How do I strip serial number out of a saved game?

from Stardock Forums
Actually, I have two questions:

How do I take my serial out of game.galaxy? I tried finding it in notepad and replacing with X's, but when I did that the game would no longer load. It'd just hang at 100%.

Also, can 1.05 read 1.04 save games without problem?

I ask because I'm pretty much ready with the June Game of the Month (apart from the website which shouldn't take too long), but I'd rather not be broadcasting my serial number out there. And it'd be bad to have to redo the graphics, the game, and my AAR because of the version jump.
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Michael, I'm experiencing some problems in 1.05 that may be due to loading a 1.04 game. I'm not certain if that is the cause yet. See my cultural victory in 1.05 thread for more info.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
To your first question, I have no idea how, but even if I did, that's not something that anyone has any business doing or that I would be explaining. That serial number you're trying to strip out is the only thing keeping the metaverse mostly honest. It's there for a reason, a good reason, so if your game hangs when you try to alter it, I say good going Brad.

To your second question, yes. It will load them just fine.
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
What? You can't submit a saved game to the metaverse without the serial number, which is just fine. No one's going to submit a GOTM anyway.

I just want to take it out of ONE saved game so that once it's posted over on apolyton my own serial isn't all over the universe.

I know it's possible; dikdirk did it last month.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Oh, you are talking about your GalCiv serial number, I assumed you were talking about the unique game ID assigned to each game at creation. Sorry for misunderstanding what you were asking. I wasn't even aware the game stored our actual GalCiv serial within its data (although that is interesting to find out).
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Download my 1st masochistic challenge game from Apolyton forum and get serial from there. It's a serial from a pirate CD (it's easy to buy in Russian Federation).

~SDC~
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I checked my save game and he is correct. Your GalCiv serial number is embedded in the file he mentioned. Seems to be a hole in the scheme.

I am glad I have not sent a saved game out into the world for others to mess with.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Try open game.galaxy in a hex editor of some sort. It should clear things after browsing through it.

~SDC~
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Oh, I see what the problem was. You can't X out the "DN" or "GC1" parts of the serial. The rest of it you can X out without the game crashing.

Now as soon as I get this web stuff up and running...

Ellestar if you could send me the FTP info to galciv.reallyrules.com I'd appreciate it. mailto:[email protected]
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
is it legal to use a serial from a pirate cd to replace my own one?

~SDC~