Game saves backup/restore

[Mazter Jedi]

Hi all, sorry if this is redundant, but Im at my wits end...

I just upgraded to the Samsung SIII from the HTC Inspire. I love the phone, but I have a problem...getting my game saves from the old phone to the new phone. More specifically, my Plants vs. Zombies, Fruit Ninja, Chuzzle, Peggle, Angry Birds, and Logo Quiz. Most other forums have noted that in order to get to these files, I need root access. Doesnt rooting wipe the memory? Others have suggested using the SDK but the tutorials they provide dont work. I think its BS that a game save would be locked to a device. Please help!!!!!

 

[Joelgp83]

In most cases no, rooting an Android device will not wipe the memory.

It is possible to grab the save files for your games, using ADB commands, without root. The tricky (to put it mildly) part is knowing exactly where in the File system they are, and what their names are. If you already know where and what to look for, than it is merely as simple as going:

adb pull [insert path to file here] [insert path to where on the harddrive you want the files copied to].

The problem is that the files and locations are usually not obvious. Plus, you will absolutely need root on the new phone, as without it, the device won't let you put the save files in it.

It is far easier, and simpler, to simply root both phones and use a program called Titanium Backup. It'll be able to backup both your apps and your save data all by itself, package it into some .zip files, and put them in a folder on your SD card. Then use Titanium Backup on the new phone, and it will find that folder, and allow you to "restore" those apps + save data onto the new phone, painlessly.

 

[Mazter Jedi]

Alas, rooting is not available on my old phone (HTC Inspire with Android 2.3.5) unless I wipe it. Plus now that you mention I would have to root my new phone (nothing against rooting, I just choose not to) just to my my recovered saves in just really points out how BS this whole thing is. How come I can freely move/copy/backup game saves on PC and consoles but not a silly cel phone? Im really pissed that Im just throwing away my time spent creating the saves because I dont want to have to keep/carry my old phone just to play my saved games. I call shenanigans on Popcap and Google.

 

[ExtremeNerd]

Alas, rooting is not available on my old phone (HTC Inspire with Android 2.3.5) unless I wipe it. Plus now that you mention I would have to root my new phone (nothing against rooting, I just choose not to) just to my my recovered saves in just really points out how BS this whole thing is. How come I can freely move/copy/backup game saves on PC and consoles but not a silly cel phone? Im really pissed that Im just throwing away my time spent creating the saves because I dont want to have to keep/carry my old phone just to play my saved games. I call shenanigans on Popcap and Google.

No shenanigans, just not thought out. In the early days, there were 2-3 android phones available. You picked one, and basically stuck with it. Tablets changed things.

Now we all have multiple devices we use each day. Ton of phone choices, and many of us switch frequently. This is a huge feature missing from Android, and I think it will be corrected with Key Lime Pie. Amazon did it with Whispersync, now it is Google's turn.

They needed to build the framework for it though: Multi-User profiles HAD to come first. Tablets are great for families. Wouldn't it be best for each user to be able to have different game data? This is personally what I picture coming next.

For now, you can use Astro File Manager, Data Sync, or MyBackup PRO. Many of these require root, so it isn't a huge help.

 

[Mazter Jedi]

Ya, tried those. Astro takes you all the way to top (/), but does not show the data folder. Ive pretty much come to terms that either Im going to have to start over on all these games (PvZ took a long time, too). Hopefully KLP will fix this, but I dont plan holding on to my old device till then, I can sell it for a nice chunk of change for some extra xmas cash.