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.

Data Blocks

There is a DWORD value preceding any block of data which is equal to the size of the block.

Block 0: Simple Vars

Offset	Type	Description
0x0000	dword	size of block 0
0x0004	-	start of block 0, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x0000	wchar_t[24]	last mission passed (0318)
0x0030	word	SYSTEMTIME wYear
0x0032	word	SYSTEMTIME wMonth
0x0034	word	SYSTEMTIME wDayOfWeek
0x0036	word	SYSTEMTIME wDay
0x0038	word	SYSTEMTIME wHour
0x003A	word	SYSTEMTIME wMinute
0x003C	word	SYSTEMTIME wSecond
0x003E	word	SYSTEMTIME wMilliseconds
0x0040	dword	unknown, value is always 12609
0x0044	dword	current island
0x0048	float[3]	camera coordinates (x,y,z)
0x0054	dword	unknown, but only present in Steam version saves. If present, n = 4 in following offsets for this block, otherwise n = 0.
0x0054 + n	dword	length (ms) of in-game minute (1000=normal)
0x0058 + n	dword	weather timer
0x005C + n	byte	game hour
0x005D + n	byte[3]	align
0x0060 + n	byte	game minute
0x0061 + n	byte[3]	align
0x0064 + n	dword	pad number?
0x0068 + n	dword	global timer
0x006C + n	float	game speed (015D)
0x0070 + n	float	unknown
0x0074 + n	float	unknown
0x0078 + n	dword	unknown
0x007C + n	float	unknown, always 1.0
0x0080 + n	float	unknown, always 1.0
0x0084 + n	float	unknown, always 1.0
0x0088 + n	word	unknown
0x008A + n	byte[2]	align
0x008C + n	word	relates to weather?
0x008E + n	byte[2]	align
0x0090 + n	word	current weather
0x0092 + n	byte[2]	align
0x0094 + n	dword	unknown
0x0098 + n	dword	current weather table offset (between 0 and 63)
0x009C + n	float	current vehicle camera view (between 0.0 and 5.0)
0x00A0 + n	float	current on foot camera view (classic controls only)
0x00A4 + n	dword	current interior (04BB)
0x00A8 + n	byte	taxi boost jump
0x00A9 + n	byte[3]	align
0x00AC + n	byte	unknown
0x00AD + n	byte[3]	align
0x00B0 + n	dword	extra color
0x00B4 + n	dword	extra color active (0 = inactive, 1 = active)
0x00B8 + n	float	extra color fade (between 0.0 and 1.0)
0x00BC + n	dword[10]	unknown, relates to radio station?
0x00E4 + n	dword	size of script block
0x00E8 + n	-	start of script block, see below

Subblock A:

Offset	Type	Description
0x0000	char[4]	"SCR\0"
0x0004	dword	size of script block again
0x0008	dword	size of subblock A
0x000C	-	start of subblock A: global variables - each variable is 4 bytes long

Subblock B:

Offset	Type	Description
0x0000	dword	size of subblock B (constant 0x248)
0x0004	dword	unknown
0x0008	dword	unknown
0x000C	BuildingSwap[25]	swapped building model structures (see below)
BuildingSwap (16/0x10 bytes): Offset Type Description 0x0000 dword always 2 0x0004 dword building handle 0x0008 dword new building IDE model 0x000C dword old building IDE model
0x019C	InvisibilitySetting[20]	object visibility structure (0363) (see below)
InvisibilitySetting (8 bytes): Offset Type Description 0x0000 dword always 2 0x0004 dword handle
0x0023C	-	start of another set of offset below

Offset	Type	Description
0x0000	byte	unknown
0x0001	byte	Kaufman Cabs radio
0x0002	word	unknown
0x0004	dword	size of main
0x0008	dword	size of largest mission
0x000C	word	number of missions
0x000E	word	unknown
0x0010	dword	number of running threads
0x0014	-	136 bytes each, script structure (see below)

Script structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x0000	dword	next script
0x0004	dword	previous script
0x0008	char[8]	name (03A4)
0x0010	dword	current instruction pointer
0x0014	dword[4]	return stack
0x0024	dword	unknown
0x0028	dword	unknown
0x002C	word	stack counter
0x002E	word	unknown
0x0030	dword[16]	16 local variables
0x0070	dword	timerA (local variable 16)
0x0074	dword	timerB (local variable 17)
0x0078	byte	is active
0x0079	byte	"if" statement result
0x007A	byte	uses mission cleanup
0x007B	byte	awake flag
0x007C	dword	thread wake up time
0x0080	word	"if" check result
0x0082	byte	"not" flag
0x0083	byte	is wasted/busted check active
0x0084	byte	has player been wasted/busted
0x0085	byte	mission thread flag

