Release DraStic Nintendo DS emulator

[Hồng Thất Công]

OK....how does one put .sav files into the appdata, so that Drastic will find the saved game...so that I can import a saved game from my regular DS?

I can play on my reqular DS...and on Pandora...but I can't manage to get my saved game onto the Pandora.

I'd like to play this a little bit on my Pandora, where I can use SAVESTATES...and then go back to playing it on my DS...since you can't do SAVESTATES directly on a DS.

I want to cheat at the Casino on Dragon Quest VI.

Assuming you are using a DS Flashcard.  Here's how I did it:

In DraStic, savegames are put in a directory called "backup" with .dsv extension in /appdata/DraStic/backup.  In the real DS, savegames are in the same directory as the DS Rom directory but with .SAV extension.  If you want to transfer savegames from DraStic to DS, all you need to do is rename the .dsv to .SAV and put the .SAV in the DS Flashcard DS rom directory and off you go.  If you  want to transfer savegames from DS to DraStic, rename .SAV to .dsv and put it in the "backup" directory in DraStic.

I used this method a lot when playing the Pokemon games.  Worked for me...

Edit:  Just make sure the name of the savegame is EXACTLY the same as the rom (except for the extension, of course).  For example, Pokemon.nds is the rom, the savegame should be Pokemon.SAV for DS flashcard and Pokemon.dsv for DraStic.

 

[Kumaki]

OK...so to move a savestate from my acekard 21 to the Pandora...I just taske the .sav file and change the extension to .dsv

Later, when I want to transfer THAT back to my DS...I take the same file, but change the .dsv extension back to .sav and put it in the right place on the Acekard?

I just want to be abe to use SAVESTATES while in the Casino, so that I can cheat and rack up huge coins so that I can get awesome weapons earlier.

The best way to cheat at the Casino is to play  Poker and do the double-ups.  THAT is the area in which savestates become useful.

And just so everyone knows...it isn't yet in the wiki...but Dragon Quest 6 WILL PLAY on Drastic.

Now if someone could only figure out how to mske Dragon Warrior 7 work on the Playstation emu (I even forget what it's called - I used files to name mine on my front screen so that, for example, Drastic shows up as "Nintendo DS")

Yes, I am a DW/DQ nut.

 

[Hồng Thất Công]

My instructions above are for savegames not savestates.  Savestates in DraStic are .dss files and are stored in /appdata/DraStic/savestates directory.  I don't own an Acekard flashcart so not sure where it puts its savestates, but I would imagine it would work by renaming the savestates appropriately and stick them in the approprite directory.  I have a DSTWO and will doublecheck when I'm home.  On my DSTWO, I have to use the L+R+Start+Select (all at the same time) button combo to access savestate screen to load a savestate.  Not sure what it is on an Acekard.

 

[Null]

Now if someone could only figure out how to mske Dragon Warrior 7 work on the Playstation emu

Works fine here, you just need the latest version of http://repo.openpandora.org/?page=detail&app=package.pcsx_rearmed.notaz

Spoiler

 

[levi]

My instructions above are for savegames not savestates.

I think you're okay.  Kumaki's talking about using savestates to undo actions to 'cheat' in the game, but wants to play the rest of the game on the real DS, only using DraStic where savestates are necessary.

Out of interest, are you running your DS's dumped BIOS files in DraStic, or did you get save games loading with a default faked BIOS?

 

[LTStone]

Now if someone could only figure out how to mske Dragon Warrior 7 work on the Playstation emu

Works fine here, you just need the latest version of http://repo.openpandora.org/?page=detail&app=package.pcsx_rearmed.notaz

Spoiler

Yeah I second this, Dragon warrior 7 has always worked emulated for me on all systems even on my Wiz and Caanoo..

DW7 has to be the longest JRPG ever!! I have over 140 hours on it and I am still on disk one of two!!

 

[FIQ]

Sav games may not be using the same format though.

