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− | + | ISOs are faithful software recreations of game disks. However, at 700 MB (CD) / 1.4 GB (GC Mini-DVD) / 4.7 GB (single-layered DVD) / 25 GB (Blu-Ray), they can get pretty taxing to disk storage, as newer generations of consoles come. | |
− | It wouldn't be so bad if not for the fact that the game data | + | It wouldn't be so bad if not for the fact that the actually useful game data is often only a fraction of that data size - for instance, the Mario 25th Anniversary Wii disk is a 4.7GB game with only a single SNES rom and nothing else (12 MB of useful data, to be precise). So naturally, one would want to trim the extra fat as much as possible. This is what this improved version of a previous guide aims to help for. |
− | + | How does one lighten ISO / ROM dumps? | |
− | There are many ways | + | There are many ways. Some alter the dump copy forever. Some are playable on only some specific emulators. And many light dumps are unplayable on real hardware (though a bunch are). All depending on the method and the console. So you might want to consider all of this before. |
− | + | This page was based partially on this [https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/3g933n/guide_reduce_the_size_of_your_ps2_gc_wii_x360_ds/ guide]. | |
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+ | Archive-quality dump means that the resulting compressed dump, when reverted back to its original state, will be the same checksum as the official uncompressed release. Compressions that can't be reversed, or those that can be but will have missing or altered content, whether it interferes with functionality (rebuilt table of content) or not, are not archive quality dumps. For example, the WBFS format is not archive quality since it may be missing padding content and upgrade partitions (which have their uses in 3DS/Wii modding) compared to an intact uncompressed dump. | ||
==Applicable to All Platforms== | ==Applicable to All Platforms== | ||
===Audio-CD=== | ===Audio-CD=== | ||
− | + | Sega-CD, PC-Engine, PlayStation, Sega Saturn... what did these have in common was their reliance on the regular CD format. Game developers stored often orchestrated/Redbook music and occasionally voice acting, using the Audio-CD format. Of course, the CD contained also game data. But it was terribly inefficient when it comes to disk storage. Even a 700 MB CD containing nothing but Audio-CD data can hold at most around 80 minutes worth of sound data. | |
− | + | That's why devs no longer used it, preferring custom audio formats included in the "game data" part of the disk. By the time the PS1 gen came, the Audio-CD part was just used for messages like "Don't put this in a CD player, dumb user!" and little else (exceptions exist, of course!) | |
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− | + | * '''Full Dump:''' <br />BIN/ISO + CUE | |
+ | <br />BIN/ISO is the full disk data, including Audio-CD sound data and game data | ||
+ | <br />CUE is the datasheet file | ||
+ | * '''Light Dump:''' <br />ISO + MP3/WAV + CUE | ||
+ | <br />ISO is the disk data with only the game data | ||
+ | <br />MP3/WAV is the sound data from the Audio-CD, but these formats take much less disk space | ||
+ | <br />CUE is the datasheet file | ||
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (unless audio is converted to and from uncompressed formats, which is unlikely) | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (unless audio is converted to and from uncompressed formats, which is unlikely) | ||
* '''Gain:''' Several hundreds of MBs to just a few dozens, depending on how much this specific game relies on the Audio-CD sound format | * '''Gain:''' Several hundreds of MBs to just a few dozens, depending on how much this specific game relies on the Audio-CD sound format | ||
* '''Tools Used:''' Load the BIN+CUE using a virtual drive, then use a CD dumping tool | * '''Tools Used:''' Load the BIN+CUE using a virtual drive, then use a CD dumping tool | ||
− | * '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, just burn the ISO+MP3 | + | * '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, just burn the ISO+MP3/WAV+CUE again using a CD burner tool (ImgBurner) either to a physical disk or as an ISO+BIN file. Lossy audio formats will result in data loss. |
* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No, but can be reverted to be | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' No, but can be reverted to be | ||
− | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' | + | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes (use virtual drive if needed). Some aren't compatible with MP3 so convert to WAV with MP32WAV if that's the case. You may need Sega Cue Maker. |
Examples: | Examples: | ||
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M3U (playlist) files may be used too for this distribution scheme. | M3U (playlist) files may be used too for this distribution scheme. | ||
