Game Saves Tutorial
Game Saves Tutorial
Game Saves Tutorial

Game Saves Tutorial

Last updated March 19, 2020.

About Game Saves

One of the features that FantasyAnime.com offers is that nearly all the RPGs that have been shrined have a collection of game saves from periodical points throughout the entire game. This is so that if for any reason you lose your saved position in an RPG, you can continue pretty much where you left off. (Naturally, that also means you're continuing the game from my gameplay session.) Fortunately for us, video game emulator authors have been faithful to supporting a standard format for saving saves. That means the game save files I offer can be used with any video game emulator, regardless of the OS or platform that it's on.

A Save Point in Chrono TriggerUsing game saves is very easy. All that you need to do is rename the save to the same filename as your video game ROM. However there are little details about this process that could get you really stuck, especially if you're still wrapping your head around video game emulators. And so I made this tutorial to help you out!

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Save States Vs. Saved RAM

There's an important detail about game saves that I need to point out to avoid confusion. Video game emulators save games in two ways:

  • Snes9X Save StatesSave States - This is a feature that every video game emulator offers. It allows you to save the exact position of your gameplay, regardless of whether it's an RPG or not. In most cases, the save state file is exclusive to the specific emulator that it came from, so it can't be transferred to other emulators. Sometimes the emulator author decides to rewrite the save state functionality, rendering your save state incompatible with future versions of the given emulator.
  • Final Fantasy 7 Save PointSaved RAM - The saved RAM primarily applies to RPGs. It's the file that video game emulators spit out whenever you save your game within the game (i.e. using a save point in Final Fantasy). Super Nintendo emulators give it an SRM file extension while all other emulators give it a SAV file extension. This is a standard format that all video game emulators adhere to. PlayStation 1 MCR memory card files are saved RAM as well.

Most of the time I offer saved RAM saves. I offer save states mainly for endings, since RPGs don't offer internal saving at that point.

Pro Tip: When playing RPGs I recommend that you save your game both with save states and saved RAM. That way, you'll always have a backup if something unfortunate happens.

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Step 1: Show File Extensions

By default Windows hides file extensions. To use game saves you need to be able to see file extensions so you can distinguish which file is the save amongst all the other files in an emulator's folder. It especially doesn't help that most of the emulator's files (including the save) have the generic file icon (Generic file icon). So here's how to show file extensions:

  1. Press the Alt key to display the folder menu and go to Tools > Folder Options, as shown here .
  2. Click on the View tab
  3. Look in the Advanced Settings area for Hide extensions for known file types, as shown here . Remove the check from Hide extensions for known file types.
  4. Click OK.

That's it! You should now see file extensions on every file.

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Using Super Nintendo SRM Saves

I have a video tutorial for using SRM saves:

SNES Game Save Tutorial on YouTube

Here's how to use game saves with Snes9X and ZSNES:

  1. Let's say you downloaded Earthbound and one of my saves for it. You would have two files: “Earthbound_(U)_[!].zip” (the ROM) and “earthbsave12-Zombies.zip” (the save). Extract the SRM save file from the zip file - particularly, for my Earthbound saves the SRM file is called “earthbound.srm”. If you need help with using zip files in Windows, check out this article.
  2. Show file extensions, if you haven't already.
  3. Next we need to rename the SRM file to the exact filename as the ROM. Keeping in mind that the ROM is called “Earthbound_(U)_[!].zip” - go ahead and right-click the SRM file, click Rename, and type “Earthbound_(U)_[!].srm” as the new filename.
  4. This next step is very important. Where you place the SRM file matters. Many emulators, including Snes9X, have a dedicated “Saves” folder. If you see a Saves folder then move the SRM file into it, for a setup like the picture below. Otherwise, keep the SRM file in the same folder as the ROM.
    Note: If you just downloaded Snes9X for the first time then you won't see a Saves folder. Snes9X will create a Saves folder after the first time you load a game.
  5. That's it! Load the game in Snes9X or ZSNES, continue past the title screen, and the saves should be there.

How to use SRM saves with Snes9X

If you're still having trouble, well, you didn't fully read my directions! Here are some of the common things people do wrong:

  1. An SRM file is not a save state. You don't load it by going to Load game position or Open State.
  2. An SRM file is not an actual game. You don't load it by going to File > Load Game as if you were opening a ROM. SRM files cannot be 'loaded' or 'opened' through an emulator's menus.
  3. The game saves in my website were captured from the North American versions of the games. They won't work on the European or Japanese versions.

