# PCSX2 version: Official v1.0.0, Official 1.4.0, Latest GIT (as of 2 days ago from this post)
# CPU options: EE/IOP defaults, VUs defaults
# Plugins used: hardware and software defaults for each version used
# Description: saves get corrupted which can be repeated by simply going to the options menu, saving, then rebooting the game
the only thing i can think of is that KOEI supposedly added some anti-cheat protection to this game which was said to corrupt data and that somehow this is being triggered
From GameFAQs website:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/562545-dynas...faqs/21500
"
Q: I received a "Corrupt Data" message when I loaded the game!
A: It seems that by either design or accident Dynasty Warrior 3 data that has been modified
with either a Gameshark or Codebreaker cannot be read by the game. It's still under
investigation as to what is actually causing this to occur."
PCSX2 handling the save file is probably triggering the same issue.
a gamefaqs post i came across mentioned KOEI used the same protection on two games, i didn't pay attention to the other game mentioned but it was something released around the same time such as a ROTK game, and these 2 games seem to be the only ones KOEI used it on
I may have lucked out. It doesn't work with any official release, BUT the dev release pcsx2-r5875.exe works perfectly fine for me, so I run both 1.4 and r5875 in parallel depending on which game I want to play. The only reason I'm posting extra info here (with a throwaway account, annoying I can't just post) is because I also want to see it fixed, and this should help immensely.
Edit: For anyone searching for the exact message I get, likely related to the same cause behind the save/load corruption, so they actually find it here, when it doesn't work to import data: "The memory card (8MB)(for PlayStation 2) in MEMORY CARD slot 1 is corrupted. Unable to combine with the Xtreme Legends data."
But in 5875, the import of save data, as well as the save/load functionality, works perfectly fine. The import save data message: "You can create Xtreme Legends data with the character data, items and weapons from your Dynasty Warriors 3 data on the memory card (8MB)(for PlayStation 2) in MEMORY CARD slot 1. Will you continue?"
I'm guessing a new feature that was added, which was probably a no-op before, now does the right thing, breaking the game.
pcsx2-r5875.exe belongs to the stable release v1.2.1, it's not part of any dev release.