Microsoft Agent Character Editor: Difference between revisions

From Frontierpedia, the Microsoft Agent encyclopedia
VisualWikitext
m (5 revisions imported)
 
(5 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox software|title=Microsoft Agent|software_name=Microsoft Agent|logo=Ace.png|developer=Microsoft|latest release date=1998 ({{time_ago|1998}})|latest version=2.0|released=1997 ({{time_ago|1997}})|programming language=C++|operating system=Microsoft Windows|discontinued=Yes|screenshot=Acescr.png|caption=The Microsoft Agent Character Editor in its default state after launch.}}
{{Infobox software|title=Microsoft Agent|software_name=Microsoft Agent|logo=Ace.png|developer=Microsoft|latest release date=1998 ({{time_ago|1998}})|latest version=2.0|released=1997 ({{time_ago|1997}})|programming language=C++|operating system=Microsoft Windows|discontinued=Yes|screenshot=Acescr.png|caption=The Microsoft Agent Character Editor running on Windows 8.1.}}
The '''Microsoft Agent Character Editor''' (Ace or MACE for short) is a program made by Microsoft to allow users to edit and compile their own Microsoft Agent character. It was first confirmed to appear in the [[Microsoft Agent Beta 2.0]] and [[Microsoft Agent 1.3]] and has had a release for every public Microsoft Agent version since. It allows users to create new characters with all the major technologies of the platform, including text-to-speech, animation states and lip-syncing. The user can add animations to their character from static BMP or GIF frames; they can also add sounds to the animation or assign the state that triggers the animation, such as the state "GesturingUp" triggering the animation "GestureUp" or add small mouth bitmaps to allow for lip-sync of their character's speech. Ace saves character definitions as ACD files and builds the finished characters as ACS files.
The '''Microsoft Agent Character Editor''' (Ace or MACE for short) is a program made by Microsoft to allow users to edit and compile their own Microsoft Agent character. It was first confirmed to appear in the [[Microsoft Agent Beta 2.0]] and [[Microsoft Agent 1.3]] and has had a release for every public Microsoft Agent version since. It allows users to create new characters with all the major technologies of the platform, including text-to-speech, animation states and lip-syncing. The user can add animations to their character from static BMP or GIF frames; they can also add sounds to the animation or assign the state that triggers the animation, such as the state "GesturingUp" triggering the animation "GestureUp" or add small mouth bitmaps to allow for lip-sync of their character's speech. Ace saves character definitions as ACD files and builds the finished characters as ACS files.


Line 30: Line 30:
|Microsoft Agent Development Kit
|Microsoft Agent Development Kit
|First public version, released alongside [[Microsoft Agent 1.5]]
|First public version, released alongside [[Microsoft Agent 1.5]]
|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/919271504351477831/ace232.exe ace232.exe] {{Exclusive/x86}}
|[https://tmafe.com/downloads/beta/ace/ace232.exe ace232.exe] {{Exclusive/x86}}
|-
|-
|Ace 1.5.1.302
|Ace 1.5.1.302
Line 36: Line 36:
|Visual Basic 6
|Visual Basic 6
|Latest pre-2.0 version of Ace available
|Latest pre-2.0 version of Ace available
|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/901017433006034944/ace.exe ace.exe] {{Exclusive/x86}}
|[https://tmafe.com/downloads/beta/ace/ace302.exe ace302.exe] {{Exclusive/x86}}
|-
|Ace 2.00.0.2115
|September 15th, 1997
|Microsoft Beta Evaluation Program - Volume 43
|
|[https://tmafe.com/downloads/beta/ace/ace2115.exe ace2115.exe] {{Exclusive/x86}}
|-
|-
|Ace 2.00.0.2124
|Ace 2.00.0.2124
Line 42: Line 48:
|Formerly on Microsoft's website
|Formerly on Microsoft's website
|The only known 2.0 Ace version and, by far, the most popular one
|The only known 2.0 Ace version and, by far, the most popular one
|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/919271504590569522/ace2124.exe ace2124.exe] {{Exclusive/x86}}
|[https://tmafe.com/downloads/beta/ace/ace2124.exe ace2124.exe] {{Exclusive/x86}}
|}
|}


