What is a .KV3 file?
A .KV3 file is a type of plain text data file used primarily by certain video games developed by Valve, such as Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). These files are structured in a way that is somewhat similar to JSON, which is a common format for storing and transporting data. KV3 files are used to store various game data, including how game elements like bots behave during gameplay.
For example, in CS:GO, a KV3 file named bt_default.kv3 might be used to define the actions and decisions of bots during a deathmatch game. This file would include a structured set of instructions that tell the game how to control these bots. It might also reference other KV3 files located in specific directories of the game's installation, like the scripts/ai/modules directory. These additional KV3 files contain more detailed scripts that dictate specific behaviors and tactics the bots should execute during the game.
The KV3 format is a creation of Valve and stands for KeyValues3. It is designed to support not only plain text data but also binary encodings, which can be useful for more complex or large-scale data handling. Additionally, KV3 files support features like versioning, which helps in managing different versions of the data, and data annotations, which provide extra information about the data's form or function.
To open a KV3 file, you can use various text editing programs. Since it is essentially a text file, simple text editors like Microsoft Notepad or Apple TextEdit can be used to view and edit KV3 files. These programs are typically included with their respective operating systems. For a more enhanced editing experience, especially useful for coding or scripting, advanced text editors like Microsoft Visual Studio Code can be used. Although GitHub Atom was also a popular choice, it has been discontinued.
In summary, KV3 files are crucial for defining and controlling game data in some Valve games, and they can be easily viewed and modified using standard or advanced text editing software.
Verification
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