Basic save editing process and toosl for PS3

I only recently learned how to mod save files since a month ago when I was looking for a way to save edit soul calibur 5 for free on PS3 because all that modded creations on Xbox 360 got me really jealous. During this time I came across the necessary sites to get tools and information from, and I was able to modify 3 games that I usually play without breaking the games. here I will share the fruits of my journey.

Basically save editing on an official firmware unmodded PS3 is only possible if several requirements are met.

* being able to backup saves onto a USB storage (no copy protection)
* the save file is unencrypted or is decryptable
* the save file format information is available so you know which byte does what.

the 1st requirement is non-negotiable for people with official firmware. unless the developers deicde to unlock the saves later, you can only let this game go.
as for the 2nd part, most game devs lock their save files these days. some games use single encryption while others use double encryption. as of right now you can only edit games with single encryption unless you have commercial products like game genie may have the ways to decipher double encryptions, but free users like me only have access to single encryption decrypter tools. an encryption key is needed to decrypt a game, so if it's missing, you gotta go out and beg for them because only the people with custom firmware console can run the homebrew program to search for the encryption key. however, sometimes you can download backups of ps3 game data and brute force the encryption key from the files.
regarding the 3rd requirement, this should be a no brainer. unless you have some idea of how a game stores save data, you most likely don't know how to formulate a process to test which byte does what. you could do things like change 1 property and save, then compare the difference between 2 different saves, but without a starting point it's somewhat hard.

the important sites you must visit to acquire information
* Google - no shit! everything starts here
* youtube - lots of games have save editing tutorial walkthroughs, even if it's for xbox 360 the save format are usually interchangeable with some key differences
* Game Genie forum - lots of user custom codes can be found here, but because it's a forum of a commercial product, a lot of messages get modded.
* ps3 hack sites - psx-scene, ps3iso, ps3repack, ps3hax, these are the places to request for save file encryption key dump (secure file ID dumper homebrew program)

here are the important tools you must acquire to edit save files
* Aldo's Bruteforce Save data - Aldo built a user interface to make use of existing command-line save file tools so average gamers like you and me can access game modding with a few simple mouse clicks.
* hex editor - Aldo's BSD installation comes with the best free hex editor HxD. it's quite limited compare to commercial products, but it's free, can't complain

there are commercial products like game genie that have better game support than aldo's BSD (because BSD's game database is based on your user contribution), but aldo's tool is FREE! I never used game genie so I can't comment on their program, but BSD is really good, aldo put a lot of work into it and actively updates his program.

the basic process for save editing is like this
- download and install bruteforce save editor from aldo's tools, install every other required library it requires too.
- CHECK THE GAMES.CONF!!! make sure the game you want to modify is in there
- on your ps3, copy the game save to your flash drive
- copy the entire save file folder from your flash drive to a location of your choosing
- KEEP A BACK UP SOMEWHERE ELSE! NEVER OVERWRITE THIS FILE!
- run bruteforce save editor, have internet connection so it can update from ps3cheating
- template.sfo or account ID are not important if you are modding your own save file, ignore this every time it pops up
- right click -> setting, "Open Games.conf", MAKE SURE YOUR GAME IS LISTED HERE! otherwise you can't decrypt the save file right now
- input the path of the save data you want to edit in the top bar
- select game in the list below the path bar
- press decrypt PFD button below the game list, decrypt all files (I am lazy, you can decrypt selected file as long as you select save.dat)
- open hxd hex editor
- open game folder in explorer, drag save.data to hxd
- now follow the tutorials you find on google and youtube
- once you are done with hexing, go back to Bruteforce Save Data,
- press encrypt PFD, select encrypt decrypted files,
- copy the save data folder back to the flash drive, and overwrite your save file on the ps3.
- each time you make a new save edit, also KEEP A COPY OF LAST WORKING EDITED SAVE so you can revert any time you come across a problem

next time I will start talking about modding custom character creations in soul calibur 5

if there's any error in my posts, please let me know, thx.
if you know something I don't, please share with me too, thx