File type difference

[KazyX]

I been noticing that lot of the games comes with both an image file type and another ECM. I tried finding what ECM was but I only found ways to convert it to image type. So I turned to here to ask and see if someone could provide the answers.

Are both image file type and ecm file type necerarry for emulation?
If not, what are the advantages of each other? If any.
While rarely, some games came with ISO instead, how does it stand againts the previous two?

[Zaladane]

ecm is a compression specifically for disc images and has a good ratio. You can't run an ECM in an emulator until it's decompressed into whatever disc image using ecm tools. Different systems can have different extensions like the psp - .cso or .gcm for gamecube. but they are all disc images like .iso, .bin, .img etc..

[Cookie Monster]

If you need help on to handle .ecm files, give Zorlon's guide a try:

http://www.epforums.org/showthread.p...03#post1187003

[MaslowK]

I been noticing that lot of the games comes with both an image file type and another ECM.

You're talking about where you'll get a .cue/.ccd file and the ECM file, correct? This is usually the case with PS1 games in particular (probably others as well). The ECM file is where most of the game data is and as others have mentioned has to be decompressed before it can be used. The .cue/.ccd files contain extra track information for the disc images, and are generally important when burning them to discs. When using emulators, with some games it's important to load the .cue/.ccd file instead of the image file directly so that the audio works correctly.

[KazyX]

I see, thanks all of you. Now I can finally organize it.