Anyone have those old planetweb gamexch Saturn saves?

[ReyVGM]

I've been looking for months for a Saturn gamesave archive and I have nothing, except that dead Planetweb site and I was wondering if maybe someone saved all those saves somewhere that could share it with the Internet?

If not, could anyone post their emulator saves here and hopefully start the first Saturn gamesave archive?

 

[vbt]

there was some stuff done by rockin'-b about gamexch here :
http://www.rockin-b.de/saturn-savegameexchange.html
i think it includes game saves
i will check my backup to see if i have the planetweb files

 

[ReyVGM]

Hey thanks for the reply VBT. I checked that site and I couldn't find a link to download the Save Game Manager, which includes the saves.

However, I see it's some kind of utility that works with a real Saturn? I should have mentioned that I can only play it using emulators, so my main interest with the save files is to use them with emulators. I know there's a tool to convert to and from .bin to real ram catridge, but I'll test that once I have the saves that need converting.

If you could post the ones you have that would be awesome.

By the way, I found this site that has a few Japanese gamesaves:
http://botchok.tripod.com/sat/saves.html

 

[cafe-alpha]

i will check my backup to see if i have the planetweb files

I would be interested by theses planetweb files too 🙂

 

[ReyVGM]

Hopefully he finds them.

 

[vbt]

old stuff i've found but nothing about game saves sorry :

about action replay :

17/08/2003 21:25 171 005 arplus.exe
03/09/2003 23:20 50 517 commlink.zip
06/09/2003 20:51 185 986 commslnk.rar
27/09/2003 20:20 14 520 exbk.zip
27/09/2003 18:51 59 027 parln051.zip
17/08/2003 21:24 159 744 reader.exe
18/08/2003 17:00 44 042 satutil.zip
03/11/2003 20:48 52 762 ssdebug070a.zip
27/09/2003 19:37 2 592 ssfexe.lzh
20/09/2003 16:39 7 951 ssfexe.zip

jap stuff : https://web.archive.org/web/20050306001450/http://www.ipc-tokai.or.jp/~ytanaka/saturn/index.shtml

saturn dev :

16/02/2002 22:49 4 856 CDBIOS.zip
16/02/2002 22:48 27 260 CDDEMO.zip
16/02/2002 22:49 94 170 DBUGSAT.zip
16/02/2002 23:04 876 059 FIXED_Gnushlib.zip
16/02/2002 22:51 95 004 GNUMAKE.zip
16/02/2002 23:04 408 000 GNUSHD.r00
16/02/2002 22:56 872 000 GNUSHLIB.zip
16/02/2002 22:42 9 218 LIBSNSAT.zip
16/02/2002 22:41 1 931 MACHINE.H.txt
16/02/2002 22:41 26 482 PSYLIBD.zip
16/02/2002 22:41 63 348 PSYLINKD.zip
16/02/2002 22:39 5 933 PSYMAKE.zip
16/02/2002 22:39 21 063 SATCD15.zip
16/02/2002 22:39 1 103 SATCDMON.zip
16/02/2002 22:39 2 765 SATMODS.zip
16/02/2002 22:48 603 377 SATURN.zip

 

[vbt]

files are available here :

https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://planetweb.com/cgi-bin/gamexch/*
example courrier crisis :
https://web.archive.org/web/19980502225356/http://planetweb.com/cgi-bin/gamexch/gamexch1259

then with Rockin'-B tools you can use them.

 

[ReyVGM]

Thanks vbt, but I don't understand. When I click that second link I don't see anything to download?

