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

[dhowerter]

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?

I'm interested in the BRAM tool (just for managing save game data and seeing the file SIZES, not editing it tho), but that screenshot of it has me confused 

For example, it lists the size of the Coryoon save as "24"
    I assume that is 24 units (the unit of measurement for save game sizes; with around 2000 units total for CD system save space or a Turbo Booster Plus),   correct?

BUT then "Falcon.His" has a size of "4C" O_O or Dracula X has a size of "A0"!!
     How can you have a size of 4C?? (it's supposed to be a number) How do you convert that into the numerical normal save units?

PLease help! -_- Thanks.

.

[Joe Redifer]

I can't remember the term for such digits, but it goes from 0-9 and then from A to F.  So A=10 and F=15.  0 is also considered a number to that's 16 digits to choose from.  It doesn't do any good for the user to see sizes represented in this manner.

If you want a better way to see the file sizes and have access to a CD-ROM, get Valis 4 (Japan only) as it has this built in and the display and representation of sizes is much cleaner and more well thought out:

[nat]

It's hexadecimal.

4C = 76 bytes

"BRAM SIZE: $0800" = 2,048 bytes

[dhowerter]

ALL -

OK.. well I can't use Valis 4 because I don't have a Turbo / PCE CD-ROM drive.



That being said, maybe I can use Order of the Griffon HuCard to see the file sizes.

BUT I had a question about that.

If you look here: http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=974.0

in the first post you will see a screenshot of OOTG asking if you want to delete ONE specific file.

My questions:
   1. Does it keep asking you if you would like to delete EACH save file in memory until you go through them ALL? (if you select NO) ie. in some kind of order maybe from largest file to smallest?
       OR does it just ask about one file (the largest?) and that is it?

   2. Does it stop asking the moment you clear enough save space for the OOTG save file? (412 units)

   3. Does Falcon (the other hucard that tellls you file sizes) work the same way?

.

[dhowerter]

Can anyone who knows (or who has Order of the Griffon) please answer my OOTG questions above?

This might be the best way for me to see save file sizes (with cd drive of any type), so I'd like to understand how it works. 

Thanks!

.

[Necromancer]

   1. Does it keep asking you if you would like to delete EACH save file in memory until you go through them ALL? (if you select NO) ie. in some kind of order maybe from largest file to smallest? OR does it just ask about one file (the largest?) and that is it?

It keeps asking about each file in memory in the order that it was created (the same order that they appear when viewed from a system card).

   2. Does it stop asking the moment you clear enough save space for the OOTG save file? (412 units)

Yes.

   3. Does Falcon (the other hucard that tellls you file sizes) work the same way?

Not really; Falcon's memory manager shows up as soon as the card boots and finds the memory is full.  It bears a passing resemblance to the following:

*****************************
*****************************
**THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SPACE*****
**TO SAVE GAMES IN SRAM********
*****************************
**CHOOSE FILES TO ERASE OR******
**PRESS SELECT TO IGNORE SRAM***
      --------------------------
     |   FILENAME              SIZE    |     
     | >XZR_DATA_3           112<   |
     |   XZR_DATA_2           112    |
     |   XZR_DATA_1           112    |
***|   DRACULA X              160   |*** 
***|   GODZILLA.X              20   |***
***|----------------------------|***
***|   SIZE NEEDED             14   |***
***------------------------------***

Tremble before my mighty ascii skillz! 

It's a very utilitarian looking screen (black and white no less).  You scroll up/down to see the other save files, press RUN when you find one to sacrifice, it gets deleted (without confirmation of your selection), and the game starts like normal.

[Bigdog302]

can you still buy the neoflash 64 and 128? that is one of the coolest things i have ever seen.there is many times i have been playing a hu card game in magic engine and wished i could play it on real hardware.

[dhowerter]

   1. Does it keep asking you if you would like to delete EACH save file in memory until you go through them ALL? (if you select NO) ie. in some kind of order maybe from largest file to smallest? OR does it just ask about one file (the largest?) and that is it?

It keeps asking about each file in memory in the order that it was created (the same order that they appear when viewed from a system card).

   2. Does it stop asking the moment you clear enough save space for the OOTG save file? (412 units)

Yes.

   3. Does Falcon (the other hucard that tellls you file sizes) work the same way?

Not really; Falcon's memory manager shows up as soon as the card boots and finds the memory is full.  It bears a passing resemblance to the following:

*****************************
*****************************
**THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SPACE*****
**TO SAVE GAMES IN SRAM********
*****************************
**CHOOSE FILES TO ERASE OR******
**PRESS SELECT TO IGNORE SRAM***
      --------------------------
     |   FILENAME              SIZE    |     
     | >XZR_DATA_3           112<   |
     |   XZR_DATA_2           112    |
     |   XZR_DATA_1           112    |
***|   DRACULA X              160   |*** 
***|   GODZILLA.X              20   |***
***|----------------------------|***
***|   SIZE NEEDED             14   |***
***------------------------------***

Tremble before my mighty ascii skillz! 

