Chrono Cross Save File Editor

[Magus]

Hello everyone, fellow players, non players, people who just like passing by.
And also people who liked my editor so I pushed myself out of my lazyness and tried to make something good.
Since my original question has been quickly answered and this thread turned about the editor, I decided to change the title and post here the updates.

Mandatory disclaimer: everything you do with the editor is not my responsibility, make backup copies of your file, and in general don't do anything stupid (like, but not limited to, assigning items or elements to characters who can't use them).
Also I have not tested enough the behavior of the game if you get items you shouldn't have.
As always any feedback is appreciated.

Edited file with names for everything that has no name (items, elements, enemies):
https://mega.nz/file/cKdSCQZI#NW7SK_t9EW8m2CMkZKFRENg8N3zB6Wt8-iVoFQ9AgZQ
It needs to replace the same file in:
<Steam path>\steamapps\common\CHRONO CROSS THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION\data\lang.dat


Changes:
0.0.0.6 - 2025-01-12 Trudi (She was my 20+ years old cat. Last year, in this night, she asked to go out for last time, as all animals do, to find a hidden place and die. We never found her again.)
Download: https://mega.nz/file/USMhSKhK#ALF2335w3OXFcTMtOOk5mrmG6NTD0zKmh6T0sJSTE_4
Scan: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/68ce6c2d0aab05e70d8080e3567ce61efe5c07596191b409eb967f0539990264
-edit saved game language
-custom name edit and a map with all available characters
-Min/Max stats buttons
-fixed an error when saving without full party
-fixed minor details

0.0.0.5 - 2024-11-08 Halloween Rewind
Download: https://mega.nz/file/QHlFUZoC#fZjUhrdj9hqSElseNWmRAIYX3tBm3qM93o-KCba7FBM
Scan: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/d5b24bcae29e39b216768f3c64d125b7fccd64fb9ec8ead3c86d1d18cec3b00e
-quick fix cause 0.0.0.4 version has a bug in saving routine and won't write the file

0.0.0.4 - 2024-10-19 Halloween Decorations (it's not Halloween yet, but we're placing decorations)
Download: https://mega.nz/file/wKUXkDrI#JrqEo2t5fJMJsxobmlsnVoMTKECjsemB4cUno91gIk8
Scan: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/3beb3c4929c8e2e336f2e71ca75900413e530d8089ff07ea01ff3a23350dabcd
-updated embedded 7zip
-party edit
-model for all characters (only working models)
-Serge/Lynx form and element
-Pip form and element
-reworked inventory, split items and elements, added all items and elements, even dummy ones
-elements grid: button for fixing character's personal techs
-elements grid: list of active slots, right click for activation
-list of dopplegangs (everything in list, still missing a filter for legit ones)
-fixed minor and major details

0.0.0.3 - 2024-09-07 Old Fair of Donkeys (silly name, but where I live there is a town fair)
Download:
https://mega.nz/file/VSl0SKxJ#3ans5uYIacQl9wxqstSR6Lx_ZZIlSxAU5Ex63KW3_iQ
Scan: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/a21c01c2c6bd27bb8be6d3a873b32d1497da242e75d34c6bd341f58434c49bb4
**BIG WARNING FOR THIS VERSION**
This version embeds a portable version of 7Zip so some antivirus softwares may detect a false positive. While the 7Zip comes from official site and my code is pretty safe, be aware of this.
**END OF BIG WARNING**
-implemented 7zip for working on zip files (remaster save file)
-reworked load/save functions so the editor now supports remaster save file and single slots (mcs)
-editable basic settings
-new window frames with pictures
-fixed little details here and there

0.0.0.2 - 2024-06-22 Summer Solstice
Download: https://mega.nz/file/BPc0EaKA#r3XMaaJrPhPP73TR_zqJQJ60wy6DJHNX5z1KIZZ0F2g
-reworked elements grid, now it's definitely faster on loading and won't freeze
-new element pictures
-editable inventory for items and elements (also with new pictures)

0.0.0.1 - 2023-12-26 Christmas Preview
Download: https://mega.nz/file/9Kd0wahL#UQljJF7HXe_7kQrkw-ty7YfV5vnIU9-BdayWVenEXMU
-detects used save slots
-displays picture of characters
-editable list of recruited characters
-editable list of owned key items
-editable elements grid for each character
-editable equips for characters
-stats math for preview when changing equips

Big thanks to everyone who showed interest, I really appreciate that.


