Best Compression Methods for 'Specific' Games. Q&A

[kuyhaa]

hi everyone

how to extract "disc" file on SOS: A Wonderful Life game and pack back, or plugin for xtool

thanks

[Masquerade]

Originally Posted by kuyhaa

hi everyone

how to extract "disc" file on SOS: A Wonderful Life game and pack back, or plugin for xtool

thanks

Not possible with XTool. You can have the game running with extracted disc file but needs EXE patching. Password to decrypt disc can be found here: https://github.com/Masquerade64/SoS-AWL-Password
Just normal ZipCrypto. Compressed data with lzs algo, very similar to early lz4.

[KaktoR]

For my earlier test, about unpacking PCK files, encoding wem's and such, here is a comparisson for ACOrigins audio files. Excluding processing banks.


SFX + English audio

original
input 3.795.077.936 bytes

Compressed 41 files, 3,795,077,936 => 3,041,411,552 bytes. Ratio 80.14%
Compression time: cpu 2.05 sec/real 223.01 sec = 1%. Speed 17.02 mB/s
All OK

Time 4 minutes

---

diffz+ww files + nulled wem blovks inside PCK files
input 7.422.151.129 bytes)

Compressed 148,175 files, 7,422,151,129 => 2,979,433,554 bytes. Ratio 40.14%
Compression time: cpu 23.94 sec/real 763.29 sec = 3%. Speed 9.72 mB/s
All OK

Time 1 hour 20 minutes

~25%-33% +time per language

[L33THAK0R]

Originally Posted by KaktoR

For my earlier test, about unpacking PCK files, encoding wem's and such, here is a comparisson for ACOrigins audio files. Excluding processing banks.


SFX + English audio

original
input 3.795.077.936 bytes

Compressed 41 files, 3,795,077,936 => 3,041,411,552 bytes. Ratio 80.14%
Compression time: cpu 2.05 sec/real 223.01 sec = 1%. Speed 17.02 mB/s
All OK

Time 4 minutes

---

diffz+ww files + nulled wem blovks inside PCK files
input 7.422.151.129 bytes)

Compressed 148,175 files, 7,422,151,129 => 2,979,433,554 bytes. Ratio 40.14%
Compression time: cpu 23.94 sec/real 763.29 sec = 3%. Speed 9.72 mB/s
All OK

Time 1 hour 20 minutes

~25%-33% +time per language

I wonder if it'd be faster and result in a better ratio to instead extract all the relevant files and pack each PCK as one singular block, then patch the block once its been decoded and reverted back to its original form with the original PCK file. I've found especially with smaller blanked out sections within an archive the final compressor sometimes doesn't achieve as optimal a result as it would when working on a singular patch file. I had this exact issue with Just Cause 3, when I initially patched each FSB (of which there were thousands) and then wrote the now patched FSBs into the archives, which resulted in a fairly lackluster result, compared to combining each valid file extracted from the FSBs into one singular block and creating a hdiffz patch between that block and the original "*.arc" archive.

[Enluaphelis]

Hello! How to determine which is the best method for compressing "Gravel" game?
I did not find it in the index so I don't know.
It has .mp4 files, .pak files, .exe
Also I don't quite understand how to make an installer after compressing it in DiskSpanGUI. I tried using some random methods but the files I got as an output look weird and I don't know what is the best option: "dvd5" or "unlimited". I don't understand how to pack it in the installer, where to put compressed files in and how to make it work.
I'd appreciate your help.

[KaktoR]

Use zlib

Streams: 10832 / 10834
Time: 00:00:05 (CPU 00:00:25)

Size: 312 MB >> 669 MB

[Fak Eid]

Hey, I'm new and don't even know if this question is relevant here. But I need help:

1. How to identify language files from a game. Is there a tool for it? Like for some games like Spider-Man Remastered and GotG, I was not able to locate language files.

