Game save file size

[Deepak]

Why are save files sizes so varied in size? Why are some game files huge and some are really small? For exp Jak3 save file size is ~ 1000KB (ND let us down on this account )whereas a similar game like Sly2 has a puny size in comparison? Maybe if every dev works hard on files size, we won't need 2nd memory card.

 

[Phil]

I presume Jak 3 requires a lot of space to save the various conditions of each mission, the state you left it in and the absolute huge amount of extras you can find. Then in addition to that, each save-file includes I think 4 or 5 game-save slots, so the total ends up being somewhere near 100KB per save.

Haven't played Sly, but a similar example of a game that keeps track of huge amount of modifyed data is Baulder's Gate. One game save I think takes up 250KB if I recall correctly.

True though, some games really over do it in this regard. Replay-saves on SSX I think is a classic case (1MB for a replay I think).

 

[StefanS]

Don't forget there're games that allocate the memory space for all its save slots, while other create a seperate save memory for every save slot. On GCN, PoP: Warrior Within vs MGS: Twin Snakes...

 

[Npl]

Jak3 saving process is also very short, it will likely only update the block that changed since the last save. This makes it harder to compress the information as each block has to be accessible alone, and maybe also storing redundand information in all blocks for faster save/loading.

Oh and I dont need a 2nd Memcard, my PC has plenty of space