MSG File Format

MSG files are indexted text files. They contain in-game messages, character and item dialogues, and are located in the  and   folders, respectively.

Format
Each indexed text line has the format: " "


 * The first set of curly braces " " indicate the line index (number) in decimal format
 * The second set of braces (optionally) indicates the name of an ACM file sound
 * The third set of braces contain the text to be displayed (dialogue box or observation window)

Dialogue Line Number |      |  ++    ACM sound file name |                |  |                 |  |            ++                 Displayed message (dialogue box or observation window) |           |                                |  |            |                                |  |            |                           ++  |            |                           |  v            v                           v

{100} {deadbrahmin001}   {You see a horribly mutilated, two-headed cow. Hamburgers, anyone?}

Example
Taken from  - Hakunin's message / dialogue file (Fallout 2) {100}{}{Before you stands Hakunin, the village shaman. He appraises you with his crazy eyes from somewhere in the world only he inhabits.....} {101}{}{You see Hakunin lying on the ground. He's badly wounded.} {102}{}{You see Hakunin. He's very near death.} {103}{}{Hakunin is badly burned. He smells like roast chicken, looks like burnt meatloaf, and you don't know how he's managed to stay alive this long.}


 * 1) Commentary: the following line of text plays a sound (the sound file is hak001.acm)

{104}{hak001}{Greetings, Chosen. Why does the earth before me warm to the touch of your passing?} {105}{}{Uh?}

Open with
.MSG files can be opened with any simple text-editing programs, like Notepad or WordPad. Additionally, the Fallout Script Editor has a funtion that allows you to open and edit the message file as well.

TeamX document
Original document at teamx.ru (in russian)