CLU Resource: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
<div class="Quote"> | <div class="Quote"> | ||
{{Quote|Attrib = FILExt<ref>https://filext.com/file-extension/CLU</ref> | {{Quote|Attrib = FILExt<ref name="FILExt">https://filext.com/file-extension/CLU</ref> | ||
}} | }} | ||
The CLU file type is primarily associated with Lua. | The CLU file type is primarily associated with Lua. | ||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
==<br /> CLU in Phantasmagoria 2 == | ==<br /> CLU in Phantasmagoria 2 == | ||
In Phantasmagoria 2 the .CLU files are the palettes for the [[DUC]] movies. The numbered names match names of that particular DUC movie, with the exception of 999.CLU which is a generic palette file for those movies which don't have any specific .CLU file | In Phantasmagoria 2 the .CLU files are the palettes for the [[DUC]] movies. The numbered names match names of that particular DUC movie, with the exception of 999.CLU which is a generic palette file for those movies which don't have any specific .CLU file.<ref name="FILExt" /> | ||
<div class="Quote"> | <div class="Quote"> | ||
Revision as of 18:28, 5 May 2025
 |
This article is a technical stub page. You can help the Sierra Wiki by expanding it. |
Introduction
The CLU file type is primarily associated with Lua.
- CLU as a Lua Bytecode Compiled Script:
These files hold precompiled Lua instructions in a binary format. They run on a Lua interpreter, which reads the bytecode instead of plain text.
- CLU as a Game Data File:
In some cases (for example in Baldur's Gate) the file stores cluster data for game assets. This type is used by the game engine to organize data. More details are available at D&D Beyond.
- CLU as an Infomap Clustering Output:
These files are generated by the Infomap tool to group network nodes into clusters. They serve as output data for further analysis. See Infomap for related info.
To open a CLU file, you must know its origin. For Lua bytecode, use a Lua interpreter or decompiler. For game data, the corresponding game engine or mod tools are needed, and for a clustering output, a text editor or analysis software will help view the content.
CLU in Phantasmagoria 2
In Phantasmagoria 2 the .CLU files are the palettes for the DUC movies. The numbered names match names of that particular DUC movie, with the exception of 999.CLU which is a generic palette file for those movies which don't have any specific .CLU file.[1]
On the level of programming, Phantasmagoria 2 was tough as Sierra's SCI engine was being rewritten from almost scratch by the system developers in Oakhurst while the programmers in Bellevue were programming the game. Every few weeks the programmers would get an update from the system developers which sometimes required changes in the coding. The reason why SCI was being rewritten was because it did not support the Duck movie player.
When playing Phantasmagoria 2 under Windows, the Duck movies feature 16-bit colors, even though SCI only supports 8-bit colors. What basically happens is that, during the interactive parts, SCI is running. This is why the interactive parts are in 8-bit color, both under DOS and Windows. However the moment the player activates a Duck movie scene, SCI gets essentially shut down and the Duck video player is placed on the game screen. The only action the player can do, is to click the mouse and skip the scene, reactivating the SCI engine. Sierra was considering rewriting SCI in order to support 16-bit colors, but it would have taken too long. Also, while it is possible to play Puzzle of Flesh under DOS, the Duck movies were not meant to play under 8-bit DOS. The programmers got around that by applying CLU files, or Color Look Up files. These are palette files for 8-bit playback. Each Duck file has an equally numbered CLU-file, converting the Duck movie to 8-bit colors.
References
Related Links
