What options are available for managing & backing up Game Saves?(in HuCard form)

[dhowerter]

Hi there  O:)

Two main questions here.


What I want to know is:

1.    - the various options (various available HuCard type products) for *backing up game save data* (on my USA TG16 with Turbo Booster PLUS and I have a PCE-->TG16 chip converter if it's necessary)


So far, the only one I know about is the Tennokoe Bank Hucard (powered by a battery, not a capacitor or some other kind of memory, correct?)


Any other Hucard type products you would care to recommend for this purpose?





and also I wanted to know: (perhaps even more important)

2.    - the options (various HuCard type products) to simply MANAGE game save data (that is, to be able to SEE and DELETE game save files, as well as see their NAMES, FILE SIZE, and AVAILABLE MEMORY LEFT)

and without having to wait until the memory runs out of space to do that ^^ (Order of the Griffon and Falcon

Normally, I would just go get a cheap System card 2.0 for this except someone mentioned before that it does not show the file SIZES or how much memory is left -_-      (only file names, that IS correct, yes?)


BTW, the Tennokoe Bank DOES let you view and delete in the Turbo Booster PLUS memory with ALL of the following, correct? 
        File name, File SIZE, Available memory left
     

If the battery in the Tennokoe Bank dies, would I still be able to view / delete game save data in the Turbo Booster Plus? (or doees it stop working completely if the battery goes)

    I would be using anything you recommend on my USA TG 16 with Turbo Booster PLUS. (and if necessary, my PCE-->TG16 chip converter)
     
 (those 2 functionalities #1 and #2 may or may not be in the same card tho

Please recommend away ^_^

.

[nat]

The Ten No Koe lets you view the file names on your TurboBooster Plus, but not file sizes.

There a utility called the BRAM Utility that does everything you asked about though-- it lists file names, sizes, how much memory is being used, and how much is free. It also lets you duplicate individual files and even edit the data, IIRC. I love it.

The catch is that you have to have a flash cartridge to use it since it's not available on any commercial HuCards. (You download the utility from the web, then load it on the flash cart via your USB port on your computer, then use the flash cart in your system.)

[Necromancer]

Weren't these questions answered in the other thread?

1.    - the various options (various available HuCard type products) for *backing up game save data* (on my USA TG16 with Turbo Booster PLUS and I have a PCE-->TG16 chip converter if it's necessary)

So far, the only one I know about is the Tennokoe Bank Hucard

The Tennokoe Bank is your only option for making a portable back-up of your save files (outside of manually writing down hex data), as it's the only card that consoles can write data to.  Mr. Covell's BRAM Tool (mentioned in your other thread and also by nat above) will let you make a back-up of a file before editing (in case you make an error that renders the file unusable), but that back-up will reside in the console's memory as the console can't flash the flash cart.

(powered by a battery, not a capacitor or some other kind of memory, correct?)

As mentioned in the other thread, it is indeed powered by a battery.  It's a button type battery that hides under the raised portion of the HuCard and can be replaced if necessary.

2.    - the options (various HuCard type products) to simply MANAGE game save data (that is, to be able to SEE and DELETE game save files, as well as see their NAMES, FILE SIZE, and AVAILABLE MEMORY LEFT)

and without having to wait until the memory runs out of space to do that ^^ (Order of the Griffon and Falcon

Normally, I would just go get a cheap System card 2.0 for this except someone mentioned before that it does not show the file SIZES or how much memory is left -_-      (only file names, that IS correct, yes?)

BRAM Tool is pretty much the only option that'll reveal such data without waiting; there are a few CD games that have file utilities, but I don't know of any other HuCards.  And yes, the system cards (and Tennokoe Bank) will only show the file name and not the file size or the amount of available memory.
    

If the battery in the Tennokoe Bank dies, would I still be able to view / delete game save data in the Turbo Booster Plus? (or doees it stop working completely if the battery goes).

I haven't tried it, but there's no reason that the HuCard would be unable to boot and function properly.  Of course, as soon as you turn it off any swapped banks will be lost.

[dhowerter]

There a utility called the BRAM Utility that does everything you asked about though-- it lists file names, sizes, how much memory is being used, and how much is free. It also lets you duplicate individual files and even edit the data, IIRC. I love it.

The catch is that you have to have a flash cartridge to use it since it's not available on any commercial HuCards. (You download the utility from the web, then load it on the flash cart via your USB port on your computer, then use the flash cart in your system.)

Hmmm interesting..

1. How much does a TG16 / PCE flash cart cost?
 
2. Anyone know of any good reliable places to buy one?

3. Would I need to use my pce--> tg16 converter for it?
 (Is it a "Japanese" or "USA" chip, so to speak?)

4. Anybody have the link for this BRAM Utility?

5. Does anyone have a link to a Tennokoe Bank Battery Replacement FAQ / Guide? (someone mentioned there is one in my previous thread)

6. Finally, do you need any kind of special tool (like a gamebit) to OPEN the Tennokoe Bank? How DO you open the thing? ;-)
    (If it's anything like a normal chip game, I don't see any obvious ways to open it :-)

.

[nat]

There a utility called the BRAM Utility that does everything you asked about though-- it lists file names, sizes, how much memory is being used, and how much is free. It also lets you duplicate individual files and even edit the data, IIRC. I love it.

The catch is that you have to have a flash cartridge to use it since it's not available on any commercial HuCards. (You download the utility from the web, then load it on the flash cart via your USB port on your computer, then use the flash cart in your system.)

