Replay file structure

Discussion in 'Console' started by Myke, Feb 13, 2007.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Myke

    Myke Administrator Staff Member Content Manager Kage

    PSN:
    Myke623
    XBL:
    Myke623
    Welcome to the Replay file board!

    Looks like there's still a lot unknown about how the replay files are put together. In downloading some of the replays lately, something that concerned me was the size of the replay zip files which were around 2 MB! That didn't sound right, so I took a look inside at what some of you have been uploading and found the following contents within:

    ICON0.PNG 79.4 KB
    ICON1.PAM 1.30 MB
    PARAM.PFD 32 KB[/size]
    PARAM.SFO 3 KB[/size]
    PIC1.PNG 694 KB
    REPLAY.DAT 9KB[/size]

    Now, the files highlighted in red above are the only ones that seem to differ between two people's replays. So instead of transferring 2 MB each time, you probably only need to transfer between 40-50 KB.

    I need to do some more investigation into the content of these files. If it turns out that we can only transfer the 40-50 KB portion, then I'll enable file uploading in this board to make it easier for everyone to exchange replays.
     
    Myke, Feb 13, 2007
    #1
  2. Myke

    Myke Administrator Staff Member Content Manager Kage

    PSN:
    Myke623
    XBL:
    Myke623
    BTW, the ICON0.PNG and PIC1.PNG are nice graphic files you can view /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
     
    Myke, Feb 13, 2007
    #2
  3. Myke

    Myke Administrator Staff Member Content Manager Kage

    PSN:
    Myke623
    XBL:
    Myke623
    PARAM.SFO seems to contain some information regarding the replay, and more importantly, seems to reference the name of the folder that contains it. As an example, for

    Replay folder name: BLJM60016-REPLAY0002

    In file PARAM.SFO, at hex address 968 you can see the ascii characters for "BLJM60016-REPLAY0002".

    So, one possibility is that if you wanted to rename the folder, you would just need to update this file with the new folder name. Or at the very least, if you already had a REPLAY0002 folder, and didn't want to overwrite it, you could rename it to REPLAY0099 instead.

    <span style='font-size: 14pt'>If</span> this is true, then possibly all you'd need to send someone is REPLAY.DAT and PARAM.SFO. And to watch someone's replay, you could rename the folder and update the SFO file to match. I could even write a simple utility to automate this procedure for you.

    But man, I can't believe sharing replay files is going to be this much of a hassle! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif
     
    Myke, Feb 13, 2007
    #3
  4. EVM

    EVM Well-Known Member

    Sounds like you been hard at work Myke. So you are saying you can rename the file BUT you have to change the filename back to its original name before viewing it?

    As far as sending just the REPLAY.DAT and PARAM.SFO, it would probably work but you would need to put those files back into a original "PS3" folder created by a PS3. I don't think you could just make a folder, lable it "PS3" and "SAVEDATA" and throw those files in there and then watch them in your PS3. The file will show up as corrupted.

    Myke, what program do you use to view those files?
     
    EVM, Feb 13, 2007
    #4
  5. White_Worm

    White_Worm Well-Known Member

    Ya know, I kind of expected the replay files to be self-contained files, for easy transfer. I guess Sega didn't really think ahead on this feature either.
     
    White_Worm, Feb 13, 2007
    #5
  6. Pai_Garu

    Pai_Garu Well-Known Member

    The replay files ARE self-contained in a folder. Myke is simply trying to figure out a way to cut it down in size.

    Myke, how about in the mean time, people post their full size replays on free file hosting services until we figure out a way to trim them.
     
    Pai_Garu, Feb 13, 2007
    #6
  7. Myke

    Myke Administrator Staff Member Content Manager Kage

    PSN:
    Myke623
    XBL:
    Myke623
    Yep, sounds like a plan for now.

    To answer some other questions:

    I viewed the binary files using a hex editor. Specifically, I used Notepad++, which is a freeware text editor along with the Hex Editor plugin. You can easily google for it.

    What I was hoping was that users could just exchange the three small files (.pfd, .sfo, .dat). To view someone elses replay, you take these three files, and place them into your own own replay folder with a name of your choosing, add in the other files (.png's and .pam), edit the sfo to match the folder name, then finally transfer this folder to your ps3.

    Convoluted, yes. But, I could write a utility to do all this packaging/editing for you. Before that though, we need to confirm that this procedure I describe does indeed work.

    If it doesn't work, then it would suck since it sounds like we'd have to temporarily rename our own replay folders in order to watch replays from others.
     
