this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2025
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RetroArch

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This community is unofficial. Let me know if a developer of RetroArch wishes to have a Lemmy community.

RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players.

It enables you to run classic games on a wide range of computers and consoles through its slick graphical interface. Settings are also unified so configuration is done once and for all.

RetroArch has advanced features like shaders, netplay, rewinding, next-frame response times, runahead, machine translation, blind accessibility features, achievements, and more!

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Save help / warning to other n00bs (infosec.pub)
submitted 1 month ago by DahGangalang@infosec.pub to c/retroarch@retrolemmy.com
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So recently had a hankering for some Pokémon hacks so booted up my old Pokémon Storm Silver ROM (using retroarch with Desmume as emulator).

I spun up a new game and played a bit, but it wouldn't let me save a new game since the ROM had my old save data. I decided to just save the game state with the built in retro arch save state functionality. So beat the champion using save states as alternative save feature with 60 hours on game clock (probably MUCH less due to my abuse of ffw feature).

But when you beat the champion, it dumps you back to the title screen. From there, I can only load my old data (since my current play isn't properly saved in the game data). As such, I can't play any of the post elite four content.

Anyone aware of a workaround where I can erase the games data from a save state? Kinda feels like I'm just SOL.

If I am, let this stand as a warning to other Pokémon fans. Always take the time to clear your old data!

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[–] wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

What? Pokemon should always allow you to overwrite existing save data. It just asks you to confirm you're sure before you overwrite. That's been a thing since gen 1.

Also, the save data isn't baked into the ROM. Save files and save states are stored as separate files from the rom itself.

It sounds more like RetroArch doesn't have rights to overwrite files wherever you have your save data saving to. Or maybe you set that particular file to read only.

Edit: there may also be an issue with compatibility with the romhack and the emulation core. It's unlikely, but around 8 years ago I think I remember there being some issues with DS emulation and certain Pokemon romhacks. Best to make sure retroarch and your cores are up to date.

[–] DahGangalang@infosec.pub 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Pokemon should always allow you to overwrite existing save data. It just asks you to confirm you're sure before you overwrite.

It looks like for a little bit in the Nintendo DS era, they were looking to make that erasure more difficult (I'm not going to postulate as to why). For HG/SS you had to return to title screen and hold up + SELECT + B and that would take you to a hidden menu for deleting save data. (Forum board explaining the steps, as proof)

Obv this won't work in my case since I can't return to game once I hit the title screen.

Also, the save data isn't baked into the ROM. Save files and save states are stored as separate files from the rom itself.

I was not aware of this. Thanks for pointing me in a direction!

[–] wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Maybe I didn't make this clear: by default, in ANY Pokemon game you shouldn't need to erase the existing save to overwrite it with a new save. The whole "erase" option was really only for if you were selling the game I guess. Whatever you find regarding that isn't really applicable to your situation.

Whether the save is from a different "run" or not you should just get the same prompt as normal asking you if you're sure you want to overwrite the existing save.

Unless the rom hack maker did something absurd, the issue you have is something to do with things outside of the emulated game. That being the emulator, its settings, or folder/file permissions on where the saves are being stored as files.

[–] DahGangalang@infosec.pub 2 points 1 month ago

Right. I've only played till soul silver of the "real' games and I'm pretty sure Soul Silver is the only one that has that "feature"

Its not something the hacker built in. Apparently the instructions were included in the paper booklet that came with the game. Just pulled up a soft copy and the instructions are on page 10.

[–] DosDude@retrolemmy.com 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

You can try to manually delete the save game. It's in the ./saves folder of retroarch. Don't delete the files in the ./states folder, as these are your save states.

If that didn't do it, you might need to change permissions for the folder.

[–] DahGangalang@infosec.pub 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

So deleted the corresponding save file....but it just regenerates when i boot up the game. Its the same file I just deleted (even ran some hashes on it).

[–] DosDude@retrolemmy.com 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

And can you delete it while playing the game?

[–] DahGangalang@infosec.pub 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Nope. I'm on Windows which has the file marked as "in use by Retroarch".

The part that has me baffled is where the new save file is coming from. That says to me that save state must be written somewhere else (my instinct says the ROM file itself, but someone else was saying that's patently wrong).

Fwiw, I've also tried playing with the save states (made backup copies first). If you hard exit, it saves off a copy of the current game state ("auto" slot), then attempts to open that up when I boot up the game. My current working theory is that the save file is regenerated from the save states when I try to load into a save state.

Any experiences that agree/disagree with what I'm seeing?

[–] DosDude@retrolemmy.com 2 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Potentially it could be saved in the same folder as the rom.

[–] DahGangalang@infosec.pub 2 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Appreciate the support. I'll probably plink at it some more tonight. If I figure it out, I'll def be back to make sure the next guy doesn't get lost where I did.

[–] DosDude@retrolemmy.com 1 points 4 weeks ago

If it still won't work you could try a different pc maybe. Some friend or a laptop or whatever. See if it still won't work.