There's an online converter for most DS save formats (including various emulators and flash cartridges' save data format). Allthough in many cases, the .sav is interchangeable.

 

[Exophase]

I think you're okay.  Kumaki's talking about using savestates to undo actions to 'cheat' in the game, but wants to play the rest of the game on the real DS, only using DraStic where savestates are necessary.

Out of interest, are you running your DS's dumped BIOS files in DraStic, or did you get save games loading with a default faked BIOS?

It doesn't matter for save games (in any cases I'm aware of anyway), just savestates.

 

[levi]

Ah okay.  I must be miseremembering that it was my savestates that stopped working when I put them back in my appdata in isolation, not my game saves.  Thinking about it, it was around the time I was testing out BIS, as I recall, and I was using savestates a lot then to record glitches, so it's probably that.

 

[Kumaki]

My instructions above are for savegames not savestates.  Savestates in DraStic are .dss files and are stored in /appdata/DraStic/savestates directory.  I don't own an Acekard flashcart so not sure where it puts its savestates, but I would imagine it would work by renaming the savestates appropriately and stick them in the approprite directory.  I have a DSTWO and will doublecheck when I'm home.  On my DSTWO, I have to use the L+R+Start+Select (all at the same time) button combo to access savestate screen to load a savestate.  Not sure what it is on an Acekard.

I'm aware of that.  This is not an issue.  I just can't DO savestates directly on a DS...hence the need to move off to use the Pandora Drastic for a small bit of cheating at the Casino.  I'd make a real save before trasnsferring back to DS.

Now if someone could only figure out how to mske Dragon Warrior 7 work on the Playstation emu

Works fine here, you just need the latest version of http://repo.openpandora.org/?page=detail&app=package.pcsx_rearmed.notaz

Spoiler

Beautiful, must grab a copy.  I would love to play DW7 on the Pandy.

My instructions above are for savegames not savestates.

I think you're okay.  Kumaki's talking about using savestates to undo actions to 'cheat' in the game, but wants to play the rest of the game on the real DS, only using DraStic where savestates are necessary.

Out of interest, are you running your DS's dumped BIOS files in DraStic, or did you get save games loading with a default faked BIOS?

You're correct.  I want to use the Drastic to make use of savestates, so I can cheat in the Casino...to undo wrong guesses.  THEN...after I have built up what I want...make a real save, in Drastic, of that...then take and move the real save back to the DS on the Acekard.  I DO prefer to play DS games on my real DS, as I have a DSiXL, thus much more screen real estate.

Actually - I just followed instructions for setting up my Acekard.  I don't know what I did, really, or what I am using....only that it works and that is really all I care about is that it works.  I'm not much into the technical, really.

I know just enough to be dangerous.

 

[pmprog]

When I try and play Puzzler World, DraStic errors trying to create an initial save, but other games seem to work ok. Any ideas?

 

[Exophase]

When I try and play Puzzler World, DraStic errors trying to create an initial save, but other games seem to work ok. Any ideas?

I'll look at it.

 

[Kumaki]

OK....I got the .sav file off the DS...and changed the extension to .dsv

It worked on my Pandy...and I cheated up 9.999.999 Casino Tokens.

Now...the problem is...when I try to get THAT file back to my DS....no good.

I save the .dsv file to my desktop...change the file extension back to .sav....and the DS doesn't recognize it anymore.

Fortunately, I backed up my original save which works...but it does not have the cheated Casino chips.

Shunyweb is no help...it does not support .dsv files.

Everything I try to find...I can't get a good answer on this!

IT works in one direction only.

DQ6 is kinda jerky on the Pandy...would rather play on DS anyway.  But need to get that saved .dsv file back into a .sav file so that my DS will use it.

Just simply changing the extension...does not do it.

 

[FIQ]

Use this: http://www.shunyweb.info/convert.php

This is how I converted stuff earlier.

