Older PC video game save Hacking by 082535
hacking.jpg
Are you bored of OLD PC GAMES that you have completed and never play anymore, well here is a way to give your old game a new life. basically you will learn how to change the save file to get whatever you want.in the game.
 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Play and save

save game.jpg
For this to work you must play just long enough to generate a save file. If you already have a save file created then skip this step. Yes I know I still play Mech Commander 2, and it's an old game but hey this instructable is for the older games you don't play anymore.
1-40 of 69Next »
LBGSHI says: Jun 3, 2011. 6:25 AM
This is one of the more simple ways of hacking. I would recommend going a little more in-depth, by taking a look at the Library at http://GameHacking.org , or the forums at http://GameHacking.org/vB .
lego99 says: Feb 24, 2010. 8:11 AM
I learned playing video game that the measure of courage is inversely proportional to the distance from the save point.
.
2 - I learned playing video games the little English I know! Start, Select, Left, Right, Options, Resume
.
3 - I learned playing video game that the princess is always in another castle (Super Mario)
.
4 - I learned playing video game that even can not read what people around us speak, we talk to them all!
.
5 - I learned playing video game that the smaller and more glued to clothing, the most dangerous woman is
.
6 - I learned playing video game that I can get a penalty and fly (Super Mario)
.
7 - I learned playing video game that there is a green monster aki in Brazil (Blanka - Street Fighter)
.
8 - I learned that playing video games with a handful of sand can go back in time (Prince of Persia)
.
9 - I learned that playing video games that the bananas that I loose on the track to the other rodarem, always make me run (Mario Kart)
.
10 - I learned playing video game that coins are more legal notes
.
11 - I learned playing video game that Zeus is a berry near Kratos (God Of War)
.
12 - I learned playing the video game's Roman numbers 1 to 13 (Final Fantasy)
.
13 - I learned that playing video game hens are extremely vindictive (Zelda)
.
14 - I learned playing video game that I play guitar (Guitar Hero)
.
15 - I learned playing video game that walls covered with bullet holes miraculously return to normal after a while
.
16 - I learned playing video game that no country can beat Brazil in a football game
.
17 - I learned playing video game that if I lean my body or the joystick, no use at all the curves
.
18 - I learned playing video game that elephants are afraid of rats when they are under the light (Donkey Kong)
.
19 - I learned that playing video games for more than q if you find good in any game .. always have a Japanese best you
.
20 - I learned playing video games when you use the Nitro, everything is blurred and you only see traces of its lighthouse lights and poles
.
21 - I learned that playing video games if I head out the brick in gold coin (Super Mario)
.
22 - I learned playing video games than any juncture of his life could be worse if it had water or lava
.
23 - I learned playing video games that a person needs to take several shots to die
.
24 - I learned playing video game experience is something that can only be won by killing enemies
.
25 - I learned playing video game that I'm better than my father
.
26 - I learned playing video game that terrorists and anti-terrorism exchange shots in a pool (Counter Strike)
.
27 - I learned playing video game that you step on the brake with the car stopped, he gives a defendant
.
28 - I learned playing video game that the blue hedgehog is an animal the world's fastest (Sonic)
.
29 - I learned playing video game that the white car uses less gas, but is the slowest (Top Gear)
.
30 - I learned playing video game that the guitar has only five notes: green, red, yellow, blue and orange (Guitar Hero)
.
31 - I learned playing video game that starts a movie in any game is better to prepare
.
32 - I learned playing video game that I was born with zero extra lives
.
33 - I learned playing video game that reincarnation exists (Continue)
.
34 - I learned playing video game that mushrooms are psychedelic drugs (Spuer Mario)
.
35 - I learned playing video game that you can blow a dragon, but not a door trancad
.
36 - I learned playing video game that ghosts lurk over her eyes (Super Mario)
.
37 - I learned playing video game that Paraguay in the end is reliable
.
38 - I learned playing video game that the characters know the exact key to use on doors where
.
39 - I learned playing video game that is easier to try 999X hit 3-digit passwords, than back in the game to look for it
.
40 - I learned playing video game that the guy
MotoXrider says: Nov 28, 2010. 7:33 AM
You really have no time on your hands do you.
1OAK says: Mar 28, 2010. 8:57 AM
Trollin for runescape hacks, damn non-nowledge of binary data and dll. files lol
vbexpressrocker says: Jan 14, 2010. 9:40 PM
IE is poop!
BlueRaja says: Mar 11, 2009. 12:59 PM
Just because a save-file format is non-human-readable doesn't mean it's "encrypted." I highly doubt any game would go through the trouble of encrypting its save-files - it's pointless. Remember, all these games are programmed by humans, who are free to create a savefile format however they want - whether it be in plaintext or binary. This tutorial is pointless.
rik3098 says: Sep 7, 2009. 11:46 AM
no im sure there done by COMPUTERS now
spartan 2209 says: Oct 10, 2009. 3:30 PM
Well, you're wrong.
Jimpiedepimpie says: Sep 2, 2009. 11:36 AM
I haxord rome total war couse i was too lazy to complete the game and unlock all(unlockable) factions What i did I haxord it and now i can play all of em!
chilll2009 says: Jul 29, 2009. 3:27 PM
I opened up a ds game on notepad and by one number it ruined the whole game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just warning ya to watch out, because it can happen on pc+mac games!!!!
CowGuy says: Oct 10, 2007. 10:58 AM
This really isn't "hacking". You can't really hack a video game either unless you try hacking a server for an online game. This would be more considered modding.
jotism says: Feb 26, 2009. 1:22 PM
If you reverse engineered the code, then re-wrote it, or parts of it (which in most cases is illegal*) so you had extra life at the start or at every save point you gained full health etc, etc, then that would be considered hacking, technically even if it is open source.

