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GAM file format

Applies to:
BG1, BG1: TotS, IWD, IWD:HoW, IWD: TotL, PST

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)
  • Kill variables (PST-only)
  • Journal entries
  • Modron Maze (PST-only)
  • Modron Maze Entry (PST-only)
  • Bestiary (PST-only)

    • GAME V1.1 Header

    Offset Size (datatype) Description
    0x0000 4 (char array) Signature ('GAME')
    0x0004 4 (char array) Version ('V1.1')
    0x0008 4 (dword) Game time (300 units == 1 hour). 7 hours (2100 units) ahead time displayed in game.
    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 (word) Count of NPC structs for party members (excluding Protagonist)
    0x001e 2 (word) Weather bitfield
    • bit0: Rain
    • bit1: Snow
    • bit2: Light Rain
    • bit3: Medium Rain
    • bit4: Light Wind
    • bit5: Medium Wind
    • bit6: Rare Lightning
    • bit7: Lightning
    • bit8: Storm Increasing
    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)
    Offset to party inventory
    0x002c 4 (dword)
    Count of party inventory
    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
    The following entries apply only to BG1 and IWD:
    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) Save version (BG1 only):
    • 0: BG1 without TotSC
    • 1: BG1 + TotSC
    0x0068 76 (bytes) Unknown
    The following entries apply only to PST:
    0x0054 4 (dword) Offset to Modron Maze struct
    0x0058 4 (dword) Party Reputation (*10)
    0x0058 8 (resref) Current area
    0x0064 4 (dword) Offset to Kill variables
    0x0068 4 (dword) Count of Kill variables
    0x006c 4 (dword) Offset to Bestiary structure
    0x0070 8 (resref) Current area 2
    0x0078 64 (bytes) Unused


    GAME V1.1 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 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0030 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0034 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0038 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x003c 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0040 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0044 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0048 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x004c 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0050 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0054 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0058 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x005c 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0060 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0064 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0068 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x006c 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0070 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0074 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0078 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x007c 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0080 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0084 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    0x0088 4 (dword) NumTimesInteracted NPC count (unused)
    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 slot 1 ability (0/1/2 or -1 disabled)
    0x0096 2 (word) Quick weapon slot 2 ability (0/1/2 or -1 disabled)
    0x0098 2 (word) Quick weapon slot 3 ability (0/1/2 or -1 disabled)
    0x009a 2 (word) Quick weapon slot 4 ability (0/1/2 or -1 disabled)
    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 slot 1 ability (0/1/2 or -1 disabled)
    0x00bc 2 (word) Quick item slot 1 ability (0/1/2 or -1 disabled)
    0x00be 2 (word) Quick item slot 1 ability (0/1/2 or -1 disabled)
    0x00c0 32 (bytes) Name
    0x00e0 4 (dword) Talkcount
    0x00e4 116 bytes Character Stats for this character
    0x0158 8 (resref) Voice Set (filename prefix)
    0x0160 32 (char array) Path to Voice Set folder (IWD only)

    GAME V1.1 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 1 (byte) Party member (0 = Not in party, 1 = In party)
    0x0011 2 (word) Unused
    0x0013 1 (byte) First letter of CRE resref (changed to *)
    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 V1.1 Game variables
    GAME V1.1 Kill variables (PST-only)

    Offset Size (data type) Description
    0x0000 32 (char array) Variable name
    0x0020 2 (type) Type
    • bit 0: int
    • bit 1: float
    • bit 2: script name
    • bit 3: resref
    • bit 4: strref
    • bit 5: dword
    0x0022 2 (word) Ref value
    0x0024 4 (dword) Dword value
    0x0028 4 (dword) Int value
    0x002c 8 (double) Double value
    0x0034 32 (char array) Script name value

    GAME V1.1 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 1 (byte) Current chapter number
    0x0009 1 (byte) Read by character x
    0x000a 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
    0x000b 1 (byte) Location flag (0x1F = external TOT/TOH, 0xFF = internal TLK)

    GAME V1.1 Modron Maze (PST-only)

    The maze structure defines the layout of all areas, including special areas such as foyer, engine room or wizard room. It is 6B8h (1720) bytes long.

    Offset Size (data type) Description
    0x0000 64 * 26 (array of structs) A 8 x 8 grid of Modron Maze Entries
    0x0680 4 (dword) # rows of areas (always 8)
    0x0684 4 (dword) # columns of areas (always 8)
    0x0688 4 (dword) Wizard room position X
    0x068c 4 (dword) Wizard room position Y
    0x0690 4 (dword) Nordom's room position X
    0x0694 4 (dword) Nordom's room position Y
    0x0698 4 (dword) Foyer position X
    0x069c 4 (dword) Foyer position Y
    0x06a0 4 (dword) Engine room position X
    0x06a4 4 (dword) Engine room position Y
    0x06a8 4 (dword) Total number of traps
    0x06ac 4 (dword) Maze initialized (0: no, 1: yes)
    0x06b0 4 (dword) Foyer maze blocker made (0: no, 1: yes)
    0x06b4 4 (dword) Foyer engine blocker made (0: no, 1: yes)

    GAME V1.1 Modron Maze Entry (PST-only)

    Each modron maze entry defines the layout of traps and available exits for a single area of the maze. They have 1ah (26) bytes.

    Offset Size (data type) Description
    0x0000 4 (dword) Used (0: No, 1: Yes)
    0x0004 4 (dword) Accessible (0: No, 1: Yes)
    0x0008 4 (dword) Is valid (0: No, 1: Yes)
    0x000c 4 (dword) Is trapped (0: No, 1: Yes)
    0x0010 4 (dword) Trap type
    • 0: Trap A
    • 1: Trap B
    • 2: Trap C
    0x0014 2 (word) Exits available at
    • Bit 0: East
    • Bit 1: West
    • Bit 2: North
    • Bit 3: South
    0x0016 4 (dword) Populated (0: No, 1: Yes)

    GAME V1.1 Bestiary (PST-only)

    Offset Size (data type) Description
    0x0000 260 * 1 (bytes) Indicates whether the creature represented by the specific byte value is available in the bestiary (1) or not (0).