Welcome to the Disgaea DS Documentation wiki - a clean reference for the file formats used in Nippon Ichi Software's Disgaea DS.
File Formats
- DSARCFL - archive container for audio / music / sound effects
- DSEQ - music archive bundling SSEQ + SBNK + SWAR
- SBNK - sound bank mapping instruments to samples
- SSEQ - sequenced instruction format for music
- STRM - Nintendo DS streamed audio (used for sound effects)
- SWAR - wave archive containing SWAV files
- SWAV - Nintendo DS wave audio container
- IMY - compressed image format
- MPD - tile-based map data
- MPDS - compressed MPD map file
ROM Structure
High-level overview of the Disgaea DS ROM layout. File tree adapted from rustedlogic.net.
[root]
├── ThumbBg.dat [DSARCIDX]
│ └── Thubg*.imy (19 files) [IMY] - Savefile thumbnails
├── bg.dat [DSARCIDX]
│ └── bg*.mpb (117 files) [MPB] (MAP, IMY)
├── bgm.dat{,.tbl} [DSARCFL]
│ └── bgm__.msnd (33 files) [DSEQ]
├── bu.dat [DSARCIDX]
│ └── bu_.mpb (101 files) [MPB] (MAP, IMY)
├── ch_*.amd (234 files) - Char/class animation data
├── ch_*.amt (234 files) - Char/class animation data
├── chclut.bin - Sprite color LUTs (for sprts.bin)
├── chtex.bin - Sprite metadata (for sprts.bin)
├── demoDbg.dat [DSARCIDX]
│ └── file* (280 files) - ASCII text (debug text)
├── dspack.dat [DSARCIDX] - (start.dat for DS)
│ ├── back.imy [IMY]
│ ├── base.dso [DSO] (DSARCIDX)
│ │ ├── base.dsm [DSM]
│ │ └── baseoe__.imy (5 files) [IMY]
│ ├── cursor.dso [DSO] (DSARCIDX)
│ │ ├── cursor.dsm [DSM]
│ │ └── cursoroe__.imy (2 files) [IMY]
│ ├── enn.dso [DSO] (DSARCIDX)
│ │ ├── enn.dsm [DSM]
│ │ └── ennoe__.imy (2 files) [IMY]
│ ├── enn.imy [IMY]
│ ├── establish_.imy (23 files) [IMY] - Top screen Settings
│ ├── helpbg*.imy (7 files) [IMY] - Top screen Help
│ ├── loading*.imy (6 files) [IMY] - Loading screen clock-Prinny
│ ├── mgate.dso [DSO] (DSARCIDX)
│ │ ├── mgate.dsm [DSM]
│ │ └── mgateoe_*.imy (4 files) [IMY]
│ ├── pliny01.imy [IMY]
│ ├── sys7.imy [IMY]
│ ├── taiho.dso [DSO] (DSARCIDX)
│ │ ├── taiho.dsm [DSM]
│ │ └── taihooe_*.imy (6 files) [IMY]
│ ├── taiho2.dso [DSO] (DSARCIDX)
│ │ ├── taiho2.dsm [DSM]
│ │ └── taiho2oe_*.imy (4 files) [IMY]
│ ├── titdemo{3,4,5}.imy (3 files) [IMY] - Titlescreen opening
│ ├── waku3.imy [IMY]
│ └── wbg*.imy (17 files) [IMY] - Top-screen titlescreen logo
├── efctobj.dat [DSARCIDX]
│ └── effect_.dsm (133 files) [DSM]
├── efcttex.dat [DSARCIDX]
│ └── effect___.imy (270 files) [IMY]
├── mapobjs.dat [DSARCIDX]
│ └── mp_o_.dsm (234 files) [DSM]
├── maptex.dat [DSARCIDX]
│ └── mp_{t,prd}*.imy (785 files) [IMY] - Map textures
├── mpds.dat [DSARCIDX]
│ └── mp*.mpds (198 files) [MPDS] - Map files (compressed)
├── mpds.lst - CSV (filename, mapID)
├── msgvo.dat{,.tbl} [DSARCFL]
│ └── _.strm (173 files) [STRM]
├── nafnt.fnt
├── objtex.dat [DSARCIDX]
│ └── mp_o*_*.imy (646 files) [IMY] - Map object textures
├── rmaps.dat [DSARCIDX]
│ └── 20*.rmd (72 files) - Item world randomized maps
├── script.dat - Scripting
├── se.dat{,.tbl} [DSARCFL]
│ ├── ___.se (128 files) [SWAV] - Sound effects
│ └── yrah_.swav (4 files) (empty)
├── song.dat{,.tbl} [DSARCFL]
│ ├── bgm10.msnd [DSEQ]
│ └── song_.msnd (11 files) [DSEQ]
├── sprts.bin - Raw sprite data (use chtex.bin to parse)
├── sys9.imy [IMY] - Tileset for topscreen (map)
├── table.dat [DSARCIDX]
│ ├── char.dat - Character/class data
│ ├── charhelp.dat - Class help description
│ ├── dungeon.dat - Gatekeeper warp data
│ ├── ge.dat - Geo effects
│ ├── geocube.dat - Geocube effects (multiplayer)
│ ├── habit.dat - Item inhabitants
│ ├── hospital.dat - Hospital awards
│ ├── magic.dat - Specials/spells
│ ├── mitem.dat - Items
│ ├── musicshop.dat - Song list
│ ├── name.dat - Names for randomizer
│ ├── thief.dat - Stat stealing entries
│ ├── wish.dat - Dark Assembly bills
│ └── zukan.dat - Bestiary entries
├── talk.dat - Dialogue + scripting
├── uwbg*.mpb (12 files) [MPB] (MAP, IMY)
├── voice.dat{,.tbl} [DSARCFL]
│ ├── ___.se (3 files) [SWAV]
│ └── ___.swav (185 files) [SWAV]
├── waku{,2,3}.imy (3 files) [IMY]
└── wbg{,2,3}.imy (3 files) [IMY]
Info This wiki is maintained as a reference for modders, researchers, and archivists.