  • Only in most countries and most programs, not including Linux as it is mostly open source.
PS it helps if you are any good at programming.
navaburo says: Nov 20, 2007. 11:00 AM
I believe modifying games in the way described here qualifies as hacking. One of several definitions for "hack" can be found in the Wikipedia page on "Hack": A "hack" means a clever or quick fix to a computer program problem, as in "That hack you made last night to the editor is working well".
littlechef37 says: May 12, 2008. 2:37 PM
hack=good idea or ileagle idea... eg; borrowing windows (nobody dose that anymore cuz LINUX YAY) and getting stuff that shouldnt be in your hands such as people that GO THROUGH YOUR GARBAGE LOOKING FOR PREPAID CREDIT CARDS.....GRRRRR!!!!! :( <br/>
jotism says: Feb 26, 2009. 1:23 PM
Linux rules, Ubuntu 8.10 RULES over Windows!!!
evanwehrer says: Jan 8, 2010. 9:33 AM
I lost part of my soul the oither night..I installed Windows. It crashed 3 times during installation and my LAN still doesnt work. But I needed to play portal and HL2 DM ...
CowGuy says: Nov 17, 2008. 12:37 PM
Yeah that's stealing, or pirating. And as my previous post was somewhat stupid. I just looked back on that and felt kinda dumb. I made it sound like only hacking was bad too.
Decepticon says: Jul 14, 2008. 9:57 AM
That's not called hacking, that's called pirating. Big difference. Hacking used to not carry such a negative connotation. Hacking was just a way (and still is) to get something (not necessarily a piece of electronics or computer hardware/software either) to work differently than what it was intended to do. There are 'Hackers' out there known as 'Black Hat Hackers' that do intend to do harm to computers/software for monetary gain or status among their peers. And then there are 'White Hat Hackers' that actually find exploits in software and hardware and fix/patch them to prevent Black Hat Hackers from destroying or harming them. Hope this lesson on Hackers/Hacking has opened your eyes to more than just pirating software. Look up 2600 and read some, you may learn a thing or two.
Noblevagrant says: Nov 16, 2008. 8:19 PM
I just had a vision of the old madd Spy vs Spy but far less amusing
jirtan says: Dec 12, 2007. 7:14 AM
I'm skeptical as to how many games this trick will work with. You should talk about what the maximum numbers usually are for common data types (ex: char or byte is 255), and how to compare and contrast two save files with a hex editor. Go into the game, save it, go back into the game and change just one value (like life), and save it again. Then compare the two files to find out which section has the value you want (life). This is made even easier when you have multiple save files and a program that will automatically compare them for you.
tommylovesjamie says: Feb 8, 2009. 2:54 PM
The problem with that particular method is that you also have to deal with the fact that some games also change time as well as other values when you play them. If the game does use encrypted save files, however, you are spot on with your method, it helps to narrow down which places are actually important. One thing I tend to do is just search online and see if someone else has maybe already made a save editor for the game I am playing (I know, lazy man's solution).
bighead5454 says: Jan 8, 2009. 5:25 PM
reply if it can
082535 (author) says: Jan 8, 2009. 7:44 PM
I haven't tried it on that game but it would be nice to experiment on semi old games like halo 1 i might test it this weekend, but i will have to find the disk, that i haven't touched in years. if you try it before this weekend tell me if it works.
bighead5454 says: Jan 11, 2009. 10:32 AM
also do you know if they made a halo 2 for the cp i no i saw one in wal-mart onetime but i cant find it anymore
082535 (author) says: Jan 11, 2009. 1:24 PM
Yes they make Halo 2 for the computer, but I would look for it at target rather then Wal-mart tho. And yes i know that the name of Halo 1 is halo combat evolved.
bighead5454 says: Jan 11, 2009. 10:31 AM
halo combat evolved is the actual name for halo 1
bighead5454 says: Jan 8, 2009. 5:24 PM
will this method work for Halo:Combat evolved
Conexion says: Jan 27, 2008. 8:30 PM
Yeah, it does work... but it won't work for many. Usually any game made past the mid-90's encrypts their save files. Good job though.
mythbusterma says: Nov 6, 2008. 10:26 PM
ummm im sorry but i play games form 2006 that work like this
macyrlivyed says: Aug 11, 2008. 5:40 PM
So un-encrypt them. Its pretty easy. There are programs on the internet that will do just about everything. IE homework! : )
andyhuntdesigns says: Nov 25, 2008. 5:31 PM
You use IE? Ew.
zaery says: May 23, 2009. 3:12 PM
I think he meant to say the abbreviation for "id est" Although, i do agree that I.E. is gross
smidge147 says: Nov 29, 2007. 1:48 PM
Half-life 2 is the greatest game to mod because if you do mod it, its legal and the game makers encourage modding.
Redgerr says: Jul 17, 2008. 8:53 PM
yeah i payed for one-- GARY'S MOD :) great game :P
bedbugg2 says: Sep 12, 2008. 2:01 PM
indeed it is
Redgerr says: Sep 15, 2008. 4:52 AM
lol only down side, that isnt much, is that you have to buy it first lol :))
bedbugg2 says: Sep 15, 2008. 10:11 AM
yeah XD, but i think it is worth the money 10x over
Redgerr says: Sep 16, 2008. 6:56 AM
yhar i think so too!!
agent says: Sep 27, 2008. 1:52 PM
Lol until you gotta give your friend back your 2 gb of RAM you had to borrow and you're back down to 1/2gb and can't even play it anymore xD. Not very good when I have 3 GMod servers.
Redgerr says: Oct 1, 2008. 7:34 PM
gl gettin some more :)
1-40 of 69Next »
Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format. You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.

Upgrade to Pro today!