Save: Difference between revisions

[[File:Save Pokémon Sword.png|thumb|250px|right|Saving in [[Pokémon Sword and Shield|Pokémon Sword]]]]

A '''save file''' or '''save''' (Japanese: '''レポート''' ''report'') is an important feature in the [[Pokémon games]], which allows the player to resume their game from where they left off the last time it was played.

In the [[core series]] games, players create or overwrite the save file by accessing the '''Save''' option in the [[menu]].  

Starting in [[Generation VIII]], an auto-save function is introduced.  If enabled from the [[options]] menu, the game is automatically saved whenever the player enters a different area.

In the Japanese [[core series]] games, saving from the [[menu]] is presented as writing down the player's recent actions in a Pokémon Report (Japanese: ポケモンレポート), although it is referred to as saving when saving due to changing [[Pokémon Storage System|Boxes]] in the Generation I and II games. As a result, the save function is represented by a book icon in the core series Pokémon games.

In the video game {{vg|Pokémon Trading Card Game}} and [[Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!]], saving is presented as writing in the player's Diary. Unlike the core series games, this is carried over to the localized versions as well.

==In the core series games==

The save file is stored in battery-powered {{wp|Static random-access memory|SRAM}} in [[Generation]]s {{gen|I}} and {{gen|II}}, and in {{wp|flash memory}} from [[Generation III]] onward. Beginning with [[Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!]] save files are stored in the console's internal memory and not in the cartridge. Saving the game is required when using certain in-game features (see [[:#Mandated saving|List of activities]] for more information).

Prior to [[Generation VI]], a new game can be started even if there is already a save file stored on the game's cartridge. However, the new game cannot be saved without overwriting the existing file, which results in all prior progress to be lost. From [[Generation IV]] up to [[Generation VI]], as a precaution against unwanted loss of data, any existing save file must be manually deleted by pressing the '''↑ + SELECT + B''' button combination on the title screen before a new game's save data can be written. The game will show a warning message notifying the player of this, and an error message will appear if the player attempts to save anyways. The combination was changed to '''↑ + X + B''' in [[Generation VI]], and the option to start a new game is not available in the [[main menu]] starting in Generation VI.

In [[Generation VIII]] and [[Generation IX]] by pressing the button '''↑ + X + B''' combination in the title screen players can choose to load a backup save file. There's also no way to delete the saves in-game (but can be deleted in the console's settings).  

In the event that the saving process is interrupted, the save file risks corruption, effectively causing its data to be lost, thus forcing the player to start a new game. The game will show an error message reporting the corrupted save data the next time they access the main menu. Starting in [[Generation III]], save file backups are stored, meaning that if the saving process is interrupted and the save file becomes corrupted, then the previous file will be loaded from the backup. Interrupting the saving process in the Generation I and II games may result in permanent loss or corruption of data.

Save files of paired versions are compatible with either [[Core series|version]]. In Generations I and II, save files of English and European versions are also compatible with each other. Starting in Generation III, save files are compatible with all languages.

The saving process in the [[Generation I]] games is performed in a single step.

During the saving process, the message "''Now saving...''"{{sup/1|RB}} or "''Saving...''"{{sup/1|Y}} is shown. In the Japanese versions, the message of progress only appears in {{game|Yellow}}, and it reads ポケモンレポートに　かきこんでいます (translation: ''The Pokémon Report is being written...''). In the Japanese {{game2|Red|Green|Blue}}, the process is instantaneous.

If the player attempts to save after starting a new game with a save file already present, a prompt with the text "''The older file will be erased to save. Okay?''" (Japanese: まえに　かかれた　レポートが　きえて　しまいますが　うえから　かいても　いいですか？ ''The previous report will be erased. Is it OK to overwrite it?'') will be displayed. Awkwardly, this message also appears in the Japanese Red and Green even if no save file is available.

The sound effect played after saving is successful differs between Japanese versions of the [[Generation I]] games.<ref>[http://www.glitterberri.com/pokemon-red-blue/game-freak-staff-interview/staff-secrets/ GlitterBerri's Game Translations » Staff Secrets] (translated from the [http://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0007/gfreak/page06.html original] by TCRF admin GlitterBerri)</ref>

 

In the [[Generation II]] games, the saving process is always executed in two steps, with the exception of the player's very first save.

