# Integral Shenanigans – Memory Card #53 👋🏻 So a month ago now, I went down a fun rabbit hole while looking for a very specific save file. As you may know, my next essay is about *Astro Bot* and the Fourth Wall. I need some primo examples of games that break the fourth wall for the opening-ish segments. My brain immediately goes to the legendary [Psycho Mantis boss battle](https://youtube.com/watch?v=t0oHnGM_iQw) in *Metal Gear Solid*. I want to use footage of Psycho Mantis reading my PS1 memory card, but the problem is I don't have a save slot before the Psycho Mantis fight. And given it is half-ish way through the game, I don't really want to dedicate the time to get back to it. To the Internet! My go-to spot is [GameFAQs](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/switch/411195-metal-gear-solid-master-collection-version/saves) for old save files, but I didn't see any dedicated to fighting the man with powerful psychic abilities. Searching the web at large didn't really help either until I searched for a save editor. I didn't find one, but that search terminology brought me to [metlagearspeedrunners.com](https://www.metalgearspeedrunners.com/wiki/doku.php?id=mgs1_resouces). I found an entire resources page built around helping people practice speedrunning the game; including > "Console Integral Save Files (All Bosses and Any%): A .rar file containing 16 memory cards for MGS Integral with save files located in key areas both for Any% and All Bosses% for ALL difficulties. Created by Tromboncino." This was exactly what I needed...but what is "Integral"? Turns out that *Metal Gear Solid* had an expanded edition of the game in Japan, just like *Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance* and *Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence*. *[Integral](https://metalgear.fandom.com/wiki/Metal_Gear_Solid:_Integral)* was packed with the changes from the NTSC version, English VO, and all of *Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions*. It was basically a patch and DLC for the game in 1999. Now a new problem emerged...I don't have a Japanese PlayStation. But I do have a [[MiSTer FPGA Thoughts and Impressions – My Tool for Researching the Past|MiSTer]]. I loaded up the game and the save onto my little console that could using [Transmit](https://panic.com/transmit/), which is my favorite file transfer app on the Mac. I was able to load the memory card no problem. The only catch I came across was that I'll need to remember to copy over my *Castlevania: Symphony of the Night* to that card *before* I play so Psycho Mantis, you know, does The Thing™. I'm toying around with the idea of capturing the game off-screen on my CRT for the proper effect of the `HIDEO` moment. I have this idea of practically switching scenes of the CRT and pushing in on the frame, but I'll have to test it out first. I'm excited to have found a solution. There are so many moments in the entire *Metal Gear Solid* franchise that break the fourth wall, but this is the one I wanted the most ([Octacon talking about Blu-Ray discs](https://youtube.com/watch?v=c_69rBtxG1k) is a close second). Thank you speedrunning community and your thoroughness. I owe you one. Until next time... > [!email]+ Memory Card Newsletter > This letter is one block from the newsletter **[Memory Card](https://buttondown.com/MaxFrequency)** by [Max Roberts](https://www.maxfrequency.net/about). Thoughts? Send *me* an email at [email protected]. > > Max is the writer and producer behind [Max Frequency](https://www.maxfrequency.net), a place where he cultivates and curates curiosity—both for himself and for others—by delighting in the details and growing greatness from small beginnings. > > He's written a [[Chasing the Stick - The History of Naughty Dog during the PS4 Era|rich history and dive on the making of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part II]], celebrated the [[MFP23 - “A Passion for Smash” – Celebrating 15 Years of Super Smash Bros. Brawl with Peter Spezia|15th anniversary of Super Smash Bros. Brawl with the voice behind its hype]], and examined how [Zelda "stole" Fortnite's best mechanic](https://youtu.be/kc2l_9Fdpek). > > **Memory Card** is a real-ish time, raw, drip feed newsletter of his creative process for telling these stories. It’s *how* The Thing™ gets made. You can sign up below. (Look down) > > It's all powered by [Max Frequency](https://www.maxfrequency.net) and [patrons](https://www.patreon.com/maxfrequency). > > Wanna see The Thing™? [Check it out on YouTube](https://youtube.com/MaxRobertsEssays). Read it on [The Blog](https://www.maxfrequency.net). > <iframe scrolling="no" style="width:100%!important;height:220px;border:1px #ccc solid !important" src="https://buttondown.com/MaxFrequency?as_embed=true"></iframe>