PS3 xRegistry editing

[sandungas]

Most games in bluray disc format does an installation of "gamedata" the first time you boot it
In that installation is copyed the PARAM.SFO of the disc to the path dev_hdd0/game/TITLEID
And the VERSION and APP_VER inside the PARAM.SFO uses to be 1.00

If you boot the game like that the PS3 reads the PARAM.SFO inside the "gamedata" installation and ignores the PARAM.SFO of the disc
If you install updates for the game (usually with VERSION and APP_VER = 1.01 next with 1.02 etc.... in his PARAM.SFO) the files are installed in the same path as the "gamedata" of the first installation, overriting files

So basically... the PARAM.SFO inside the disc is ignored, you need to change the other located in the "gamedata" installation path


------------------
The confusing thing is... when you install one of that game updates, the PARAM.SFO is not exactly overritten... but "merged" with the old PARAM.SFO

That "merging" of SFO files is ignoring the RESOLUTION of the new SFO unless you use the ATTRIBUTE flag mentioned by @lmn7
The flag indicates that the RESOLUTION of the new SFO needs to replace the RESOLUTION of the old SFO
So... for the method @lmn7 suggested (preparing a pkg with the modifyed PARAM.SFO using different RESOLUTION) is a must to use the flag

If you have several updates of the game installed, you need to "fake" the one with biggest version (because is the last that is going to be installed "overriting" the others PARAM.SFO)
Lets say... you are going to install 3 updates for the game.... 1.01, 1.02 and 1.03

What you need to do is prepare a pkg using as base the PARAM.SFO from 1.03
The PS3 firmware allows to install a pkg of the same version as many times you want... as example you can install the official patch 1.03 of that game... and on top of it your "fake" pkg with the same version 1.03

 

[Peppe90]

Hellcat's editor is not malicious, it was made probably over a decade ago and if it was malicious it would be known by now.

​

Sorry I should have been more precise. I'm not questioning the program, but the site from where I downloaded it (it was included in a .exe that install a lot of Ps3 related programs on the PC. I found many other download sites, but all links are died).​

That editor you have doesn't allow you to edit the ATTRIBUTE flag, if you use it, you'll need a hex editor to add the flag yourself. The offset is dynamic so I can only really tell you that it's 3 bytes after the APP_VERSION number.

​

I have XVI32 as hex editor. But I'll leave it as last solution. I'll keep looking for a working download link for Hellcat's editor.​

You can change it for BD games too.

Understood. So the file isn't into the BD actually.

BTW, did you change your PS3's xReg region setting to reflect the video settings you want?

Yes I done it Yesterday, after changing the video mode. I even changed all the other settings for DVD and BD from PAL to NTSC.
But it doesn't make differences, changing the video mode is enough to make games (not all but many) outputting in NTSC.

And anyway, according with the post on PSX-SCENE, even the param.sfo editing doesn't work for all games. He said doesn't work with unreal engine games (but I think I don't have any).

 

[lmn7]

To add to what @sandungas said, you don't need to edit the ATTRIBUTE flag for digital content. This is only required if you wish to override the RESOLUTION properties on BD games.

Edit: You can find Hellcat's editor here https://ps3.brewology.com/downloads/download.php?id=10314&mcid=4

 

[Peppe90]

Most games in bluray disc format does an installation of "gamedata" the first time you boot it
In that installation is copyed the PARAM.SFO of the disc to the path dev_hdd0/game/TITLEID
And the VERSION and APP_VER inside the PARAM.SFO uses to be 1.00

If you boot the game like that the PS3 reads the PARAM.SFO inside the "gamedata" installation and ignores the PARAM.SFO of the disc
If you install updates for the game (usually with VERSION and APP_VER = 1.01 next with 1.02 etc.... in his PARAM.SFO) the files are installed in the same path as the "gamedata" of the first installation, overriting files

So basically... the PARAM.SFO inside the disc is ignored, you need to change the other located in the "gamedata" installation path


------------------
The confusing thing is... when you install one of that game updates, the PARAM.SFO is not exactly overritten... but "merged" with the old PARAM.SFO

That "merging" of SFO files is ignoring the RESOLUTION of the new SFO unless you use the ATTRIBUTE flag mentioned by @lmn7
The flag indicates that the RESOLUTION of the new SFO needs to replace the RESOLUTION of the old SFO
So... for the method @lmn7 suggested (preparing a pkg with the modifyed PARAM.SFO using different RESOLUTION) is a must to use the flag

If you have several updates of the game installed, you need to "fake" the one with biggest version (because is the last that is going to be installed "overriting" the others PARAM.SFO)
Lets say... you are going to install 3 updates for the game.... 1.01, 1.02 and 1.03

What you need to do is prepare a pkg using as base the PARAM.SFO from 1.03
The PS3 firmware allows to install a pkg of the same version as many times you want... as example you can install the official patch 1.03 of that game... and on top of it your "fake" pkg with the same version 1.03

To add to what @sandungas said, you don't need to edit the ATTRIBUTE flag for digital content. This is only required if you wish to override the RESOLUTION properties on BD games.

