How to convert installed game/pkg file with game updates installed into ISO format?

Z

Zsolt Bitter

Forum Noob
Hello

I think the most effective way to store copies of discs is to store them in ISO format. Because most of the games in disc or ISO format does not require installing them so it is enough to have one instance of it saved on the HDD of PS3 system.

but regarding pkg format, it has to be installed. so there will be the pkg occupying space plus the installed game too (two instances).
If i store the game update data as well (as a copyable and transferable backup in case sony shuts them down in 5+ years or they become unavailable online), i have to have all the updates available separately- if the game has 26 updates then all of them. Its a lot of files which need to be installed separately.

How can i backup updated games into ISO format if i have them installed or if i have the pkg files? So the ISO would be alredy with all the game updates installed.

For example i install the pkg game then install all the updates (from files offline or from servers online), then grab them together into ISO format somehow, so i can use this ISO in the future which has all the updates installed so no need to install the updates separately in the future in case the system dies and i have to buy a second one.

Is it possible to do this somehow?
 
Zsolt Bitter said:
Hello

I think the most effective way to store copies of discs is to store them in ISO format. Because most of the games in disc or ISO format does not require installing them so it is enough to have one instance of it saved on the HDD of PS3 system.

but regarding pkg format, it has to be installed. so there will be the pkg occupying space plus the installed game too (two instances).
If i store the game update data as well (as a copyable and transferable backup in case sony shuts them down in 5+ years or they become unavailable online), i have to have all the updates available separately- if the game has 26 updates then all of them. Its a lot of files which need to be installed separately.

How can i backup updated games into ISO format if i have them installed or if i have the pkg files? So the ISO would be alredy with all the game updates installed.

For example i install the pkg game then install all the updates (from files offline or from servers online), then grab them together into ISO format somehow, so i can use this ISO in the future which has all the updates installed so no need to install the updates separately in the future in case the system dies and i have to buy a second one.

Is it possible to do this somehow?
Click to expand...
Afaik there isn't any available tool capable of aggregating all the updates a game may have into an updated retail game installation iso afaik.

1. Updates in pkg format are npdrm files (like a PSN game), when you update the game, the new files including the eboot are all npdrm, not retail.
That's why we can convert retail disc games into cfw2ofw pkg format usable with HAN.
A CFW2OFW conversion is the closest you can get to a fully updated game release however it is not a retail iso.

2. The advantage of the iso format on ps3 is that it supports official retail discs. Imho it's better in the long run, tweaking official files only leads to maintenance & compatibility issues down the line.

3. With a retail iso, the best you could do afaik with available tools is to add all updates in pkg format in the PS3_EXTRA folder of the iso.
That way the updates are immediately accessible from the disc.
 
bguerville said:
3. With a retail iso, the best you could do afaik with available tools is to add all updates in pkg format in the PS3_EXTRA folder of the iso.
That way the updates are immediately accessible from the disc.
Click to expand...

Would only need to insert the pkg inside this folder, for the console to offer its installation when starting the game?

Does the console automatically recognize that the game does not have pkg installed?

Thanks @bguerville

Enviado de meu Moto G Play usando o Tapatalk
 
diego89 said:
Would only need to insert the pkg inside this folder, for the console to offer its installation when starting the game?

Does the console automatically recognize that the game does not have pkg installed?
Click to expand...

PS3_EXTRA is for optional content like DLC, themes, etc.

INSDIR is recommended to install update packages.

You can find more information about INSDIR and PS3_EXTRA in this link:
https://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/PARAM.SFO

Also check this discussion
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/integration-of-game-updates-to-backups.15973/
 
aldostools said:
PS3_EXTRA is for optional content like DLC, themes, etc.

INSDIR is recommended to install update packages.

You can find more information about INSDIR and PS3_EXTRA in this link:
https://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/PARAM.SFO

Also check this discussion
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/integration-of-game-updates-to-backups.15973/
Click to expand...


Thank you so much for the reply. I may mix something now but it looks so simple at the moment after checking the thread you linked so i cant be right about it :biggrin:

- i extract the pkg file with PkgView v1.3
- i create INSDIR next to USRDIR
- i put all the downloaded game updates into INSDIR folder (since they are named-numbered in order by default there is no need to number the files again)
- create ISO
- When mounting it should first ask to install the updates, only after installing them am i able to run the game

Dont laugh if i had misunderstood but i really see it like this :beguiled: I must be missing something because i also have to deal with rap files somehow....or is it enough to put the rap files into the exdata folder of hdd0?
 
Zsolt Bitter said:
Thank you so much for the reply. I may mix something now but it looks so simple at the moment after checking the thread you linked so i cant be right about it [emoji3]

- i extract the pkg file with PkgView v1.3
- i create INSDIR next to USRDIR
- i put all the downloaded game updates into INSDIR folder (since they are named-numbered in order by default there is no need to number the files again)
- create ISO
- When mounting it should first ask to install the updates, only after installing them am i able to run the game

Dont laugh if i had misunderstood but i really see it like this :beguiled: I must be missing something because i also have to deal with rap files somehow....or is it enough to put the rap files into the exdata folder of hdd0?
Click to expand...
Did you create an appropriate param.sfo in insdir?
And iirc the PS3_DISC.SFB needs a specific flag too.
 
bguerville said:
Did you create an appropriate param.sfo in insdir?
And iirc the PS3_DISC.SFB needs a specific flag too.
Click to expand...

No, i did not do it. Its a bit deeper knowledge i am not prepared for yet.
I did not even try to do it yet, i am just gathering information. I am new to this stuff and i have to study the structure and file contents first.

Its strange this technique is not spread and common nowadays, forum members do not talk about it much here. But i think it would be pretty cool to store ISOs like this. Becasue systems die, HDDs die, discs damage over time and its always good to have backups al in one so we dont have to redo the updates manually. If there is a program to check servers for game data and download them then why isnt there a program to automatize placing of update data into INSDIR and creating, updating the required files in a few clicks :) But okay i dont want to sound lazy, i will do my own work :)
 
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