPEN | Opens an existing patch file |
| SAVE | Saves your patch file and creates a batch file
of the same name that will run CKPatch with your patch file as an argument. |
| Patch Button | Explanation |
|---|---|
| MENU | Goes to the respective screen that allows you to |
| STATUS SCREEN | change each line of text in the respective part |
| ABOUT ID... | of the game. One pressing OK, it will return to |
| ORDERINFO | the editing screen and the code will be automatically |
| FINALE | put in at the top of the document. (1-3) |
| Patch Button | Explanation |
|---|---|
| HINTS | Allows you to change the text displayed when touching a yorp/garg statue in Keen 1 or frozen Vorticon in Keen 2. |
| BWB MESSAGES | Allows you to change any of the four random messages you see in Keen3 if you try to enter your BWB. |
| FILES | Allows you to change the name of the respective file. Very useful for mods so that people can run the original game by going to the game exe or your mod by going to your batch file. |
| HIGH SCORE ENTRIES | Changes the defualt high score entries (Yorpy, Gargile and Zzapp!). |
| CHEATS | Allows you to change the text displayed when using either the God Mode or C-T-Space cheats. Also allows you to change the keypresses used to activate a cheat. Compatible Keys: |
| CUSTOM PATCH | If you have an offset you know and want to patch some text there, this will let you do that. |
| PATCHFILE | If you have an offset you know and want to patch a file there, this will let you do that. |
| VERSION | Adds a header to define version-specific patches (this has never seemed to work properly for me in CKPatch). |
| ABORT/STOP | Adds the respective command. |
| DUMP | Adds a command that lets you choose a file to dump the memory into. |
| LEVEL NAMES | Allows you to change the names of levels in 4-6. |
| LEVEL ENTRY TEXTS | Allows you to change the text displayed upon entering a level in 4-6. |
| OTHER | Other useful patches that don't fit into the above categories. |
See Also
- The Neural Stunner (another patching utility)
- Galaxy Tools
- Patching Tutorial (by Levellass)
- Index of all Patches