MAMEWorld Forums - EmuChat - Re: Genesis NVRAM Files

> > Created NVRAM file with MAME to get the file name.
> > Copied that file over and renamed to match.
> > Ran Sonic 3 and Knuckles but it didn't work.
>
> I wish I could help you in more detail with this, but I won't have access to any kind
> of x86-x64 computer for a while. Looking at megadriv.xml I notice Sonic & Knuckles
> doesn't have RAM but Sonic 3 does, yet it's only 1,024 bytes. The file at GameFAQs is
> 111,872 bytes in size. No idea why it is so big.
>
> My advice would be to check the uCON64 tool. Not only converts ROMs but SRAM files
> among emulators and cartridge devices.
>
> https://ucon64.sourceforge.io/ucon64/readme.html
>
> Maybe the --stp or --smds parameter will do the trick. It's up to you to try it.

I don't know anything about 16-bit Sonic games, but does it use a serial EEPROM like Wily Wars? The latter used to be an issue with some emulators 10+ years ago, and in some cases, even on some of the retro style consoles of that era (AtGames etc.)

e.g. "mame megadriv megaman", beat a boss, save, then close MAME at the game's menu, and the file is still 128 bytes full of 0xFF (the default when MAME creates it). Even when copying across my 100% file from Kega Fusion the result was the same, the file was untouched although the date/time was updated.

I noticed with my old MAME build (I think it was 0.214, might be even older but still >200) when I was making some Wily Wars XML cheats that it wasn't saving a single thing, not even the basic parts like saving after defeating a boss (this game saves your progress unlike the password-based NES/SNES Megaman games).