What is a .NAV file?
The .NAV file extension stands for an MSN Application Extension File, but it's mainly known for its use in video games, especially those created with the id Tech 3 game engine or similar engines like Valve's Source Engine. These files are crucial for video games because they contain a navigation mesh. This mesh is like a map for the game's artificial intelligence (AI) bots, showing them where they can walk within the game's environment, which is usually defined in a .BSP map file. This helps the bots move around the game world more realistically.
You can open or use .NAV files with several video game programs, including Valve's Counter-Strike: Source, id Software's Quake 3, and Facepunch Studios' Garry's Mod. These games rely on .NAV files to allow bots to navigate the game's maps.
Here's some more detailed information about .NAV files: - When you play a map with bots in one of these games for the first time, the game automatically creates a .NAV file for that map. This process can take a bit of time, especially for larger maps. - If you want to, you can start the process of generating a .NAV file yourself. To do this, you open the game's console and type in "nav_generate." This tells the game to create the navigation mesh. - For those who like to tweak or customize their game, you can edit .NAV files manually. This requires enabling cheats in the game by typing "sv_cheats" in the console, then typing "nav_generate 1" to edit the navigation mesh. - It's interesting to note that .NAV files are somewhat similar to .AIN files. However, .AIN files are usually used for non-player characters (NPCs) in the game, not bots.
Some examples of games that use .NAV files include Quake 3, which runs on the id Tech 3 engine, and both Counter-Strike: Source and Team Fortress 2, which use the Source Engine. These files play a key role in making sure that the AI bots in these games can navigate the maps effectively, making the game more enjoyable and challenging for players.
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