== Gallery ==
<gallery>
MACE2ScreenshotSplashScreen.png|Splash screen in MACE 2.0.
MACE2Screenshot.png|Character properties in MACE 2.0.
MACE2ScreenshotWordBalloon.png|Word balloon properties in MACE 2.0.
MACE2ScreenshotVoice.png|Voice properties in MACE 2.0.
MACE2ScreenshotAnimations.png|Animation properties in MACE 2.0.
MACE2ScreenshotFrame.png|Animation frame in MACE 2.0.
MACE2ScreenshotOverlays.png|Animation overlays in MACE 2.0.
MACE2ScreenshotAbout.png|About dialog in MACE 2.0.
MACE2ScreenshotFrameWindow.png|Frame window inside of MACE 2.0.
MACE15ScreenshotSplashScreen.png|Splash screen in MACE 1.5.
MACE15Screenshot.png|Character properties in MACE 1.5.
Mace15ScreenshotWordBalloon.png|Word balloon properties in MACE 1.5.
Mace15ScreenshotVoice.png|Voice properties in MACE 1.5.
MACE15ScreenshotFrame.png|Animation frame in MACE 1.5.
MACE15ScreenshotAbout.png|About dialog in MACE 1.5.
MACE13Screenshot.png|Character properties in MACE 1.3.
MACE13ScreenshotGenie.png|[[Genie]] in MACE 1.3.
</gallery>
== Trivia ==
== Trivia ==
* It was used to create almost every Microsoft Agent character.
* It was used to create almost every Microsoft Agent character.
* The download link for this program was formerly available on Microsoft's website.
* The download link was formerly available on Microsoft's website.
* Ace 1.5.0.232 has the same build number as the first public build of Microsoft Agent; it is possible that all Ace versions have build numbers based on what the newest Microsoft Agent build is, which would potentially confirm the existence of Microsoft Agent 1.5.1.302 and 2.00.0.2124.
* It is speculated that MACE is compiled with Microsoft Agent due to similar build numbers.
{{MSAgent namespace navbox}}
{{MSAgent namespace navbox}}
[[Category:Software]]
[[Category:Software]]

Latest revision as of 20:32, 23 June 2023

Microsoft Agent
The Microsoft Agent Character Editor running on Windows 8.1.
NameMicrosoft Agent
Developer(s)Microsoft
Initial release1997 (27 years ago)
Latest version2.0
Latest version release date1998 (26 years ago)
Written inC++
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
Discontinued?Yes

The Microsoft Agent Character Editor (Ace or MACE for short) is a program made by Microsoft to allow users to edit and compile their own Microsoft Agent character. It was first confirmed to appear in the Microsoft Agent Beta 2.0 and Microsoft Agent 1.3 and has had a release for every public Microsoft Agent version since. It allows users to create new characters with all the major technologies of the platform, including text-to-speech, animation states and lip-syncing. The user can add animations to their character from static BMP or GIF frames; they can also add sounds to the animation or assign the state that triggers the animation, such as the state "GesturingUp" triggering the animation "GestureUp" or add small mouth bitmaps to allow for lip-sync of their character's speech. Ace saves character definitions as ACD files and builds the finished characters as ACS files.

Modern usage

Ace is now used to make most, if not all new Microsoft Agent characters. Most modern characters do not have much animations and rarely use much of Ace's features; lip-sync was a notable example of this before Konnor88 brought it back into popularity. Due to the way the tool was made, a lot of modern character animations have only one frame and a sound. Konnor88 has also made a custom version of the program called the Frontier Agent Character Editor.

Versions and builds

Version Earliest compilation date Source Notes Download
Ace Beta 1996/1997 Unavailable Earliest known version of MACE, no build numbers known N/A
Ace 1.3 1997 Unavailable No build numbers known N/A
Ace 1.5.0.232 August 20th, 1997 Microsoft Agent Development Kit First public version, released alongside Microsoft Agent 1.5 ace232.exe x86-32 version
Ace 1.5.1.302 October 29th, 1997 Visual Basic 6 Latest pre-2.0 version of Ace available ace302.exe x86-32 version
Ace 2.00.0.2115 September 15th, 1997 Microsoft Beta Evaluation Program - Volume 43 ace2115.exe x86-32 version
Ace 2.00.0.2124 September 24th, 1998 Formerly on Microsoft's website The only known 2.0 Ace version and, by far, the most popular one ace2124.exe x86-32 version

Gallery

  • Splash screen in MACE 2.0.

    Splash screen in MACE 2.0.

  • Character properties in MACE 2.0.

    Character properties in MACE 2.0.

  • Word balloon properties in MACE 2.0.

    Word balloon properties in MACE 2.0.

  • Voice properties in MACE 2.0.

    Voice properties in MACE 2.0.

  • Animation properties in MACE 2.0.

    Animation properties in MACE 2.0.

  • Animation frame in MACE 2.0.

    Animation frame in MACE 2.0.

  • Animation overlays in MACE 2.0.

    Animation overlays in MACE 2.0.

  • About dialog in MACE 2.0.

    About dialog in MACE 2.0.

  • Frame window inside of MACE 2.0.

    Frame window inside of MACE 2.0.

  • Splash screen in MACE 1.5.

    Splash screen in MACE 1.5.

  • Character properties in MACE 1.5.

    Character properties in MACE 1.5.

  • Word balloon properties in MACE 1.5.

    Word balloon properties in MACE 1.5.

  • Voice properties in MACE 1.5.

    Voice properties in MACE 1.5.

  • Animation frame in MACE 1.5.

    Animation frame in MACE 1.5.

  • About dialog in MACE 1.5.

    About dialog in MACE 1.5.

  • Character properties in MACE 1.3.

    Character properties in MACE 1.3.

  • Genie in MACE 1.3.

    Genie in MACE 1.3.

Trivia

  • It was used to create almost every Microsoft Agent character.
  • The download link was formerly available on Microsoft's website.
  • It is speculated that MACE is compiled with Microsoft Agent due to similar build numbers.
Retrieved from "https://frontierpedia.tmafe.com/index.php?title=Microsoft_Agent_Character_Editor&oldid=9386"