[Guide] Modding, Editing, and Porting PSP & PS2 NCAA

[antdroid]

Introduction:

I'll be posting some files and guides on how to mod PS2 and PSP NCAA series over time in this thread.

My idea of guides will include:
1) Opening rosters and making small changes
2) Porting PS2 <--> PSP
3) Knowledge Transfer of Key things for modding/editing
4) Porting PS3 --> PS2 + PSP
5) Other Mods

Some Basic Tools Required:

Tool depending on console format

• PS2 Save using ActionReplay/GameShark etc. (PS2 only)
• PSP or Vita with custom firmware and savedeemer plugin (deemerh.prx) (PSP only)
• MyMC for PCSX2
• ENCRYPT SAVE flagged to FALSE for PPSSPP

Madden XTremeDB Editor or prior versions (recommend newest one!)
Excel or another spreadsheet editor

PSP Info: The deemerh plugin creates the SAVEPLAIN folder and within the folder, an unencrypted copy of your save. This allows it to be edited. You can then edit these files (SDDATA.BIN). When you load a save within a game, and the plugin active, the game will look for matching files in saveplain first, before going to the standard SAVEDATA folder, so you only need to edit off of saveplain (as long as files of any date are present in savedata)

Alternatively, if you use PPSSPP, you can disable encrypt saves in the ppsspp.ini file. This will generate a data.bin that's not encrypted for editing. If you want to share the file later, you need to enable the flag again and save.



Some of these files can be found by google search, or on my website linked below.

Credits:
OperationSports, FootballIdiot.com, Football Freaks (ffmadden.wikia.com)
Users who've contributed, tested, idea generated, discussed, supported etc:
Reeshmd23, h4wduk3n, vikesfan059, Harry97, Volwalker, Brock, LuckySeven, jet5915wvu, jdhalfrack, and more!


NCAA Football 06 NEXT Mod

https://www.ncaanext.com

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/55EMdS5ewx

[antdroid]

Basic Editing

This section will go over the basics of creating a save, transferring it to your PC, and opening and modifying a roster. For PSP, make sure the sgdeemer plugin is installed and activated. You can also use the ENCRYPT/DECRYPT SAVE feature in PPSSPP.ini for the PPSSPP app.



1. Go into NCAA game, and save a roster or dynasty. Then extract the save file to your computer by one of the following:

For PSP:
Attach PSP to your computer, and go to your memory stick and locate /PSP/SAVEPLAIN/. This folder has your unencrypted save files. Pull the ones for NCAA. This *.bin file inside will be about 479kbs to 2.6mbs large. That is your roster or dynasty.

For Vita:
Extract save from ux0>pspemu>PSP>SAVEDATA either from memory card or vitashell.
Or use qCMA or Sony CMA to transfer to PC.

For PPSSPP:
Go to the PPSSPP folder on your computer, and then save files are located at /PSP/SAVEDATA/

For PS2: Save your files to your save device, and transfer the file to your PC. Use PS2 Save Builder to extract the BALSUSXXXXX file from the save. This is your roster/dynasty.

For PCSX2: Use MyMC to extract the appropriate save from your virtual memory card. Then use PS2 Save Builder to extract the BALSUS file from the save. This is your roster/dynasty.


2. Using Madden DB Editor, open the roster file (data.bin or BALSUSXXXXX). Once open, you'll see a series of 4 letter databases on the left side and when you open click on one of those, a spreadsheet will populate with data.

3. We will just work on the Players for now. That database is called PLAY (Players if you have definitions enabled). Click that, and it'll take a bit of time to load it all up. Once loaded, click the file menu and Export to CSV.

4. Now you will have a CSV file that can be opened in Excel and reviewed!

You will notice that there's no string of text in the database at all. Players are NOT identified using letters. They are coded by a string of numbers, which correspond to each letter in alphabet. This requires additional translation if you want to edit it easily. Other Tables like TEAM, CONF, DIVI are more readable.

Look at the attached File for help on reading the DB

5. Once you've made your changes, you can again go back into DB Editor. Make sure the proper database is loaded, and now Import the CSV.

