Colonization was the first games to use Text Files to allow the user to customise the game.
Civilization II which came out after Colonization also used them and took other ideas from
Colonization like 'make landfall' and Dragoons.
Listed below are all the text files with descriptions of what they do. They are divided into two groups, those I think are useful and those I think you don't need to worry about. You can find the text files in directory 'c:/mps/colonize'.
[JUN06]From dalgo on the
CivFanatics Colonization forum
Regarding Alaska, you could make a new map of the Americas to include Alaska by using the Colonisation Map Editor.
For that matter you could make a detailed map just of Canada and Alaska including Hudson Bay, Baffin Island and the NW passage.
One option for Portugal would be to change the Colony.txt file. This file contains all the possible colony names for each country. You could give all the Spanish colonies Portuguese names then play as Spain.
However, there could be an even better option. The Game.txt file contains a parameter called &Countries which includes this list:
the Holy Roman Empire
the Portuguese
the Ottoman Turks
the Barbary Pirates
Russia
Prussia
Sweden
Denmark
Maybe the game is already designed to allow you to change your starting countries somehow. I wonder what starting advantage they would give the Barbary Pirates?
Useful Text files
Colony.txt - allows you to choose names for all the four powers Colonies
Tribe.txt - Historical dispersal of tribes for use in creating American maps
Names.txt
'Farmer, Planter(s), Planter(t), Planter(c), Trapper, Lumberjack, Ore Miner, Silver Miner,
Fisherman', can alter what land produces including prime resources.
'aggressive/friendly expansionist/perfectionist civilize/militaristic', can alter European
power characteristics.
'name, cost, tools(*10), size, min_colony, upkeep', can alter Improvement costs and number of
colonists required to build it.
Change what the European University charges for skilled colonists and activate the
Teacher colonist by changing the last number next to him from -1 to +1. You can then buy him for 1 gold. You will then see a Colonist with a Teacher Icon!!!!!
'icon, movement, attack, combat, cargo, size, cost, tools, guns, hull, role', can alter unit
characteristics.
Can change tribe names.
'Father of higher level will not appear until at least one', can change founding Father
levels.
Info in English, may need changing for Foreign language. Translation text files can be found on
the downloads page.