Edit: You can find Hellcat's editor here https://ps3.brewology.com/downloads/download.php?id=10314&mcid=4

Thank you very much for the disposability guys, Now the fog begins to thin out

So pratically, these are the steps (correct me if I'm wrong):

1. extract the param.sfo from my game's ID folder located into gamedata

2. edit it with hellcat editor

3. re-inject the file were it was

That's all?? Or I need to do other modifications to the PKG (is it the game's executable?)?

 

[lmn7]

Thank you very much for the disposability guys, Now the fog begins to thin out

So pratically, these are the steps (correct me if I'm wrong):

1. extract the param.sfo from my game's ID folder located into gamedata

2. edit it with hellcat editor

3. re-inject the file were it was

That's all?? Or I need to do other modifications to the PKG (is it the game's executable?)?

That's it. Be sure to uncheck the 50hz resolutions and check the 60hz ones. Also you can just create a pkg file with the param.sfo, might be easier.

 

[sandungas]

There are several ways

If you are rebuilding the PKG of a digital game in PC for HAN you can change the RESOLUTION of the PARAM.SFO in it and thats all
Most probably the next updates of the game (1.01, 1.02, etc...) are not going to change the RESOLUTION of your modifyed PARAM.SFO because the ATTRIBUTE flag to overrite the RESOLUTION is rarelly used

If you want to extract the PARAM.SFO of the gamedata install path (by unnofficial means) then you just need to change the RESOLUTION of it in PC and inject it back to the PS3

In CFW you can change the PARAM.SFO of the ISO and when you boot it for first time it copyes your modifyed PARAM.SFO as part of the gamedata installation
And is going to happen mostly the same than in the first case, your RESOLUTION will stay even when installing updates of that game

Edit:
And there is also the method @lmn7 suggested by preparing a game update pkg with it (in this case change RESOLUTION and the ATTRIBUTE flag). I agree that this looks like the most convenient for HAN

 

[Peppe90]

That's it. Be sure to uncheck the 50hz resolutions and check the 60hz ones. Also you can just create a pkg file with the param.sfo, might be easier.

I think I found the correct editor:

I see games have updates into gamedata id folders… I'm a little tired, better to continue Tomorrow with a fresh mind

There are several ways

If you are rebuilding the PKG of a digital game in PC for HAN you can change the RESOLUTION of the PARAM.SFO in it and thats all
Most probably the next updates of the game (1.01, 1.02, etc...) are not going to change the RESOLUTION of your modifyed PARAM.SFO because the ATTRIBUTE flag to overrite the RESOLUTION is rarelly used

I don't even know the purpose of rebuilding a PKG. At the moment HAN is for me nothing more than a 50/60hz selector, I need it only to allow my PAL games to output at 60hz (like they do in HD modes) on my CRT tv, connected with scart-rgb cable (so no HD modes available).
If there was a 50/60hz selector, like on Xbox360 I'd never touched anything.

If you want to extract the PARAM.SFO of the gamedata install path (by unnofficial means) then you just need to change the RESOLUTION of it in PC and inject it back to the PS3

In CFW you can change the PARAM.SFO of the ISO and when you boot it for first time it copyes your modifyed PARAM.SFO as part of the gamedata installation
And is going to happen mostly the same than in the first case, your RESOLUTION will stay even when installing updates of that game

Edit:
And there is also the method @lmn7 suggested by preparing a game update pkg with it (in this case change RESOLUTION and the ATTRIBUTE flag). I agree that this looks like the most convenient for HAN

I just want to do it the cleanest way possible, just make my BD and PSN games to stop stuttering on my CRT Tv.

… Well, I'll read more carefully Tomorrow your options… Thank you again!

 

[Peppe90]

Also you can just create a pkg file with the param.sfo, might be easier.

Edit:
And there is also the method @lmn7 suggested by preparing a game update pkg with it (in this case change RESOLUTION and the ATTRIBUTE flag). I agree that this looks like the most convenient for HAN

I just saw a YT video for creating PKG updates. I see i need also PKG creator other than PARAM.SFO editor and some other things too (I downloaded a Pack with plenty of PS3 tools, maybe they're all there).

