Hello, everyone! First off, I apologize in advance if this is the incorrect board for this type of question.
A friend of mine and I have recently played through Suikoden I, with the plan being to continue through the series.
We've hit something of a snag, though. Despite having a save file at the final save point, which Suikoden II looks for, Suikoden II simply states "There is no Suikoden I Save Data" when attempting to import it.
I've performed several searches, but none seem to have lead me to an answer, so I'm asking here in slight desperation.
The Suikoden I file is Suikoden (USA) (v1.1), and Suikoden II is Suikoden II (USA), so they're both the same region. I do have saveRAM for Suikoden I.
I have flushed SaveRAM and the file does appear if I just boot up Suikoden I and select Continue.
If it matters, the version of BizHawk I am using is Version 1.11.6.
Is there perhaps something I am forgetting to do? I feel like I'm making some kind of newbie error here. I appreciate any ideas that might lead me towards solving this problem!
If I'm understanding you correctly, you'll have to make a copy of the saveram file from suikoden 1, giving it the right name for suikoden 2, and then use that
I appreciate the response!
Hm, but what would be the right name. .? I don't think I quite understand what you mean by that, unless I'm overthinking it.
EDIT:
Thank you, This actually worked.
For anyone Google Searching this in the future or whatever, the solution is to name your saveRAM file for Suikoden I the same as your Suikoden 2 .cue file, so in my case,
Suikoden (USA) (v1.1).SaveRAM -> Suikoden II (USA).SaveRAM
Suikoden II will then locate the save file, and you will be able to import.
Thank you again, Natt.
The file has a name something like "Suikoden.SaveRAM" and you need to copy it and give it a new name something like "Suikoden II.SaveRAM" but the exact name will depend on what's in the game database. If you're not sure, start a new game in Suikoden II from scratch, save it, and see what name it comes up with.
Edit: Glad it worked out. To explain what happened: As a convenience feature, Bizhawk gives you separate memcards for each game you play. Usually it works out well, but in a few situations like this you need to do a bit of extra legwork.
I have another question, then. Supposing I decide to move on to Suikoden III, which is on PS2. Because Bizhawk does not support PS2 emulation, I figure I'll need to use something like PCSX2. Is there a method to have a separate emulator recognize the saveRAM file?
Take a Bizhawk Octoshock (PSX) saveram file and split it into two halves, each exactly 128KB. They will be valid MCD files that work in other emulators.
I really appreciate your help with this, Natt.
We seem to have hit another snag with Suikoden 2 though - When we attempt to save, it's saying that the memory card is full. Of course, maybe this should make sense to me, because technically we're using the memory card from Suikoden 1, I guess.
Is there perhaps a way to increase the amount of storage allowed on a saveRAM file?
There is not, that's built into the console. You'll have to do whatever a real console gamer would do (of course, you can make a backup of any saveram file you want to keep first).
I see. .I suppose were this a real PSX, I'd transfer data over to a larger Memory Card.
As this is not an option. .the next rational move would be to free up space on the current memory card, which means I would turn the PSX on without a disc in the tray and then access memory card management from there.
Aha! By launching Suikoden II's cue file first, then opening the disc tray with disc controls and then soft resetting, I am able to access the memory card that way.
I think I can handle it from here. Thanks for putting up with my questions!
It's really more like I underestimated just how big the Suikoden save files actually were (two blocks per save!!), and just how little storage was actually available on the PS1's memory cards. Childhood memories of memory cards with supposedly larger storage are simply of third party cards that happened to have two or so cards in the same container, you just clicked a button to switch between them.
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natt wrote:
There were larger memory cards than 128KB? I did not know this. Perhaps they could be emulated then.
There were 3rd party ones, they were usually "paged" (I assume games validated the size?). I would not recommend adding support for these... They were rather complex (page switching button combinations) and shitty quality, at least the ones I could find back in the day.
Sorry to bump an old thread, but I again wanted to express thanks to you, Natt. Because of you, I was able to import my save from Sui1 and experience the absolute masterpiece that was Suikoden 2
I'll be attempting to move on to Suikoden 3 next, hopefully I can figure out the importing thing for it, too!
Yep, I'm going to have to ask for help again, I'm sorry.
Natt, you said to simply
natt wrote:
Take a Bizhawk Octoshock (PSX) saveram file and split it into two halves, each exactly 128KB. They will be valid MCD files that work in other emulators.
But I have to admit I am completely stumped as to how to even begin doing this. The "file splitter" I located (gsplit?) spat out some cryptic error about there not being enough space to split the file. I searched a few guides, but they all pointed to tools that do not recognize the SAVERAM file that Bizhawk uses. I tried simply changing the extensions, but that predictably didn't work, they don't even show up in PCSX2's memory card selection list for the slots.
Thanks again in advance for any help from anybody!
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Goodguy3 wrote:
Yep, I'm going to have to ask for help again, I'm sorry.
Natt, you said to simply
natt wrote:
Take a Bizhawk Octoshock (PSX) saveram file and split it into two halves, each exactly 128KB. They will be valid MCD files that work in other emulators.
But I have to admit I am completely stumped as to how to even begin doing this. The "file splitter" I located (gsplit?) spat out some cryptic error about there not being enough space to split the file. I searched a few guides, but they all pointed to tools that do not recognize the SAVERAM file that Bizhawk uses. I tried simply changing the extensions, but that predictably didn't work, they don't even show up in PCSX2's memory card selection list for the slots.
Thanks again in advance for any help from anybody!
The "proper" way is to split the file using a Hex Editor. But, that would require you to understand Hexademcial math to determine where 128KB ends exactly. Too much, you might end up with a Junk Memory Card or too little and you get corrupted data.
You want 131072 Bytes of Data per Card. Copy the bytes into two separate files using the Hex Editor. The two "Cards" should be EXACTLY 131072 Bytes, each.
2nd card starts at Offset:
1F80
Card Header Signature:
4D 43
Sorry I can't help further beyond that.
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Thanks, I actually got it figured out and working! I'll go ahead and post the solution in case anyone out there on the web ever runs into this themselves.
I used HxD, an open source Hex Editor, to open up the Sui2 saveRAM. Since I needed a memCard file to be exactly 131072 bytes, I simply looked into what offset byte# 131072 would be at. In this case, it turned out to be offset 20000.
Then I simply copied all the bytes up to and including offset 20000 and pasted them into a new file, then named it with a .ps2 extension.
Finally, using PCSX2, I used the Ps2 boot menu to transfer my Sui2 save to the PS2 card I've been using. It is recognized as the Suikoden 2 save data!
Thanks, everyone!
I'll be attempting to move on to Suikoden 3 next, hopefully I can figure out the importing thing for it, too!
