PCGamingWiki:Editing guide/Game data

The Game data section holds information relating to possibly the two most important types of files available: configuration (or config) files and save data/files.

Config files hold all the customization values needed to run the game, while save files hold the in-game progress made by the player. The locations of both file types are critical for modifying the game and/or backing up progress.

The section also handles information regarding the save game cloud syncing services (services or programs that automatically backup save files to an offsite server).

Main table

Template documentation

Syntax (base)

{{Game data|
--rows go here--
}}

Syntax (configuration files)

{{Game data/config| OS | File location | File location 2 | File location 3 | File location 4 }}

Syntax (save data)

{{Game data/saves| OS | File location | File location 2 | File location 3 | File location 4 }}

Example

System	Location
DOS	<path-to-game>
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\Documents\
Microsoft Store	%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\RockstarGames.GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas_t0jd8ksr6e6zw\LocalState\
Mac OS (Classic)	<path-to-game>
macOS (OS X)	~/Library/Application Support/Vessel/
Linux	~/.config/Vessel/

The main part of the section. Like the Availability and DLC tables, the Game data table can be dynamically adjusted to only show the applicable OSes. Unlike other tables however, it needs to be used twice in an article (one for config files, another for save files). The only times this is not the case is when a game does not use save files (game is multiplayer only or uses a save system that does not rely on files. The save files table can be omitted) or both the config files and save files are in the same folder (use one table for both file types).

General rules

• In the case that the game has multiple OS versions available, organize the rows in the following order (for all the platforms that apply):
  • PC booter
  • DOS
  • Windows
  • Microsoft Store
  • Mac OS
  • OS X
  • Linux
• Use environment variables when possible. The wiki already has special variables to represent them (see Template:Path).
• Windows and DOS use \ as the directory separator. OS X and Linux use /. Mac OS uses :.
• Games with multiple distribution versions on the same OS (ex. Steam, Origin) should have separate rows if files are placed differently.
• A Game data row can support up to 4 distinct paths, which are each separated with a vertical bar (|).
  • This is especially useful for games where file locations are different across releases (ex. Floppy Disk vs. CD-ROM for DOS games) or they have multiple configuration files located on different paths.
• Paths for Steam Play's Proton wrapper are handled automatically. Update the Windows/Steam game data paths as needed.
• If the game has no data of a particular type remove the table for that data type and put a note explaining this (e.g. "This game does not store any settings").

Popular file locations

A list of common file locations:

Windows

Location	Path	Notes
Base game folder	<path-to-game>\
Game subfolder	<path-to-game>\(name of subfolder)\	Look for folders labeled along the lines of "Profiles", "Saves", "Save Games", or "Configs". Sometimes the relevant files can be located with the game binaries (the folder is normally called "Bin").
User's "Saved Games" folder	%USERPROFILE%\Saved Games\
User's "Documents" folder	%USERPROFILE%\Documents\
"My Games" folder	%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\	Some Unreal Engine 3 games are lumped together under the "UnrealEngine3" subfolder.
Local AppData folder	%LOCALAPPDATA%\	Hidden folder.
LocalLow AppData folder	%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\	Hidden folder.
Roaming AppData folder	%APPDATA%\	Hidden folder.
VirtualStore folder	%LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore\Program Files\ %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\	Hidden folder. Files located here are equivalent to the main folder counterparts. (Ex. %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\Diablo II\Save\ is the same as <path-to-game>\Save\)
ProgramData folder	%PROGRAMDATA%\	Hidden folder.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER	HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\	Configuration values are stored here. The Registry Editor is required to access this path. Files can sometimes be found under the "Wow6432Node" subfolder. Only list this path if no other files can be found elsewhere.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE	HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\	Configuration values are stored here. The Registry Editor is required to access this path. Files can sometimes be found under the "Wow6432Node" subfolder. Only list this path if no other files can be found elsewhere.

OS X

Location	Path	Notes
Base game folder	<path-to-game>/
Game subfolder	<path-to-game>/(name of subfolder)/	Look for folders labeled along the lines of "Profiles", "Saves", "Save Games", or "Configs". Sometimes the relevant files can be located with the game binaries (the folder is normally called "Bin").
Application support	~/Library/Application Support/	.

Linux

Location	Path	Notes
Base game folder	<path-to-game>/
Game subfolder	<path-to-game>/(name of subfolder)/	Look for folders labeled along the lines of "Profiles", "Saves", "Save Games", or "Configs". Sometimes the relevant files can be located with the game binaries (the folder is normally called "Bin").
XDG_DATA_HOME	~/.local/share/	See also XDG support.
XDG_CONFIG_HOME	~/.config/	See also XDG support.
HOME	~/	Usually the folders are hidden (beginning with a full stop).

XDG support

If the game is available on Linux, support for the XDG Base Directory Specification needs to be mentioned. The tag is always placed under the config files table.

Syntax

{{XDG|true/false}}

Example

<config file table>

This game does not follow the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux.

<save game data table>

Save game cloud syncing table

Template documentation

Syntax

{{Save game cloud syncing
|discord                = 
|discord notes          = 
|epic games store       = 
|epic games store notes = 
|gog galaxy             = 
|gog galaxy notes       = 
|origin                 = 
|origin notes           = 
|steam cloud            = true/false/unknown
|steam cloud notes      = 
|uplay                  = 
|uplay notes            = 
|xbox cloud             = 
|xbox cloud notes       = 
}}

Example

System	Native	Notes
Origin
Steam Cloud
Uplay

A minor table, the Save game cloud syncing table displays all cloud syncing services that support the game.

Note that only the stores/services the game is available on need to be filled in. The rest can be left blank.

Full Example

Taken from Vessel

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Windows	%APPDATA%\Vessel\
macOS (OS X)	~/Library/Application Support/Vessel/
Linux (Proton)	<Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/65540/pfx/

This game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux.

Save game data location

System	Location
Windows	%APPDATA%\Vessel\
macOS (OS X)	~/Library/Application Support/Vessel/
Linux	~/.local/share/Vessel/
Linux (Proton)	<Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/65540/pfx/

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
Steam Cloud

Editing guide

Essential improvements

Video settings