It sounds more complicated to me than just editing the PARAM.SFO adding that flag thing,

But first of all I want to make clear one thing:

The Ps3 is the only console I use to play online (for this reason I've always preferred to not mod it in any way)
So I don't want to take any risks. Creating a new PKG/PKG update isn't more risky than just editing the resolution setting of the PARAM.SFO??

 

[lmn7]

I just saw a YT video for creating PKG updates. I see i need also PKG creator other than PARAM.SFO editor and some other things too (I downloaded a Pack with plenty of PS3 tools, maybe they're all there).

It sounds more complicated to me than just editing the PARAM.SFO adding that flag thing,

But first of all I want to make clear one thing:

The Ps3 is the only console I use to play online (for this reason I've always preferred to not mod it in any way)
So I don't want to take any risks. Creating a new PKG/PKG update isn't more risky than just editing the resolution setting of the PARAM.SFO??

The point of the pkg is to make it easier for you to install the PARAM.SFO file, if you just want to inject it back to the PS3 then that's your choice. I just mentioned it because creating pkgs is easier for me personally, no relying on webkit exploits.

It isn't more riskier, no.

 

[Peppe90]

The point of the pkg is to make it easier for you to install the PARAM.SFO file, if you just want to inject it back to the PS3 then that's your choice. I just mentioned it because creating pkgs is easier for me personally, no relying on webkit exploits.

It isn't more riskier, no.

Understood. Then, I'll follow your suggestion

So if I'm correctly understanding, I don't need to extract the game's PKG, I can just create one from scratch.

Could you please guide me on how to do it?? I want to try it for DMC 4.

 

[lmn7]

Understood. Then, I'll follow your suggestion

So if I'm correctly understanding, I don't need to extract the game's PKG, I can just create one from scratch.

Could you please guide me on how to do it?? I want to try it for DMC 4.

Well you need to obtain the PARAM.SFO file somehow, if you really want to you can just get any PARAM.SFO file and edit everything like the title, category, and resolution stuff obviously.

You can use the tool here https://www.psx-place.com/threads/c...at-installs-to-any-path-including-flash.23477 to create a pkg (shameless self plug )

 

[Peppe90]

Well you need to obtain the PARAM.SFO file somehow, if you really want to you can just get any PARAM.SFO file and edit everything like the title, category, and resolution stuff obviously.

You can use the tool here https://www.psx-place.com/threads/c...at-installs-to-any-path-including-flash.23477 to create a pkg (shameless self plug )

I downloaded the file… But wait, I need in any case to extract the PARAM.SFO (it's not a problem for me, I think it's safer than searching the parameters online).

So I'd need to make a PKG update and edit the game's PARAM.SFO. But just editing the PARAM.SFO would be enough! Or not?

If I create a PARAM.SFO too from scratch I have to make sure it's exactly the same as the original (aside the resolution settings)??
Which paramenters actually contain this file? If it's just the resolution, title and category it shouldn't be too much difficult (the title is the game's id? but what about category?).

I should extract one of these files to get an idea, hoping the extract function will work

 

[pinky]

don't create a PARAM.SFO from scratch. that's the only file needed to install. normally,, a PARAM.SFO is updated by installing a pkg or by opening the game.

 

[Peppe90]

don't create a PARAM.SFO from scratch. that's the only file needed to install. normally,, a PARAM.SFO is updated by installing a pkg or by opening the game.

Ok, so I need to just install the update pkg, right?? If I launch the make_package_custom.exe program @Imn7 linked, it opens a command prompt like window for half seconds, then it closes.

Given my limited knowledge about Ps3 modding, I think that for me the easiest thing is to just extract the PARAM.SFO, edit and replace it. Unless someone guides me I don't know where to start to create PKG updates for my games.

 

[Peppe90]

That "merging" of SFO files is ignoring the RESOLUTION of the new SFO unless you use the ATTRIBUTE flag mentioned by @lmn7
The flag indicates that the RESOLUTION of the new SFO needs to replace the RESOLUTION of the old SFO
So... for the method @lmn7 suggested (preparing a pkg with the modifyed PARAM.SFO using different RESOLUTION) is a must to use the flag

If you have several updates of the game installed, you need to "fake" the one with biggest version (because is the last that is going to be installed "overriting" the others PARAM.SFO)
Lets say... you are going to install 3 updates for the game.... 1.01, 1.02 and 1.03

What you need to do is prepare a pkg using as base the PARAM.SFO from 1.03
The PS3 firmware allows to install a pkg of the same version as many times you want... as example you can install the official patch 1.03 of that game... and on top of it your "fake" pkg with the same version 1.03

This step is not clear for me.

In this example, You said I need to prepare a PKG using the 1.03 param.sfo. So I need to extract the PARAM.SFO. Otherwise how I could create a correct PKG??