Here is the original post for those who are interested.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello all fellow players.

First of all let me tell you a little story.
I've played CC on PSX many years ago, something like 20+ years ago. Then later I played it again on emulators.
Back then I achieved quite a lot in the game: all chars with techs, true ending with the Chrono Cross, other endings, many rainbow weapon (or whatever they were called).
Then it happened I grew older so I got interested in editing savegames more than playing the games themselves.
I made some editors since then, but I'll discuss this another time (or you can message me if you wish), and even started to disassemble the datas in the memory card.
After a while I got bored and moved on other RPGs.

Why am I telling you this story? My reasons are very simple. Since the release of the new Steam edition I've been wanting to playing CC again. Also it sparked the interest in furthering the editor once again.

Now, it became evident to all players that the "new version" isn't really a conversion, a remake or anything, it's just the original, with updated graphics and music, running on some kind of emulator.
In the save folder (C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\My Games\CHRONO CROSS THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION\Steam\<SomeLongCode>) there are 2 interesting files: config.ini and save.dat There is also a 3rd file, needed for the SteamCloud Sync.
If you rename save.dat into .zip you just get a zip file with 4 files inside: memcard1.mcr, memcard2.mcr, achievement.dat and ext_save.dat .
While I'm not interested in those .dat files (at least for now), I find the .mcr files much more interesting: they have a sospicious name and they have the exact size of memory cards used by emulators. I bet they ARE memory cards.
Now it comes the catch: that zip file is password protected. While I can work my ways on checksums or other type of validation in the savegame files, I'm at loss on zip passwords.
And here is where you may help me: did anyone manage to find the password for that zip yet?
In case you do and you're willing to share, know that I'll really appreciate that.
Thank you all in advance for any hint.

Before people come criticizing or flaming about "cheating is bad", "loser for wanting to cheat", or similar useless statements, I'd like to point out, as explained above, I already achieved my goals with the game, I bought this version cause I like to support the brand, and I just moved on a different way to entertain/challenge my brain with this game.
Thank you for understanding.
Also sorry for typos/mistakes: english is not my motherlanguage and despite being used to be decently good, I guess my brain is also not immune to rust and aging.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Deykkcaos]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Magus:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Deykkcaos:

p.s: i dont know if you already there, but i will leave the modders community in discord https://discord.gg/pZQYceUC

Merry christmas and happy new year!

Thank you dude, added you and will join Discord.
I'm sorry, but the savefile is made for 44 characters and every field (equips, stats, elements, models, and so on) if made for 44 slots. All fields aer placed back to back, so there is no actual space for more characters.
Even if we could find a way to add more slots we still would have to change the save layout and remake the executable to actually read those new data.

Gotta leave in few hours, but before that I'll leave a little thing here: since the remaster removed all names for unused items, elements and enemies, I edited this file so all those now have a name.
It's generic names, but enough to see something instead of blank blocks.
https://mega.nz/file/cKdSCQZI#NW7SK_t9EW8m2CMkZKFRENg8N3zB6Wt8-iVoFQ9AgZQ

It needs to replace the same file in
<Steam path>\steamapps\common\CHRONO CROSS THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION\data\lang.dat
I made it for myself while studying the game, you can add it to your list of mods if no one made it yet.
Also updated first post.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too, and everyone else.

I will post on mod index guide (with credits to you) when you release the new Editor, ty very much again for your share!

[Deykkcaos]

things that will be cool to add in editor:

-> to change the name of essentials NPCs ( they have portraits in game) like Marge (serges mon), Zippa( Karsh mom), Gogh( Van father), Lisa, Miguel, Garai, Dario, Direa , Balthasar and etc,
-> change name of minor role NPCS BUT active like Solt, Peppor, Ketchop, Toma,...
-> to change element names (to customize name of skills)

[Magus]

Hello again, I'm back from my work trip and I'm so dead I'm gonna sleep for a couple days.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Deykkcaos:

things that will be cool to add in editor:

-> to change the name of essentials NPCs ( they have portraits in game) like Marge (serges mon), Zippa( Karsh mom), Gogh( Van father), Lisa, Miguel, Garai, Dario, Direa , Balthasar and etc,
-> change name of minor role NPCS BUT active like Solt, Peppor, Ketchop, Toma,...
-> to change element names (to customize name of skills)

That's a cool thing, but I'm afraid it goes outside my working area.
This is a save file editor because I only work on the save file.
Editing game files becomes modding, and that's something I don't want to do at this time.
Save editing and modding should be 2 separate things, I don't like mixing them.
Hope you understant my point of view. It's still a good idea for another project.

