3DO:Game Guru

Game Guru is a third party tool which allows you to edit, copy, delete, compress, and uncompress game saves. The official Game Guru manual can be found on Archive.org.

Menu Options

Code Library

Allows you to apply a pre-made cheat to your game save. If you want to be safe, you can use the Copy menu option first to make a backup copy of your save in case something goes wrong.

1. Select the save that you wish to apply a cheat to.
2. Select the game that matches the save you chose in step 1.
3. Select the cheat you wish to apply.

Enter Code

Allows you to enter a Game Guru code. Here is a list of some codes.

1. Enter the code you wish to use and press C when done.
2. Select the game save you wish to apply it to.

File List

List all game saves.

Compress

This is a rather unique option that Game Guru offers. If you are running out of memory card space, you can choose this option and select any game save to compress it and reduce the file size. The save is not usable in compressed form, but it's a great option to store larger or less frequently used game saves away to make room for more saves.

Decompress

This option decompresses saves that you had compressed.

Copy

This allows you to select a game save and save a copy of it with a filename of your choosing.

Delete

Allows you to delete files to make room for more saves.

Settings

Note that changes to these settings will not persist through a reboot unless you select "Save Settings".

Serious Options

• Verification: Whether it should show the prompt asking you to confirm setting changes.
• Default Answer: The option that is highlighted whenever a prompt asks you to confirm setting changes.
• Messages: The amount of time (in seconds) an informational message is displayed on the screen.
• Mini Menu Help: Whether to display the information box about the command you have highlighted.
• Pass Filenames': Whether to default the filename to the file you selected when you click the Copy option.
• Auto-Delete: Whether to automatically delete the uncompressed version of a file when you compress it and the compressed version of a file when you decompress it.
• Compression: Whether to use Game Guru Compression (GGC) or 3DO compression. It is recommended to always use GGC as it reduces the file size more.

Pretty Options

• Moving Menus: Whether menus in Game Guru are animated.
• Menu SoundFX: Whether menus in Game Guru make sound.
• Menu Light: The brightness level of the menu background.
• Font Light: The brightness level of the menu font.
• Select Bkgnd: Allows you to choose between the 55 background images for Game Guru.
• Music: Whether the Game Guru song by InnerSect plays.

Select Device

This option theoretically allows you to select a different storage device. However, Game Guru was released prior to the Panasonic FZ-EM256 (256 KB Expandable Memory Unit) being released, and the memory unit will not show up in this menu, leaving this option useless.

Save Settings

Saves any changes you made to the settings.

View Credits

Loops the Game Guru credits until you press the Stop button.

Advanced Mode

From the main menu, choose "Enter Code", select "GameGuru.CFG", enter IHAVETHEPOWER, and press C. The main menu will be rearranged and you will have access to a direct hex editor as well as other features.

Added features of note:

• File Related
  • Hex Editor: Allows you to manually hex edit a game save by selecting a byte and changing its value. You can also search for strings, jump to a different region, and recalculate the CRC checksum value and have it placed at the proper offset (manually). Press C to save.
  • Association: Allows you to change the game (three digit title ID) a save is tied to.
  • Rename: Allows you to rename files.
  • Special
    • Create: Create new file.
    • Change Type: Changes file type (unknown purpose).
    • File X-fer: This menu is intended for you to start the "Send File" function on one 3DO while you use the "Receive File" function on another 3DO and manually enter what you hear.
      • Send File: Allows you to choose a game save and then it verbally reads off button inputs corresponding to the hex code.
      • Receive File: Allows you to create a game save and push button inputs to write the corresponding hex code.
      • X-fer Time: Gives you an estimate for how long the send/receive process will take for you to perform (with no mistakes).
    • 32-Bit CRC: Computes the CRC and against its embedded CRC checksum to make sure a game save is valid.
• Optimization
  • Normal Optimize: Unknown.
  • Full Optimize: Sorts files alphabetically. Does not seem to work.
  • File Reorder: Allows you to move files order.
  • File Fill: Allows you to fill remaining storage with a dummy file called "FILLER_FILE.NULL".
  • Rebuild Catalog: Unknown. Likely re-does the Game Guru's file cache.
  • Test Device: Unknown. Does not seem to work.
  • Format Device: Removes all saves.
• Statistics: Some general statistics about files.

Other Secrets

From the main menu, choose "Enter Code", select "GameGuru.CFG", enter one of the following codes, and press C:

• IHAVETHEVIDEO2: A video walkthrough of the Game Guru's development studio is shown.
• SONG2: Changes the song that plays if music is enabled in settings. SONG3 through SONG9 also work.
• MLGTXXF: When you reset the 3DO, a rendered 3DO logo will be displayed in the background.
• IDONTWANTTHEPOWER: Disables Advanced Mode. This can also be disabled by deleting GameGuru.CFG.
• IHAVETHEPOWER2: A "NICE TRY" message will pop up.