2. I'm currently using Ultra compression method of FreeArc (-mx -ld1600m), and using fazip.exe to decompress, but it takes around 1hr to extract Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection. (99.2 GB compressed to 64.4GB). My FreeArc version is 0.67, however my fazip.exe version is 0.0.3 (and a decade old from 2013). Can someone provide me a link to the latest fazip.exe and fazip64.exe files.

3. Also, to decompress, what is the difference in time between fazip.exe and fazip64.exe.

[KaktoR]

1. You can use steamdb and look inside the depots. Example for Spider-Man Remastered: the language files have the short language code as file extension. Example: French -> asset_archive\a00s035.fr

2. There is no newer version of freearc nor fazip, sadly.

3. Don't know but I guess fazip64 is using 64-bit architecture and can utilize more resources.

[Enluaphelis]

Originally Posted by KaktoR

Use zlib

Streams: 10832 / 10834
Time: 00:00:05 (CPU 00:00:25)

Size: 312 MB >> 669 MB

For all files you mean? Also how to properly make an installer and what is the best installer for diskspangui? Which split method choose in "dvd-cd-bluray-unlimited" section?

[KaktoR]

For pak files, but you can use it on all files, doesn't matter.

For supported installers look here
https://fileforums.com/showpost.php?...87&postcount=3

[Enluaphelis]

Originally Posted by KaktoR

For pak files, but you can use it on all files, doesn't matter.

For supported installers look here
https://fileforums.com/showpost.php?...87&postcount=3

Understood. I've chosen your installator ASIS. I don't quite understand how to configure it and which options I should change in .ini file and where to place compressed files after diskspan?

[Enluaphelis]

Originally Posted by KaktoR

For pak files, but you can use it on all files, doesn't matter.

For supported installers look here
https://fileforums.com/showpost.php?...87&postcount=3

I think I understood how to made an installer, but how to get rid of everything except for .bin files? (https://imgur.com/a/dmIqPZL)
Installer doesn't work without these files.
But how does every single repack works without these, only with Setup.exe and data files?

[KaktoR]

Setup.dll and Records.ini are required. However you can include both inside Setup.exe on compiling.

If you use ASIS, do the following steps:
1. Extract Setup.dll to "[ASIS folder]\DECOMPRESSOR" folder
2. Move Records.ini to the same folder
3. Execute "Create_Setup.dll.bat"
3a. Password input is not visible in CMD window. If you don't want to use a Password, just press ENTER twice
4. Open Script.iss and change line 8

;#define InternalDLL
to
#define InternalDLL

(just remove the semicolon
5. Compile the script. Setup.dll and Records.ini are now included in Setup.exe

If you used a Password for Setup.dll, you have to change line 9 in the script aswell

;#define PasswordDLL "123"

Remove the semicolon and replace 123 with your password (quotation marks have to be there)

However, next time please ask such questions in the topics in which the questions belong to. Thanks.

[Enluaphelis]

Originally Posted by KaktoR

Use zlib

Streams: 10832 / 10834
Time: 00:00:05 (CPU 00:00:25)

Size: 312 MB >> 669 MB

I tried to compressed Gravel game but output size is twice size.
https://imgur.com/a/hm6nbiP
This is the settings I used, I did not find "zlib" so I used xtool:mzlib, I don't know which one I should use: https://imgur.com/a/cbGueNR
What am I doing wrong?

[Wanterlude]

Originally Posted by Enluaphelis

I tried to compressed Gravel game but output size is twice size.
https://imgur.com/a/hm6nbiP
This is the settings I used, I did not find "zlib" so I used xtool:mzlib, I don't know which one I should use: https://imgur.com/a/cbGueNR
What am I doing wrong?

1) Xtool [currently: zlib] (Only decompresses files for better compression)
2) Deduplicator [srep] (Removes repetitions)
3) Compressor [lolz/lzma/7z/...] (lolz better but slower then others)
Example for DiskSpan: xtool:mzlib+srep_new:1+LOLZ_NORMAL or xtool:mzlib+srep_new:1+lzma2

p.s. You do not need to prescribe anything yourself, everything can be selected in the program itself