Saves (GTA VC)

This article deals with the format of a save game file for the PC version of GTA Vice City.

Location

By default, the game places its save game files into the folder "GTA Vice City User Files" which is located in the current user's Documents folder. The location of this folder varies depending upon the version of Windows installed.

The save files themselves are named in the format GTAVCsfX.b where X represents the in-game slot number. There are 8 slots available in the game (1-8).

Format details

The save file is in binary format (little endian format -> least significant byte first) consisting of 23 blocks of data. Each block starts with the size of the current block. To reach the next block, read the size of the currently selected block, add that value to the block's start address, and add four. Initial offset listed here starts four bytes after the start of the block.

Block 0: Script

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 0
0x04	-	start of block 0, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	wchar_t[24]	last mission passed (0318)
0x30	word	SYSTEMTIME wYear
0x32	word	SYSTEMTIME wMonth
0x34	word	SYSTEMTIME wDayOfWeek
0x36	word	SYSTEMTIME wDay
0x38	word	SYSTEMTIME wHour
0x3A	word	SYSTEMTIME wMinute
0x3C	word	SYSTEMTIME wSecond
0x3E	word	SYSTEMTIME wMilliseconds
0x40	dword	unknown, value is always 12609
0x44	dword	current island
0x48	float[3]	camera coordinates (x,y,z)
0x54	dword	length (ms) of in-game minute (1000=normal)
0x58	dword	weather timer
0x5C	byte	game hour
0x5D	byte[3]	align
0x60	byte	game minute
0x61	byte[3]	align
0x64	dword	pad number?
0x68	dword	global timer
0x6C	float	game speed (015D)
0x70	float	unknown
0x74	float	unknown
0x78	dword	unknown
0x7C	float	unknown, always 1.0
0x80	float	unknown, always 1.0
0x84	float	unknown, always 1.0
0x88	word	unknown
0x8A	byte[2]	align
0x8C	dword	relates to weather?
0x8E	byte[2]	align
0x90	word	current weather
0x92	byte[2]	align
0x94	dword	unknown
0x98	dword	current weather table offset (between 0 and 63)
0x9C	float	current vehicle camera view (between 0.0 and 5.0)
0xA0	float	current on foot camera view (classic controls only)
0xA4	dword	current interior (04BB)
0xA8	byte	taxi boost jump (0572)
0xA9	byte[3]	align
0xAC	byte	unknown
0xAD	byte[3]	align
0xB0	dword	sky color (04F9)
0xB4	dword	sky atmosphere (0=normal,1=interior)
0xB8	float	sky atmosphere blue overlay (between 0.0 and 1.0)
0xBC	dword[10]	unknown, relates to radio station?
0xE4	dword	size of script block
0xE8	-	start of script block, see below

Subblock A:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	char[4]	"SCR\0"
0x04	dword	size of script block again
0x08	dword	size of subblock A
0x0C	-	start of subblock A: global variables - each variable is 4 bytes long

Subblock B:

Offset	Type	Description
0x000	dword	size of subblock B (constant 0x248)
0x004	dword	unknown
0x008	dword	unknown
0x00C	16 bytes[25]	swapped building model structures (03B6) (see below)

Swapped building model structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	always 2
0x04	dword	building handle
0x08	dword	new building IDE model
0x0C	dword	old building IDE model

0x19C

8 bytes[20]

object visibility structure (0363) (see below)

Objects visibility structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	always 2
0x04	dword	handle

0x23C

-

start of another set of offset below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	byte	unknown
0x01	byte	kaufman cabs radio (0551)
0x02	word	unknown
0x04	dword	size of main
0x08	dword	size of largest mission
0x0C	word	number of missions
0x0E	word	unknown
0x10	dword	number of running threads
0x14	-	136 bytes each, thread structure (see below)

Thread structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	next script
0x04	dword	previous script
0x08	char[8]	name (03A4)
0x10	dword	current instruction pointer
0x14	dword[4]	return stack
0x24	dword	unknown
0x28	dword	unknown
0x2C	word	stack counter
0x2E	word	unknown
0x30	dword[16]	16 local variables
0x70	dword	timerA (local variable 16)
0x74	dword	timerB (local variable 17)
0x78	byte	is active
0x79	byte	"if" statement result
0x7A	byte	uses mission cleanup
0x7B	byte	awake flag
0x7C	dword	thread wake up time
0x80	word	"if" check result
0x82	byte	"not" flag
0x83	byte	is wasted/busted check active
0x84	byte	has player been wasted/busted
0x85	byte	mission thread flag

