1How to use the original game assets?
2------------------------------------
3
4Openage currently depends on the original game assets, so you need a copy of the *original AoE II or AoE II: HD*. If you use *AoE II: HD*, make sure it is on patch level 4.3. You have a few options.
5
6* You may use [Wine](https://www.winehq.org/) to run Steam for Windows.
7* You can trick Steam for Linux/Mac into downloading the Windows game assets [with a game manifest file](https://gist.github.com/paulirish/758f262379092ff2910a).
8  1. Save the below code to **`appmanifest_221380.acf`**
9  2. Place the file in your steamapps folder, typically found in `~/.steam/steam/SteamApps` or `~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps`
10  3. Restart Steam after placing the file
11
12```json
13    "AppState"
14    {
15      "AppID"  "221380"
16      "Universe" "1"
17      "installdir" "Age2HD"
18      "StateFlags" "1026"
19    }
20```
21* Alternatively, you may download the game assets using [SteamCMD](https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD).
22  1. Install SteamCMD by following the instructions on [Valve's developer wiki](https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD).
23  2. Download the assets with the following command (replacing `USERNAME` and `ASSET_DIR` as appropriate):
24
25`./steamcmd.sh +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows +login USERNAME +force_install_dir ASSET_DIR +app_update 221380 validate +quit`
26
27In the future, using installation disks may be supported.
28
29## Conversion
30
31The original AoE:TC game asset formats are, lets say, "special", so they need to be converted in order to be usable from openage.
32That conversion is performed by the openage.convert python module when the game is run for the first time.
33
34The game will ask for your AoE II installation folder; examples include:
35
36    ~/.wine-age/drive_c/programs/ms-games/aoe2
37    /var/run/media/windisk/Program Files (x86)/Steam/SteamApps/common/Age2HD
38    ~/.steam/steam/SteamApps/common/Age2HD
39    ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common/Age2HD
40
41You will find the converted files in `assets/converted`.
42
43The version of openage that the media files were converted with is written to `assets/converted/asset_version`.
44Delete that file to trigger a full reconversion.
45