− | Sometimes dumps that come this way may not work on some emulators. This is often due to | + | Sometimes dumps that come this way may not work on some emulators. This is often due to incorrect CUE files sometimes using wrong filenames or MP3 files instead of WAV files. |
===Padding=== | ===Padding=== | ||
− | Devs often have their games much, much bigger than they need to be | + | Devs often have their games much, much bigger than they need to be. They put garbage data in the disk. Garbage data isn't game data and just bloats the disk size. It's either a sequence of 00/FF (you know what's inside a file if you open it with a hex editor) or randomized garbage data. |
− | + | Its purpose can be to fill in some spots in the disk so that specific parts of game data are in specific areas of the disk (like the borders) and hence the drive's reading speed is quick enough in these spots for the game to work properly. It's in the best of your interests not to mess with this data arrangement (referred to as LBA and TOC in the case of GC/Wii/PS2/PSP) or else the game might not even work in some cases (it might in others though). | |
− | + | BUT-- the most common bar none use for this is to screw with pirates and people who download ISOs off online sharing websites, by making the ISO bigger and harder to download. Some go a little step further and make that garbage data, not just a sequence of 00/FF to make the ISO much, much harder to compress using regular archive formats like zip/7zip/rar... You might be overjoyed to learn this has become the industry standard nowadays. | |
Many compression schemes remove or simplify padding patterns to allow for easier compression. | Many compression schemes remove or simplify padding patterns to allow for easier compression. | ||
===CHD Compression=== | ===CHD Compression=== | ||
− | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' | + | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes |
* '''Gain:''' Immediate | * '''Gain:''' Immediate | ||
* '''Tools Used:''' chdman (included with MAME) | * '''Tools Used:''' chdman (included with MAME) | ||
* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, using extractcd (included with MAME) | * '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, using extractcd (included with MAME) | ||
* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No. | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' No. | ||
− | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' MAME | + | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Only MAME and DEmul. Some libretro cores for other emulators started adding support. |
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− | + | MAME uses the CHD format for disc images in general and includes tools to convert from and to it. It uses 7zip's LZMA compression on the game data and lossless FLAC compression for the audio data to optimize compression even further than with the BIN+CUE+MP3/WAV data separation alone. | |
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− | + | Placing chdman and extractcd in the same directory as dumps in BIN+CUE format, the following command-line instructions can be used: | |
+ | * BIN/CUE to CHD: <code>for %i in (*.cue) do chdman createcd -i "%i" -o "%~ni.chd"</code> (Windows) | ||
+ | * CHD to BIN/CUE: <code>for %i in (*.chd) do chdman extractcd -i "%i" -o "%~ni.cue"</code> (Windows) | ||
− | + | If you have one of the European PSX games that feature LibCrypt copy protection, you have a .sbi file in addition to the .bin/cue file. The CHD creation process doesn't process the .sbi file. Thus, you will need the .sbi file in the same directory as the.CHD file for the game to run. | |
==PlayStation 1== | ==PlayStation 1== | ||
===ECM=== | ===ECM=== | ||
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (removes error correction data permanently) | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (removes error correction data permanently) | ||
− | * '''Gain:''' Not Immediate (ISO size doesn't change). ECM only zeroes out redundant error correction data | + | * '''Gain:''' Not Immediate (ISO size doesn't change). ECM only zeroes out redundant error correction data (but in some rare cases this data may be used for anti-piracy, hence corrupting the dump!). When coupled to a compressed archive format (7zip/gzip/zip) however it achieves drastic size reductions. |
− | * '''Tools Used:''' PakkISO or ECM Tools. Drag-and-drop the | + | * '''Tools Used:''' PakkISO or ECM Tools (from emuparadise download page). Drag-and-drop the iso on the specific tool, then compress it with 7zip. |
− | * '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, using the same tools (unECM), | + | * '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, using the same tools (unECM). However, there's data loss (error correction data) which can damage a select few games. Check the hash with Redump to make sure nothing was altered. |
* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No. | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' No. | ||
− | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Only | + | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Only recent SVN builds of PCSX-R and ePSXe (they also support 7zip/gzip/zip archives so use them with ECM). Other emulators don't, so you convert manually the ECM dump to an ISO dump whenever you want to play it. |