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Using ZSNES Save States

ZSNES Save States MenuYouTube The video tutorial I posted in the SRM section covers using ZSNES save states as well.

Before I show you how to use my ZSNES ZST save states, I need to run by with you how to use save states in general. When a game is loaded, press Esc to bring back to the ZSNES menu and the save state options can be found in the Game menu (as shown in the shot toward the right). Save State saves your current position in the game and Open State recalls your saved state. ZSNES lets you have up to 10 different save states - going to Pick State lets you switch between them, as shown here . Now look at this picture . ZSNES saves each slot with a different file extension. For example, check out my Chrono Trigger ending save states . There are 10 of them and each one is set for a different save slot in ZSNES.

So here's how you use my save states:

  1. Let's say you downloaded Chrono Trigger and my ending states for it. You would have two files: “Chrono_Trigger_(U)_[!].zip” (the ROM) and “ctsaves_endings1.zip” (the states). Extract the save states from the zip file (these puppies ). If you need help with using zip files in Windows, check out this article. Extract the save state files into the same folder that the ROM is located. It's very important that the ROM and the save state files are in the same folder!
  2. Show file extensions, if you haven't already.
  3. Next we need to rename the save states to the exact filename as the ROM. Keeping in mind that the ROM is called “Chrono_Trigger_(U)_[!].zip” - go ahead and right-click the first save state file (or the specific one you want to use), click Rename, and type “Chrono_Trigger_(U)_[!]” as the new filename. Rename all of them if you want to use all of them. You'll end up with files named as so .
  4. Open ZSNES and load the ROM.
  5. If you're going to load just the first save state (the ZST), press Esc to bring up the ZSNES menu and go to Game > Load State.
  6. If you're going to load a state other than the first state, say the ZS6, first you need to choose that slot. Press Esc to bring up the ZSNES menu (if you haven't already) and go to Game > Pick State, as shown here . ZS6 is the 6th slot (see here which slot is which format ), so click on slot 6. Now load the state by going to Game > Load State.

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Using Genesis GS0 States (instead of SRMs)

I have a video tutorial for using GS0 saves:

Gens GS0 Save States Tutorial on YouTube

“GS0” is the file format for Gens save states. Most my Genesis game saves come with both the SRM and the GS0 file. I captured them with Gens. Kega Fusion has since become the #1 Genesis emulator, and I promote it as such in my website. And what makes Kega Fusion even better is that it has full support for GS0 save states.

I need to tell you about a problem with Genesis SRMs. The SRMs I've collected via Gens (which all the SRMs in FantasyAnime come from) work fine between Gens and Kega Fusion. However, they don't work with other Genesis emulators such as the ones on Android smartphones. Furthmore, Kega Fusion's SRMs don't work on any other emulator. So due to these complications, I feel safer just focusing on telling you about GS0 save states.

Here's how to use GS0 save state files with Kega Fusion or GensGS:

  1. Let's say you downloaded Shining Force 2 and one of my saves for it. You would have two files: “Shining_Force_II_(U)_[!].zip” (the ROM) and “sf2save_battle43.zip” (the save). Extract the GS0 save file from the zip file.
  2. If you don't see a GS0 file extension in the zip file and, as a result, you're not sure which file is indeed the GS0, follow these steps to show file extensions.
  3. Open Kega Fusion or GensGS, then load the ROM.
  4. On Kega Fusion, go to File > Load State As, as shown here . On GensGS, go to File > Load State.
  5. Choose the GS0 save file and click Open, as shown here .

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Using Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and Game Gear SAV Saves

Using SAV files is literally the same process as using SRM files. For the sake of tutorial-ing I'll give you specific directions:

  1. Let's say you downloaded Final Fantasy Legend for Game Boy and one of my saves for it. You would have two files: “Final_Fantasy_Legend,_The_(U)_[!].zip” (the ROM) and “fflsave_world4-1.zip” (the save). Extract the SRM save file from the zip file - particularly, for my Final Fantasy Legend saves the SAV file is called “ffl1rom.sav”. If you need help with using zip files in Windows, check out this article. Extract the SAV into the same folder that the ROM is located. It's very important that the ROM and the SAV are in the same folder!
  2. Show file extensions, if you haven't already.
  3. Next we need to rename the SAV file to the exact filename as the ROM. Keeping in mind that the ROM is called “Final_Fantasy_Legend,_The_(U)_[!].zip” - go ahead and right-click the SRM file, click Rename, and type “Final_Fantasy_Legend,_The_(U)_[!].sav” as the new filename.
  4. That's it! Load the game in the emulator, continue past the title screen, and the save should be there.

