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GAM file format

Applies to:
BG2, BG2: ToB

General Description
This file format is used to hold game information in save games. The GAM file does not store area, creature or item information, instead, it stores information on the party members and the global variables which affect party members.

Detailed Description
Overall structure:
  • Header
  • Party members
  • Party member CRE file data
  • NPCs (who are not in the party)
  • NPC kills statistics (embedded in NPC struct)
  • NPC CRE file data
  • Variables (in the GLOBAL namespace)
  • Journal entries
  • Familiar information
  • Stored Locations
  • Pocket Plane Locations

    • GAME V2.0 Header

    Offset Size (datatype) Description
    0x0000 4 (char array) Signature ('GAME')
    0x0004 4 (char array) Version ('V2.0')
    0x0008 4 (dword) Game time (300 units == 1 hour)
    0x000c 2 (word) Selected formation
    0x000e 2 (word) Formation button 1
    0x0010 2 (word) Formation button 2
    0x0012 2 (word) Formation button 3
    0x0014 2 (word) Formation button 4
    0x0016 2 (word) Formation button 5
    0x0018 4 (dword) Party gold
    0x001c 2 (dword) Count of NPC structs for party members (excluding Protagonist)
    0x001e 2 (word) Weather bitfield
    • bit0: Rain
    • bit1: Snow
    Higher bits determine the density and intensity of the weather
    0x0020 4 (dword) Offset to NPC structs for party members
    0x0024 4 (dword) Count of NPC structs for party members (including Protagonist)
    0x0028 4 (dword)
    Unknown
    0x002c 4 (dword)
    Unknown
    0x0030 4 (dword) Offset to NPC structs for non-party members
    0x0034 4 (dword) Count of NPC structs for non-party members
    0x0038 4 (dword) Offset to GLOBAL namespace variables
    0x003c 4 (dword) Count of GLOBAL namespace variables
    0x0040 8 (resref) Main area
    0x0048 4 (dword) Unknown
    0x004c 4 (dword) Count of journal entries
    0x0050 4 (dword) Offset to journal entries
    0x0054 4 (dword) Party reputation (*10)
    0x0058 8 (resref) Current area
    0x0060 4 (dword) GUI flags
    • bit 0: (0) Party AI disabled / (1) Party AI enabled
    • bit 1: Text window size*
    • bit 2: Text window size*
    • bit 3: Unknown
    • bit 4: (0) Show GUI / (1) Hide GUI
    • bit 5: (0) Show options panel / (1) Hide options panel
    • bit 6: (0) Show portraits panel / (1) Hide portraits panel
    • bit 7: (0) Hide automap notes / (1) Show automap notes
    * These bits control the text window size. The bits relate to the size as follows:
    •   00 = Small
    •   01 = Medium
    •   10 = Unused
    •   11 = Large
    NB. Not all engines use all bits
    0x0064 4 (dword) Unknown
    0x0068 4 (dword) Offset to familiar info
    0x006c 4 (dword) Offset to stored locations
    0x0070 4 (dword) Count of stored locations
    0x0074 4 (dword) Game time (real seconds)
    0x0078 4 (dword) Offset to pocket plane locations
    0x007c 4 (dword) Count of pocket plane locations
    0x0080 52 (bytes) Unknown


    GAME V2.0 NPCs (both in-party and out-of-party NPCs)

    Offset Size (datatype) Description
    0x0000 2 (word) Character selection
    • 0 = Not selected
    • 1 = Selected
    • 0x8000 = Dead
    0x0002 2 (word) Party order (0x0-0x5 = PlayerXFill, 0xFFFF = not in party)
    0x0004 4 (dword) Offset (from start of file) to CRE resource data for this character
    0x0008 4 (dword) Size of CRE resource data for this character
    0x000c 8 (bytes) Character Name
    0x0014 4 (dword) Character orientation
    0x0018 8 (resref) Characters current area
    0x0020 2 (word) Character X coordinate
    0x0022 2 (word) Character Y coordinate
    0x0024 2 (word) Viewing rectangle X coordinate
    0x0026 2 (word) Viewing rectangle Y coordinate
    0x0028 2 (word) Modal action
    0x002a 2 (word) Happiness
    0x002c 96 (bytes) Unknown
    0x008c 2 (word) Index into slots.ids for Quick Weapon 1 (0xFFFF = none)
    0x008e 2 (word) Index into slots.ids for Quick Weapon 2 (0xFFFF = none)
    0x0090 2 (word) Index into slots.ids for Quick Weapon 3 (0xFFFF = none)
    0x0092 2 (word) Index into slots.ids for Quick Weapon 4 (0xFFFF = none)
    0x0094 2 (word) Quick Weapon 1 slot enabled
    0x0096 2 (word) Quick Weapon 2 slot enabled
    0x0098 2 (word) Quick Weapon 3 slot enabled
    0x009a 2 (word) Quick Weapon 4 slot enabled
    0x009c 8 (resref) Quick Spell 1 resouce
    0x00a4 8 (resref) Quick Spell 2 resouce
    0x00ac 8 (resref) Quick Spell 3 resouce
    0x00b4 2 (word) Index into slots.ids for Quick Item 1 (0xFFFF = none)
    0x00b6 2 (word) Index into slots.ids for Quick Item 2 (0xFFFF = none)
    0x00b8 2 (word) Index into slots.ids for Quick Item 3 (0xFFFF = none)
    0x00ba 2 (word) Quick Item 1 slot enabled
    0x00bc 2 (word) Quick Item 2 slot enabled
    0x00be 2 (word) Quick Item 3 slot enabled
    0x00c0 32 (bytes) Name
    0x00e0 4 (dword) Talkcount
    0x00e4 116 bytes character stats for this character
    0x0158 8 bytes Voice Set

