diff --git a/docs/concepts/save-states.md b/docs/concepts/save-states.md index c53d26c3..5fd44be5 100644 --- a/docs/concepts/save-states.md +++ b/docs/concepts/save-states.md @@ -1,11 +1,129 @@ -TODO +A real game console +is a complex piece of hardware, +with electricity flowing through it +in complex patterns that can't easily +be paused or recorded. +However, +an emulated console is pure software: +it only changes when the emulation software +deliberately updates it, +so the emulator software can save +the entire state of the emulated console +to disk, +and weeks or months later +bring it back to life +as though nothing had ever happened. Save states versus in-game saves -------------------------------- +Some games include their own systems +for saving and restoring the player's progress. +Here are some of the differences +between save states and in-game saves: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Save statesIn-game saves
+ Work exactly the same way + in every game + + Works differently in different games, + some games don't support it at all +
+ Save at any time, + anywhere in the game + + Save only at special save-points +
+ Loading a save + puts the game back exactly how it was + when you pressed save + + Loading a save + restores some things + (like the player's inventory + or remaining lives), + but may + forget others + (like taking you back to the beginning of the level) +
+ You can have dozens of save states + + Most games limit you to about 3 saves +
+ Can only be loaded + by the same version of the same emulator + that created it + + Works with any version of any emulator, + can sometimes even be copied to or from physical cartridges +
+ +**Note:** +Loading a save state +will reset the entire emulated console +to the way it was when the save state was created, +*including in-game saves*. +If you create a save state, +then make an in-game save, +then load the save state, +**your in-game save will be lost**. +Don't do that. + Quick states ------------ +higan has five Quick State slots, +which can be used from +[the Tools menu](../interface/higan.md#the-tools-menu), +or with the appropriate +[hotkeys](../interface/higan-config.md#hotkeys). + +Quick states are useful +as extra checkpoints +in games that don't have them, +or where they aren't close enough together. +Map the "Save Quick State" and "Load Quick State" hotkeys +to your controller, +and you can cheese your way through just about anything. + Manager states -------------- +higan's +[State Manager](../interface/higan-tools.md#the-state-manager) +allows you to create over a hundred save states, +and add a helpful description to each one. + +Manager States are more cumbersome to use than Quick States, +since they cannot be accessed with hotkeys, +but are useful when you want quick access +to many different parts of a game.