Block 1: Player Peds

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
0x28	dword	time when garage full message was last shown
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: Vehicles

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: Objects

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
0x04	dword	number of vehicles collected by military crane
0x08	124 bytes[8]	crane structures (see below)

Crane structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	index in static objects pool
0x08	float	pickup zone x1 (crane opcode parameter 3)
0x0C	float	pickup zone x2 (crane opcode parameter 5)
0x10	float	pickup zone y1 (crane opcode parameter 6)
0x14	float	pickup zone y2 (crane opcode parameter 4)
0x18	float	drop off point x (crane opcode parameter 7)
0x1C	float	drop off point y (crane opcode parameter 8)
0x20	float	drop off point z (crane opcode parameter 9)
0x24	float	drop off heading in radians (crane opcode parameter 10)
0x28	float	crane arm pick up rotation in radians
0x2C	float	crane arm drop off rotation in radians
0x30	float	crane arm pick up distance from center of crane
0x34	float	crane arm drop off distance from center of crane
0x38	float	crane arm pick up height
0x3C	float	crane arm drop off height
0x40	float	crane arm current rotation in radians
0x44	float	crane arm current distance from center of crane
0x48	float	crane arm current height
0x4C	float[3]	crane hook initial x, y, z
0x58	float[3]	crane hook current x, y, z
0x6C	dword	pointer to vehicle to pick up
0x70	dword	current game time + 10000 (only updates when crane has finished lifting car)
0x74	byte	crane activity 0 = idle crane 1 = crusher/military crane active 2 = crane inactive
0x75	byte	crane status 0 = idle 1 = crane moving to pick up 3 = moving upwards from pick up 2 = moving to destination 4 = moving downwards to drop off 5 = moving upwards from drop off
0x76	byte	number of vehicles collected
0x77	byte	is crusher crane
0x78	byte	is military crane
0x7A	byte	model is not doc_crane_cab0
0x7B	byte	align

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	52 bytes[336]	pickup structures (see below)

Pickup structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	float[3]	x,y,z coordinates
0x0C	float	current protection revenue (04A6)
0x10		pickup object entity
0x14		pickup extra object entity (weapons bomb or minigun for example)
0x18	dword	ammo/protection revenue limit
0x1C	dword	timer
0x20	word	protection revenue rate
0x22	word	IDE model
0x26	char[8]	string to display in help box (0517/0518)
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	52 bytes[50]	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

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
0x000	char[4]	"RST\0"
0x004	dword	size of all data below
0x008	float[3]	hospital restart x,y,z coordinates (016C)
0x014	float	hospital restart heading
7 additional hospital restarts
0x088	float[3]	police restart x,y,z coordinates (016D)
0x094	float	police restart heading
7 additional police restarts
0x108	word	number of hospital restarts
0x10A	word	number of police restarts
0x10C	byte	override next restart active
0x10D	byte[3]	align
0x110	float[3]	override next restart x,y,z coordinates (016E)
0x11C	float	override next restart heading
0x120	byte	always 1, leftover from GTA III's 040F
0x121	byte	always 1, leftover from GTA III's 040E
0x122	byte	always 0, leftover from GTA III's 041F
0x123	byte	always 0, leftover from GTA III's 0420

Block 11: Radar Blips

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	48 bytes[75]	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: Zones

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"
0x0004	dword	size of subblock
0x08	-	start of subblock, data below

Offset	Type	Description
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: Gangs

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 13
0x04	-	start of block 13, data below

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

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	char[4]	"GNG\0"
0x04	dword	total size of gang structures
0x08	24 bytes[9]	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: Car Generators

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 14
0x04	-	start of block 14, data below

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

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	char[4]	"CGN\0"
0x04	dword	size of subblock
0x08	-	start of subblock, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x04	dword	number of active generators
0x10	dword	total size of car generator structures
0x14	44 bytes[185]	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
0x20	dword	timer
0x28	word	014C
0x2A	byte	has recently been stolen

Block 15: Particles

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 15
0x04	-	start of block 15, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of subblock
0x04	dword	number of particle objects
0x08	132 bytes[n]	particle structures (see below)

Offset	Type	Description
0x30	float[3]	x,y,z coordinates
0x58	dword	particle type
0x5C	dword	particle type
0x60	byte	visibility
0x61	byte	sparsity
0x62	word	sparsity counter
0x68	float[3]	x,y,z strength
0x78	float	scale