Game Gear Note: Some Game Gear emulators use SRM instead of SAV. Just change the file extension from SRM to SAV or vice versa, and you should be good to go.

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Using PlayStation MCR Saves

I have a video tutorial for using MCR saves:

PlayStation 1 MCR Memory Card File Tutorial on YouTube

Using MCR's with ePSXe
I captured the MCR file available in my FantasyAnime.com with ePSXe, so if you're using ePSXe all you need to do is drag the save over to ePSXe's memory card folder and choose Yes to replace the file. If you currently have any saves on memory card 1, make sure to make a backup copy because replacing it will erase them.

Using MCR's with other PSX emulators
You need to rename “epsxe000.mcr” to whatever the emulator calls its memory card files, then drag it to the memory card folder and choose Yes to replace the file. If you currently have any saves on the memory card you're about to replace, make sure to make a backup copy because replacing it will erase them.

Extracting saves from your real physical PSX memory card to the PC
Jump on Amazon or eBay to buy the PS3 Memory Card Reader for about $60-$200. Then follow the directions in this YouTube video.

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Transferring To Emulators on Wii, PS3, Xbox, etc.

There are so many different emulators on video game consoles. They're all setup differently. There is no universal set of directions I can give you on transferring saves to them. Your best bet is to try the reverse: transfer a save from the console emulator to a PC emulator. For example, transfer a save from Snes9X on Wii to Snes9X on PC. If you can figure that out, then you'd know what to do in order to transfer a save back to the console emulator. If transferring an SRM file doesn't work, try transferring a save state file.

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Transferring PlayStation 1 MCR Saves to the PSP

Unfortunately, it's not possible to transfer PlayStation 1 MCR saves to a PSP system. That is, it's not possible on a non hacked PSP. But you can transfer saves if you manage to hack your PSP. Then you could use a MCR-to-VMP utility to convert the save and transfer it over for use. This is all I know on the subject so Google around if you need further help.

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Transferring Saves to Emulators on Android

All of the gave saves available on Windows work perfectly fine on Android video game emulators! All except Genesis saves. You can transfer the save one of two ways: (1) connect your phone to your computer and copy it over, or (2) put your save on the cloud (i.e. Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) and download it to your phone.

  • Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Game Gear - To use their SAV files you're using the same exact process as you do on the PC. But remember, they may not work on every single emulator.
  • Transferring over an SRM save for an emulator on AndroidSNES - Android emulators (at least the ones I've used thus far) all use SAV for SNES & Genesis. Even though Windows' SNES saves are in SRM format, they still work on (most) Android emulators! All you need to do is change the SRM file extension to SAV. So just follow the same process for using SRM saves, but in addition to renaming the file you're changing the file extension. However, I need to point out that saves from PC emulators don't work on every single Android emulator. I know for sure that they work with Snes9x EX+.
  • Genesis - Unfortunately, Genesis SRMs/SAVs and GS0s do not work on Android emulators, even if you properly rename them. I haven't been able to figure out why.
  • Transferring over an MCR memory card file for an emulator on AndroidPlayStation 1 - To use MCR memory card files, you're using the same exact process as you do on the PC. You'll most likely have to rename the MCR to the same name that the emulator uses for its MCR files. If you're using someone else's MCR memory card file (like one from my site), make sure your game's ISO is the same region. For example, North American saves won't work on European games.

YouTube The video tutorial I posted in the SRM section also covers using SRM saves with Android emulators (at the end of it). When you connect your Android phone to your computer, you can simply drag & drop game save files to where they need to go.

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Can emulator saves be transferred to PC/iOS/Android games?

This question comes up a lot since many RPG classics such as Final Fantasy 1-9, Chrono Trigger, Shining Force 1-2, Phantasy Star 1-4, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, etc. are officially available on PC, iOS, and Android. Unfortunately, saves from emulators cannot be transferred to these official releases, nor can they be converted. Emulator saves can only be used with fan-made emulators. So if you had your heart set on transferring, say, Chrono Trigger saves to your Android device, you need to forego the idea of using the official release of Chrono Trigger and switch to an SNES emulator with the Chrono Trigger ROM.

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