kb-lookup

name

kb-lookup

description

Navigator for the Urban Chaos original game knowledge base (48 files, ~450KB). Use this skill whenever you need information about the original game: how a subsystem works, what a function does, game mechanics, file formats, architecture, preprocessor flags, cut features. Trigger on: questions about the original Urban Chaos, "как работает X в оригинале", "что делает эта функция", "оригинальная механика", "как устроен", references to specific subsystems (physics, AI, rendering, navigation, combat, vehicles, etc.), or when you need to verify a claim about the original game before stating it as fact. IMPORTANT: Never guess about the original game — always use this skill to verify.

Urban Chaos Knowledge Base Navigator

The knowledge base documents the original Urban Chaos (1999, MuckyFoot Productions) codebase. It's located in original_game_knowledge_base/ (detailed, 48 files) and original_game_knowledge_base_dense/ (compact summary, 3 files).

Critical Rule

Never make claims about the original game without verifying them in the KB. "Probably works like this", "typical for games of that era", "usually in such cases" — unacceptable. Either the fact is in the KB, or say "I don't know, need to check."

How to Navigate

Quick answer about multiple subsystems → DENSE_SUMMARY

Read all parts (they may be split across files):

• original_game_knowledge_base_dense/DENSE_SUMMARY.md
• original_game_knowledge_base_dense/DENSE_SUMMARY_2.md
• original_game_knowledge_base_dense/DENSE_SUMMARY_3.md

~576 lines total. Covers all subsystems compactly with numbers, formulas, dependencies. Read ALL parts, not just the first one.

Deep question about one specific subsystem → Read the subsystem file directly

Use the index below to find the right file.

Don't know which file → Check the index below, or read original_game_knowledge_base/KB_INDEX.md

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KB Index — What to Read for What

General / Architecture

Topic	File
Architecture, folder structure, entry point, file map	subsystems/../overview.md
Analysis scope, what's included/excluded	subsystems/../analysis_scope.md
Cut/disabled features	subsystems/../cut_features.md
All #ifdef flags, classification	subsystems/../preprocessor_flags.md

Subsystems

Topic	File
Physics and collisions	subsystems/physics.md
Physics — water, gravity, HyperMatter, WMOVE	subsystems/physics_details.md
Game objects (Thing system)	subsystems/game_objects.md
Game objects — Barrel, Platform, Chopper	subsystems/game_objects_details.md
AI and NPC behavior (PCOM core)	subsystems/ai.md
AI — Person data structures	subsystems/ai_structures.md
AI — detailed behaviors (MIB/Bane/Snipe/Zone)	subsystems/ai_behaviors.md
NPC navigation (MAV/NAV)	subsystems/navigation.md
Characters and animations	subsystems/characters.md
Characters — types, CMatrix33, Darci physics	subsystems/characters_details.md
Controls and input (PC)	subsystems/controls.md
Controls and input (PSX)	subsystems/psx_controls.md
Vehicles	subsystems/vehicles.md
Combat system	subsystems/combat.md
Weapons and items	subsystems/weapons_items.md
Weapons — grenades, autoaim, DIRT banks	subsystems/weapons_items_details.md
Interaction (grab/ladder/cable/zipwire)	subsystems/interaction_system.md
Game world and map	subsystems/world_map.md
Buildings and interiors	subsystems/buildings_interiors.md
Buildings — id.cpp rendering, WARE warehouses	subsystems/buildings_interiors_details.md
Level loading	subsystems/level_loading.md
Mission system (EWAY runtime)	subsystems/missions.md
Missions — WPT translation, CRIME_RATE, binary .ucm	subsystems/missions_implementation.md
Player progress and saves	subsystems/player_progress.md
Game states (GS_*, pause, death)	subsystems/game_states.md
Player states (STATE_, SUB_STATE_)	subsystems/player_states.md
Camera	subsystems/camera.md
Rendering and lighting	subsystems/rendering.md
Rendering: Tom's Engine, meshes, morphing	subsystems/rendering_mesh.md
Rendering: NIGHT lighting, Crinkle	subsystems/rendering_lighting.md
Audio	subsystems/audio.md
UI and frontend (HUD, fonts, dialogs)	subsystems/ui.md
Frontend (menus, mission launch pipeline)	subsystems/frontend.md
Visual effects	subsystems/effects.md
Effects: explosions (POW), pyro (PYRO), debris (DIRT)	subsystems/effects_pyro_pow_dirt.md
Minor systems (water, tripwires, SM, balls, tracks, sparks)	subsystems/minor_systems.md
Math and utilities	subsystems/math_utils.md
WayWind (editor, out of scope)	subsystems/waywind.md

Resource Formats

Format	File
Overview + folder structure	resource_formats/README.md
Maps (.pam/.pi/.pp)	resource_formats/map_format.md
3D models (.IMP/.MOJ)	resource_formats/model_format.md
Animations (in .IMP/.MOJ)	resource_formats/animation_format.md
Textures (.TGA/.TXC)	resource_formats/texture_format.md
Lighting (.lgt)	resource_formats/lighting_format.md
Audio (.WAV)	resource_formats/audio_format.md
Mission scripts (.sty)	resource_formats/mission_script_format.md

All paths above are relative to original_game_knowledge_base/.

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Context Budget

The KB is ~450KB total — it does NOT fit in context.

• Reading 5+ KB files fills the context and causes compaction (data loss)
• For multi-subsystem questions: use DENSE_SUMMARY (576 lines) instead of individual files
• For single-subsystem deep dives: read only that one file
• Never load the whole KB "just in case"

Important: Pre-Release Codebase

original_game/ is a pre-release version, not the final game.

• Some features are commented out but work in the final release
• Some bugs in this version are fixed in the final
• "Commented out code" ≠ "cut feature"
• Reference: both release versions — Steam PC AND PS1
• When in doubt — ask the user (they played the PS1 final, can check PC via longplays)