VMS back to Dreamcast

[Ŧђɇ ƼϮϞ §μȑ√iⱴ۞ѓ]

So using a Dreamcast save on the Steam version of Grandia 2 works perfectly fine. You just use a tool like Chankast VMS Data browser by ElSemi, open the Dreamcast file and export it as raw and rename it to be used with this version of the game.

However, I can't get the opposite to work. Has anyone been able to use their VMS save file created by this version of the game back on their Dreamcast or DC emulator?

[Ŧђɇ ƼϮϞ §μȑ√iⱴ۞ѓ]

There must be a way. Does anyone know?

[Kurasiu]

I remember once using a homebrew tool called "Dreamcast Explorer", it was a bootable Dreamcast CD with lots and lots (around 6000) different saves you could download to your memory card and use them normally in DC games. I reckon it should work fine with the G2 saves, if you edit the ISO image and put them in, though you will have to google a bit, as I used it a long time ago, and don't really remember all of the details.

[Ŧђɇ ƼϮϞ §μȑ√iⱴ۞ѓ]

I should have been more specific. If I export a VMU save from my Dreamcast and use it on the PC game, it works. But If I take a PC VMS save and put it back on the Dreamcast VMU it doesn't work. I've tried renaming the VMS save with different extensions like BIN, DCI, VMI to import it to the VMU and it doesn't work. There has to be a way to make it work.

[keehu]

well the PC version stores some extra information (such as whether or not the game is in hard mode) and that alone would break the "save loading" procedure on the DC version. Perhaps looking at where that value is stored on the PC save file and removing it might work, but who knows.

[Ŧђɇ ƼϮϞ §μȑ√iⱴ۞ѓ]

Originally posted by You N'wah:

well the PC version stores some extra information (such as whether or not the game is in hard mode) and that alone would break the "save loading" procedure on the DC version. Perhaps looking at where that value is stored on the PC save file and removing it might work, but who knows.

Ah you bring up a very interesting point. I will do a comparison in a hex editor. Thanks

[Libs]

If someone wants to upload a save I can take a look. Giving me some stats like gold/special/mana would be nice also in the save you upload.

[Libs]

If anyone is intrested in converting to a dreamcast compatible save I wrote an application to do so for you. I need to touch up on the documentation still. Ask here or add me to steam if you have any questions. Information and download can be found here www.kl0wn.com/grandia2

[Ŧђɇ ƼϮϞ §μȑ√iⱴ۞ѓ]

Nice. I'll be sure to test as soon as I have the chance. Thanks.

[Libs]

Originally posted by Ŧђɇ ƼϮϞ §μȑ√iⱴ۞ѓ:

Nice. I'll be sure to test as soon as I have the chance. Thanks.

Any chance you've been able to try it yet? Curious to know if everything worked or not.

[Qoojo]

What you should do is take the save from dreamcast, load it in the steam version, then save without changing anything, if possible, in the steam version. Then diff the two files to see what changed, then you might be able to take a steam save to dreamcast if you can figure out what is extra.

[Libs]

Originally posted by Qoojo:

What you should do is take the save from dreamcast, load it in the steam version, then save without changing anything, if possible, in the steam version. Then diff the two files to see what changed, then you might be able to take a steam save to dreamcast if you can figure out what is extra.

My application that I linked already does that for you