===PBP (PSP Format for PS1 Images)=== | ===PBP (PSP Format for PS1 Images)=== | ||
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' No | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' No | ||
* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO size decreases a lot). | * '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO size decreases a lot). | ||
− | * '''Tools Used:''' [https://www.reddit.com/r/PSP/wiki/psx2psp PSX2PSP], Popstation MD GUI, [https:// | + | * '''Tools Used:''' [https://www.reddit.com/r/PSP/wiki/psx2psp PSX2PSP], Popstation MD GUI, [https://www.psx-place.com/threads/w-i-p-utilities-cdda-enabler-for-psx-eboots-on-ps3.23539/ CDDA-ENABLER] (optimized for PS3) ... |
− | * '''Can be reverted?''' Yes. For homemade EBOOTs | + | |
+ | * '''Can be reverted?''' Yes. (For homemade EBOOTs) by using the same tool, to generate BIN+CUE files; (for commercial releases from PSN) [https://github.com/xdotnano/PSXtract PSXtract]. There's data loss, although it's negligible in terms of functionality. | ||
* '''Playable on Hardware?''' On PSP, not on PS1. | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' On PSP, not on PS1. | ||
− | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' PCSX-R, | + | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' RetroArch, PCSX-R, and ePSXe. PlayStation 3's ps1_netemu (after packaging into a PS1 Classic and installation of said package). |
− | + | Official format used by Sony for PS1 Classics on PSP and PS3. Audio tracks may be compressed in ATRAC3, or as raw PCM (unsupported on PS3's ps1_netemu, supported on PSP only by the earliest versions of POPS or the newest ones with the [http://wololo.net/talk/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=41330&start=60 cdda_enabler plugin]) | |
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==PlayStation 2== | ==PlayStation 2== | ||
===Manual Scrubbing + GZIP Compression=== | ===Manual Scrubbing + GZIP Compression=== | ||
− | Often | + | Often, you can open the ISO in UltraISO and find the dummy files. Sometimes they're obviously looking files like DUMMY.BIN, DATA0.BIN (or .DAT), DUMMY.DAT, etc. Or folders named "PADDING" and stuff like that. You can look into the files (with a hex editor) to see if they're obvious padding data (full of 00/FF, though sometimes it's not as obvious). |
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+ | However, you must never mess with LBA and TOC when removing padding. So you try to change the size of the padding file inside the ISO to 0 MB or alter it directly with a hex editor so that it's all zeroed out. | ||
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (missing data) | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (missing data) | ||
− | * '''Gain:''' Not Immediate (ISO dump size the same), however | + | * '''Gain:''' Not Immediate (ISO dump size the same). Coupled with compression, however... the gain is really noticeable. |
− | * '''Tools Used:''' UltraISO | + | * '''Tools Used:''' UltraISO |
* '''Can be reverted?''' Not really. Garbage data here is zeroed out, it's not important and you still have the same disk data structure. | * '''Can be reverted?''' Not really. Garbage data here is zeroed out, it's not important and you still have the same disk data structure. | ||
− | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes | + | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes. |
− | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes | + | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes. |
You may forego the manual scrubbing part entirely. If you feel adventurous you might want to do it to enhance compression though. Let's get to the meaty part though... | You may forego the manual scrubbing part entirely. If you feel adventurous you might want to do it to enhance compression though. Let's get to the meaty part though... | ||
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Use 7zip ("Add to archive..." then choose to gzip) or Pigz (multi-threaded, much faster compression) to generate gzip archives containing the ISO file in question. PCSX2 will build an index of each gzip compressed game it loads (as a file in the same directory as the gzip archive), so after the first time where you'll have to wait for the decompression, in all subsequent times there is no speed difference between playing an uncompressed and compressed game. Of course, you can extract the ISO back from the GZIP archive. | Use 7zip ("Add to archive..." then choose to gzip) or Pigz (multi-threaded, much faster compression) to generate gzip archives containing the ISO file in question. PCSX2 will build an index of each gzip compressed game it loads (as a file in the same directory as the gzip archive), so after the first time where you'll have to wait for the decompression, in all subsequent times there is no speed difference between playing an uncompressed and compressed game. Of course, you can extract the ISO back from the GZIP archive. | ||