Hmmm interesting..

1. How much does a TG16 / PCE flash cart cost?
2. Anyone know of any good reliable places to buy one?

There are three models available:

Tototek 32M Flash Cart - $115 (Parallel interface)
Neo Flash 64M Flash Cart - $109 (USB interface)
Neo Flash 128M Flash Cart - $149 (USB interface)

I have the second one, the Neo 64M cart. It's awesome, works perfectly. A very small number of people have received defective carts from the manufacturer, but Neo Team will replace them in this scenario.

3. Would I need to use my pce--> tg16 converter for it?
 (Is it a "Japanese" or "USA" chip, so to speak?)

It can be either. You can set the region of the flash cart youself. So no, you won't have to use a region adapter.

4. Anybody have the link for this BRAM Utility?

Click here and scroll down to "BRAM Tool." Click on the screenshot image to download the utility.

[Joe Redifer]

How can you move saves to and fro with a Flash card?

[nat]

You can't, but my information is for #2 from his original post-- how to simply "manage" save game data:

2.    - the options (various HuCard type products) to simply MANAGE game save data (that is, to be able to SEE and DELETE game save files, as well as see their NAMES, FILE SIZE, and AVAILABLE MEMORY LEFT)

[Joe Redifer]

But I am going by this:

It also lets you duplicate individual files

There wouldn't be any point to that if they both exist in the same place. 

[nat]

But I am going by this:

It also lets you duplicate individual files

There wouldn't be any point to that if they both exist in the same place. 

Not true.

BRAM Tool includes an editor that allows you to edit the data contained in the save game files.

The duplication function is useful in that you can make a copy of a file before you go in and edit it so you have a backup if something goes awry.

[Necromancer]

6. Finally, do you need any kind of special tool (like a gamebit) to OPEN the Tennokoe Bank? How DO you open the thing? ;-)
    (If it's anything like a normal chip game, I don't see any obvious ways to open it :-)

Unfortunately they're not screwed together, but rather glued.  I've had my Populous card apart to peak under its cap (which is identical to the Tennokoe Bank), and it wasn't that difficult to pry it open with a small screwdriver and a lot of patience.

[dhowerter]

6. Finally, do you need any kind of special tool (like a gamebit) to OPEN the Tennokoe Bank? How DO you open the thing? ;-)
    (If it's anything like a normal chip game, I don't see any obvious ways to open it :-)

Unfortunately they're not screwed together, but rather glued.  I've had my Populous card apart to peak under its cap (which is identical to the Tennokoe Bank), and it wasn't that difficult to pry it open with a small screwdriver and a lot of patience.

Wow. OK thanks for all the info :-) Flash carts are kinda expensive tho for just running the BRAM tool tho (and I doubt anyone here will encourage me to play PCE roms on this thing Not sure what I'm going to do there.
     (Any other place have them for cheaper?)




TO Necromancer / ALL:

Since it seems like a Tennokoe Bank does exactly what a system card does anyway (in terms of data management), I might as well get a Tennokoe to back up data.

SO a few burning questions :


1. Once you open a Tennokoe Bank, how do you close it again? ^_^ (reglue it or does it snap shut?)

2. Does anybody have the link to that Tennokoe Bank Battery Replacement FAQ? (I think it MIGHT come in handy

3. What is the designation of the little round battery inside the Tennokoe?       (like for example CR2032 is the one inside the Sega Saturn)

3. Finally, anybody know any good reliable places to buy a Tennokoe Bank? (please list the one with the cheapest price you know of, I may buy 2


     I figure if I back up the Turbo Booster Plus memory to TWO Tennokoe Banks, the odds of both of them dying at the same time is low

  (also maybe I can have one store the memory while I ahem.. try to replace the battery on the second one :-D
.

[termis]

A possible future option for you might be nanami bank (I say future because you need a CD-based system to use nanami bank).  This is a true, permanent option, storing any TG16/PCE save files on your computer/CD-R.  No worries about batteries dying on the tennokoe bank -- but there are some drawbacks.

I brought up nanami bank on a few threads, including this one. 
http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=5467.0

[Joe Redifer]

BRAM Tool includes an editor that allows you to edit the data contained in the save game files.

The duplication function is useful in that you can make a copy of a file before you go in and edit it so you have a backup if something goes awry.

Indeed, but how would the game know which file to load, especially since many games only save a single file?  Or does it let you rename the file as well?  That way you could name the save file as TELNETMEDCR92 and the unaltered file as BACKUP LOL for the game "Telenet Medocrity Fest '92"

[ccovell]

The BRAM tool makes a backup of individual files, and renames them with filenames that have an ever-increasing name/number.  This means that backups don't have the same name as the originals, and that you can backup the same file twice, three times, etc.

 

You can even backup a backup ad infinitum.  But that would be silly.


PCE ROM available here: http://www.disgruntleddesigner.com/chrisc/creations.html
I've been busy doing other programming projects, but I've been thinking about putting this on an ISO for easy burning to a PCE-CD.  Would anyone use this?

[Joe Redifer]

You can even backup a backup ad infinitum.  But that would be silly.

Yes it definitely would be as there isn't room for an infinite amount of saves unless the tool transfers those saves to a PC.

I like how the BRAM tool gives the available size as $$$ amounts.  Do I have to pay Chris for the save real estate on my TurboCD?