Searched EVERYWHERE for the methods of ripping H.A.W.X. models

 Welp, TBH, I didn't want to expect the worst because it's 2025 and AI is evolving, but here it is.

For tonight, I spent my time figuring out how the hell I can make the raw H.A.W.X. 2 models readable in 3D modeling environment, but it pains me to say that Google spits out nothing relevant to my searches 😞, to the point that the only possible way to do this now is to rip the models directly while the game is running, which is by no other way than using Ninja Ripper. Yes, Ninja Ripper. I've already talked about it several times already in several posts before and to me, it's nothing new.

The Lock On Mod Manager (ModMan) is quite universal when it comes to read CDDS archives, but not with the old AdA-Mod that I managed to pull out before LockOnFiles website was no more (Tom_Weiss has A LOT to answer for 😅). The CDDS archives the AdA-Mod author (BarbsMan et al) made is, for some reason, using new algorithm that weirdly enough, works flawlessly in LOFC2, but not so with the ModMan. And this is where Ninja Ripper comes handy, to which it helped me extract the textures from the running game, but the issue lies within sorting and which texture that belongs to which model.

And this is a real pain in the ass. Ninja Ripper to me is basically like the coward's way out, although there's an exception in my rule to it, for example, when the search pertaining the said format of a model comes out empty or irrelevant. Say, how many of you are trying to search how to extract Lock On's CMD model? I can particularly remember there are people making models in CMD format, and one of them includes removing the F-16 pylons, but today in 2025, many are starting to forget this le olde classic, thus, no one would even bother to do smth with an old game, even modding it. I mean, sure, there is the much better Lock On Model (LOM) format, but that can be converted for use with common 3D modeling environment like 3ds Max or Blender with ZModeler 2. I guess H.A.W.X. and H.A.W.X. 2 are in the same fate as Lock On (and LOFC2) at this rate, like it or not 😔.

But here's the bright side. This whole song and dance that turns out nothing in return reminded me of Skyline's HAWX Skin Pack that, I have no idea what this is meant for, but I'm thinking that I should try my luck on installing it, given that I own H.A.W.X. 2 (except pirated from ages ago). There are historical posts on this particular quest telling how to install modded textures in H.A.W.X. and H.A.W.X. 2 games, and this is where my memories spike again because, Ik Skyline (SkylineGTRFreak) is the legend, the best modder I've known since my first GTA IV modding, and him publishing such skin pack that I have no idea what for (since he doesn't mention anything else apart from saying "yep, some skins"), makes me wonder if such skin pack can be used on H.A.W.X. 2 (since H.A.W.X. 2 is a successor of H.A.W.X., anyway). On top of that, I'm fairly shocked that the MediaFire link from like, 13 years ago, is still working today, so... if you wanna check it out, it's there.


 The password is open-source there, and I happen to got it from the link in the previous post:

I allready extracted the files from HAWX if anyone want to have a go on this. If you have the game, just use this password extracting the "PAK"files:
Hawx1
rF4hfGe1PfrzGe3IbaRtWsIn

Hawx2
pF5hfGe2TfrbGe8IzaRtXsIm 

 Except for H.A.W.X. 2, the directory placement for loose texture files are different than that in H.A.W.X.


 TBH, Idk why Ubisoft packed their assets like this as if it's Battlefield 2 except being less obvious and password-protected. I'm thinking it's just their way of making games, but you'll never know what's at the back end of the development. Oh well, at least the textures are moddable... it's just that the tools we use are gonna be different these days. Talk about Intel™ TextureWorks plugin for Photoshop...

 

A pain realization, but a good lesson and discovery nonetheless. If old games and their modding states are started to be forgotten, then so be it. We are left with nothing but the old memories of people working to make the game more lively, fun, and perhaps, challenging, and that's the cold, hard truth. Too bad that I can't be able to make use of it without having to enter the game, but eh... 😄, at least I tried.

I may find more stuffs to discover in the future as I mod AC7, so stay tuned for more posts. 

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