Assets

An asset is a content file loaded by the engine at runtime. This includes textures, models, sounds, etc.. These files are located using a Virtual File System.

Asset files are often referenced many times during an application's runtime. To prevent repeated load delays the engine keeps loaded and parsed content in an in-memory cache that can be flushed, e.g. after switching maps.

VFS

The Virtual File System (VFS) combines multiple directory structures into a single view of the filesystem used to load assets.

Search order:

1. Mod
   • Directory specified via the /mod command-line argument
     (only if implemented by the game)
   • Directories specified in the OMEGAENGINE_CONTENT_MOD environment variable
     (only if the /mod command-line argument was not used)
2. Base
   • Directory specified in game settings
     (only if implemented by the game)
   • Directories specified in the OMEGAENGINE_CONTENT environment variable
     (only if not overriden by game settings)
   • The content directory next to the game's executable
     (only if not overriden by the OMEGAENGINE_CONTENT environment variable or game settings)

Base directory

The base directory is usually located in the directory of the application EXE and named base. This location can be overridden in the engine configuration.

Mods

A game modification (mod) is a set of changes based on an existing game used to modify existing gameplay, add additional content or create an entirely new game.

The engine supports mods via a virtual file system and modding support in the AlphaEditor.