W3 replays - version conflicts

ApexMirage

I'm trying to watch an old replay, and the game won't let me because the version it was 'filmed' on is not compatible. I apparently can't google for my life, as I found nothing relevant to help me with this.

Is it even possible to watch old replays? How do you do it?

Malyonsus

It might not be possible. I've never tried to watch a W3 replay, but if it's anything like the replays of Homeworld, then it's basically just a list of the commands that were executed during the game. The assumption was that the game was deterministic enough that the same commands executed in the same order at the same time would result in a game that was basically the same the whole way through. (This is also how they dealt with multiplayer latency and what caused 'sync errors' sometimes).

The downside to this is that changes to game balance will break older replays because you can no longer guarantee that units will die at the same time or do the same damage, etc.

You might be able to cheat it by creating multiple installs each with a different version of the game.

Arikado

Basically what Malyonsus said. The game doesn't actually record the replay, it just records the commands for all units. With updates to the core game, it tends to break any possibility of viewing them again.

One solution would be to have a non-updated W3 installed somewhere and try viewing it on those. I had to do this with Starcraft back in the day. Otherwise I'd end up watching a replay of all the players make a single worker and sit in their base all day.

Also, it could be that you are trying to view them through an expansion rather than the vanilla.

ApexMirage

It's an expansion custom map replay. It occurs to me that I might not have the version of the map it was recorded under, so I'll try that - If that doesen't work, how do I find out which version of w3 it was filmed under?

Shawxn

i know for a fact that there is a program out there that will create a separate version of Wc3/TFT patched to old versions so you can watch your replay. It's really neat, but I have no idea what the name is or where to find it. Sorry i can't be of more help, but it's out there, dont give up! based on your signature I'd guess that you're trying to watch DotA replays, so you might want to try dota-allstars.com. someone over there might know.