Block 1: Ped Pool

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 1
0x04	-	start of block 1, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x0A	-	ped structure (see struct below)

Ped structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x34	float[3]	x,y,z coordinates
0xB8	float	weight
0x354	float	health
0x358	float	armor

0x6E2	dword	max wanted level
0x6E6	dword	max criminal points, in tandem with max wanted level

Block 2: Garages

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 2
0x04	-	start of block 2, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of subblock (constant 0x1EC4)
0x04	-	start of subblock, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	number of garages (0219)
0x04	dword	free bombs (0=not,1=yes)
0x08	dword	free respray (0335)
0x18	dword	garage type 8 status, see below
0x1C	dword	garage type 9 status
0x20	dword	garage type 10 status
0x24	dword	garage type 22 status
0x2C	40 bytes[48]	garage car structures (see struct below)

Garage car structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	model ID
0x04	float[3]	x,y,z position
0x10	float[3]	x,y,z vector rotation
0x1C	dword	immunities
0x20	byte	primary color
0x21	byte	secondary color
0x22	byte	current radio station
0x23	byte	variation 1
0x24	byte	variation 2
0x25	byte	bomb type

0x7AC

168 bytes[32]

garage structures (see struct below)

Garage structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	byte	type
0x01	byte	door status (0=closed,1=opened,2=closing,3=opening)
0x02	byte	max number of cars to store (4=default)
0x19	byte	swing door (03BB)
0x1A	byte	camera follow player (03DA)
0x1C	float[3]	entrance bottom left x,y,z coordinates
0x28	float[4]	rx,ry,rz,rw quaternion rotation
0x38	float	ceiling z coordinate

Export garage status (binary format):

• 0b000001=car 1 collected
• 0b000010=car 2 collected
• 0b000100=car 3 collected
• 0b001000=car 4 collected
• 0b010000=car 5 collected
• 0b100000=car 6 collected

Add them up to set the garage as car already collected:

0b000011, cars 1 and 2 collected
0b100011, cars 1, 2, and 6 are collected

Block 3: Game Logic

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 3
0x04	-	start of block 3, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of subblock (constant 0x104)
0x04	-	start of subblock, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	number of taxi shortcuts (058D)
0x04	16 bytes[16]	taxi shortcut structures (see structure below)

Taxi shortcut structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x0	float[3]	x,y,z coordinates
0xC	float	z angle rotation

Block 4: Vehicle Pool

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 4
0x04	-	start of block 4, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of subblock (6 bytes less than block header)
0x04	-	start of another set of offset below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	number of vehicles
0x04	-	start of another set of offset below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	number of vehicles
0x0A	-	1500 bytes each, vehicle structures (see below)

Offset	Type	Description
0x34	float[3]	x,y,z coordinates
0x5C	word	IDE model number

Block 5: Object Pool

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 5
0x04	-	start of block 5, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of subblock (4 bytes less than block header)
0x04	-	start of another set of offset below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	number of objects
0x04	-	88 bytes each, object structures (see struct below)

Object structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	word	object IDE number
0x06	float[3]	x,y,z coordinates

Block 7: Cranes

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 7
0x04	-	start of block 7, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of subblock (constant 0x3E8)
0x04	-	start of subblock, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	number of cranes
0x08	124 bytes[8]	crane structures (see below)

Crane structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x40	float	current z rotation
0x58	float[2]	x, y coordinates of center of crane - changes as the crane rotates

Block 8: Pickups

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 8
0x04	-	start of block 8, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of subblock (constant 0x4494)
0x04	[336]	52 bytes each, pickup structures (see below)

Pickup structure

Offset	Type	Description
0x0	float[3]	x,y,z coordinates
0x18	dword	ammo or asset revenue
0x2E	byte	type
0x2F	byte	has been picked up

Block 9: Phone Info

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 9
0x04	-	start of block 9, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of subblock (constant 0xA30)
0x04	-	start of subblock, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x04	dword	number of phones
0x08	[50]	52 bytes each, phone structures (see below)

