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Author Topic:   Saved-game file format?

Foxtaur posted 11-15-98 04:41 PM ET
I hope that Firaxis will design a file format which will keep 'wanna-be crackers' (like myself ) from being able to simply use Norton Diskedit on the files, make a few comparisons, and then be able to erase the 'this game used cheating' flags.
There's a very simple way to accomplish this particular goal... checksums! Whenever the checksum doesn't match the data, SMAC should warn the user, then give them the option of playing the game anyway - but it would never write a valid checksum for any time the player saves that game afterwards.

Another idea would be to base the save-game format on the PNG format; simply put, each different type of data (map, units, diplomacy, tech, etc) is saved in a different "chunk"; every chunk has a header, an ender, a checksum, and, when possible, is run through a small compression procedure. The file would also have a "header chunk", which would contain basic info on the game such as the date, elapsed playing time, game-year, which faction the human is playing, and so on. (The compression would be another way to foil DiskEdit crackers such as myself, who simply save a game, make a small change, re-save the game, then compare the two saved games. )
Another advantage of the "chunk" method is that if Firaxis updates SMAC significantly, the save-games for the new program and old program can be made compatible.
Anybody have any other ideas?
Foxtaur posted 11-15-98 04:47 PM ET
Almost forgot; another advantage of "chunkiness" is being able to add "ancilliary chunks". For example, if the ruleset is anything besides the standard, the save-game file could have an extra chunk listing the changed rules. Or if the player has a custom faction mod-pack which affects how the AI plays, the save-game could have an ancilliary chunk describing that. It could also make note of changed graphics (although I'd recomend just a list of the filenames, to keep the save-game file from ballooning up too much.)
dushan posted 11-16-98 09:40 AM ET
Well, compression would be enough to deter me, though a tagged chunk file format would definitely be good for avoiding save game incompatibilities between versions. I guess Fireaxis have thought about it aloready, it's annoying to loose your games with every patch. I admit though that sometimes it is unavoidable.
On the other hand, I've never ever cheated in Civ by modifying the save game even though I've had some cheat programs. There's just no point - mainly in CivII where you even have cheat menu :-)
Dushan
tOFfGI posted 11-16-98 09:57 AM ET
Foxtaur: are you suggesting that you cheated then hacked in Civ II? In my experience the cheat menu was no real use at all, you could create a size 7 city that died straight away, be able to build airports before rails, etc. In my experience, this just messed the game up and made it worse. I mean, the game gradually builds up your level of control, from one settler to a huge army. cheating breaks your learning curve, and messes up your stats. boo for cheating (except when creating scenarios, in which case it's ok).
DJ RRebel posted 11-16-98 09:59 AM ET
When you cheat, you just end up cheating yourself !!!
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Author	Topic: Saved-game file format?
Foxtaur	posted 11-15-98 04:41 PM ET I hope that Firaxis will design a file format which will keep 'wanna-be crackers' (like myself ) from being able to simply use Norton Diskedit on the files, make a few comparisons, and then be able to erase the 'this game used cheating' flags. There's a very simple way to accomplish this particular goal... checksums! Whenever the checksum doesn't match the data, SMAC should warn the user, then give them the option of playing the game anyway - but it would never write a valid checksum for any time the player saves that game afterwards. Another idea would be to base the save-game format on the PNG format; simply put, each different type of data (map, units, diplomacy, tech, etc) is saved in a different "chunk"; every chunk has a header, an ender, a checksum, and, when possible, is run through a small compression procedure. The file would also have a "header chunk", which would contain basic info on the game such as the date, elapsed playing time, game-year, which faction the human is playing, and so on. (The compression would be another way to foil DiskEdit crackers such as myself, who simply save a game, make a small change, re-save the game, then compare the two saved games. ) Another advantage of the "chunk" method is that if Firaxis updates SMAC significantly, the save-games for the new program and old program can be made compatible. Anybody have any other ideas?
Foxtaur	posted 11-15-98 04:47 PM ET Almost forgot; another advantage of "chunkiness" is being able to add "ancilliary chunks". For example, if the ruleset is anything besides the standard, the save-game file could have an extra chunk listing the changed rules. Or if the player has a custom faction mod-pack which affects how the AI plays, the save-game could have an ancilliary chunk describing that. It could also make note of changed graphics (although I'd recomend just a list of the filenames, to keep the save-game file from ballooning up too much.)
dushan	posted 11-16-98 09:40 AM ET Well, compression would be enough to deter me, though a tagged chunk file format would definitely be good for avoiding save game incompatibilities between versions. I guess Fireaxis have thought about it aloready, it's annoying to loose your games with every patch. I admit though that sometimes it is unavoidable. On the other hand, I've never ever cheated in Civ by modifying the save game even though I've had some cheat programs. There's just no point - mainly in CivII where you even have cheat menu :-) Dushan
tOFfGI	posted 11-16-98 09:57 AM ET Foxtaur: are you suggesting that you cheated then hacked in Civ II? In my experience the cheat menu was no real use at all, you could create a size 7 city that died straight away, be able to build airports before rails, etc. In my experience, this just messed the game up and made it worse. I mean, the game gradually builds up your level of control, from one settler to a huge army. cheating breaks your learning curve, and messes up your stats. boo for cheating (except when creating scenarios, in which case it's ok).
DJ RRebel	posted 11-16-98 09:59 AM ET When you cheat, you just end up cheating yourself !!!