Save Game Manager for SEGA Saturn

[RockinB]

Originally posted by vbt@Sat, 2005-09-17 @ 05:16 PM

Good news, do you still need testers ?

[post=139698]Quoted post[/post]​

I do. When the base64 feature is working(tomorrow?), I can provide a beta.

 

[RockinB]

Hello guys, here is a beta of the new Save Game Manager

with a whole bunch of new features.

Download: [attachmentid=1484]

This is for testing only, not for regular use.

I don't need people to just try it out, I need people doing intensive testing with the goal to find out things to improve, bugs and stuff.

If you got suggestions on how to optimize button controls, you could help a lot, too.

Known bugs:

- some bigger files cause errors when decoded as base64

- non-base64 files cause errors when trying to decode

Complete list of new features:

New features (SECOND release 05/09/19):

  - a new cool menu to access ALL functions of the SGM

    -> old 2nd help page obsolete

  - custom names and comments for

    (using a String Editor)

    - compressed files (name suffix only, 8 chars)

      -> name is kept when

        - uncompressing: file name -> drive name

        - compressing again: drive name -> file name (editable)

    - base64 encoded files

    - partitioned files (splitted)

    - memory dumps

  - file size now displayed as blocks, not kBytes

  - SPLIT/JOIN files (to into system memory for exchange between carts)

    - can select custom maximum filesize

  - Memory Viewer to view files and memory locations

   as HEX and TEXT

  - new file import/export functions:

    - A) Saturn <-> Saturn with joypad commands

      (no additional hardware needed)

      (inspired by similar 3DO feature)

      -> EXPORT with Button Command Viewer

      -> IMPORT with Button Command Editor

    - B) Saturn <-> PC with a human readable base64 file encoding

      -> EXPORT by typing base64 view showed on Saturn screen

        into a text file on PC via keyboard

        (no special viewer yet, uses Memory Viewer)

        - can save base64 view as file

      -> IMPORT by burning base64 encoded files (without any change) on CD-R 

        and decoding them on Saturn

        (all existing ways to import saves to Saturn possible)

    - conversion tool between B) -> A) could be done on request

  - new Action Replay related features

    - more firmwares included (4)

    - flash with ANY file form any storage device in any subfolder

     (firmware header is checked to avoid flashing with non-firmware files)

      -> flash with homebrew games (untested)

        (need to be adapted for running from cart)

    - dump memory range to file

      -> make a firmware backup before reflashing

    - warning message if firmware to flash with

     would overwrite existing codes and save games on cart

  - better pad handling

    - recognizes pad disconnection

    - plug pad in any connector

      -> multi tap supported

    - first available pad on which buttons are pressed is taken

  - background image (LAVA)

Enjoy and I hope I get some useful feedback to improve it.

 

[RockinB]

A new game at the top of the compression ratio ranking:

King Of The Spirits (jp) took the crown from SEGA Touring car with a ratio of

6.52 percent !!!

The highscore file is 30 blocks, each replay file is 621 blocks.

With 6 different replays and the highscore file, whole size is 3756 blocks,

which is reduced to 245 blocks after compression.

See the ranking here:

http://www.rockin-b.de/saturn/SATURN-SaveG...er.htm#compress

BTW: those 3 guys who downloaded the beta, have you found any bugs or things to improve?

 

[vbt]

Originally posted by Rockin'-B@Mon, 2005-09-26 @ 03:19 PM

BTW: those 3 guys who downloaded the beta, have you found any bugs or things to improve?

[post=139946]Quoted post[/post]​

Not yet tested

 

[slinga]

-> multi tap supported

I'm officially jealous of you and your save game copier now.

Also, the save game copier I wrote in 2003 had floppy disk support (which I never tested...). Seems like that would be the easiest way to transfer saves from saturn -> pc.

What's the point of displaying the saves as base64 and typing them back into a saturn? Wouldn't it make more sense to type it into notepad, run a script to conver the file back to binary, and then insert it into an iso? Burn the cd and have the cd copy the save to backup ram. That way you could share the save across the net...

 

[A Murder of Crows]

Originally posted by slinga@Mon, 2005-10-03 @ 09:33 PM

I'm officially jealous of you and your save game copier now.

Also, the save game copier I wrote in 2003 had floppy disk support (which I never tested...). Seems like that would be the easiest way to transfer saves from saturn -> pc.

What's the point of displaying the saves as base64 and typing them back into a saturn? Wouldn't it make more sense to type it into notepad, run a script to conver the file back to binary, and then insert it into an iso? Burn the cd and have the cd copy the save to backup ram. That way you could share the save across the net...

