PS3 Apollo save tool (development thread)

[bucanero]

Can you add the option to resign savedata in HFW Tools ( similar to the way it is on CFW ) ?

no, that has nothing to do with Apollo.

 

[Cosmic-R]

I have updated the patch files. If your ps3 is connected to internet, You can use the auto-update from Apollo, go to "Settings" menu, and click on the "update application data" option.

or else you can update the file manually, here's the updated patch file
https://github.com/bucanero/apollo-patches/raw/main/PS3/BLUS30855.savepatch

wow i didnt expect you to reply so soon !
thanks it is now tested and working correctly (at least the particuar code i wanted to use),

and just by chance i noticed because i had forgotten to turn off the proxy settings in the ps3 i noticed that the save tool stays a long long time in a black screen after your logo leading you to believe the console has frozen, even to load the main menu it was slow, went back to xmb disabled proxy and it loaded correctly this time

 

[bucanero]

wow i didnt expect you to reply so soon !
thanks it is now tested and working correctly (at least the particuar code i wanted to use),

and just by chance i noticed because i had forgotten to turn off the proxy settings in the ps3 i noticed that the save tool stays a long long time in a black screen after your logo leading you to believe the console has frozen, even to load the main menu it was slow, went back to xmb disabled proxy and it loaded correctly this time

that's most probably the auto-update check process. (Your proxy might be blocking the connection, and it ends up blocking the app)

If you want to keep the proxy, you can disable the auto-update check under "Settings" menu. That should fix the black screen.

 

[bucanero]

on the next Apollo Save Tool v2.0.0 version, along with the new features of VMC /VM1/VM2/VME virtual memcard management , I have finally decided to update the BSD script commands for data compression and decompression.

The new command syntax:

- decompress(offset, zlib_window_bits)
- compress(offset)


With the new format you can specify the right offset you want to unpack, and the exact window bits value (instead of the tool trying all the offsets and different window bits)
Also, no need to specify window bits when compressing, as Apollo will use the same type of compression used during the first "decompression" step

For example:

:SAVEDATA.BIN

[Decompress file SAVEDATA.BIN]
decompress(0x000A, 15)

and then

:SAVEDATA.BIN

[Compress file SAVEDATA.BIN]
compress(0x000A)

I know it's a breaking change, but I've already updated all the .savepatch files to the new format so the codes keep working as expected.

 

[Leprechaun]

Hii @bucanero

I have a PS2 Classic save file that i would like to convert, but it just doesn't seem to work for me.
I gave up after 3h of searching in apollo because it doesn't seem to recognize it in PS2ISO folder, neither a USB (PS2/ VMC/ file here)
It is a backup of the savegame Need for Speed Underground 2.

In the past i made a backup from the VMC folder on my PS3 HDD that was holding these 2 files -> SCEVMC0.VME and SCEVMC1.VME
I gave it a try to restore these in the PS2 Classics folder, but doesn't seem to work anymore..
Could you please convert them to MC1.VM2 and MC2.VM2 so i can use them with webMAN Games ??

Here is the link:
https :// file.io/l6S14j4W9HV9

Thanks in advance.

 

[Berion]

vmc folder doesn't holding VME (encrypted) but VM2 (not encrypted). Something You misleading.

VME is encrypted by klicense. It must match to game's one or else it will not be possible to decrypt it by emulator. So called placeholders, all using the same key. However original games in store using per game key, so different for each title.

 

[Ilusion]

Some trophies that I unlock using Apollo do not sync to PSN, they only count in the trophies' offline mode. What can I do when this happens?

 

[Kevstah2004]

good , I was about to ask about the original PSU file. Now it's possible to see if the original PSU had any copy-flag or if the converter missed something.

Have you tried it recently with updated ps2 emulator mods? I think my model fat model ps3 only supports ps2classics not from disc, everytime I try to see the disc contents it's says failed as a ps2 disc but can see the contents as a ps3 bluray disc with the system.cnf & game files, I don't have any ps1 games to test the drive just ps3 & ps2.

 

[bucanero]

Since a long time I wanted to improve Apollo with Python scripting.
Now I'm finally adding Python scripting to Apollo Save tool across ps3/ps4/psp/vita platforms.

I have implemented a customized version of microPython that provides Python 3 support, along with a bunch of custom micro modules that replicate all the stuff that was available in BSD scripts.

I'm not removing BSD script support, but my intention is to avoid adding more commands or changes to BSD. Apollo will keep support for Save wizard codes, BSD scripts, and python scripts.
Python will be the most advanced option for users that need to do truly custom modifications to save data files.

With my microPython implementation users can import external .py modules, so ideally even without Apollo updates, a user could create custom python modules to handle specific checksums , hashes and encryption.

I have also created documentation for the new Python modules, the BSD script syntax, and the Save wizard code types and format:
https://bucanero.github.io/apollo-lib/

- SW: https://bucanero.github.io/apollo-lib/savewizard.html
- BSD: https://bucanero.github.io/apollo-lib/bsd.html
- Python modules: https://bucanero.github.io/apollo-lib/py-modindex.html

@aldostools , not sure if you're still looking into BSD stuff, but if you can, could you take a look to the BSD documentation link, and see if it makes sense?

