Glossary:Save game cloud syncing

Cloud syncing save game data has a huge number of benefits:

• Protection against hard drive failure.
• Continue a game on another PC such as a laptop.
• Ability to store save games for long term use (handy for games like Mass Effect where save games can be transferred from one title to another).

Save folder cloud syncing is now a standard feature of Steam and Origin. However, not every title supports it, and even if they say that they do, not everything you might expect to be synced is always synced.

Steam Cloud

Steam Cloud is a feature of the Steam client that allows configuration and save game data to synced to the cloud. However, implementation is very inconsistent among developers. Some choose to only sync config files, some force users to choose only a single slot to be synced, some have Steam Cloud listed as a feature, but do not sync any data whatsoever (check Steam Cloud no sync list). However, its perfectly possibly to sync save game and config data yourself using the plethora of free cloud syncing services. Furthermore, Steam Cloud is obviously not available in any non-Steam games.

Dropbox

You will need (for Windows):

• Dropbox
• Link shell extension

First of all, locate where your save games are stored. For this guide, we will assume you want to sync your Fallout: New Vegas saves, which are stored in (on Windows 7) Documents\My Games\FalloutNV.

Launch New Vegas and create a save if you haven't done so already. Additionally, you should set your graphics options and preferences at the launcher.

Next, create a "Saved games" folder in your Dropbox. Move your FalloutNV folder here; do not copy it. Once it has finished syncing, right click the FalloutNV folder and click "Pick Link Source". Next, go back to Documents\My Games, right click and choose "Drop as - Symbolic link".

Each time you save in New Vegas from now on, your save games will sync to Dropbox! Whenever you install New Vegas on a new computer, simply go to Dropbox, right click FalloutNV and choose "Pick Link Source" and create the symbolic link in your My Games folder.

Some games may save in their installation directory. It is still easy enough to create the symbolic link required.

If on Linux or Mac, to create a symbolic link on the command line, run:

ln -s ~/Dropbox/Saved\ Games/FalloutNV ~/Documents/My\ Games/

Windows Live Mesh 2011

Not sure if this is the right link

Syncplicity

Link

Game Save Manager

Can store files locally or on a Dropbox account for cloud storage link