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===CSO (aka CISO)=== | ===CSO (aka CISO)=== | ||
− | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' | + | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (missing data) |
* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size the same). Coupled with manual scrubbing, it can be bigger. Not as much of a gain as GZIP though. | * '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size the same). Coupled with manual scrubbing, it can be bigger. Not as much of a gain as GZIP though. | ||
* '''Tools Used:''' maxcso | * '''Tools Used:''' maxcso | ||
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* '''Playable on Hardware?''' NO | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' NO | ||
* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - PCSX2. | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - PCSX2. | ||
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==PlayStation Portable== | ==PlayStation Portable== | ||
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* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers). Substantial, depending on game. Higher compression levels generally produce decreasing space gains while potentially increasing load times. Some tools allow for leaving audio/video content uncompressed. | * '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers). Substantial, depending on game. Higher compression levels generally produce decreasing space gains while potentially increasing load times. Some tools allow for leaving audio/video content uncompressed. | ||
* '''Tools Used:''' CISO, CISO GUI, maxcso, UMDGen, PSP ISO Compressor, CISO Multi Compressor, CISO XP, ... | * '''Tools Used:''' CISO, CISO GUI, maxcso, UMDGen, PSP ISO Compressor, CISO Multi Compressor, CISO XP, ... | ||
+ | <br />CISO GUI (CISO is command line-based): Drag-and-drop ISO file on program, Select compression level (1 to 9 (Max)), "Compress", and choose directory for saving the new CSO file. | ||
+ | <br />UMDGen is a PSP ISO editor. You can save to either the CSO format with this. | ||
* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, using the same tools and saving in ISO (uncompressed) format. No data loss. | * '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, using the same tools and saving in ISO (uncompressed) format. No data loss. | ||
* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes - most CFWs (Possibly longer load times though). | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes - most CFWs (Possibly longer load times though). | ||
* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - PPSSPP. | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - PPSSPP. | ||
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===DAX, JSO, ZSO=== | ===DAX, JSO, ZSO=== | ||
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Official format for digitally distributed PSP/minis (partially related to the one used for PS1 games), containing a compressed disc image and optionally a custom boot logo. | Official format for digitally distributed PSP/minis (partially related to the one used for PS1 games), containing a compressed disc image and optionally a custom boot logo. | ||
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==Dreamcast== | ==Dreamcast== | ||
===CHD Archive Format=== | ===CHD Archive Format=== | ||
− | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' | + | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (missing data, no gameplay issues) |
* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ROM dump size lowers). | * '''Gain:''' Immediate (ROM dump size lowers). | ||
* '''Tools Used:''' GDI to CHD converter. | * '''Tools Used:''' GDI to CHD converter. | ||
− | * '''Can be reverted?''' | + | * '''Can be reverted?''' No. |
* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' No | ||
− | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - DEmul, Reicast | + | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - DEmul, Reicast and Redream |
==GameCube / Wii== | ==GameCube / Wii== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Some examples: | ||
+ | * Super Mario Anniversary (Wii): 4.7 GB (original) > 12 MB (GCZ) (!!) | ||
+ | * Super Smash Bros Brawl (Wii): 7.8 GB (original) > 7.1 GB (GCZ) (main cause is FMV's low compression) | ||
+ | * Xenoblade PAL (Wii): 7.8 GB (original) > 6.3 GB (GCZ) | ||
+ | * Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii): 4.7 GB (original) > 1.8 GB (GCZ) | ||
+ | * Tales of Graces (Wii): 4.7 GB (original) > 4.2 GB (GCZ) (game data already fills the disk) | ||
+ | * Animal Crossing (GC): 1.4 GB (original) > 26 MB (GCZ) | ||
+ | * Zelda Four Swords Plus Japan (GC): 1.4 GB (original) > 480 MB (GCZ) | ||
+ | * Zelda Twilight Princess (GC): 1.4 GB (original) > 1.4 GB (GCZ) (game data already fills the disk) | ||
+ | * Megaman Collection (GC): 1.4 GB (original) > 1.1 GB (GCZ) (sound data is stored as uncompressed stream to fill disk) | ||
