How to Set Up select.def in MUGEN
select.def is the roster file. It does not contain sprites. It is a list of folder names, stage paths and a few options. Everything that appears on the select screen is a line in this file.
Where it lives
data/select.def. Screenpacks may point system.def at another copy. If edits seem to do nothing, search the engine folder for every select.def and change the one system.def names.
Encoding: ANSI / Windows-1252 is what Elecbyte expects. UTF-8 with a BOM can make the first character of the file fail to parse. Notepad++ can convert. Word will insert smart quotes and break the file.
The three blocks you actually use
[Characters]
kfm
bowser, stages/kfm.def
kyo, stages/kof.def, music=sound/kyo.mp3
randomselect
,
[ExtraStages]
stages/kfm.def
stages/pit/pit.def
[Options]
arcade.maxmatches.single = 6,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
arcade.maxmatches.simu = 4,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
arcade.maxmatches.turns = 2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0[Characters]— one fighter per line. Folder name only. Optional comma bits after that.[ExtraStages]— versus stage list. Paths start withstages/.[Options]— how many arcade matches per order. Leave the defaults until you care about arcade.
What a character line can say
| Line | Meaning |
|---|---|
bowser | Load chars/bowser/bowser.def (folder name = def name). |
bowser/pocket.def | Def is not named after the folder. |
bowser, stages/pit.def | Default stage when this char is in the fight. |
bowser, music=sound/bowser.mp3 | Override stage music for this char. |
bowser, order=1 | Arcade order. 1 shows up first. Bosses often 2 or 3. |
bowser, includestage=0 | Do not add this char's stage to ExtraStages automatically. |
randomselect | The ? slot. |
, | Empty cell. Keeps the grid aligned when the screenpack has a fixed slot count. |
IKEMEN GO accepts extra keys on the same line (cns, ai, ...) if the char needs them. Stock MUGEN ignores unknown keys or errors. When in doubt, keep the line to name plus stage.
Slots have to match the screenpack
Default MUGEN select is a small grid. KOF Anthology is built for hundreds of names. If you paste 80 characters into the default select, later names fall off the screen or wrap into ExtraStages. Either use a bigger pack or stop adding names.
Vselect lets you drag portraits instead of counting commas. It still writes this same file.
KOF teams
Turns mode is an Options setting, not a select.def trick. You pick three names at the select screen. Some screenpacks let you write a locked trio; that is pack-specific syntax, not stock Elecbyte. For a custom KOF install: Anthology, Turns, three chars you actually want, done. The KOF hub walks that.
FAQ
Can I number the lines?
No. No 1. kfm. The engine reads the folder string.
Do comments work?
Yes. ; starts a comment to the end of the line. Use that instead of deleting names you might want back.
Why did Word ruin it?
Curly quotes and a BOM. Re-copy the file from your backup. Notepad++ from then on.