DraStic use this format: Acekard RPG | EZFlash V | RAW format - but saves in .dsv

Most other flashcarts, and desmume, use the "Acekard 2 | CycloDS | EDGE | M3 Simply | NinjaDS | R4 | Top Toy DS" format.


So basically, to convert DraStic saves, upload it and convert to the latter - and for doing it in reverse (DS->DraStic for example), use the latter and convert to raw format, and then rename the result to .dsv

 

[Kumaki]

I dont understand.

Shunyweb does not give an option for .dsv files.

I want to convert FROM dsv to sav

I even tried doing it so that

top select bar was the Acekard RPG | EZFlash V | RAW format

and bottom bar was Acekard 2 | CycloDS | EDGE | M3 Simply | NinjaDS | R4 | Top Toy DS

Even though both said .sav in the bar.

I had the .dsv file uploaded.

It saved a .sav file.

But the damn thing would not then work in my DS again.

I am trying to convert FROM Drastic to DS.

Can anyone help with what I actually need...so I can transfer my ill-gotten gains from the Drastic BACK to the DS?

 

[ekianjo]

Shunyweb does not give an option for .dsv files.

Did you read the previous message?

You have to rename the .dsv in .sav forma (RAW) to use it on that website.  

 

[Kumaki]

OK, wait....this is too weird...

So you;'re telling me I have to do the following, in order?

1. Take the .sav file from DS

2. Changes extension to .dsv

3. Put it on Drastic - use savestates to get ill-gotten gains

4. Take the .dsv file off Drastic

5. Change THAT .dsv file to a .sav file.

6. Run conversion on Shunyweb with the top and bottom bars like I had them above

7 The resulting NEW .sav file will now work in the DS?

Basically, I did all of this but did not do Step 5.

Are you telling me this is the correct way to do this?

I'm sorry, but I really do need it spelled out.

 

[ekianjo]

OK, wait....this is too weird...

So you;'re telling me I have to do the following, in order?

1. Take the .sav file from DS

2. Changes extension to .dsv

3. Put it on Drastic - use savestates to get ill-gotten gains

4. Take the .dsv file off Drastic

5. Change THAT .dsv file to a .sav file.

6. Run conversion on Shunyweb with the top and bottom bars like I had them above

7 The resulting NEW .sav file will now work in the DS?

Basically, I did all of this but did not do Step 5.

Are you telling me this is the correct way to do this?

I'm sorry, but I really do need it spelled out.

Looks this way. 

Try it and see if this works. 

Not sure about the bottom bar in step 6 since it depends on the card that you use on your DS.

 

[Kumaki]

No...this also did not work.

I am having a VERY HARD time transferring my .dsv file back to the .sav format so I can take off Drastic and put onto DS.

top select bar was the Acekard RPG | EZFlash V | RAW format

and bottom bar was Acekard 2 | CycloDS | EDGE | M3 Simply | NinjaDS | R4 | Top Toy DS

I followed the steps I outlined above...which was the best I could make of the directions given.

But it didn't work.

So where did I go wrong...and how can I get it right?

There MUST be a way....

I need my ill-gotten gains to make it much easier to kick Murdaw's ass in the real world.

In the dream world, the guy's a pushover.

UPDATE: I managed to kick Murdaw's butt even without my ill-gotten gains, but I still want them.

Not that it'll help with the little blue bastard who steals my reward from Arkbolt.

Nothing you can do about that...you don't get the item until much later when the little blue bastard actually joins your Party....WAYYYYYY later in the game.  I hate him.

 

[Nabz_32x]

I have gotten an error after a long play of GTA China Town wars,

I had normaly saved my game ( many times before without errors ),

after loading this game, the d-Pad Buttons won´t respond a certain ammount of time,

after I fired a weapon.

I have tried this many times, resaved the game at other places, but this bug won´t go away.

Could this be some kind of copy protection Rockstar put into this game?