Reading the Corncob archive

For a tour of the game and the discoveries we enjoyed most, start with Corncob Contemplated. It has adapted map and model viewers, an illustrated account of the investigation and a listening room.

This repository is the full workbench behind that introduction. The analysis directory leads to the original research browser and the reports. The browser works directly from disk, including its embedded data; no build is needed to inspect it.

Suggested routes

• The game and its editions: version comparison, then the reference installation walkthrough.
• Worlds and graphics: resource formats, model comparison, help-screen transcriptions and the final extraction pass.
• Rules and movement: gameplay overview, flight dynamics, weapons and enemies, mission rules and the theatre catalogue.
• The surrounding programs: direct launches, the tower and the airfield and campaign interface.
• State and sound: saved campaigns and pilots, then music and sound exports.

What the evidence means

The reports grew during the investigation. Some preserve an early interpretation followed by a correction. Code offsets and original-file hashes identify the build under examination; a finding in one shareware edition does not automatically apply to the retail game.

Decoded JSON, disassembly, controlled native-code checks and captures sit beside the reports. The extraction manifest and media inventory retain provenance for the supplied files. The coverage record records how the resource extraction accounts for them.

The recovered assembly source is a separate source of evidence. We preserved the Initial Import revision of foone/Corncob3D, before later MASM compatibility edits. Its provenance record identifies the commit and every retained file. It contains alternate build configurations; source-only behaviour is labelled accordingly.

The world browser opens in 3D and also offers a 2D atlas. It includes all 51 worlds and saved campaigns; selecting a mission start displays its original briefing. The 2D objectives control marks starts and objective placements only on the atlas. The model gallery offers poses, captured effects and colour cycling; the scenery view keeps placements static and cycles their colours. Neither viewer runs the complete game simulation. Music exports also have different provenance: some are captures of the original driver, others are sequence renders through a modern synthesis backend. The audio report explains which is which.

Reproducing the work

The tools directory contains the extraction, comparison, rendering and validation programs. Their command-line help describes individual inputs and optional dependencies. The source installations and extracted media are retained in installs and install media.

Older reports now point to later verification where reconstruction has since resolved an open item. For the current implementation and native test coverage, consult the C++ reconstruction notes.

The current game reconstructions live separately in corncob-cpp and corncob-redux. Findings about original behaviour and deliberate Redux changes are kept distinct.

The publishing guide describes staging this archive for the web. Publishing stages the analysis outputs and reports, renders Markdown to HTML, and links source installations and tools to GitHub. The web archive does not include installation trees, install media or tooling directories.