 

The first step is to confirm the save and the second step is to confirm the overwriting of the current save file, if one is already present. Additionally, during the process, the game warns the player to not turn off the power.

Save data is stored on a RAM chip powered by a battery when the game is turned off. If the battery runs dry, the save data is deleted constantly due to the RAM not being powered on.

In the [[Generation III]] games, the saving process is similar to that of [[Generation II]] but attempts to better secure the process with the addition of backups, which are loaded if the primary save file becomes corrupted.

Whenever backup memory is damaged or worn out, the game tries to correct the issue a few times by itself; if all attempts fail, it warns the player that it can still be played but that any progress will not be saved. The English versions mistakenly suggest that the internal battery may have run dry, but saved data does not actually rely on the battery at all.

;Japanese Ruby/Sapphire text

<blockquote>{{j|「バックアップきのうの　こしょう　または　じゅみょうが　きました。セーブすることは　できませんが　このまま　ゲームを　あそぶことはできます」}}<br>(''The backup function has failed or reached the end of its lifespan. Saving is not possible but the game can be played.'')</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>The backup memory is damaged or the internal battery has run dry. The game can be played. However, progress cannot be saved.</blockquote>

In the 1.0 release of the English versions of {{game|Ruby and Sapphire|s}}, a bug causes the text box for the messages of the backup function to be displayed with a corrupted background and appear too low on the screen, causing the last row of text to be cut off. It was partially fixed in release 1.1 and fixed by release 1.2.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9NUMK6N4F0 Various revision differences (Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire v1.0, v1.1) by ChickasaurusGL]</ref>

PKMN_RS-ENG_save-backup_text_bug_v1.0.png|English Ruby and Sapphire v1.0 text bug

PKMN_RS-ENG_save-backup_text_v1.1-1.2.png|English Ruby and Sapphire v1.1/1.2

In the [[Generation IV]] games, the saving process is similar to that of [[Generation III]].

 

In {{game2|Diamond|Pearl|Platinum}}, the usual "''Saving...''" message is replaced with "''Saving a lot of data...''" if the player has used the [[Pokémon Storage System]] at all during their session. This includes capturing a {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} and sending it automatically to a Box and using the Pokémon Storage System directly. It also occurs when saving and there is no save file already present. When this happens, the process will take significantly longer. In {{game|HeartGold and SoulSilver|s}}, the message only appears after a [[Global Trade System]] trade, if the player is saving with no save file already present, if the save file is corrupted and the player is saving with a backup save file, or major changes are made to the Pokémon Storage System.

 

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the [[Pokéwalker]] data associated to the game is also stored in the save file, therefore deleting the save file will also delete the Pokéwalker data.

In the [[Generation V]] games, the saving process is similar to that of [[Generation IV]], but with two differences. First, there is now only one step again, like in [[Generation I]]. Second, while saving, there is a progress bar at the bottom of the screen.

The long saving periods of Generation IV have been rectified by giving the player only eight Boxes in the [[Pokémon Storage System]] until each one of the eight has at least one {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} in it, avoiding the need to encrypt empty Box data. If major changes are made to the Pokémon Storage System after all the Boxes are available, the "''Saving a lot of data...''" message appears, and saving will take longer than normal like in Generation IV when this message is shown.

In the [[Generation VI]] games, the saving process is similar to that of [[Generation V]] but the progress bar is removed. Saving takes a significantly shorter amount of time (especially when saving via the save option, and/or when using a digital version of the game) compared to earlier [[generation]]s. If the player is online and has Auto Sync enabled with a Pokémon Trainer Club account, saving will take significantly longer while the data syncs.

 

In version 1.0 of {{g|X and Y}}, there is a [[Lumiose City save glitch|glitch]] in areas of [[Lumiose City]] that will cause the game to not respond to user input when the save is loaded. [[Nintendo]] acknowledged the existence of this [[glitch]] and subsequently released a patch to fix it.

