saturn save converter

[dibz]

@cafe-alpha was working on integrating a Fenrir Save Data Manager into Pseudo Saturn Kai and Fenrir Loader Kai, which would allow you to export the whole of BRAM and individual save files. However, that project was suspended once we realized that save dumping is broken in the firmware itself. I look forward to returning to that project with @cafe-alpha once Ced releases a fixed firmware. And yes, it would be cool to have Fenrir support in @slinga's tools too 🙂

I actually looked to see if Fenrir Loader Kai supported it, but I honestly thought it was just not part of the Loader-only iso and didn't think too much about it. That'd be awesome once supported.

I've never actually installed PSK on any of my carts since I've lacked a reason to do so (I went from a using a modchip since the 90s directly to trying an ODE) and had just assumed it was exclusive to that.

 

[slinga]

Unrelated-semi-related maybe we should see if Ced would be willing to work with slinga to get Fenrir support into his save tools, that'd be neat.

Yeah I've also experienced the "file dump missing" issue on a few different microSD cards.


I don't think the file system has much to do with it, because I have experienced problems with both exFAT and FAT32 (e.g. the dumped file is 31744 bytes instead of the expected size of 32768 bytes)


@cafe-alpha was working on integrating a Fenrir Save Data Manager into Pseudo Saturn Kai and Fenrir Loader Kai, which would allow you to export the whole of BRAM and individual save files. However, that project was suspended once we realized that save dumping is broken in the firmware itself. I look forward to returning to that project with @cafe-alpha once Ced releases a fixed firmware. And yes, it would be cool to have Fenrir support in @slinga's tools too 🙂

I reached out to both cafe-alpha and ced. I switched Save Game Copier (and Extractor) to standardize on cafe-alpha's .BUP format (documented here: slinga-homebrew/Save-Game-BUP-Scripts). Jameson added .BUP support to ss-save-parser. Not sure if @Knight0fDragon, supports it yet, but I discussed it with him. TL;DR: if we all standardize on cafe-alpha's .BUP we can provide a better experience. And we can avoid headaches when people want to convert between emulator <-> Saturn saves.

Regarding supporting the Fenrir in SGC, I'm waiting on ced to provide a library. As privateeye mentioned, Ced is still working on it.

 

[Knight0fDragon]

I reached out to both cafe-alpha and ced. I switched Save Game Copier (and Extractor) to standardize on cafe-alpha's .BUP format (documented here: slinga-homebrew/Save-Game-BUP-Scripts). Jameson added .BUP support to ss-save-parser. Not sure if @Knight0fDragon, supports it yet, but I discussed it with him. TL;DR: if we all standardize on cafe-alpha's .BUP we can provide a better experience. And we can avoid headaches when people want to convert between emulator <-> Saturn saves.

Regarding supporting the Fenrir in SGC, I'm waiting on ced to provide a library. As privateeye mentioned, Ced is still working on it.

I support one way (Takes in BUP). At some point, I will work on exporting the other way. Probably will dump it into a folder to keep them cleaner.

 

[hitomi2500]

Export degradation in ss-save-parser is fixed, i released v. 0.9.8. BUP support is working, but was tested lightly, so use with caution.
To export file in BUP format, choose the .BUP (case-insensitive) extesion while extracting.

Latest release

 

[Waterfuell]

Sorry if not correct topic, do you know wich addres is mapped flash memory in XBand modem?? If formated correctly, can be used as normal backup cartridge??

 

[hitomi2500]

Quick answer : No.

It could be possible if you
a) verify that ASIC in X-band maps the flash into the start of A-bus CS-1 and manually re-map it with some glue logic if not
b) hack the ID code at the end of A-bus CS0 to be backup RAM, not netlink (hardware way, and you will probably completely lose x-band functionality)
c) somehow limit the BUP library in BIOS to first megabit, because the flash is 1 megabit only.

In other words, it is doable, but too much hassle and totally not worth it, considering losing x-band functionality. It's much more reasonable to buy a normal backup cartridge or available alternatives.

 

[Waterfuell]

Quick answer : No.

It could be possible if you
a) verify that ASIC in X-band maps the flash into the start of A-bus CS-1 and manually re-map it with some glue logic if not
b) hack the ID code at the end of A-bus CS0 to be backup RAM, not netlink (hardware way, and you will probably completely lose x-band functionality)
c) somehow limit the BUP library in BIOS to first megabit, because the flash is 1 megabit only.