    Myke, Feb 13, 2007
    #7
  8. EVM

    EVM Well-Known Member

    Worm, when you get a chance can you upload another replay of these three files and I will test it out. Just take the files below out of the SAVEDATA folder and then zip them up. I will try to put them in one of my ps3 folders and see if it works.


    PARAM.PFD 32 KB
    PARAM.SFO 3 KB
    REPLAY.DAT 9KB
     
    EVM, Feb 13, 2007
    #8
  9. EVM

    EVM Well-Known Member

    I renamed the SFO and then I renamed the replay file and it works. I deleted the last 4 digits inside the SFO and renamed it to JEFFF and then renamed the replay file the same way.


    Here is a link for a match between me and a friend. Somebody download the ZIP, extract the three files inside the zip and place them inside the PS3/SAVEDATA folder and them move those files into your PS3. Check to see if they work.

    <a href="http://download.yousendit.com/BEA0922265E69872" target="_blank">http://download.yousendit.com/BEA0922265E69872</a>
     
    EVM, Feb 13, 2007
    #9
  10. White_Worm

    White_Worm Well-Known Member

    EVM, when you say you renamed the SFO, do you mean you used a hex editor?
     
    White_Worm, Feb 13, 2007
    #10
  11. EVM

    EVM Well-Known Member

    Yeah, I used the editor to rename the SFO file but I did not use it for the file above. The file above is for someone to download and place inside a PS3/SAVEDATA folder, then see if it works in their PS3.

    I did not rename the SFO file this time because I already know it works.
     
    EVM, Feb 13, 2007
    #11
  12. Myke

    Myke Administrator Staff Member Content Manager Kage

    PSN:
    Myke623
    XBL:
    Myke623
    A fun thing to try would be to replace the .PNG's with other images of your choosing. I don't know if you have to match the resolution, but I'd guess they'd have to at least be in the same image format (PNG).

    Can someone identify where each PNG is displayed? Judging from the resolutions, the logo one looks like it might be for an icon, and the akira one possibly a background?

    If one can easily swap images, this might be a neat way of "dressing up" the appearance of replays when viewed in the browser/game. For example, a collection of replays from a tournament might have a unique looking icon/background image for you to easily distinguish when you're browsing.
     
    Myke, Feb 13, 2007
    #12
  13. Pai_Garu

    Pai_Garu Well-Known Member

    I'm just guessing here.... but the picture is possibly the one displayed as the PS3 background when the files are highlighted...
     
    Pai_Garu, Feb 13, 2007
    #13
  14. White_Worm

    White_Worm Well-Known Member

    Yea, their for thumbnails and the background. I'm pretty handy with graphics, I'll give it a shot.
     
    White_Worm, Feb 13, 2007
    #14
  15. EVM

    EVM Well-Known Member

    Myke, I messed up. The way I renamed the files will not work. I thought just being able to see the file on the PS3 would allow me to play it, before your technique the info would comeback as corrupted. So when I was actually able to see the file I thought everything was good. When I tried to copy the renamed file from my mobile storage device to the hard drive of the PS3 I got an error message. I went back renamed the files several different ways but still got the same error message when trying to copy to the hard drive of the PS3.
     
    EVM, Feb 19, 2007
    #15
  16. GoDokunoDan

    GoDokunoDan Well-Known Member

    can you guys upload the replays to places that dont let them expire in two weeks? How about openning up a page on this site where we can upload and download them???
     
    GoDokunoDan, Feb 28, 2007
    #16
  17. Jide

    Jide Joe Musashi Silver Supporter

    PSN:
    Blatant
    People can send them to me and I can stick them on my webspace. I'm sure if people ask Rsilver he would be happy too as well.
     
    Jide, Feb 28, 2007
    #17
  18. Neobeast

    Neobeast Well-Known Member

    Okay, since this is a little bit outside my realm of expertise, did I screw anything up in the Utah replay batch the other night?
     
    Neobeast, Mar 1, 2007
    #18
  19. Ladon

    Ladon Well-Known Member

    PSN:
    Ladon---
    hey Myke, do you think you could take a look at the US version save files and the JP/ASIA version save files and see what the difference is? It really blows that we need to purchase different regions...

    Thanks in advance!
     
    Ladon, Mar 13, 2007
    #19
  20. Unicorn

    Unicorn Well-Known Masher Content Manager Wolf

    PSN:
    unicorn_cz
    XBL:
    unicorn cz
    Include EU version files, pretty please /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
     
    Unicorn, Apr 17, 2007
    #20
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