Phone structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x0	float[3]	x,y,z coordinates
0x2C	dword	phone status (3=idle,9=ringing,others=leftover GTA III stuff)

Block 10: Restart Points Buffer

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 10
0x04	-	start of block 10, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of subblock (constant 0x124)
0x04	-	start of subblock, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	char[4]	"RST\0"
0x8	float[3]	hospital x,y,z coordinates (016C)
0x14	float	hospital z angle
Each point is 0x8 in size
0x88	float[3]	police x,y,z coordinates (016D)
0x94	float	police z angle
Each point is 0x8 in size
0x110	float[3]	override x,y,z coordinates (016E)
0x11C	float	override z angle

Block 11: Radar Blips Buffer

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 11
0x04	-	start of block 11, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of subblock (constant 0xE18)
0x04	-	start of subblock, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	char[4]	"RDR\0"
0x08	[75]	48 bytes each, blip structures (see below)

Blip structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	color
0x10	float[2]	x,y coordinates
0x18	float[3]	x,y,z coordinates
0x26	byte	brightness (0166)
0x2A	word	size (0168)
0x2C	word	show (018B)
0x2E	word	type

Block 12: All Zones Buffer

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 12
0x04	-	start of block 12, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of subblock (constant 0x8BE0)
0x04	-	start of subblock, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x0000	char[4]	"ZNS\0"
0x0010	56 bytes[20]	navig.zon structures (see below)
0x0470	56 bytes[169]	info.zon structures (see below)
0x2968	68 bytes[338]	ped/car/gang info zone structures
0x8330	word
0x8332	word
0x8338	dword
0x833C	56 bytes[39]	map.zon structures (see below)
0x8BC4	2 bytes[14]	crime report audio

Zone (navig, info, map) structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	string	name
0x08	float[3]	x1,y1,z1 coordinates
0x14	float[3]	x2,y2,z2 coordinates
0x20	dword	type
0x24	dword	island number
0x28	word	zone info id night
0x2A	word	zone info id day
0x2C	dword
0x30	dword
0x34	dword

Block 13: All Gang Data

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	char[4]	"GNG\0"
0x04	[9]	24 bytes each, gang structures (see below)

Gang structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	car model (0236)
0x04	dword	ped model 1
0x08	dword	ped model 2
0x10	dword	weapon number 1 (0237)
0x14	dword	weapon number 2

Block 14: All Car Generators

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	char[4]	"CGN\0"
0x1C	[185]	44 bytes each, car generator structures (see below)

Car generator structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	model ID
0x04	float[3]	x,y,z coordinates
0x10	float	z angle rotation
0x14	word	primary color
0x16	word	secondary color
0x18	byte	force spawn
0x19	byte	alarm
0x1A	byte	lock
0x28	word	014C
0x2A	byte	has recently been stolen

Block 16: All Audio Script Objects

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	char[4]	"AUD\0"
0x12	-	24 bytes each, audio structures (see below)

Audio structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x04	word	ID number
0x08	float[3]	x,y,z coordinates

Block 17: Script Paths

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	total number of paths
0x0C	float	speed (049E)
0x10	float	distance along path (049F)
0x14	float	some sort of offset
0x1C	-	object handle, up to 6 supported

Block 18: Player Info

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	current money
0x04	byte	wasted/busted status
0x0F	dword	currently displayed money
0x13	dword	number of packages picked up
0x17	dword	total number of packages (02ED)
0x1B	byte	infinite run (0330)
0x1C	byte	fast reload (0331)
0x1D	byte	fireproof (055D)
0x1E	byte	max health
0x1F	byte	max armor
0x20	byte	free busted once
0x21	byte	free wasted once (0414)
0x22	byte	driveby enabled (0501)

