Saving game in a file (Like an RPG)

[Docilemouse]

I'm working on a platformer game in which there will be save points scattered across the level. When the player touches on of these save points I want the game to be saved in the player's individual file. When the game is started again, I want the player to be able to select his file (out of two or three total) and start at the point at which he saved.

I assume the ideal tool to use here would be an "INI" file. The problem is: I have absolutely zero experience with INI files or saving in general. Would someone be so kind as to walk mw through how to do this?

[nivram]

Popcorn has an excellent tutorial in the Tutorials section in the ---> sidebar. This is an excellent way to get started with INI.

Marv

[Eliyahu]

Popcorn has an excellent tutorial in the Tutorials section in the ---> sidebar. This is an excellent way to get started with INI.

Marv

Right on...

http://www.clickteam.com/eng/resources/ini_tutorial.pdf

Go check it out, the knowledge of INI files is worth having and limitless in making games, if you build more in depth games, you will probably use INI. It can hold how many lives your player had, how many points, etc... that tutorial is simple too, giving you basic ideas.

[uprize]

INI files are great for this type of thing, however the only issue with them is that are not secure and can easily be edited in a text editor.

Once you learn how to use the object properly, I would suggest you use the binary object or blowfish extension to encrypt the file preventing it being edited easily (only if you are concerned about this)

[Eliyahu]

You don't really need to worry about that though, unless you're going to publicly release it, to prevent the user from cheating the engine into thinking they are at a certain point.
Sometimes I just give the ini file a really random name so the person will never find it :P

[Shawn]

INI files are great for this type of thing, however the only issue with them is that are not secure and can easily be edited in a text editor.

Once you learn how to use the object properly, I would suggest you use the binary object or blowfish extension to encrypt the file preventing it being edited easily (only if you are concerned about this)

Using array objects is better than the ini. It's easier to store and save to a file, plus you can encrypt it too without using something extra like blowfish. Currently, I've been using the associative array extension. Love it.

[Random]

I second what Shawn said. Using the associative array is not only more straight forward and practical, but also saves you the one step of encrypting/decrypting the file - as it is one single action.

INI files are meant to store options (always have been), so the user can, in the worst case, fix a broken option (e.g. a resolution he set that his screen can't handle). That's why they're human readable. Savegames should not be that.

[Darkhog]

Optional you can give hash of save and save it. For example:

save01.ini
[SaveData]
PlayerName=Tux The Penguin
Score=9876
SavePoint=3
ValidationHash=2343f23a35(...)

Hash you can get from QuickHash object. You simply generate hash from data, saving it, when loading generates it again and checking. If these aren't match -> user tried to "improve" his position.
_________________________
Dragons ARE

[Darkhog]

Optional you can give hash of save and save it. For example:

save01.ini
[SaveData]
PlayerName=Tux The Penguin
Score=9876
SavePoint=3
ValidationHash=2343f23a35(...)

Hash you can get from QuickHash object. You simply generate hash from data, saving it, when loading generates it again and checking. If these aren't match -> user tried to "improve" his position.
_________________________
Dragons ARE exist. And I want to meet someone, o'kay?

[Docilemouse]

Thanks so much for all the info and tips guys. I got it to work fairly easily using an Ini. I'm too much concerned about having the ini file tampered with. I actually like having the code readable by anyone, so they can understand how it works. If a person wonts to tamper with it, it's their loss, since they won't get the full enjoyment out of the game. But anyway, thanks again for the info. =)