So, just editing the PARAM.SFO would be the simpliest thing, no? As a noob, I really want to understand why you're saying the opposite.

Maybe you meant in case I was using some modded PKGs?? I have only original games and I want to mod the less possible. As I said, just make my games outputting at 60hz.

I'll see if I can extract a PARAM.SFO from a game to begin.

 

[lmn7]

This step is not clear for me.

In this example, You said I need to prepare a PKG using the 1.03 param.sfo. So I need to extract the PARAM.SFO. Otherwise how I could create a correct PKG??

So, just editing the PARAM.SFO would be the simpliest thing, no? As a noob, I really want to understand why you're saying the opposite.

Maybe you meant in case I was using some modded PKGs?? I have only original games and I want to mod the less possible. As I said, just make my games outputting at 60hz.

I'll see if I can extract a PARAM.SFO from a game to begin.

He means you should extract the PARAM.SFO from the latest update pkg and use that for your edits. The reason being that, if you use an older one, the game will ask you to update and the edited PARAM.SFO will be overwritten.

Making a pkg is very simple. Just create the PS3 directory structure in the "custom" folder and put your file there. So for example to replace a PARAM.SFO you would make the directory "custom\dev_hdd0\game\BLUSXXXXX" and put the PARAM.SFO there. Then just run the make.bat file and a pkg will be created.

If you find it easier, just re-inject the file. It's entirely up to you, I just suggested the pkg file because it's more convenient for me personally.

 

[Peppe90]

He means you should extract the PARAM.SFO from the latest update pkg and use that for your edits. The reason being that, if you use an older one, the game will ask you to update and the edited PARAM.SFO will be overwritten.

I've understood so far.

Making a pkg is very simple. Just create the PS3 directory structure in the "custom" folder and put your file there. So for example to replace a PARAM.SFO you would make the directory "custom\dev_hdd0\game\BLUSXXXXX" and put the PARAM.SFO there. Then just run the make.bat file and a pkg will be created.

​

Clear​

If you find it easier, just re-inject the file. It's entirely up to you, I just suggested the pkg file because it's more convenient for me personally.

Therefore (please correct any rubbish):

- I have to extract the PARAM.SFO (from the update folder, right? To make sure it's the last one. Or you mean I should unoficially download the newer game update?)
- edit the PARAM.SFO to output the game in NTSC

and now the path splits. I can finish the job in 2 ways:

1. re-inject the modded PARAM.SFO (in this case I've to add some flags on PC before)
2. use the modded PARAM.SFO to create a PKG

In the second case, I won't have to inject the PKG, right? I could launch it as a game update?

 

[Peppe90]

Meanwhile I made a list of all my games output after editing the xreg. In the case anyone else (PAL user), having his Ps3 connected to a CRT, will get here:

- I just changed the xRegistry setting /setting/display/tvSystem from 00000001 to 00000000
This way the Ps3 SD video output change from PAL to NTSC (so SD resolutions changed from 576i/p @50hz to 480i/p @60hz).

There's no reason to change anything else. Changing the console region doesn't add anything. I think is better to not change it (maybe it could cause problems with Ps1 games or other region locked stuff).

As you can see it works for many games.

Unfortunately some of them keep outputting a PAL signal. I'll try with the PARAM.SFO method with them.

 

[Peppe90]

I uploaded a video of the 50hz problem with DMC 4.

- Don't judge the video quality (I used a old phone and the Ps3 was connected with a composhit cable). The phone synchronizes in a strange way with the tv refresh, certain times adding tearing (actually not present), other times making the movement to look smooth.

You can see what can be actually seen on live, from sec 00:24 to 00:35 of the video:

It gives you a headache after a few minutes. Almost unplayable (take into account that with the CRT perfect motion resolution, the stutter is much more noticeable).

 

[lmn7]

I've understood so far.

Clear​

Therefore (please correct any rubbish):

- I have to extract the PARAM.SFO (from the update folder, right? To make sure it's the last one. Or you mean I should unoficially download the newer game update?)
- edit the PARAM.SFO to output the game in NTSC

and now the path splits. I can finish the job in 2 ways:

1. re-inject the modded PARAM.SFO (in this case I've to add some flags on PC before)
2. use the modded PARAM.SFO to create a PKG

In the second case, I won't have to inject the PKG, right? I could launch it as a game update?

1. You can extract it either way, both of those will work.
2. Yes.

At this point you can do it both ways, choose whichever way is more convenient for you. If you go the pkg route, you need to enable debug packages before installing, that's it.

It's kind of hard to see the refresh rate in a video recording of the screen. But I do know what you mean, 50hz is very disorienting compared to 60hz.