[post=140222]Quoted post[/post]​

i'd PAY for a program that did that.

 

[RockinB]

Originally posted by slinga+Mon, 2005-10-03 @ 09:33 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(slinga @ Mon, 2005-10-03 @ 09:33 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>

-> multi tap supported

I'm officially jealous of you and your save game copier now.

[post=140222]Quoted post[/post]​

[/b]

Manager, not Copier

Originally posted by slinga@Mon, 2005-10-03 @ 09:33 PM

Also, the save game copier I wrote in 2003 had floppy disk support (which I never tested...). Seems like that would be the easiest way to transfer saves from saturn -> pc.

[post=140222]Quoted post[/post]​

Floppy support is in, but untested.

<!--QuoteBegin-slinga@Mon, 2005-10-03 @ 09:33 PM

What's the point of displaying the saves as base64 and typing them back into a saturn? Wouldn't it make more sense to type it into notepad, run a script to conver the file back to binary, and then insert it into an iso? Burn the cd and have the cd copy the save to backup ram. That way you could share the save across the net...

[post=140222]Quoted post[/post]​

[/quote]

Don't get me wrong, you don't type these base64 files back into Saturn. You just burn them on CD. Conversion to binary is done on Saturn, since I wanted to save people from having to use another converter.

Apart from base64, you can exchange files with control pad commands.

 

[FunkyPoopMonkey]

Edit: Sorry, ignore this post. I figured it out.

 

[RockinB]

You know, a second version of the SGM is included in The Rockin'-B All Stars, but the base64 feature was disabled.

Today, I could find the bug and the base64 feature is now working!!!

Example:

Readme.txt on SGM cd 293 blocks ->

BZip2 compression 97 blocks ->

base64 encoding 145 blocks ->

transfer to PC by typing text from Saturn screen ->

post on internet ->

someone downloads and burns it on cd ->

launch SGM disc, swap in cd with burned save game ->

decode base64 ->

decompress Bzip2 ->

finished with original files!

I tested all except the text transfer, it works fine!

Okay, apart from that I could speed up BZip2 comression/decompression significantly and organized 173kB of high work RAM for use by SGM.

Note that the 3rd SGM will be available ONLY on the next The Rockin'-B All Stars.

When it's out, we can share save games and I hope you participate at the Save Game eXchange then.

 

[RockinB]

The Action Replay reflash feature has been reported to work! :banana

MegaMacho has posted at segasaturno forum that he successfully reflashed two carts using the Save Game Manager.

I'm glad to hear that, these are good news :cheers .

 

[RockinB]

I have now tested the AR reflash feature on my own.

The PAR I have got a very old firmware version 1.4b with a lot of bugs. So I made a compressed backup of my save games.

Then I updated the firmware to version 1.94 for PAR. It worked great!!!

But I wanted more and flashed a 2nd time with the most up-to-date firmware 2.02 for EMS. Well, the thing is that this firmware is for EMS cartridges, while my cart is of type PAR. This might be the reason why the cartridge stays at the SEGA logo screen when booting .

Sad thing, as I cannot reflash it anymore, because always Saturn boots cartridge first. My last option is to insert the cartridge after booting, but I won't do it on the few Saturns I got.

 

[A Murder of Crows]

Originally posted by Rockin'-B@Fri, 2005-12-16 @ 04:40 PM

I have now tested the AR reflash feature on my own.

The PAR I have got a very old firmware version 1.4b with a lot of bugs. So I made a compressed backup of my save games.

Then I updated the firmware to version 1.94 for PAR. It worked great!!!

But I wanted more and flashed a 2nd time with the most up-to-date firmware 2.02 for EMS. Well, the thing is that this firmware is for EMS cartridges, while my cart is of type PAR. This might be the reason why the cartridge stays at the SEGA logo screen when booting .

Sad thing, as I cannot reflash it anymore, because always Saturn boots cartridge first. My last option is to insert the cartridge after booting, but I won't do it on the few Saturns I got.

[post=142589]Quoted post[/post]​

I have a few extra saturns lying around. After i get done modding the 3 or 4 i need, i'll be selling off the rest i think (i've got like 11).

If you need a test saturn, supply me with postage for it and i'll send one to you.

PM me if interested, and way to go on the awesome work you are doing.

 

[RockinB]

The Save Game eXchange is opened!

To download or upload saves, you need the C4_2005_CD.rar,

because it contains the Save Game Manager v3.

I've uploaded Road Rash and Exhumed to give it a start, other ones will follow.