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Where Should Game Saves Go?
November 22nd, 2018, 19:05
Under Documents? In "Saved Games"? Someplace in the hidden AppData folder? In the cloud? In your Steam data directory? I think I've seen all of these this year. Ever since Microsoft blocked games from saving in their own install folder lo these many years ago, it's been chao… <ahem> … we have been in an experimental phase. So what are the results? Where do you want developers to put your saves?
P.S. No, not on a floppy disk. Not even if it's 3.5"!
P.S. No, not on a floppy disk. Not even if it's 3.5"!
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The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common: instead of altering their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views….-- Doctor Who in "Face of Evil"
November 22nd, 2018, 19:31
On the hosting companies database server…. Where they belong.
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How about all games have a single huge lootbox you pay for up front that contains all the options, items, skins, unlocks etc? I'd pay for that!!
How about all games have a single huge lootbox you pay for up front that contains all the options, items, skins, unlocks etc? I'd pay for that!!
November 22nd, 2018, 19:41
Imho in the game's folder - or a sub-folder of that. And compressed, too (not generating Gigs of files like with Drakensang 2, for example).
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"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." (E.F.Schumacher, Economist, Source)
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." (E.F.Schumacher, Economist, Source)
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November 22nd, 2018, 21:05
Best option is to have it configurable. For example, STALKER games have a config file in which you can set the location of your saves and some other config files. By default it is in Public Documents which is a bit odd.
But if I have to choose, I'd go with My Documents (for each user). It's simple and easy to back them up if you have multiple games installed.
But if I have to choose, I'd go with My Documents (for each user). It's simple and easy to back them up if you have multiple games installed.
Keeper of the Watch
November 22nd, 2018, 21:11
It seems no one can agree on a standard.
Personally, I think my preferred location is "Documents/My Games/GAMENAME/" - but a lot of games don't like that.
So, there's really no right answer.
Of course, I grew up with games that didn't even have save games - and when they first started happening - it was on separate floppy disks
Personally, I think my preferred location is "Documents/My Games/GAMENAME/" - but a lot of games don't like that.
So, there's really no right answer.
Of course, I grew up with games that didn't even have save games - and when they first started happening - it was on separate floppy disks
Guest
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November 23rd, 2018, 04:13
Originally Posted by WisdomThat would work real well for me. It would be great for keeping track of saves that can be loaded into following games in the next series. It would be pretty nice for publishers, too, because they could database that save file data to figure out how people are actually using their game. I've got fast internet and no data caps, though. People that don't aren't going to be happy. Maybe it could be used in addition to a normal save?
On the hosting companies database server…. Where they belong.
@Darth Targnan, I think there's an over-abundance of right answers! That's what's driving me crazy: when I want to find a save game file, I have to look in five different places to find the things!
@Ivanwah, I want to configure it, too, but not for every game. I would rather just tell Windows "put save game data on this drive." Then the game developer would ask Windows where game saves should go and Windows would point the developer to the right place. Happiness ensues.
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The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common: instead of altering their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views….-- Doctor Who in "Face of Evil"
November 23rd, 2018, 04:27
Unless we can get a standard, in the game folder, in a sub-folder called "save files", and with a backup in the cloud.
November 23rd, 2018, 04:51
Somewhere that I can easily find them if needed. Or the person I hire to find them!
SasqWatch
November 23rd, 2018, 05:57
Originally Posted by ZlothSorry Zloth, I was actually just trying to provoke Joxer into an anti-MMO speech
That would work real well for me. It would be great for keeping track of saves that can be loaded into following games in the next series. It would be pretty nice for publishers, too, because they could database that save file data to figure out how people are actually using their game. I've got fast internet and no data caps, though.

I actually don't' like cloud saves, especially in single player games. I truly do prefer a subfolder in the game directory labelled saves.
That's what's driving me crazy: when I want to find a save game file, I have to look in five different places to find the things!I do 100% agree with this tho!
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How about all games have a single huge lootbox you pay for up front that contains all the options, items, skins, unlocks etc? I'd pay for that!!
How about all games have a single huge lootbox you pay for up front that contains all the options, items, skins, unlocks etc? I'd pay for that!!
November 23rd, 2018, 11:02
@Darth Targnan, I think there's an over-abundance of right answers! That's what's driving me crazy: when I want to find a save game file, I have to look in five different places to find the things!Tell me about it

I've adjusted to it, though - and I just Google immediately if I can't find it within .1 second.
There's this terrible trend of putting it somewhere in AppData - which is also the standard directory for Unity games when you publish them.
I HATE that trend