People used to resort to WiiScrubber (Wii) and GCM Utility (GC) to scrub/trim games to end up with dumps that while they had no immediate size change, their randomized garbage data (like "dummy", "padding" or "znull") was still there but zeroed out making archived dumps using zip/7zip/rar formats have stunning gains (from 1.4GB uncompressed to 26MB zipped for Animal Crossing for example!). Of course, the file still needed to be uncompressed to its full size everytime you wanted to play it. | People used to resort to WiiScrubber (Wii) and GCM Utility (GC) to scrub/trim games to end up with dumps that while they had no immediate size change, their randomized garbage data (like "dummy", "padding" or "znull") was still there but zeroed out making archived dumps using zip/7zip/rar formats have stunning gains (from 1.4GB uncompressed to 26MB zipped for Animal Crossing for example!). Of course, the file still needed to be uncompressed to its full size everytime you wanted to play it. | ||
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However compressed formats incorporating the "padding zeroing" part were made since then, and Dolphin supports them! These are the WBFS and GCZ formats. | However compressed formats incorporating the "padding zeroing" part were made since then, and Dolphin supports them! These are the WBFS and GCZ formats. | ||
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===GCZ (Dolphin native archive format) - GC/Wii=== | ===GCZ (Dolphin native archive format) - GC/Wii=== | ||
− | ' | + | Dolphin can't play games directly from compressed archives (7zip/zip/gzip/rar...). Instead, it utilizes its own compression method. |
− | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes | + | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes for GC games, Not directly for Wii games. (checksum won't be the same, no gameplay issues - may be unscrubbed with [https://gbatemp.net/threads/new-app-nkit-restore-shrink-and-preserve-disc-images-in-playable-formerly-swiit.533402/ NKitRestore]) |
− | * '''Gain:''' Immediate. | + | * '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers). Considerable, depending on the game. |
− | * '''Tools Used:''' Dolphin (right-click the game(s) in the games list and select " | + | * '''Tools Used:''' Dolphin (right-click the game(s) in the games list and select "Compress ISO..." (or "Compressed selected ISOs..." if more than one is selected)); or [https://wit.wiimm.de/ wit (Wiimms ISO Tools)] |
− | * '''Can be reverted?''' Yes | + | * '''Can be reverted?''' Yes. You can right-click on the GCZ-compressed (in blue) ISOs in Dolphin and choose "Uncompress selected ISOs". Garbage data for Wii titles will be zeroed out and thus different from the official dump but will have no effect on gameplay in most cases - if desired can be unscrubbed [https://gbatemp.net/threads/new-app-nkit-restore-shrink-and-preserve-disc-images-in-playable-formerly-swiit.533402/ NKitRestore]. |
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* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' No | ||
− | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' | + | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Only Dolphin. |
===Scrubbing and Trimming - GC/Wii=== | ===Scrubbing and Trimming - GC/Wii=== | ||
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Not directly, see note about reversing. | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' Not directly, see note about reversing. | ||
* '''Gain:''' Not Immediate for just scrubbing (ISO dump size the same); Immediate for trimming (ISO dump size lowers). | * '''Gain:''' Not Immediate for just scrubbing (ISO dump size the same); Immediate for trimming (ISO dump size lowers). | ||
− | * '''Tools Used:''' GC-Tool ("wipe garbage data..." - Scrubbing for GameCube), GameCube ISO Trimmer (scrubbing and trimming for GameCube), WiiScrubber (scrubbing | + | * '''Tools Used:''' GC-Tool ("wipe garbage data..." - Scrubbing for GameCube), GameCube ISO Trimmer (scrubbing and trimming for GameCube), WiiScrubber (scrubbing for Wii, although compressing with Dolphin will scrub it anyways). |
− | * '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, with WiiScrubber's undo file or | + | * '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, with WiiScrubber's undo file or (in case of scrubbing) [https://gbatemp.net/threads/new-app-nkit-restore-shrink-and-preserve-disc-images-in-playable-formerly-swiit.533402/ NKitRestore] |
− | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes for | + | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes for scrubbing; some games won't work trimmed. |
− | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes for | + | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes for scrubbing; some games won't work trimmed. |
Scrubbing games zeros out garbage/dummy data in the ISO file. The resulting file will be the same size, but it will be able to compress better than unmodified ISOs. The difference can be huge depending on the game. Animal Crossing, for instance, will compress to just a 26 MB .gcz file after being scrubbed! | Scrubbing games zeros out garbage/dummy data in the ISO file. The resulting file will be the same size, but it will be able to compress better than unmodified ISOs. The difference can be huge depending on the game. Animal Crossing, for instance, will compress to just a 26 MB .gcz file after being scrubbed! | ||