Block 19: Stats

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	peds wasted by player
0x04	dword	peds wasted by others
0x08	dword	cars exploded
0x0C	dword	boats exploded
0x10	dword	tyres popped
0x14	dword	bullets fired
0x18	dword[23]	number of peds killed per Ped type
0x74	dword	helis exploded
0x78	float	progress made (030C)
0x7C	float	total progress (030D)
0x80	dword	kg of explosives used
0x84	dword	bullets hit
0x88	dword	headshots
0x8C	dword	total number of wanted stars attained
0x90	dword	total number of wanted stars evaded
0x94	dword	times busted
0x98	dword	times wasted
0x9C	dword	days passed
0xA0	dword	savecount
0xA4	dword	Pay 'n' Spray resprays
0xA8	float	max insane stunt jump distance
0xAC	float	max insane stunt jump height
0xB0	dword	max insane stunt flips
0xB4	dword	max insane stunt rotation
0xB8	dword	max insane stunt rating
0xBC	dword	unique jumps completed (0313)
0xC0	dword	unique jump count (0314)
0xC4	dword	mission attempts (0317)
0xC8	dword	passengers dropped off (0315)
0xCC	dword	cash made in taxi mission (0316)
0xD0	dword	unused1
0xD4	dword	unused2
0xD8	dword	unused3
0xDC	dword	secondary trash type (flying newspapers?) (055A)
0xE0	dword	secondary weather table (057C)
0xE4	float	distance traveled foot
0xE8	float	distance traveled car
0xEC	float	distance traveled bike
0xF0	float	distance traveled boat
0xF4	float	distance traveled golf cart
0xF8	float	distance traveled heli
0xFC	float	distance traveled plane
0x100	dword	people saved in ambulance mission (0401)
0x104	dword	criminals killed on vigilante (0402)
0x108	dword	fires extinguished in firefighter mission (0404)
0x10C	dword	highest vigilante level (0578)
0x110	dword	highest ambulance level (0403)
0x114	dword	highest firefighter level (0599)
0x118	dword	photos taken
0x11C	dword	rampages passed
0x120	dword	rampage count (0408)
0x124	dword	total number of missions (042C)
0x128	dword	flight time
0x12C	dword	times drowned
0x130	dword	seagulls snpied
0x134	float	weapon budget (0528)
0x138	float	fashion budget
0x13C	float	visits from loan sharks (unused)
0x140	float	stores knocked off (0531)
0x144	float	movie stunts (unused?)
0x148	float	assasination contracts completed (0533)
0x14C	float	pizzas delivered (0534)
0x150	float	garbage pickups made (unused)
0x154	float	ice creams sold (0536)
0x158	float	top shooting range score (unused, see 0x1FF)
0x15C	float	shooting range rank (unused, see 0x1FF)
0x160	dword	longest wheelie time
0x164	dword	longest stoppie time
0x168	dword	longest 2wheel time
0x16C	dword	longest wheelie distance
0x170	dword	longest stoppie distance
0x174	dword	longest 2wheel distance
0x178	dword	property budget (0529)
0x17C	dword	auto repair and painting budget
0x180	dword	property destroyed
0x184	dword	number of properties owned (0542)
0x188	dword	bloodring kills (0543)
0x18C	dword	longest time in bloodring (0544)
0x190	byte[15]	properties owned (0542)
0x19F	dword	highest media attention
0x1A3	dword[23]	best times for races/vehicle missions in seconds (042E)
0x1FF	dword[5]	minigame records (042F) 0 - Highest score for Shooter 1 - Best Percentage of hits for Shooter 2 - Number of drug deals made 3 - Highest score with Keepie-Uppy beach ball 4 - Unused
0x213	dword	Hotring Best Result (0582)
0x217	dword	peds killed recently (always zero while saving)
0x21B	dword	total peds killed (used for calculating rating)
0x21F	char[8]	last passed mission GXT entry name (0318)
0x227	dword	cheat rating
0x22B	float[10]	listening time per radio station in miliseconds

Block 20: Set Pieces

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	number of trigger zones (04F8)
0x04	[96]	56 bytes each, trigger zone structures (see below)

Trigger zone structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	type
0x08	float	trigger area x1
0x0C	float	trigger area y2
0x10	float	trigger area x2
0x14	float	trigger area y1
0x18	float[2]	policeA spawn x,y
0x20	float[2]	policeB spawn x,y
0x28	float[2]	policeA heading x,y
0x30	float[2]	policeB heading x,y

Block 21: Streaming

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 21
0x04	-	start of block 21, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	20 bytes[15]	streaming structures

Checksum

The last four bytes of the save file is the checksum value. It is the sum of all preceding bytes in the file. If the checksum does not match that sum, the game will consider the save file to be "corrupted" and refuse to load it. For any change in the save file, make sure the checksum value is updated.

External links

• Very old development topic – retrieved from archive.org
•  GTAForums: Current development topic
•  GTAForums: Savefile Editor, by voodoo48