Hacking 1MB save file support? AKAIO?

[CoconutCake]

I noticed that GTA CW produces a 512K save file in AKAIO 1.4.1.

But I read that GTA CW actually uses a 1MB save space on the real game, and there are also a few other games that use larger saves than 512K.

Will the 512K save cause problems with GTA and games that use larger saves?

Can AKAIO support the 1MB saves in the future? Or is there a technical limitation with the 512K save support?

 

[wchill]

Hmm, AKAIO should have been updated with 1MB saves by now.
But if not, then try making a blank 1MB save using Dummy File Creator, etc.
Rename and use.
Maybe it'll work?

 

[CoconutCake]

Hmm, OK I see you can force a 1MB save by choosing 8M in the AKAIO rom info menu. Cool.

Is there a way to expand my existing 512K save into a proper 1MB size save? I'd rather no start aggain from the beginning.

I think a lot of people will have 512MB saves since that's the automaic size you get.

 

[Normmatt]

GTA uses a 8KB save not a 1MB save

 

[wchill]

8KB? That doesn't seem right. 8KB seems far too small for a game.
@CoconutCake: Open up your save in a hex editor and add 512 extra kilobytes (zero out the hex values) to the end of the file. This way your save will have room to expand.

 

[Normmatt]

8KB? That doesn't seem right. 8KB seems far too small for a game.
@CoconutCake: Open up your save in a hex editor and add 512 extra kilobytes (zero out the hex values) to the end of the file. This way your save will have room to expand.

It IS 8KB, I am ALL knowing.

 

[kai445]

8KB? That doesn't seem right. 8KB seems far too small for a game.
@CoconutCake: Open up your save in a hex editor and add 512 extra kilobytes (zero out the hex values) to the end of the file. This way your save will have room to expand.

You sure you really want to question the guy who can code and debug code?

Furthermore, even if you were close to right, what the hell kind of data would it take an entire megabyte to save?

 

[wchill]

klol then. Give me a diagram of how the save file is used and I'll believe you.

 

[CoconutCake]

Thanks Normatt.

This brings up another question about saves that you probably can answer.

I notice that all saves are 512K in AKAIO, even for games that use really small saves like 4K or 64K etc.

How come the save files aren't the game save size?

 

[wchill]

It's easier to use a standard save size for all games on a flashcart.
Check this with just about every flashcart; they all use 512KB (except for 1MB games).

 

[Normmatt]

Thanks Normatt.

This brings up another question about saves that you probably can answer.

I notice that all saves are 512K in AKAIO, even for games that use really small saves like 4K or 64K etc.

How come the save files aren't the game save size?

There is no way to detect what the games save type is before running the game thus a standard save size was setup, carts like the akrpg however use a temporary save buffer which means they only backup to the sd (on next boot) the data that was actually written. No direct sd flashcart currently has save type detection as its almost impossible to do.

 

[CoconutCake]

Thanks for the explanation.

Is there a list anywhere of games that use more than 512K?

 

[wchill]

I'm not aware of one; your best bet is to search before you start a game.
Or, you can just force 1MB saves on every single game you have.

 

[Burbruee]

I don't know if this answers the original question, but I got my AK2 a couple of days ago, before that I had the very old GBAMP2 with the hack.
Anyway, the GBAMP2 always produced 1 MB .sav files no matter the game you used, parts of this is filled with zeros at multiple sections of the file.
I copied my old GBAMP save file from Pokemon Pearl over to my Acekard and it works without any problems, AK does not change filesize to 512K, but keeps it at 1 MB, so it supports the size, don't know of any games that actually uses full 1 MB saves though.