− | Trimming | + | Trimming games implies scrubbing, but will also remove the garbage/dummy data outright, resulting in a smaller ISO file. The trimmed file can be used immediately at a smaller size without compression, but the game's internal structure will be wholly modified. '''Several games (the ones relying on direct sector access, as opposed to consulting the filesystem) will break if you trim them.''' |
===WBFS - Wii only=== | ===WBFS - Wii only=== | ||
− | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' Not directly | + | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' Not directly, see note about reversing. |
* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers). Considerable, depending on the game. | * '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers). Considerable, depending on the game. | ||
* '''Tools Used:''' [http://www.wiibackupmanager.co.uk/downloads.html Wii Backup Manager] (after adding your game, go to "Transfer" and select "WBFS") or wit (Wiimms ISO Tools). | * '''Tools Used:''' [http://www.wiibackupmanager.co.uk/downloads.html Wii Backup Manager] (after adding your game, go to "Transfer" and select "WBFS") or wit (Wiimms ISO Tools). | ||
− | * '''Can be reverted?''' Maybe. WBFS files can always be converted back to ISO, but they will remain scrubbed (can be unscrubbed with NKitRestore) and, depending on settings at the time of conversion to WBFS, may be missing update/extras partitions (can be readded with wit | + | * '''Can be reverted?''' Maybe. WBFS files can always be converted back to ISO, but they will remain scrubbed (can be unscrubbed with NKitRestore) and, depending on settings at the time of conversion to WBFS, may be missing update/extras partitions (can be laboriously readded with wit and a copy of the missing data). |
* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes - Preferred format by most SD/USB loaders | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes - Preferred format by most SD/USB loaders | ||
− | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes | + | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - Dolphin |
A scrubbed and sparse (gap-dropping) format directly derived from the one used in the obsolete WBFS file system. | A scrubbed and sparse (gap-dropping) format directly derived from the one used in the obsolete WBFS file system. | ||
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===CSO (aka CISO) - GC/Wii=== | ===CSO (aka CISO) - GC/Wii=== | ||
− | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' Not directly, see note about reversing. | + | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' (Gamecube) Not clear; (Wii) Not directly, see note about reversing. |
* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers). Less than WBFS. | * '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers). Less than WBFS. | ||
* '''Tools Used:''' Wii Backup Manager (same as above, but select "CISO" - possibly Wii only), wit | * '''Tools Used:''' Wii Backup Manager (same as above, but select "CISO" - possibly Wii only), wit | ||
− | * '''Can be reverted?''' Maybe ( | + | * '''Can be reverted?''' Maybe. CISO files can always be converted back to ISO, but they will remain scrubbed (can be unscrubbed with NKitRestore). |
− | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes (on Wii | + | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes (on Wii only) - Nintendont for Gamecube games, uLoader for Wii games |
− | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes | + | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - Dolphin |
A scrubbed and sparse (gap-dropping) format. Unrelated to the PSP's CSO format. | A scrubbed and sparse (gap-dropping) format. Unrelated to the PSP's CSO format. | ||
− | + | ===WIA (Wii ISO Archive) - Wii only?=== | |
− | + | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' Not directly unless --raw option is given, effectively preventing any space savings. | |
− | + | * '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers). Less than WBFS. | |
− | + | * '''Tools Used:''' wit | |
− | + | * '''Can be reverted?''' Maybe. Just as the previous formats, WIA files can always be converted back to ISO, but the conversion may be lossy (reversible with added work) depending on conversion settings. | |
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− | ===WIA (Wii ISO Archive) - | ||
− | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' Not directly | ||
− | * '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers) | ||
− | * '''Tools Used:''' wit | ||
− | * '''Can be reverted?''' | ||
* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' No | ||
− | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' | + | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' No |
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− | + | A scrubbed and compressed format designed for maximum space savings without cutting corners on corruption detection, but it's not directly playable or editable. | |