6. Once the import is completed, save your work (some versions of DB Editor auto save).

7. Now it's time to repackage it and transfer.

PSP/VITA: Just take your working folder and replace it in the SAVEPLAIN folder on your stick.

PS2: Use Save Builder. Open the existing SAVE and now import this new one into it, overwriting the original.
PCSX2: Follow instructions on PS2 above, and then use MyMC to re-import the save file.

8. Start the game, load the file and see the results!

PSP - The Saveplain is just an unencrypted file. If you like the results, make another save. You will have proper encrypted save in the standard SAVEGAME folder as well as a new SAVEPLAIN unencrypted save. Use the encrypted one for sharing with others!

[antdroid]

Porting PS3 NCAA 14 Rosters to PS2/PSP

Modifying PS3 to PS2 and PSP is pretty intensive because there are a good 50% or more attributes in the PS3/360 generation games versus the previous generation, some attributes are called different things, and the way they are adjusted is totally different. On top of that, you can't determine player names or the school they are associated with without a conversion tool. I am working on an Excel Workbook tool to help ease the pain. Once that's done, I'll post it and give instructions on how to use it.

Download and Instructions:
https://github.com/antdroidx/NCAA-Fo...r-Porting-Tool

v0.70:
Re-balance PS3 roster to be closer to original NCAA 06 rosters
Accurate calculates overall ratings (+/- 1 off occasionally)
Improved Macros/Spreadsheets for ease of use


v0.60 fix capitalizations of names, new face/hair options, macro fixes (Dec 07, 2021)

v0.50 fixes Excel formulas (Sept 21, 2016)

v0.35 fixes skin tone issues!

v0.30 fixes a major porting bug in attribute ratings. Please update!

v0.25 is an even lighter, faster version of the tools. It also allows you to do minimal manual deleting and interacting.

Version 0.20 is a change that was necessitated to reduce the amount of system RAM required and to speed up the process of editing the actual data and formulas.


General Instructions:
1. Extract the unencrypted Roster save from your PS3 or XBOX 360 roster you want to port. For PS3 rosters, make sure the file ends in *.mc02

2. Open up a PS3 roster in Xanthanol's Dynasty Editor and export the Player Roster to CSV.

3. Rename this CSV file to PS3_Input.csv and Open in Excel, and then follow the README in the Conversion Tool.




OTHER NCAA SPECIFIC TOOLS/APPLICATIONS


Schedule Generator Tool by jet5195

https://github.com/jet5195/NCAA-PS2-Scheduler-UI/

Playbook Editor by jdhalfrack

https://forums.operationsports.com/f...ok-editor.html

Coach Editor by antdroid

https://github.com/antdroidx/NCAA-Fo...2-Coach-Editor



Porting NCAA Football on PS2 to another NCAA Football on PS2


On many of the PS2 NCAA (and assuming Madden) titles, you can just take the BASLUSXXXXXX save file for a roster, and rename it to another NCAA version and it should port over without any issues.

For example:
You can take a NCAA Football 06 roster (BALSUS-21214XXXXX) and rename it BASLUS-21932XXXXX and add it to an NCAA Football 11 save folder and it should load up in NCAA 11!

detailed version:
http://www.operationsports.com/forum...4&postcount=14

[antdroid]

Knowledge Transfer of PS3 to PS2/PSP conversion and Assumptions:

What does each Table/Column Header mean?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...f=true&sd=true

This is a shared editable file, so please don't mess it up! But you can also contribute to it!


Knowledge stuff is scattered every where on this thread. I'll try to collect some things as I learn more. Check out the attached NCAA_Findings file for some basics.

