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.

Structure
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 sound file
 * 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 function that allows you to open and edit message files as well.

Note: Editing in a more feature-rich text editor such as Microsoft Word should not be a problem in theory, but should be treated with care unless you opt to save the file in Plain Text Format after you're done making changes. Programs such as Word can use characters that Fallout could (potentially) not parse properly. For example, Word automatically changing three periods to one 'rich text' character (an elipses).

Some files that ship with Fallout 1 do have these characters and seem to work properly, but it's something to keep in mind when editing. Assumedly the same applies to Fallout 2 {citation needed}

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