 

[vbt]

I don't understand. When I click that second link I don't see anything to download?

you have to get this :
Content-Type: application/x-planetweb-app-segasavedgame
Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64
Content-Description: CC Save
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=COURIERU000
Attached file: COURIERU000

AAAAxwPHOfAAAAABAAAAAACoAKgA/wD/CgVtNAAAA4IACtIiAAAAAAAAAH4AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKgAqAD/AP8AlQEAAAAAAAAAsVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAqACoAP8A/wAODg4AAAAAAAAODgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAACoAKgA/wD/AP+AAAAAAAAAAG00AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAKgAqAD/AP8AAAEQAAAAAAAAL+gAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAgmPDY4JjgmOCY8JjgmOCa4JrgmOCa8Njg2vCY8NjgmPDY4Njg2vDa8Njw2PCY8NrxGwEa8Rrx
GvEa8NrxGvEa8RrxGvDY4NjxGvEa8VsBXPFa8RrxHPEa8RsBGvEa8RrxGvEa4RrxGvEa8RrxGvEa8
RrxGvEa8NrxGQEc8VzxWwFdAV0BWvFdAVsBXPFa8VrxWvFa8Rrw2vEY8RrxGwEa8Nrw2PCY8Jjg2O
CY4JrwmOCY4Nrg2OEa8RrxGvDY8Nrg2uDY8NrhGvEa8Njw2PDY8Nrw2OCa8Njw2PDY4JjgmODY4Jr
g2PDa4Nrw2uCW4FbgVtBY4FjgWNCY4JjgWOBY4FbgluCY8JbgVuBY0BjgFtAW0FbQFNBW0FbQFtAU
wBbQFtAUwFKwEsBSsBCwEqBSsBKwULASsBCwErAQsBCgDqAOoBCgEKAQsA6gTqAOoA6QEKAQoA6gE
KAQoA6gDpAOoA6gTqAQkA6gEKAOoBCQDpBOoA6QDqAOoBCgEKAQoFCgELAQsA6QDqAQoBCgELAQoB
CgEKAQoBCgEKAQoBCgULAQsBKwELAQsV0AUsAMcA6QVtBY4BCgCpAIcAhwCmAIYAZgCGAIcAZgBmA
GUARQRkAGQARQBkAIcAqACnAMcAqACnAKcAqACnAIgApwCnAKgApwCnAKgApwCnAKcApwCnAKgApw
CnAKcApwCIBKcApwDIAIYARABmAMgAqADIAMkAyQDIDW0mEhnxKdEh8g2vAUwFLAUsASwBLAUsASw
BSwEsASsBKwEsASwBKwFMAUwBLAFLAUwBTAEsAUwBTAVMASwBTQFMBSwBTQFNAUwBTAFMAUwBTQFM
AU0BbAFtAW0BbgVuBY4FbQFuAW4BbQFtAW0BbQVtAW0BjQVtBW4FbQFtAW0JbgWOBY4FjgmOCY4Jr
gmPDY8NrgmODY8JjgmOCY4NrgmODa4Jrg2OCY4Jjg2OCY8Nrg2uEY8Nrg2OEa/=


save is as toto.eml
then double click on toto.eml :

 

[vbt]

also maybe we could start a game saves collect project

 

[ReyVGM]

I'll get all the saves and convert them. However, I have some questions:

1) The toto.eml filename, is that something you chose out of the blue or does it have to be that filename?

2) Can you teach me how to convert the saves to emulator format so I can have both files available (actual saturn, and emulator save)

3) Where can I download the program to do the conversion because I couldn't find where to download it on that link you provided at first.

 

[cafe-alpha]

also maybe we could start a game saves collect project

Definitely 🙂

I'll get all the saves and convert them. However, I have some questions:

1) The toto.eml filename, is that something you chose out of the blue or does it have to be that filename?

2) Can you teach me how to convert the saves to emulator format so I can have both files available (actual saturn, and emulator save)

3) Where can I download the program to do the conversion because I couldn't find where to download it on that link you provided at first.

> I'll get all the saves and convert them.

Thank you :] Please don't forget to post the files (as well as their descriptions included in each emails) here after that.

1) "toto" is just a French word whose meaning is close to "dummy" in English. So any file name is OK.
(vbt source sometimes contains "char toto[123];" code. I personally prefer "char pouet[123];" ^^)

2&3) You can try ss-save-parser program from hitomi2500, but I'm not sure it supports planetweb format.
On my side, I'm making a Saves Data Manager program for Saturn, so if you post all the saves+descriptions here, I will add planetweb format import, and theses saves will be available on my program for everyone.
This is a Saturn program, so you can use it on real HW, or emulator.