I don't know if I'll ever start that new project, but since I already studied some files, I'll leave some notes here.
Open this file with any compression tool (usually 7zip works fine to me):
<Steam path>\steamapps\common\CHRONO CROSS THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION\data\lang.dat

Inside there are some TXT files with translations for most of the interface part of the game, and some CSV with dialogues.
Forget the CSV files and just look at those TXT files. Here is the content of each:
btmes.txt -> Battle Messages
cmnmes.txt -> Common Messages
error.txt -> Error Messages
keyitem.txt -> Key Item Descriptions
memmenu.txt -> Members Menu (party menu)
menutest.txt -> General Messages
ome.txt -> Characters Descriptions
savetbl.txt -> Chapter Names in save/load screen
shopmenu.txt -> Shop Messages
sysmes.txt -> System Messages (item names, character names, element names, key item names, enemy names, element descriptions)
ui_configmenu.txt -> Option Messages
ui_pausemenu.txt -> Pause Messages
waa_spec.txt -> Item Descriptions

I already posted an edited sysmes with new names for unused items/elements/enemies, that file contains most of useful text and it would be a good start for modding names.
Also keyitem, ome and waa_spec would be interesting for modding.

I'm afraid there is no file with NPC names, they are included in the dialog files.
So if you want to change the name of any NPC you have to trace every occurrence in the dialogue files and manually change it.

Enough for now, hope it's useful. Goodnight everyone and goodnight me.

[Toku-Nobunaga]

I am new to this application.
When I load the save file "save.dat" into it it seems fine.
When I try to save it, even with no changes the application crashes with:
'The index is out of the matrix borders' System.IndexOutOfRangeException

[Swift_Talon]

I would like to request a feature.
Buttons on the character stat screen to set the current and all characters to their default 0 star stat values. I manually did such a thing on emulator in the past to make newgame+ interesting again.
Additionally the same feature for default max stats for each character, for those other people

[Magus]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Toku-Nobunaga:

I am new to this application.
When I load the save file "save.dat" into it it seems fine.
When I try to save it, even with no changes the application crashes with:
'The index is out of the matrix borders' System.IndexOutOfRangeException

Hello and welcome to the party.
I'm sorry for the error you got, there was indeed a couple of potential issues I found thanks to your feedback:
-error if not all memory cards were present (card1, card2 and rd save)
-error on save if you didn't have a full party (empty party slot, I guess you had this)

I already fixed both, but I'll wait for a release cause I'm really close to finish on another complex feature.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Swift_Talon:

I would like to request a feature.
Buttons on the character stat screen to set the current and all characters to their default 0 star stat values. I manually did such a thing on emulator in the past to make newgame+ interesting again.
Additionally the same feature for default max stats for each character, for those other people

That's a good idea, a couple buttons for MIN/MAX all stats. Shouldn't take long making it, it would surely take longer to gather all starting stats.
I only have 1 doubt on that: since you only gain stats on new stars and the gain is based on some secret numbers, I already found those numbers but I don't know how they affect stats growth yet. So you may end up with lower stats than expected, or no stats gain at all if you already maxed out your stars.
As long as you could edit your stats again (and you can) it shouldn't be a big issue. I may just fix the behaviour of stats growth later. Added to the list for next release.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Deykkcaos:

things that will be cool to add in editor:

-> to change element names (to customize name of skills)

Man... why did you ask such a thing??
The coding of each character of the name is horribly ugly. Why did they have to make it so complicated? It's almost as if the guy who made it was hating himself and his job and his life, and he was actively trying to have a stroke and a heart attack at once.

I had to test almost each printable character one by one, and I'm lucky there is only 1 big table for non Japanese languages.
Now I still have to make the table for the Japanese language, but it's only half the size of the other one.
So wish me good luck and see you soon.

[Deykkcaos]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Magus:

Man... why did you ask such a thing??
The coding of each character of the name is horribly ugly. Why did they have to make it so complicated? It's almost as if the guy who made it was hating himself and his job and his life, and he was actively trying to have a stroke and a heart attack at once.

