Microsoft Agent Character Editor

Microsoft Agent Character Editor

The Microsoft Agent Character Editor running on Windows XP.
Name	Microsoft Agent Character Editor
Developer(s)	Microsoft Corporation
Initial release	1997 (28 years ago)
Latest version	2.0
Latest version release date	1998 (27 years ago)
Written in	C++
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Predecessor	Utopia Animation Editor
Discontinued?	Yes

The Microsoft Agent Character Editor (ACE or MACE for short) is a freeware software developed by Microsoft Corporation to allow users to edit and compile their own Microsoft Agent character. It was first confirmed to appear in the Microsoft Agent Beta 2.0 and Microsoft Agent 1.3 and has had a release for every public Microsoft Agent version since. It allows users to create new characters with all the major technologies of the platform, including text-to-speech, animation states and lip-syncing. Users can add animations to their character from static BMP or GIF frames; they can also add sounds to the animation or assign the state that triggers the animation, such as the state "GesturingUp" triggering the animation "GestureUp" or add small mouth bitmaps to allow for lip-sync of their character's speech. The Microsoft Agent Character Editor saves character definitions as ACD files and builds the finished characters as ACS files.

Classical usage

The Microsoft Agent Character Editor was used to create almost all classical Microsoft Agents from the late 90s and early 2000s. Many of the characters created with MACE include Bonzi, a purple gorilla character used in the BonziBUDDY program, the original 3 Rayflex characters, Max, Gourdy, and Check; all of the La Cantoche characters, such as James, Claude, Oscar, Milton, and Plany; and the E-Clips characters, including Santa, WartNose, Becky, and Imp. The only small exceptions being Banana, Big Frog and Blue Bug, which used Agent Magic instead.

Modern usage

The Microsoft Agent Character Editor is still currently used to make all new Microsoft Agent characters. Most modern Microsoft Agent characters do not have much animations and rarely use much of Microsoft Agent Character Editor's features; lip-sync was a notable example of this before being brought back to popularity in 2017. Due to the way the tool was made, a lot of modern Microsoft Agent character animations have only one frame and a sound. As of 2025, there are some modern Microsoft Agent characters that fully utilizes Microsoft Agent Character Editor's features. Examples are: The latest version of Matt Cosman and Chloe Alence, Bob and Larry from VeggieTales, Bonzi Studios' Windows 10, and Laser Boy Studios' KinitoPET.

Versions and builds

Version	Earliest compilation date	Source	Notes	Download
MACE Beta	1996/1997	Unavailable	Earliest known version of MACE, no build numbers known	N/A
MACE 1.3	1997	Unavailable	No build numbers known	N/A
MACE 1.5.0.232	August 20th, 1997	Microsoft Agent Development Kit	First public version, released alongside Microsoft Agent 1.5	ace232.exe
MACE 1.5.1.302	October 29th, 1997	Visual Basic 6	Latest pre-2.0 version of MACE available	ace302.exe
MACE 2.00.0.2115	September 15th, 1997	Microsoft Beta Evaluation Program - Volume 43		ace2115.exe
MACE 2.00.0.2124	September 24th, 1998	Formerly on Microsoft's website	The only known 2.0 MACE version and, by far, the most popular one	ace2124.exe

Gallery

2.0

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  Splash screen in MACE 2.0.
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  Character properties in MACE 2.0.
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  Word balloon properties in MACE 2.0.
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  Voice properties in MACE 2.0.
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  Animation properties in MACE 2.0.
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  Animation frame in MACE 2.0.
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  Animation overlays in MACE 2.0.
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  About dialog in MACE 2.0.
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  Frame window inside of MACE 2.0.

1.5

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  Splash screen in MACE 1.5.
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  Character properties in MACE 1.5.
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  Word balloon properties in MACE 1.5.
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  Voice properties in MACE 1.5.
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  Animation frame in MACE 1.5.
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  About dialog in MACE 1.5.

1.3

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  Character properties in MACE 1.3.
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  Genie in MACE 1.3.

Trivia

• It was used to create almost every Microsoft Agent character.
• The download link was formerly available on Microsoft's website.
• It is speculated that MACE is compiled with Microsoft Agent due to similar build numbers.