scummvm/doc/docportal/using_scummvm/save_load_games.rst

===============================
Saving and loading games
===============================

Saving a game
==============


Games can be saved from the Global Main Menu (GMM), which can be accessed during game play by using the default :kbd:`Ctrl` + :kbd:`F5` keyboard shortcut, or by using the shortcut set in the :doc:`../settings/keymaps` setting. 

.. figure:: ../images/Launcher/gmm_save.png

	The Global Main Menu, or GMM. 

There are two views: list view and tile view. Toggle between the two by clicking the list and tile icons at the bottom left of the window.  

.. figure:: ../images/Launcher/save_game_tile.png

	Saving a game, tile view.

.. figure:: ../images/Launcher/save_game_tile_desc.png

	Save game decription, tile view. 

.. figure:: ../images/Launcher/save_game_list.png

	Saving a game, list view.  

.. caution::

	Saving via the Global Main Menu does not work for all games. Some games have support for saving and loading games using the in-game menu. 


Autosave
------------

ScummVM will automatically save the game every 5 minutes. The :ref:`autosave period <autosave>` can be changed in the :doc:`Misc tab <../settings/misc>` or in the :doc:`configuration file <../advanced_options/configuration_file>`.



Loading a game
===============

Saved games can be loaded directly from the Launcher without starting the game first, by selecting the **Load** button.

There are two views: list view and tile view. Toggle between the two by clicking the list and tile icons at the bottom left of the window. 

In list view, the pane on the left displays a list of your saved states. Click on a saved state to highlight it. On the right, information about the highlighted state such as timestamps, screenshots and playtime is displayed. 

When you have located the desired saved game:

- Click **Load** to launch the game using that state.
- Click **Delete** to delete the saved state.

.. figure:: ../images/Launcher/load_game_list.png

	Loading a game, list view. 

In tile view, each tile shows a screenshot of the saved state, as well as the description and save slot number. Click on the tile to load that saved state.


.. figure:: ../images/Launcher/load_game_tile.png
  
  Loading a game, tile view. 

Saved games can also be loaded from the Global Main Menu, which can be accessed during game play by using the default :kbd:`Ctrl` + :kbd:`F5` keyboard shortcut, or by using the shortcut set in the :doc:`../settings/keymaps` setting. 


.. caution::
  	
	Not all games support saving and loading games via the Global Main Menu. 

	In some games you can still access the original game menu by using :kbd:`Alt` + :kbd:`F5`. You can save and load games this way, however this may crash ScummVM in some games. 




Location of saved game files
-------------------------------

Saved game files can be found in the current ScummVM directory for some platforms, and in default directories for others. The defaults for Windows, Mac and Linux/Unix are shown below. 

The save directory can be changed via the savepath setting in the :doc:`Paths tab <../settings/paths>`. It can also be changed in the :doc:`configuration file <../advanced_options/configuration_file>`.

.. tabs::

	.. tab:: Mac OSX

		``~/Documents/ScummVM Savegames/``, where ``~`` is your Home directory. To see the Libraries folder you will need to view hidden files.
	
	.. tab:: Windows

		**Windows NT4**: ``<windir>\Profiles\username\Application Data\ScummVM\Saved games\`` where ``<windir>`` refers to the Windows directory. Most commonly, this is ``C:\WINDOWS``.
		
		**Windows 2000/XP**: ``\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\ScummVM\Saved games\``
		
		**Window 7/Vista**: ``\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\ScummVM\Saved games\``
		
		The Application Data/AppData directory is hidden. To view it, use the Run utility or the command prompt, and enter ``%APPDATA%\ScummVM\Saved Games``, or enable hidden files in Windows Explorer. 

	.. tab:: Linux/Unix

		We follow the XDG Base Directory Specification. This means our configuration can be found in ``$XDG_DATA_HOME/scummvm/saves/``

		If XDG_DATA_HOME is not defined or empty, ``~/.local/share/`` will be used, where ``~`` is your Home directory. 
		
		Note that ``.local`` is a hidden directory; to view it use ``ls -a`` on the command line. If you are using a GUI file manager, go to **View > Show Hidden Files**, or use the keyboard shortcut :kbd:`Ctrl + H`.

		If ScummVM was installed using Snap, the saves can be found at ``~/snap/scummvm/current/.local/share/scummvm/saves/``

.. _originalsaves:

Using saved games from original versions
-------------------------------------------

This is only supported by a small selection of games.

For the file names shown below, ``xxx`` is the saved game slot ScummVM uses, for example ``001`` for slot 1. 

- Blade Runner

	- Use the debugger console and command "save" to save the game to the original format, and command "load" to load a game from the original format. 
	- Saved games between different languages are interchangeable
	- It is not recommended to convert saved games from the version with restored content. They may cause game breaking bugs. 

- Elvira 1 and 2
	
	- Edit the saved game file. Add an 8-letter saved game name to the start of the saved game file. 
	- Elvira 1: rename the saved game to ``elvira1.xxx``.
	- Elvira 2: rename the saved game to ``elvira2-pc.xxx`` for the DOS version, and ``elvira2.xxx`` for other versions. 

- Myst

	- Rename the saved game to ``myst-xxx.mys``.

- Riven

	- Rename the saved game to ``riven-xxx.rvn``.
	- Saved games from the CD and DVD edition are not interchangeable.

- Simon the Sorcerer 1 and 2

	- For Simon 1: rename the saved game to ``simon1.xxx``
	- For SImon 2: rename the saved game to ``simon2.xxx``

- Starship Titanic

	- Rename the saved game to ``titanic-win.xxx`` for the English version, and ``titanic-wind-de.xxx`` for the German version. 
	- Saved games from different languages are not interchangeable.

- The Feeble Files

	- Rename the saved game to ``feeble.xxx``

- Waxworks

	- Edit the saved game file. Add an 8-letter saved game name to the start of the saved game file. 
	- Rename the saved game to ``waxworks-pc.xxx`` for the DOS version, and ``waxworks.xxx`` for other versions.