Save Game Hex Editing

[Callicles]

Has anyone had any luck decoding the save game files with a hex editor or other program? I've started working with the files, but I can't make sense of them. Any help would be great!

[HouseOfHam]

Not really.

According to CA, a saved game is data stream. My own best guess is that it's a collection of a varying number of serialized objects of different types.

What you can do is save a game, then add/change something, save it again with a different name, then compare the 2 saves. Though, there is no guarantee it's going to be at the same offset in another game.

You could also try using the strings command (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897439.aspx) to get an idea of the type of stuff that's saved.

It would probably be the easiest to make sense of if you start with a really simple mod with just a 2 factions, with 1 settlement and 1 unit type each, and no mercs.

[Emperor of Graal]

Yes very true HouseOfHam, I opened one before, its a very confussing string of letter numbers and symbols, like this
12QW23$%&&))()_`¬'KJH?|?|<>AST$^ %1!3
Or something of that sort, But like You said HouseOfHam, just make a mod with 2 factions 1 unit and 1 settlement each.