In other words, it is doable, but too much hassle and totally not worth it, considering losing x-band functionality. It's much more reasonable to buy a normal backup cartridge or available alternatives.

Was just curiosity.
Do you know where is mapped the flash??, ive readed updated driver revisions are stored in flash.

 

[Waterfuell]

a) verify that ASIC in X-band maps the flash into the start of A-bus CS-1 and manually re-map it with some glue logic if not...

Ops i got to trace myself, thanks anyway.

 

[privateye]

I found a bug (or an oversight); BUP files larger than 32KB are not supported. Passing a big BUP file to the converter will cause it to crash, as shown in the screenshot below. I'm guessing that it also doesn't accept large files from other save formats, but I haven't tested that.

Ideally, the converter should generate a 512KB BCR file (external cartridge backup save for Mednafen) if a BUP file bigger than 32KB is given to it. I'm not sure how conversion to other save formats should be handled, though.

I have attached a 211KB BUP file containing Fantasy Zone replay data for testing purposes.

 

[Knight0fDragon]

I do not currently support Memory Card saves, but I will when I get time.

 

[bloody_stays_in_the_back]

Can someone please help me convert a Shining Force 3 save file from Yabause to SSF if I upload the file? I've been trying and cannot get it to work. I really want to switch to SSF because the graphics on Yabause are really glitchy but I cannot get the save file converted successfully. Any help or response would be extremely appreciated!

 

[bloody_stays_in_the_back]

Here is my Yabause save file for SF3

 

[privateye]

Can someone please help me convert a Shining Force 3 save file from Yabause to SSF if I upload the file? I've been trying and cannot get it to work. I really want to switch to SSF because the graphics on Yabause are really glitchy but I cannot get the save file converted successfully. Any help or response would be extremely appreciated!

I have attached a save file which should work in SSF. Make sure that the "Hook Backup Library" setting is checked in SSF's options menu.

 

[bloody_stays_in_the_back]

I have attached a save file which should work in SSF. Make sure that the "Hook Backup Library" setting is checked in SSF's options menu.

Sir, you are a shining star within this dark world we live in.



THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gtkansan]

Could I join in an request someone to help out a retronewb.... Ive played through shining force III in yabasanshiro on my Shield with a lot of glitching. I finally setup a new pc and with more power was humming along playing Shining Force III Scenario 2 for a while... till now it dies on a specific event and I cant get it to pass it 🙁.

Im trying to figure out exactly which file is the save file in Retroarch for the YabaSanshiro core so I can find out how to convert it to Kronos which apparently is the newer better version 🙁. There are a ton of files in the Retroarch/Saves/folder...

Does this tool spit out a save file readable by Kronos?

 

[Knight0fDragon]

Kronos and YabaSanshiro use the Yabause file format

 

[CheoChessman]

Just the tools we needed

 

[SF3Addict]

Hi All, I am
trying to convert Yabause save files to SSF and I cant figure out how to do what you are explaining. I guess I am not sure what the image file is within Yabause? I open the bkram.bin file in the backup parser, it opens it. I extract it as a .bin, SSF doesn't see it however. I am pretty sure that is not the correct process though as the bkram.bin file is small and each Yabause save is 10,333Kb. Any help anyone can provide would be GREATLY appreciated. The battles in SF3 are bugged in Yabause and SSF seems to run the game well. I am 2/3 through episode one and if I could move the saves over to SSF I would be ecstatic. Thank you in advance. - Rick

 

[Knight0fDragon]

Hi All, I am
trying to convert Yabause save files to SSF and I cant figure out how to do what you are explaining. I guess I am not sure what the image file is within Yabause? I open the bkram.bin file in the backup parser, it opens it. I extract it as a .bin, SSF doesn't see it however. I am pretty sure that is not the correct process though as the bkram.bin file is small and each Yabause save is 10,333Kb. Any help anyone can provide would be GREATLY appreciated. The battles in SF3 are bugged in Yabause and SSF seems to run the game well. I am 2/3 through episode one and if I could move the saves over to SSF I would be ecstatic. Thank you in advance. - Rick

just grab my saturn save converter and drop your bkram.bin on top of it. It makes SSF hook files now.

 

[SF3Addict]

just grab my saturn save converter and drop your bkram.bin on top of it. It makes SSF hook files now.

Thanks for the reply! I believe I have the save converter. I dropped the bkram.bin on top of it and a black window flashes quick and nothing seems to happen. Am I missing something?