VMZip v1.0.0 Released

[bucanero]

Based on RockinB's idea, I've created this new Dreamcast tool called VMZip.

The idea behind VMZip is simple but powerful: compress & decompress VMU save files using BZip2 compression, and save the result file on a target VMU.

For example: you have a Quake 3 Arena save that takes 25 blocks, but you don't want to erase it to have free blocks for another game save. You can use VMZip to compress the Q3A file, and the result will be a 3 blocks file. Now you've 22 free blocks, provided that you erase the original Q3A save and keep the compressed file.

Take a look at the screenshots here.

Dowload VMZip v1.0.0 unscrambled binary (.BIN), selfboot inducer (.SBI) and source code from my site or SourceForge.net

Controls: (A) selects, (B) cancel, (X) calculate compressed/decompressed file size, (Y) credits

post your comments!

[TyBO]

Wow... that's a great idea. Thanks bucanero...

[SiZiOUS]

Really thanks bucanero !!!

[sixtyten]

Now this is an awesome tool. Any corruption problems?

[bucanero]

Now this is an awesome tool. Any corruption problems?

There should be no data corruption at all. The bzip2 algorithm uses CRC so when the data is decompressed it will be saved only if the unpacked data is correct.

The format of any VMZIPDAT.??? file is a standard dreamcast header (title, description, icon, etc = 640 bytes) followed by the bzipped data.
The decompression takes only the bzip2 data part, decompress it and saves it with the original filename.

A PC app for unpacking VMZipped saves could be done pretty easily.

[DARKGATE]

:D great!!! Bucanero you tools are great!!!!

[RockinB]

Cool stuff, bucanero!

Now you released it first. Just when I want to release my Save Game Manager for SEGA Saturn, I stumble over another problem or special case.
Hopefully I can get my release out, too.

Thanks, bucanero!

BTW: these screenshots, I can't view them.

[bucanero]

Cool stuff, bucanero!

Now you released it first. Just when I want to release my Save Game Manager for SEGA Saturn, I stumble over another problem or special case.
Hopefully I can get my release out, too.

Thanks, bucanero!

BTW: these screenshots, I can't view them.

You're doing a much more complex tool, so it's logical to spend more time resolving more problems. But I'm sure you'll be able to release your Saturn app soon!

if there's a problem with the screenshots hosted at SF.net, check the attachment I made in this post.

[Christuserloeser]

Very very cool.

[RockinB]

Very nice screenshot!

Oh, I finally did it, the Save Game Manager for SEGA Saturn is out. I'm really happy...

I can't come up with such beautiful graphics, because I'm using text display only. BZip2 really gets to the limit of RAM space. But I like it, hehe.

Thanks for your work, bucanero!