What's worse, these developers can't even agree on naming directories based on the game, the developers or the god-damned publisher! I mean, imagine how it must be like for the average casual gamer with zero knowledge of the industry - trying to find a save game.
*RAGE*
Guest
November 23rd, 2018, 14:24
Originally Posted by ZlothYeah, having it configurable OS wide would be perfect. There is already My Games folder in Windows that I bet can be somehow configured through registry, the problem is the games tend to ignore it.
@Ivanwah, I want to configure it, too, but not for every game. I would rather just tell Windows "put save game data on this drive." Then the game developer would ask Windows where game saves should go and Windows would point the developer to the right place. Happiness ensues.
Keeper of the Watch
November 23rd, 2018, 15:16
The problem is related to game ports that don't care about "standards" but are forcing stupid defaults on a player.
I on a keyboard is used to open inventory. M is used to display the map. Etc, stuff we don't even think about because it's normal. Until we stumble on a game that uses god knows what keys instead.
If simple keymapping standard is a problem, don't expect a standardized savegame location either.
I on a keyboard is used to open inventory. M is used to display the map. Etc, stuff we don't even think about because it's normal. Until we stumble on a game that uses god knows what keys instead.
If simple keymapping standard is a problem, don't expect a standardized savegame location either.
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Toka Koka
Toka Koka
November 23rd, 2018, 15:18
Yeah, I think it's a shame that windows doesn't make the environment variables for storage locations more customisable. You can move the locations of system folders, but it's hacky and unsupported. It would be great if there was a standard variable %GAMEDATA%, which the user could easily assign to any chosen folder, and which all games respected.
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"I cannot define the real problem, therefore I suspect there's no real problem, but I'm not sure there's no real problem."
Richard Feynman
"I cannot define the real problem, therefore I suspect there's no real problem, but I'm not sure there's no real problem."
Richard Feynman
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November 23rd, 2018, 20:05
You can change where your Documents folder is without too much trouble in Windows 10: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/…cuments-folder. You can move an entire User folder, too, if you want. A few developers will be stupid and try to build that folder name themselves but I'm pretty sure most would get it via a Windows API.
Seems to me that the "Saved Games" folder makes the most sense when you are just talking about the game saves. It gets a little stranger when you start talking about config files but I don't mind them getting saved in there. The folder has been around long enough that I think its safe to use in any modern game. The Windows API will tell you right where it is no matter where the user has moved it. The folder isn't hidden. The only thing I don't like about it is it isn't pinned into Quick Access by default in Win10 or listed under This PC like Music and Pictures are.
Documents\My Games doesn't seem bad but I don't know how the games are getting the directory name from. Square, Firaxis, and Stardock seem to like that directory so it's not games that are "English only." (Unless the directory name comes up as My Games in other languages!?)
AppData is bad. That's a hidden folder! Why do some developers use it!?
Seems to me that the "Saved Games" folder makes the most sense when you are just talking about the game saves. It gets a little stranger when you start talking about config files but I don't mind them getting saved in there. The folder has been around long enough that I think its safe to use in any modern game. The Windows API will tell you right where it is no matter where the user has moved it. The folder isn't hidden. The only thing I don't like about it is it isn't pinned into Quick Access by default in Win10 or listed under This PC like Music and Pictures are.
Documents\My Games doesn't seem bad but I don't know how the games are getting the directory name from. Square, Firaxis, and Stardock seem to like that directory so it's not games that are "English only." (Unless the directory name comes up as My Games in other languages!?)
AppData is bad. That's a hidden folder! Why do some developers use it!?
--
The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common: instead of altering their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views….-- Doctor Who in "Face of Evil"
Lazy_dog
RPGWatch Donor
Original Sin 2 Donor
Original Sin 2 Donor
November 24th, 2018, 12:24
Originally Posted by FnordThis is the oldest "standard" I can think of, really ancient.
Unless we can get a standard, in the game folder, in a sub-folder called "save files", and with a backup in the cloud.
--
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." (E.F.Schumacher, Economist, Source)
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." (E.F.Schumacher, Economist, Source)
November 28th, 2018, 04:01
Originally Posted by Alrik FassbauerTake out the game disk and insert a blank disk into the drive. Not "drive B," just "the drive."
This is the oldest "standard" I can think of, really ancient.
Heaven help you if it says "tape" instead of disk.
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The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common: instead of altering their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views….-- Doctor Who in "Face of Evil"
November 28th, 2018, 09:23
I want level codes back. Of course, with all possible states the game can be in there are quite a few. Might jot down the contents of the savefile down on paper instead.
Local savefile in documents that are synced to the cloud are best. Don't like my saves or settings inside the game directory. Need a better standard though, and I don't consider all hidden files in the Linux home directory a good standard
Local savefile in documents that are synced to the cloud are best. Don't like my saves or settings inside the game directory. Need a better standard though, and I don't consider all hidden files in the Linux home directory a good standard
Keeper of the Watch
Original Sin 2 Donor
November 28th, 2018, 12:12
I like cloud saves (via steam: local and then saved to the cloud). In the long gone past i always had to carry over those "savegame" folders to the new pc or even back it up, to save it from hard drive crashes.
With steam cloud saves i always have them safe and even if i install the game on another pc, i can continue to play from my last save.
With steam cloud saves i always have them safe and even if i install the game on another pc, i can continue to play from my last save.
Sentinel
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