 

[aldostools]

Since a long time I wanted to improve Apollo with Python scripting.
Now I'm finally adding Python scripting to Apollo Save tool across ps3/ps4/psp/vita platforms.

I have implemented a customized version of microPython that provides Python 3 support, along with a bunch of custom micro modules that replicate all the stuff that was available in BSD scripts.

I'm not removing BSD script support, but my intention is to avoid adding more commands or changes to BSD. Apollo will keep support for Save wizard codes, BSD scripts, and python scripts.
Python will be the most advanced option for users that need to do truly custom modifications to save data files.

With my microPython implementation users can import external .py modules, so ideally even without Apollo updates, a user could create custom python modules to handle specific checksums , hashes and encryption.

I have also created documentation for the new Python modules, the BSD script syntax, and the Save wizard code types and format:
https://bucanero.github.io/apollo-lib/

- SW: https://bucanero.github.io/apollo-lib/savewizard.html
- BSD: https://bucanero.github.io/apollo-lib/bsd.html
- Python modules: https://bucanero.github.io/apollo-lib/py-modindex.html

@aldostools , not sure if you're still looking into BSD stuff, but if you can, could you take a look to the BSD documentation link, and see if it makes sense?

Hello Damian. I find this new Python support very useful and probably will save you lot of work.

I have not worked on Bruteforce Save Data (BSD) in more than a decade and probably won't do it in the future.

BSD script was originally implemented to allow extend the BSD features externally without having to touch the source code.
I preferred to create my own scripting language because in the past I was frustrated by depending on components that were later not supported or maintained or that I couldn't customize. But that was almost 15 years ago. Open source is more widely used, so it makes sense to use a robust script language instead of a limited one.

The documentation looks awesome. Maybe it could be improved if you add links to savepatch examples that use the commands. However it's a lot of work that I don't think you have the time or interest in do it.

 

[Algol]

@bucanero :

Je constate avec plaisir que tu continues de faire du développement pour APOLLO-SAVE-TOOL mais as-tu pris le temps de prendre ma dernière traduction en Français des ressources linguistiques. Cette traduction t'a été envoyé il y a plus d'un mois sur le site (pas en MP).
Merci de m'en informer et de me faire parvenir le APOLLO pour PS3 et PS4 contenant ces mise à jour pour que je les testes et te fasse parvenir mes conclusions.
Reçois toutes mes considérations et je te souhaite une très bonne année 2026.


In English :

I'm pleased to see you're still developing for APOLLO-SAVE-TOOL, but have you had a chance to download my latest French translation of the language resources? I sent you this translation over a month ago via the website (not by private message).
Please let me know and send me the APOLLO for PS3 and PS4 containing these updates so I can test them and share my findings with you. With kind regards, and I wish you a very happy 2026.

 

[bucanero]

Hello Damian. I find this new Python support very useful and probably will save you lot of work.

I have not worked on Bruteforce Save Data (BSD) in more than a decade and probably won't do it in the future.


The documentation looks awesome. Maybe it could be improved if you add links to savepatch examples that use the commands. However it's a lot of work that I don't think you have the time or interest in do it.

oh good idea about adding links to examples. I have all the ".savepatch" files in a Github repository, so it should be possible to add links. I might try some AI tool as it's a simple task, but like you said it would take time to go manually thru each command, search for an example file, and then link.

I also figured that I should add some basic documentation about the ".savepatch" file format and structure. It a simple text file but adding some details about it can be helpful. At least for the new Python support, a code would have to be tagged like:

[some save wizard code]
10001234 0000ABCD

[python:My script code]
import apollo

print(apollo.version)

@bucanero :

In English :
I'm pleased to see you're still developing for APOLLO-SAVE-TOOL, but have you had a chance to download my latest French translation of the language resources? I sent you this translation over a month ago via the website (not by private message).
Please let me know and send me the APOLLO for PS3 and PS4 containing these updates so I can test them and share my findings with you. With kind regards, and I wish you a very happy 2026.

I checked and the translations had some updates, but not sure if it's the latest or not. The best alternative to confirm, go ahead and check these links and compare, if you have something to update then I'll need to get the updated french files

PS4: https://github.com/bucanero/apollo-ps4/blob/main/assets/misc/lang_fr.po

PS3: https://github.com/bucanero/apollo-ps3/blob/master/pkgfiles/USRDIR/DATA/lang_fr.po

 

[Algol]

@bucanero :

Re-voici le fichier en lien.

@bucanero :

Fournis-moi ces 2 fichiers (pour la PS3 et la PS4) au format "texte" s'il te plait car je ne peux, malheureusement, les éditer ni les modifiers et les télécharger sur ton site GitHub. J'en suis désolé.

Please provide me with these two files (for PS3 and PS4) in "text" format, as I unfortunately cannot edit, modify, or upload them to your GitHub site. I apologize for the inconvenience.