==Wii U== | ==Wii U== | ||
− | All uncompressed | + | All uncompressed ISO dumps are 23.3GB, which makes compression needed de facto. Some examples: |
* Super Mario World 3D: 23.3GB > 2.61GB (88% gain) | * Super Mario World 3D: 23.3GB > 2.61GB (88% gain) | ||
* New Super Mario Bros. U: 23.3GB > 1.8GB (92% gain) | * New Super Mario Bros. U: 23.3GB > 1.8GB (92% gain) | ||
* Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze: 23.3GB > 11.7GB (49% gain) | * Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze: 23.3GB > 11.7GB (49% gain) | ||
− | === | + | ===WUD (Wii U Compressed Image Dump Archive)=== |
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes (lossless, doesn't actually alter the data). | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes (lossless, doesn't actually alter the data). | ||
− | * '''Gain:''' Immediate ( | + | * '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers): Around 50% gain usually (depending on the game) |
* '''Tools Used:''' [http://mega.nz/#!llQwyQQZ!58fErjqM7pyQZKFKe0Qlu1yLP5EbtmOmiDUN1ElW07c wud tool]. To use, drag-and-drop the ISO on the executable. | * '''Tools Used:''' [http://mega.nz/#!llQwyQQZ!58fErjqM7pyQZKFKe0Qlu1yLP5EbtmOmiDUN1ElW07c wud tool]. To use, drag-and-drop the ISO on the executable. | ||
* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes. The wud tool includes a decompression utility, which recreates the original file. | * '''Can be reverted?''' Yes. The wud tool includes a decompression utility, which recreates the original file. | ||
* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No (can be converted to an installable format using [https://github.com/FIX94/wud2app wud2app]) | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' No (can be converted to an installable format using [https://github.com/FIX94/wud2app wud2app]) | ||
− | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - Cemu (and potentially other [[Wii U emulators]]) | + | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - Future releases of Cemu (and potentially other [[Wii U emulators]]) |
By Exzap, Cemu's author ([http://gbatemp.net/threads/wii-u-image-wud-compression-tool.397901/ release thread]). The tool detects duplicate sectors and only stores them once: all the empty ranges end up removed, storing only ranges which contain file or filesystem data. Of course, the original ISO can be reconstituted. | By Exzap, Cemu's author ([http://gbatemp.net/threads/wii-u-image-wud-compression-tool.397901/ release thread]). The tool detects duplicate sectors and only stores them once: all the empty ranges end up removed, storing only ranges which contain file or filesystem data. Of course, the original ISO can be reconstituted. | ||
− | === | + | ===RPX/RPL (a.k.a. Spilling the WUD's Guts)=== |
− | + | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (dump is collapsed to individual files) | |
− | + | * '''Gain:''' Immediate (Total size decreases). Can be less than a WUD depending on the game. | |
− | + | * '''Tools Used:''' [http://wiiubrew.net/uwizard/ UWizard.] [http://digiex.net/guides-reviews/console-guides/nintendo-wii-u-guides/14680-wii-u-wud-loadiine-gx2-conversion-extract-wud-images-loadiine-use.html Follow this guide for usage information.] You'll need the disc key for the game you're trying to extract, which you should have gotten with the WUD. | |
− | + | * '''Can be reverted?''' Any padding information is lost. | |
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− | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (dump is | ||
− | * '''Gain:''' Immediate (Total size decreases). Can be less than a | ||
− | * '''Tools Used:''' | ||
− | * '''Can be reverted?''' | ||
* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes, use [https://github.com/dimok789/loadiine_gx2/releases Loadiine GX2] | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes, use [https://github.com/dimok789/loadiine_gx2/releases Loadiine GX2] | ||
* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes | ||
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==Game Boy Advance / Nintendo DS / Nintendo 3DS== | ==Game Boy Advance / Nintendo DS / Nintendo 3DS== | ||
===Trimming=== | ===Trimming=== | ||
− | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' No ( | + | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (destructive) |
* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ROM dump size lowers). | * '''Gain:''' Immediate (ROM dump size lowers). | ||
− | * '''Tools Used:''' NDSTokyoTrim (GBA/DS/3DS), rom_tool (3DS | + | * '''Tools Used:''' NDSTokyoTrim (GBA/DS/3DS), rom_tool (3DS)<br />NDSTokyoTrim: Drag-and-drop roms, and press "Trim". The original file will be overwritten! |
− | * '''Can be reverted?''' No. | + | * '''Can be reverted?''' No. Sometimes it damages the game's functionality irreversibly. |
* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes, same file format. | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes, same file format. | ||
* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes | ||