Block 16: Audio Script Objects

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 16
0x04	-	start of block 16, data below

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

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	char[4]	"AUD\0"
0x04	dword	size of all data below
0x08	dword	number of audio objects (n)
0x12	24 bytes[n]	audio structures (see below)

Audio structure:

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

Block 17: Script Paths

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 17
0x04	-	start of block 17, data below

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

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	size of block 18
0x04	-	start of block 18, data below

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

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	size of block 19
0x04	-	start of block 19, data below

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

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	people wasted by player
0x04	dword	people wasted by others
0x08	dword	road vehicles destroyed
0x0C	dword	boats destroyed
0x10	dword	tires popped with gunfire
0x14	dword	bullets fired
0x18	dword[23]	peds of ped type wasted
0x74	dword	planes and helicopters destroyed
0x78	float	current progress (030C)
0x7C	float	total progress (030D)
0x80	dword	kilograms of explosives used
0x84	dword	bullets that hit
0x88	dword	number of headshots
0x8C	dword	total number of wanted stars attained
0x90	dword	total number of wanted stars evaded
0x94	dword	times busted
0x98	dword	hospital visits
0x9C	dword	days passed in game
0xA0	dword	safehouse visits
0xA4	dword	sprayings
0xA8	float	max insane stunt jump distance (030E)
0xAC	float	max insane stunt jump height (030F)
0xB0	dword	max insane stunt flips (0310)
0xB4	dword	max insane stunt rotation (0311)
0xB8	dword	best insane stunt so far (0312)
0xBC	dword	unique jumps completed (0313)
0xC0	dword	total unique jumps (0314)
0xC4	dword	mission attempts (0317)
0xC8	dword	passengers dropped off (0315)
0xCC	dword	cash made in taxi (0316)
0xD0	dword	unused stat
0xD4	dword	unused stat
0xD8	dword	unused stat
0xDC	dword	porn leaflet rubbish visibility (055A)
0xE0	dword	allows hurricane weather (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 helicopter
0xFC	float	distance traveled plane
0x100	dword	people saved in an ambulance (0401)
0x104	dword	criminals killed on vigilante mission (0402)
0x108	dword	total fires extinguished (0404)
0x10C	dword	highest vigilante mission level (0578)
0x110	dword	highest paramedic mission level (0403)
0x114	dword	fire truck mission level (0599)
0x118	dword	photographs taken
0x11C	dword	rampages passed
0x120	dword	total number of rampages (0408)
0x124	dword	total number of missions (042C)
0x128	dword	flight hours
0x12C	dword	fishes fed (number of times drowned)
0x130	dword	seagulls sniped
0x134	float	weapon budget (0528)
0x138	float	fashion budget (04CF)
0x13C	float	visits from loan sharks (unused)
0x140	float	stores knocked off (0531)
0x144	float	movie stunts (unused)
0x148	float	assassination contracts completed (0533)
0x14C	float	pizzas delivered (0534)
0x150	float	garbage pickups made (unused)
0x154	float	'ice cream' sold (0536)
0x158	float	top shooting range score (unused, see 0x1FF)
0x15C	float	shooting range rank (unused, see 0x1FF)
0x160	dword	longest wheelie time (04FC)
0x164	dword	longest stoppie time (04FC)
0x168	dword	longest 2wheel time (04FC)
0x16C	dword	longest wheelie distance (04FC)
0x170	dword	longest stoppie distance (04FC)
0x174	dword	longest 2wheel distance (04FC)
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 milliseconds

Block 20: Set Pieces

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 20
0x04	-	start of block 20, data below

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

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	timer
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	dword	size of subblock (constant 0x12C)
0x04	-	start of subblock, data below

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

Block 22: Ped Types

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of block 22
0x04	-	start of block 22, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	size of subblock (constant 0x2E8)
0x04	-	start of subblock, data below

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	char[4]	"PTP\0"
0x04	dword	total size of pedtype structures
0x08	32 bytes[23]	pedtype structures (see below)

Pedtype structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	dword	bitstring (each associated to an entry in ped.dat)
0x04	float	first value/50.0
0x08	float	second value/50.0
0x0C	float	third value/50.0
0x10	float	fourth value
0x14	float	fifth value
0x18	dword	threat flags
0x1C	dword	avoid flags

Padding

Following the last data block is a variable amount of padding. Since every save file is exactly 0x31464 bytes in length this padding is necessary to fill the space between the data blocks which start the file and the checksum value which ends it. There could be up to 4 padding blocks, each one is up to 55,000 bytes in length.

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
• 010 template for VC save files