4DO 1.1.0.0 Beta Released!
I have finished the unique game identification system, so I have completed my last task that I was attempting to accomplish for a beta version of 4DO! 4DO now comes with a game database built-in, so it is able to identify any game loaded regardless of whether it’s in CD or ISO format.
Each official 3DO CD (that I’m aware of) is unique given the first 4k of data (sectors 0 and 1 on the CD). This includes any game and sampler and even the adult titles! CDs that are part of a multi-part game (like Daedalus Encounter) are still unique.
Here are some key points
A game loaded by CD will no longer “share” save states with other games loaded by CD.
A game loaded by CD will use the same save states as the same game loaded as an ISO.
The “game database” is extensible. It is even extensible in the sense that 4DO should be able to augmented to handle games that aren’t unique in the first 4k of data (if necessary, though I doubt it).
Save states filenames now have the following format:
[GameId]_[GameName]_[SaveSlotNumber].4dosav
Example: 2DDBB4AA_KillingTime.0.4dosav
The game’s title now shows up in the 4DO window’s title bar.
You can also view game information (Help -> Game Information). This isn’t particularly important for most folks, but it will help identify if there are certain games out there that are not properly “unique” and need to be explicitly added to the game database. Only two games with the same Sector 0+1 Checksum are really of concern.
These changes have also occurred since the last alpha release:
Settings files have been moved to a Settings sub-folder.
If you used an alpha version of 4DO and desperately want to keep your settings, move your FourDO.settings and JohnnyInputBindings.xml files into the Settings folder.
NVRAM save data has been moved to a new Saves sub-folder.
If you want to keep your old NVRAM save data from 4DO alpha, move your NVRAM_SaveData.ram file into the Saves folder.
Save states have also been moved to the Saves sub-folder.
If you used 4DO alpha and want to preserve your save states, you’ll need to do those one-by-one:
First, find the old save state you’re interested in. If you played by CD, the old save state is the folder where 4DO.exe lives. If you played by ISO, the old save state is in the folder where the ISO lives.
Copy the old save state into the (4DO)\Saves folder.
Start up 4DO.
Load the game you care about.
Save state
There will now be a new file with the appropriate name in the (4DO)\Saves folder.
Rename your old save state to match the new name (and delete the new file, obviously).
It is quite possible that you are now angry, but I’ll quell your fears by assuring you that now that things are in beta I’m intending to never change formats in a non-backwards compatible way again. As I promised before, I intended for beta (and beyond) to be stable in this regard.
Also, the 4DO site will be moving soon. I’m not particularly experienced with this web space registration mumbo jumbo so I wouldn’t be surprised if this site is down for a few days while I figure out the transition. Some content may be lost, but I doubt that’s terribly devasting to anybody. The new location should allow me to add a few things like a wiki or a forum.
If you want to try 4DO 1.1.0.0 beta, head to to the download page: fourdo.com