Sorry about that , if i remember correctly Razzly is one of the characters that the name you giver to her affects the element name skill (maybe you consider to look on this to begin) , i give Juliana nick to Razzly, everytime his element skill change to JULstar



https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3399597220

[Magus]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Deykkcaos:

Sorry about that :sophiesmile: , if i remember correctly Razzly is one of the characters that the name you giver to her affects the element name skill (maybe you consider to look on this to begin) , i give Juliana nick to Razzly, everytime his element skill change to JULstar

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3399597220

I looked into it, seems like the game does it by itself, it takes the first 3 letters of the name and use them in her skills names.
If you give her a name with less than 3 letters the game uses all of them with no spaces.
https://mega.nz/file/peE1TQZC#owdZWFORX_HQeVgF2Y8Jil4p5w71Y5caiEBTgxxLqE0

In the meantime I'm almost done with the name part, bit by bit, character to character, I'm getting to it.
Just to make things easier, Japanese names are made in a different way from other names...

[Magus]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Swift_Talon:

I would like to request a feature.
Buttons on the character stat screen to set the current and all characters to their default 0 star stat values. I manually did such a thing on emulator in the past to make newgame+ interesting again.
Additionally the same feature for default max stats for each character, for those other people

Added buttons for beginning stats (I just copied stats of a fresh game with no levelling yet) and max stats. I don't know what max stats are supposed to be for each character, so if you find a good table I'll be glad to add them.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Magus:

Just to make things easier, Japanese names are made in a different way from other names...

After unquantified time spent trying character by character, I made a fairly complete charmap for supported characters in renaming our heroes.
I said fairly complete, but it actually supports only western (latin) alphabet and Japanese Katakana/Hiragana, which are used ingame. There are a lot of other letters (greek, russian, arabic, indic, thai, chinese and japanese kanji) that I'm NOT going to test if they are supported ingame.

I found this little trick: when you start a game, the save marks the language you used. If you don't use the same language when you load that game, it won't use your custom names but it uses the default ones for the language you're using at the moment. So I added an option to change language of the save aswell.

Everything is in the first post with new links.
Hope the new update is appreciated and feedbacks/suggestions are always welcome.
Thank you again for your interest, your understanding and patience.

[Deykkcaos]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Magus:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Swift_Talon:

I would like to request a feature.
Buttons on the character stat screen to set the current and all characters to their default 0 star stat values. I manually did such a thing on emulator in the past to make newgame+ interesting again.
Additionally the same feature for default max stats for each character, for those other people

Added buttons for beginning stats (I just copied stats of a fresh game with no levelling yet) and max stats. I don't know what max stats are supposed to be for each character, so if you find a good table I'll be glad to add them.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Magus:

Just to make things easier, Japanese names are made in a different way from other names...

After unquantified time spent trying character by character, I made a fairly complete charmap for supported characters in renaming our heroes.
I said fairly complete, but it actually supports only western (latin) alphabet and Japanese Katakana/Hiragana, which are used ingame. There are a lot of other letters (greek, russian, arabic, indic, thai, chinese and japanese kanji) that I'm NOT going to test if they are supported ingame.

I found this little trick: when you start a game, the save marks the language you used. If you don't use the same language when you load that game, it won't use your custom names but it uses the default ones for the language you're using at the moment. So I added an option to change language of the save aswell.

Everything is in the first post with new links.
Hope the new update is appreciated and feedbacks/suggestions are always welcome.
Thank you again for your interest, your understanding and patience.

ty very much! i will download and test soon!

sorry for Trudi, =(

[Magus]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Deykkcaos:

sorry for Trudi, =(

Thank you, but don't worry: she had a long and comfortable life, being treated like a queen.
She was smart enough not to go on the street and to stay close to home, so she was always inside when it was cold and she always had good food available.

In the meantime I'd like to point out a couple things I found:
-loading a game with all characters unlocked WILL trigger the "The Recruiter" achievement
-loading a game with all frames unlocked WILL trigger the "Hall of Framer" achievement
-loading a game with the Crono Cross in inventory WILL NOT trigger the "The Long-Lost Element" achievement, you have to trigger the event for that
-loading a game with maxed stars WILL NOT trigger the "Gold Stars for Everyone" achievement, you have to gain the 99th star for it