Today I’m releasing a new tool based on the original SA1 DLC editor. This tool has the DLC editor integrated, but its functionality expands to cover more VMS files in SA1. Eventually I would like it to support all of the formats described here, but the highlight for today’s release is the inclusion of a new Chao editor.
Like the original DLC tool, the updated editor will be included in SA Tools, which also have a big update underway.
UPDATE: It’s been released and is now included in SA Tools.
The Chao editor is experimental and will be updated as more information on SA1 Chao data becomes available. There is no documentation for it at the moment, although the most important data should be self explanatory.
The Chao system used in SA1 is the least researched of all Chao games. There are several Chao editors for SADX and SA2, but the only Chao editor for the Dreamcast version of SA1 was Tyro’s VMU editor that requires running on an actual Dreamcast VMU or a VMU emulator, which I found inconvenient. Besides, there have been some updates regarding SA1 Chao data (for example we now have the full SA1 Chao data struct from SADX X360 symbols), and I wanted to make use of that new knowledge to help advance SA1 Chao research. Although several aspects of it are now known better, Tyro’s notes on SA1 Chao data were one of the most important sources of information for developing the editor. I would also like to thank the Chao Island member UltimaNumber, who kindly shared the bits of information I was missing and explained how SA1 Chao data works.
The tool can import all Chao VMS data. Data produced by the Japanese version is also supported:
- SA1 Chao Garden save file
- Download Data (Black Market Chao)
- Chao Adventure (created when you take a Chao out for a walk)
- Upload Data (created when you hold Y+A as the Chao goes in the transporter)
At the moment saving is only supported for Chao Adventure and Download Data, but you can export selected Chao from the garden save file as Download Data or Chao Adventure data. There’s also an option to export files with headers used by the Japanese version of SA1.
As Chao data is rather complex and the editor is experimental, there may be some bugs, especially with saving data. Also, expect UI changes in the future.
I’d like to thank Speeps for providing a screenshot of Buddy the Chao that I used as an icon for this tool.