    GAME V2.0 Character stats

    Offset Size (data type) Description
    0x0000 4 (strref) "Most powerful vanquished" - Name
    0x0004 4 (dword) "Most powerful vanquished" - XP Reward
    0x0008 4 (dword) Time in party (1/15 seconds)
    0x000c 4 (dword) Time Joined (1/15 seconds)
    0x0010 2 (word) Party member (0 = Not in party, 1 = In party)
    0x0012 2 (word) Unknown
    0x0014 4 (dword) Kills - XP Gained (chapter)
    0x0018 4 (dword) Kills - Number (chapter)
    0x001c 4 (dword) Kills - XP (game)
    0x0020 4 (dword) Kills - number (game)
    0x0024 4*8 (resref array) Favourite spells
    0x0044 4*2 (word array) Favourite spell count
    0x004c 4*8 (resref array) Favourite weapons
    0x006c 4*2 (word) Favourite weapon time (time equipped in combat - 1/15 seconds)

    GAME V2.0 Game variables

    Offset Size (data type) Description
    0x0000 32 (char array) Variable name
    0x0020 8 (bytes) Unknown
    0x0028 4 (dword) Variable value
    0x002c 40 (bytes) Unknown

    GAME V2.0 Journal entries

    This section stores the strref, chapter and time for any entry added to the journal.

    Offset Size (data type) Description
    0x0000 4 (strref) Journal text
    0x0004 4 (dword) Time (seconds)
    0x0008 4 (dword) Current chapter number
    0x000C 1 (byte) Unknown
    0x000D 1 (byte) Journal section
    • bit 0: Quests
    • bit 1: Competed quest
    • bit 2: Journal Info
    NB. If no bits are set, the entry is a user-note
    0x000E 1 (byte) Location flag (0x1F = external TOT/TOH, 0xFF = internal TLK)

    GAME V2.0 Familiar info

    The familiar (summoned by the Find Familiar spell) is dependent on the alignment of the caster. This section contains the mapping between caster alingment and the CRE file to summon.

    Offset Size (data type) Description
    0x0000 8 (resref) Lawful Good Familiar
    0x0008 8 (resref) Lawful Neutral Familiar
    0x0010 8 (resref) Lawful Evil Familiar
    0x0018 8 (resref) Neutral Good Familiar
    0x0020 8 (resref) Neutral Familiar
    0x0028 8 (resref) Neutral Evil Familiar
    0x0030 8 (resref) Chaotic Good Familiar
    0x0038 8 (resref) Chaotic Neutral Familiar
    0x0040 8 (resref) Chaotic Evil Familiar
    0x0048 328 (bytes) Unknown

    GAME V2.0 Stored Locations info

    This struct is filled by the StorePartyLocations() action and cleared by the RestorePartyLocations() action. There is one record for each member of the party at the time the action was called.

    Offset Size (data type) Description
    0x0000 8 (resref) Area
    0x0008 2 (word) X coordinate
    0x000a 2 (word) Y coordinate

    GAME V2.0 Pocket Plane info

    This struct is filled by the Spell Effect: Area Switch [298] effect and cleared by the ExitPocketPlane effect. There is one record for each member of the party at the time the effect was called.

    Offset Size (data type) Description
    0x0000 8 (resref) Area
    0x0008 2 (word) X coordinate
    0x000a 2 (word) Y coordinate