 

[ReyVGM]

Thank you :] Please don't forget to post the files (as well as their descriptions included in each emails) here after that.

Yes of course, that's one of the reasons why I'm going to do it. There are not Saturn save files on the web. You can find lots of PS1 and N64 easily, but not Saturn.

1) "toto" is just a French word whose meaning is close to "dummy" in English. So any file name is OK.
(vbt source sometimes contains "char toto[123];" code. I personally prefer "char pouet[123];" ^^)

Ah, got it.

2&3) You can try ss-save-parser program from hitomi2500, but I'm not sure it supports planetweb format.
On my side, I'm making a Saves Data Manager program for Saturn, so if you post all the saves+descriptions here, I will add planetweb format import, and theses saves will be available on my program for everyone.
This is a Saturn program, so you can use it on real HW, or emulator.

Ok, so first I'm going to take all those planetweb codes, convert them to .eml and then 'extract' the .dat file.
Question: is that .dat supposed to be a raw saturn save or is the .dat the starting point to convert to saturn or emulator format?

----
What can I do with these links?
https://web.archive.org/web/19980502225522/http://planetweb.com/cgi-bin/gamexch/gamexch1589
I assume there's no way to get those saves since there isn't anything to turn into .eml?

*edit*
Darn, looking at that link more closely, it says there are only 115 entries and most of them aren't even saves. So I guess most saves in that page are lost to the ages now 🙁

 

[cafe-alpha]

Yes of course, that's one of the reasons why I'm going to do it. There are not Saturn save files on the web. You can find lots of PS1 and N64 easily, but not Saturn.

And that's a vicious circle : not a lot of saves/homebrew/etc stuff -> smaller fan base -> less saves/homebrew/etc stuff, etc ...

Ok, so first I'm going to take all those planetweb codes, convert them to .eml and then 'extract' the .dat file.

OK, thank you 🙂
Please don't forget to add some description text for each save too.

Question: is that .dat supposed to be a raw saturn save or is the .dat the starting point to convert to saturn or emulator format?

I didn't checked in details the format, it seems to be save raw data, but without header.
Rockin-B's Save Game Manager can handle theses base64 saves, so I suppose it's possible to put theses saves back in Saturn's memory.
And Save Game Manager sources are available, so I hope it will just be the matter to merge source from Save Game Manager to my project.

What can I do with these links?
https://web.archive.org/web/19980502225522/http://planetweb.com/cgi-bin/gamexch/gamexch1589
I assume there's no way to get those saves since there isn't anything to turn into .eml?

*edit*
Darn, looking at that link more closely, it says there are only 115 entries and most of them aren't even saves. So I guess most saves in that page are lost to the ages now 🙁

There's nothing that can be done from archive.org with save data that weren't publicly available in base64 format, so you can only grab very few save data ... but that's better than nothing 🙂
BTW, I saw on Save Game Manager's page :

On special request, I can send you an e-mail with all saves attached, which you can access using the PlanetWeb browser and a NetLink modem.

If somebody is still in touch with Rockin-B, it would be good to ask him if he still have theses saves data 🙂

 

[ReyVGM]

I didn't checked in details the format, it seems to be save raw data, but without header.
Rockin-B's Save Game Manager can handle theses base64 saves, so I suppose it's possible to put theses saves back in Saturn's memory.
And Save Game Manager sources are available, so I hope it will just be the matter to merge source from Save Game Manager to my project.

Well, here are all the saves from that archive link:
https://www.sendspace.com/file/ku7bl3

If a save doesn't have a txt description, it's because none was provided.


Cafe-alpha or VBT, if you can test at least one of these saves on a Saturn to see if the process was done correctly. And if you could convert it to emu format for SSF or Yabause so I can test it too.

Thanks in advance guys.