Recruiting Info from Anarchy: https://forums.operationsports.com/f...&postcount=377

Repository Dump of my lessons learned:
https://github.com/antdroidx/NCAA-Fo...ding-Resources


Other forum threads of interest:
Uniform Modding Attempts : https://www.footballidiot.com/forum/...p?f=92&t=16665
NCAA Dynasty Modding : https://www.footballidiot.com/forum/...p?f=77&t=22207
NCAA 05 Modding for GameCube: https://www.footballidiot.com/forum/...p?f=77&t=21748

[antdroid]

Modding other game resources


Available Mods/Tutorials:
+Conference Realignment Example
+Neutral Sites
+Coaching Carousel
+4 Team Playoffs (by Brock)
+Dynasty Logger (modified by Brock)
+NCAA Draft Class Mix and Match to Madden (brock)
+PSP Stadiums
+PSP Uniforms



This will be a definite WIP as I learn more. For modding ideas and guides that may apply, check out the ones that are used for Madden 08 PC. They may translate over very well!

For now, there are fun things to look at in the following files on your copy:
template.dat - default game settings, rosters, etc.
anything that ends with *.dat or *.viv - these can be uniforms, stadiums, player models, accessories, etc.

The following tools and editors will be helpful for this journey:

Madden Xtreme DB Editor
EA Graphics Editor (opens VIV files)
Hex Editor
Madden DAT Replacer
Console Texture Explorer (you can find graphics within MSH files if you know what you're doing and I do not...)

Some of the tools can be found here: https://www.footballidiot.com/forum/...p?f=10&t=18332

- - -

Mods/tutorials WIPs are below.

Additional tips/tricks/mods can be found scattered through this long thread by the community!
Here are some quick links:


Football Idiot Resources: https://www.footballidiot.com/forum/...pic.php?t=8541


Conference Realignment

Updated 9/5/2017

Current completed custom mods for NCAA 06 will be in the specific year's Roster thread for PS2

NCAA 11 mod by Anarchy666 is found here: [LINK]

For DIY & learning...

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBA-hxASnCY

I've attached a slightly outdated (2016) mod pack which has all the files for one to explore and learn how to do this on your own. It includes custom csv input/output files for NCAA 06 through NCAA 11. The 06 files should work for 07-08, and 09-10 and 11 can use the 11 files.

The create a PLAY database to directly import into this, the easiest way is to create a new dynasty with the roster you intend to use, and make appropriate team swap from FCS to FBS. And then save the new dynasty, and import the save to DB Editor and export the PLAY file. This can be then used to import directly into an existing modded dynasty save so you don''t have to redo all your work each season.

If you follow pages 8-12 on this thread or my blog at Antdroid.net or Youtube channel, you can see how this came about...


Thanks to: Harry97, Brock, and OperationSports



Neutral Sites:

This mod lets you add more neutral site games.
https://forums.operationsports.com/f...&postcount=868



Coaching Carousel Mod
https://forums.operationsports.com/f...&postcount=870



4-Team Playoffs by Brock
http://www.operationsports.com/forum...2&postcount=50


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jOj...okyBotsDynasty

Dynasty Logging Template
http://www.operationsports.com/forum...&postcount=172



Importing Any NCAA Draft Classes to any Madden PS2 Game

Method 1: http://www.operationsports.com/forum...68&postcount=9

Method 2: http://www.operationsports.com/forum...&postcount=343



Real Updated NCAA Records:



[LINK]

Download Records zip and use Madden DB Editor to update your SETTINGS save file!




Importing Stadiums Mod for PSP:
http://www.antdroid.dev/2016/03/ncaa-07-psp-stadiums-uniforms-mod.html


Thanks to: Reeshmd23



Importing Uniforms/Helmets for PSP:
This is PSP only! We are working on how to do this for PS2 over at FootballIdiot.com

http://www.antdroid.dev/2016/02/ncaa...-swapping.html

Thanks to: Reeshmd23, H4wduk3n, Harry97


---


Good luck!

[volwalker]

Awesome stuff!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[antdroid]

Added an exported CSV viewer excel worksheet. More info in Post #2.

[H4wduk3n]

Hi minotauri, a couple questions about the excel worksheet:

Does it support adding more players or do we only replace existing players? (May run into complications of creating a new row with new PGID etc?)
Can I just edit the 'viewer' tab and have it update the 'input' tab which i can take and place into the game via the db editor?