It's a very utilitarian looking screen (black and white no less).  You scroll up/down to see the other save files, press RUN when you find one to sacrifice, it gets deleted (without confirmation of your selection), and the game starts like normal.

Heh. Your ASCII skills are quite nice actually 




Three more Order of the Griffon questions:
 
1.    In the screenshot of OOTG I linked to 
    (  http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=974.0  )


it says it needs 412 units to save, but in the game save FAQ
    (  http://turbo.mindrec.com/files/gamesave.faq  )

it says that Order of the Griffon needs 412 units to save AND it lets you create 4 save files

SO does EACH of the 4 OOTG save files take up 412 units? or is 412 all 4 together?
 
2. If you had lets say, 2 OOTG save files in memory, would it STILL be 412 units? or half that? (206 units)


3. I figure that if I wanted to manage my saves using OOTG, I could *FORCE* the Order of the Griffon "Delete menu" (the menu in the screenshot that asks you if you want to delete the files) to come up by doing this:
        I could simply start playing OOTG for a few minutes, then save , then move to a new location and then save again and repeat that until I ran out of room , thus causing the menu to pop up.

   Would that work? If not, could you recommend another way to get the OOTG delete menu to pop up when you want it to?

.

[nat]

can you still buy the neoflash 64 and 128? that is one of the coolest things i have ever seen.there is many times i have been playing a hu card game in magic engine and wished i could play it on real hardware.

Of course you can still buy them. I even posted links earlier in this thread.

[Bigdog302]

i cannot seem to join there at the ic 2005 place at all,even though i have filled out the form properly.do they have a email they can be reached at? i have tried using both IE and firefox as a web browser but it says "make sure you fill out the form".even though every field with a red asterisk is filled out and everything is legit.do they have a phone number to call for ordering?

[Necromancer]

1.    In the screenshot of OOTG I linked to it says it needs 412 units to save, but in the game save FAQ it says that Order of the Griffon needs 412 units to save AND it lets you create 4 save files.

SO does EACH of the 4 OOTG save files take up 412 units? or is 412 all 4 together?

Four separate saves of 412 units each.

2. If you had lets say, 2 OOTG save files in memory, would it STILL be 412 units? or half that? (206 units)

You'd have two separate files in memory, with each one taking 412 units.

3. I figure that if I wanted to manage my saves using OOTG, I could *FORCE* the Order of the Griffon "Delete menu" (the menu in the screenshot that asks you if you want to delete the files) to come up by doing this:
        I could simply start playing OOTG for a few minutes, then save , then move to a new location and then save again and repeat that until I ran out of room , thus causing the menu to pop up.

   Would that work? If not, could you recommend another way to get the OOTG delete menu to pop up when you want it to?

.

That's exactly what I did to view OOTG's delete menu, though you'll have to have enough other files saved to eat up the remaining 352 units of memory.

[dhowerter]

 ALL:

DOH! I didn't realize a Tennokoe Bank doesn't let you DELETE individual files. Bummer 

Well, OK, I got to get:
    -  a CD System Card 2.0 (for viewing / deleting files) AND
    -  a Tennokoe Bank or 2 (for file storage) AND
    -  Order of the Griffon (USA chip - to see file sizes)

Geez lol. Complicated, isn't it? ^_^





SO a few burning questions here : (about the Tennokoe Bank)


1. Does anybody have the link to a Tennokoe Bank Battery Replacement FAQ IN ENGLISH? (I don't read Japanese)

       (I found a couple FAQs in Japanese; the links to them were actually in the thread someone linked to about the Namami Bank




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

       a. I think it is CR2320, but I want to confirm that. Is this correct?

       b.  I wanted to replace the battery in the Tennokoe with the exact same battery (a Panasonic CR2320 I think) and I did a little searching for Panasonic CR2320 batteries, but all I could find is Panasonic BR2320 (B instead of C)
     
            Anybody know if BR2320 and CR2320 are exactly the same battery?

 I'm double checking this because I accidentally FRIED my Saturn by replacing the CR2032 battery in it  (which is rechargable) with a DL2032 (which is NOT rechargable -_-)




3. Finally, anybody know any reliable online stores where you can buy a Tennokoe Bank? (please list the one with the cheapest price you know of, I may buy 2


Thanks!
.

[dhowerter]

Can anyone who knows about the Tennokoe Bank please answer my Tennokoe Bank questions above? (October 8th post)

  (The *English* battery replacement FAQ, the model number of the battery (and the "BR" question), and perhaps most importantly, the online stores where you can buy a Tennokoe Bank question

Thanks!
.

[dhowerter]

Can anyone please answer any of the Tennokoe Bank questions in my October 8th post? O:)   (answer any you know)

I'd like to buy one but I need to know the answers to those 3 questions first.
 
 (especially since one of the questions is WHERE online to buy them ;\ - heck, lots of you have a Tennokoe Bank, so I know you got it somewhere ^_^)

And I might also order the replacement batteries now too for the Tennokoe Bank but I need to know what the difference in BR and CR is (see October 8th post for full question)

Thanks!
.

[ccovell]

Obviously, nobody here knows.  I'd recommend doing an internet search for greater speed about the battery questions.