 

[cafe-alpha]

I prepared one save (Sonic R) in order to verify that format is correct.
divers/20160112_sonicr_save_test.7z (removed link)
20160112_sonicr_original.bin : original file used to get save header data. Can be used as "4Mbit Backup Cartridge" in Yabause.
20160112_sonicr_planetweb_test.bin : header from 20160112_sonicr_original.bin and data from planetweb test data. Can be used as internal backup data in Yabause. (renaming it to bkram.bin should be enough to access it)

Can you verify if the save is correct or not ? I'm absolutely not sure it will work ...
(and I didn't verified anything)

Also, does anyone knows how importing save data was done with Planetweb ?
As save data header is not included, the safest way to do is to overwrite an existing data, and keep header from previous data. It's possible to create a dummy header, but the game probably won't recognize it.

edit : removed link to broken test data

 

[ReyVGM]

Tried both saves on a Sonic R USA and Europe on Yabause and they didn't work.

The first save (20160112_sonicr_original.bin). I renamed it to 4megram.bin file I have and the emulator did not find a save inside. I do have to note that the 4meg.bin is 1MB in size, but the Sonic R save is 512KB. I don't know if that's relevant.

The second save (20160112_sonicr_planetweb_test.bin) was renamed to bkram.bin and the emulator did not find any saves inside.
When I enter the backup manager, I do see a Sonic R save inside, but the actual game has an empty save file menu.
But then again, that could just be the game creating a file as soon as you boot it?

Let me know what else you need me to test, and it would be great if you can keep it with Sonic R, that way I don't have to be extracting too many discs 😛

 

[cafe-alpha]

IIRC, Sonic R don't let you choose a save data, it just automatically uses one when found in internal backup memory.
Please verify if you have some characters or tracks unlocked (metallic characters and last track are initially locked), or if there is some high score displayed somewhere in order to compare.

The first save (20160112_sonicr_original.bin). I renamed it to 4megram.bin file I have and the emulator did not find a save inside. I do have to note that the 4meg.bin is 1MB in size, but the Sonic R save is 512KB. I don't know if that's relevant.

Oops, you're right. I mistook with another dump.
I tried to copy from the right file to internal memory, but the backup data was indicated as broken :/
I will to make and dump another Sonic R save data this week (maybe next week in fact) ... long time I didn't played Sonic R 🙂

File size was a mistake from me when I dumped the saves from my backup cartridge.
Only the first half of the saves data was dumped, but I think everything is OK with Sonic R save data anyway. (that cartridge was less than half full, so hopefully all save data aren't corrupted.)


I suppose save raw data is found in the files you dumped, but maybe planetweb was applying some compression/whatever to theses data.
So if somebody with knowledge about Planetweb, or with enough hardware & free time for testing could help, it would be appreciated 🙂

 

[cafe-alpha]

ReyVGM, if possible, can you send me a genuine save of Sonic R (bkram.bin) generated by the game on emulator ? I want to compare it with the planetweb one you dumped, so basically anything is OK.

 

[ReyVGM]

IIRC, Sonic R don't let you choose a save data, it just automatically uses one when found in internal backup memory.

Yep I know, but when you start the game, you see a file select screen that shows your progress and it was empty. I went to the options screen and checked the 'best times' and it was empty also.

ReyVGM, if possible, can you send me a genuine save of Sonic R (bkram.bin) generated by the game on emulator ? I want to compare it with the planetweb one you dumped, so basically anything is OK.

Here it is:
https://www.sendspace.com/file/sajmff

I found the game saves your option choices. So with my save, file one should have the difficulty saved on EASY, and file three should have it on HARD.

*edit*
Holy crap, the planetweb save works (the second one you posted)!
It doesn't work on yabause, but it works on SSF. I just renamed your file to what SSF uses as the internal name (SONICR___01) and the save worked!
So my guess Yabause is the problem, not the save itself.

*edit 2*
I also tried the first save you posted (20160112_sonicr_original) and renamed it to what SSF uses for the External backup and that one also worked!

*Edit 3*
Tried an Albert Odyssey save directly from the planetweb site, the one with the .dat extension. I renamed it to .bin and SSF recognized the save. However, when I load the save, the emulator crashes. So I guess they can't be used without converting them first, even though the emulator recognizes them.