 

Battle Videos and the player's uncollected StreetPass tags are saved to the SD Card (separately from the save file of downloaded copies of the core series games), even when playing using a game card, and are not deleted when the save file is. This data is shared between X and Y and between Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, but is separate for each pair of games.

 

Unlike the three generations before, this generation of games appears to have no backup memory.

 

In the 3DS [[Generation VII]] games, the saving process is similar to that of [[Generation VI]], though saving takes somewhat longer than in Generation VI. In {{g|Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon}}, the save option in the [[main menu]] is separated from the other options on the main menu and can be activated by pressing the Y button.

 

 

* There is no longer a limit of one save game per cartridge/game, though each user profile is still limited to only one save game per console.

* Using the Switch's features, save files can be transferred, but not copied, from one console to another. The Save Data Cloud is disabled for Pokémon games.

* Save files can be deleted from the console's System Settings menu. The games no longer have in-game screens allowing to do so.

In the [[Generation VIII]] games, the saving process is similar to that of {{pkmn|Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!}}. An optional autosave feature has been introduced in {{g|Sword and Shield}}.

{{incomplete|section|needs=Scarlet & Violet.}}

This is a list of activities which require saving in order to use them in the [[core series]] games. In some games, it is possible to disable to requirement to save in the [[options]] menu, such as [[Player Search System]] {{pkmn|battle}}s. Activities that trigger saving automatically will not prompt the player to overwrite the old save file.

[[Pokémon Colosseum]] and [[Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness]] store save data on a [[Nintendo GameCube]] Memory Card. Players are prevented from saving the game if a save file on the Memory Card was not loaded or created when starting the game. To prevent cloning Pokémon, the player can only save to the Memory Card which was inserted when entering the mode selection screen. Attempting to save to a different Memory Card than was first inserted will result in an error message appearing and the game refusing to save the game. Additionally, the functionality to copy or move the game save data is disabled for both games.

In {{vg|Pokémon Ranger}}, [[Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia]], and [[Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs]], the save file may be written using terminals known as save machines. Save machines are typically located in [[Ranger Base]]s and [[Ranger Depot]]s, although there are many located in areas all over the [[Fiore]], [[Almia]] and [[Oblivia]] [[region]]s, both indoors and outdoors.

In [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team|Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team]] and [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness|Explorers of Time, Darkness]] and [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky|Sky]], the player can only save in their bed, at [[Kangaskhan Rock]]s, and at the [[Treasure Town#Crossroads|well at the crossroads]]{{sup/md|S}}, and will be asked if they want to save each time they come back from an adventure after waking up.

Starting in [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity|Gates to Infinity]], the player can save anywhere outside a dungeon from the menu. Quicksaving within dungeons is not possible in Companion Mode.

Prior to [[Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon]], it is not possible to save inside dungeons, but it is possible to quicksave. Quicksaving creates a temporary save file and  immediately returns the player to the [[main menu]]. Resuming the adventure deletes the temporary save file. If the player turns off the game in a dungeon without creating a quicksave, when reloading the save they will be ejected from the dungeon as if they had given up on the adventure, and will lose all items in their [[Bag]] and all [[Poké]] that they had on-hand.

In [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX]], the game autosaves.

Saving the game in [[Pokémon Conquest]] can be done at any point in gameplay in which the player can open the menu. This allows the player to permanently save their game in the middle of battle, unlike most other games in the series.

In {{vg|Pokémon Trading Card Game}} and [[Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!]], the player saves using the '''Diary''' (Japanese: '''にっき''' ''Diary'') command from the menu. Saving takes a significantly short amount of time, compared to the [[core series]] games of the first few generations.

In [[Pokémon Pinball]] and [[Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire]], the [[Pokédex]] information (captured and seen Pokémon), records and options are saved automatically. The player may stop playing at any point by creating a temporary save file, which is deleted when the player resumes playing or starts a new game.

 

 

 

 

In the Generation I and II core series games, save data is stored on a RAM chip powered by a battery when the game is turned off. If the battery runs dry, the save data is lost due to the RAM not being powered on.

! class="roundybottom" style="background:#{{kanto color}}" | {{color2|FFF|Pokémon Red and Blue Versions|RB}}{{color2|FFF|Pokémon Yellow Version|Y}}