− | + | While it doesn't affect the game's functionality by much other than being a smaller regular ROM, it's not advisable though to trim in many cases, including GBA games in general. Rebuilding the internal structure of the rom might even destroy the game's functionality in the few games where it does matter (for example Golden Sun DS). | |
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==Xbox 360== | ==Xbox 360== | ||
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* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes. If the rebuilding process didn't damage anything vital. | * '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes. If the rebuilding process didn't damage anything vital. | ||
* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - Xenia. | * '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - Xenia. | ||
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=Other Tricks= | =Other Tricks= | ||
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===NTFS Compression=== | ===NTFS Compression=== | ||
− | You can enable filesystem-level compression (like "NTFS Compression" in Windows) for the directory containing your ISOs/ROMs. This has a very noticeable space gain and doesn't affect the emulator's functionality. It's surprisingly effective. | + | You can enable filesystem-level compression (like "NTFS Compression" in Windows) for the directory containing your ISOs/ROMs. This has a very noticeable space gain and doesn't affect the emulator's functionality. It's surprisingly more effective than many people would like to give this credit. |
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes | ||
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===Decompression on Demand=== | ===Decompression on Demand=== | ||
You can keep your ROMs/ISOs compressed in a 7zip archive and use RocketLauncher or any other [[Frontends]] to decompress 7zip archives and pass the contents onto the emulator. | You can keep your ROMs/ISOs compressed in a 7zip archive and use RocketLauncher or any other [[Frontends]] to decompress 7zip archives and pass the contents onto the emulator. | ||
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* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes | ||
==Destructive Modification== | ==Destructive Modification== | ||
− | + | Of course, there are also the devs who don't merely use garbage data for padding but also bloat the game data part. For instance, many PSP JRPGs have a specific FMV movie duplicated a dozen times, and the Megaman Collection on GC stores its sound data using an uncompressed format bringing the size of that portion alone to 1GB. In many of these cases, there's just not much you can do about it without destructively altering game data. | |
− | Note | + | So what do some people do? Note when I say "delete" it often means replacing the file with a 1KB dummy file to prevent the ISO file structure from collapsing on itself, but sometimes such care isn't even put into ensuring it's still in a functional state. Some examples: |
− | * delete all videos: this brings Super Smash Bros Brawl to 4.7GB | + | * delete all videos: this brings Super Smash Bros Brawl to 4.7GB. |
* delete all voice acting and occasionally sound and music: this brings Xenoblade PAL to 4.2 GB with even only one of both dubs removed. | * delete all voice acting and occasionally sound and music: this brings Xenoblade PAL to 4.2 GB with even only one of both dubs removed. | ||
− | * delete unused content you could get with emulator cheats like rooms and stuff | + | * delete unused content you could get with emulator cheats like rooms and stuff |
− | * delete "extra" languages other than | + | * delete "extra" languages other than English |
− | * If a game has multiple quests, | + | * If a game has multiple quests, they delete some characters/quests they don't like. Especially seen in compilations and stuff with demos included. |
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− | + | Tools used for this are modding tools for rebuilding file trees, like UMDGen (PSP), Tinke (DS) and also regular ISO tools (PS1, Saturn)... | |
− | + | Since this results in most of the case in very noticeable detrimental effects in gameplay (if the game doesn't crash outright), this is nothing short of mutilating the game image. Some of these dumps make it to sharing sites sadly enough. | |
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− | + | Avoid resorting to destructive modifications since it can lead to random crashes and unexpected behavior, especially in games with lots of shared assets. [[http://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/File_Hashes Verify]] your dumps to make sure you don't have these, and if you want to compress those prefer other methods or using decompression on demand. One reason to use a destructively modified dump is for burning your own Dreamcast games, as GD-ROMs were over a gigabyte in size and CD-Rs top out at 850MB. | |
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− | + | * '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (destructive mod) | |
[[Category:FAQs]] | [[Category:FAQs]] |