HOW TO: Run games from USB drive

[life02]

NOTE: Currently only working on Android 4.1.2. I'll look for a workaround when my new OTG cables come in.

So I purchased the 8 GB Nexus 7 and began to regret not getting the 16 GB version. These 1-3 GB games are killing me. I purchased The Bard's Tale (great game btw) and the TegraHD version requires 3.5 GB! I already had a USB OTG cable so I began looking for a way to store the game data on the USB drive and mount it to the data directory on the sdcard.

You will need:

• Compatible USB OTG Cable
• Paragon NTFS&HFS+
• GScript Lite
• Compatible kernel (ntfs read/write support)

I've tested this on ParanoidAndroid and SGT7 but it should work on any rom.

Note: Each game requires a game data folder on the USB drive that matches my script (or you can create your own folder and edit the script). You will also need a blank folder on the sdcard (/sdcard/android/data/GAMEFOLDER_from_Script - You have to use this folder name). Once this folder from the USB drive has been mounted to the correct position on the SDCARD, the game data will download to the USB drive.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dWqLjnCSBg&feature=youtube_gdata

NTFS USB Drive STEPS:

1. Plug in USB drive to Nexus 7 and unmount if the system automounts the drive (Settings - Storage - Unmount shared storage)
2. Open Paragon NTFS&HFS+ and mount the USB drive using the automatic mount point setting (/storage/usbdisk).
3. Open GScript Lite and run a game script to bind mount the game data folder to the sdcard.
4. Enjoy your game and extra space!
5. When done, unmount with Paragon NTFS&HFS+.

FAT32 USB Drive STEPS:

1. Plug in USB drive to Nexus 7, it should be automounted by the system to the default location: /storage/usbdisk
2. Open GScript Lite and run a game script to bind mount the game data folder to the sdcard.
3. Enjoy your game and extra space!
4. When done, unmount via the system: (Settings - Storage - Unmount shared storage)

Assuming your USB drive is mounted on /storage/usbdisk/ and you have created the empty game data folder on the sdcard (/sdcard/android/data/GAMEFOLDER_from_Script), the following scripts should work:

Script for Horn:
mount -o bind /storage/usbdisk/Horn /sdcard/Android/obb/com.Phosphor.Horn.Paid

Script for Bard's Tale:
mount -o bind /storage/usbdisk/BardsTale /sdcard/Android/data/com.inxile.BardTale

Script for Max Payne:
mount -o bind /storage/usbdisk/MaxPayne /sdcard/Android/data/com.rockstar.maxpayne

Script for Dead Trigger (gave me an error the first time opened but worked fine afterwards):
mount -o bind /storage/usbdisk/DeadTrigger /sdcard/Android/obb/com.madfingergames.deadtrigger

Script for Shadow Gun THD:
mount -o bind /storage/usbdisk/shadowgun /sdcard/Android/data/com.madfingergames.shadowgun_thd

Script for Asphalt 7:
mount -o bind /storage/usbdisk/Asphalt7 /sdcard/Android/obb/com.gameloft.android.ANMP.GloftA7HM

Script for The Dark Knight Rises:
mount -o bind /storage/usbdisk/TDKR /sdcard/Android/obb/com.gameloft.android.ANMP.GloftKRHM

Script for Mass Effect Infiltrator:
mount -o bind /storage/usbdisk/MassEffect /sdcard/Android/data/com.ea.games.meinfiltrator_na

I'll add more scripts as time permits.

Alternate Method (No scripts needed but you loose SDCard when USB drive is mounted):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1865094

 

[kieso]

Have you tried running horn or dead trigger from the flash drive? I'm just curious if the drive is fast enough to play high end games off of or if it lags?

 

[life02]

Have you tried running horn or dead trigger from the flash drive? I'm just curious if the drive is fast enough to play high end games off of or if it lags?

I'll see about moving dead trigger over. I haven't purchased horn yet due to lack of space but may consider buying it now.

(BTW the Bard's Tale is pretty graphics intensive and it runs fine)

 

[life02]

Have you tried running horn or dead trigger from the flash drive? I'm just curious if the drive is fast enough to play high end games off of or if it lags?

Dead Trigger works.. added script.

 

[life02]

I'm getting a black screen followed by a close on Mass Effect... Going to try internal memory to make sure it's not the rom.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app

 

[Jordanooo]

I get the message 'no NTFS of HTS+/HFSX partitions found' when opening the app

On paranoid android 2.15

 

[coolprateek.kumar]

I'm getting a black screen followed by a close on Mass Effect... Going to try internal memory to make sure it's not the rom.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app

I had the same problem with mass effect....just turn on internet and use it...game will start. You might need to delete 1 more file...but 1st see if it runs

Please press thanks if it works.
Sent from my K-Touch W619 using xda premium

 

[life02]

I get the message 'no NTFS of HTS+/HFSX partitions found' when opening the app

On paranoid android 2.15

Did you unmount via storage first? Is your USB drive formatted with NTFS?

 

[Jordanooo]

Did you unmount via storage first? Is your USB drive formatted with NTFS?

...oops haha. Forgot about formatting

 

[life02]

...oops haha. Forgot about formatting

Let me know if it works for you when you get the drive ready.

 

[ÜBER™]

Kudos to you sir this is briliant i've got the 16gb and i've got a ton of games and im down to 4GB's this should come in handy when more 1gb games come out that interest me.

 

[karl0ss]

Directory bind works best for this and free, bards tale works, as does GTA/FIFA/spiderman

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[life02]

Directory bind works best for this and free, bards tale works, as does GTA/FIFA/spiderman

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Yeah that's pretty much what I'm doing with GScript (directory bind mounts from one device to another)... still have to unmount via Storage and use Paragon if you want to use NTFS drives.

 

[Jordanooo]

Got usb mounted and had a go at the script, but keeps saying directory not found
Could you possibly do a video?

 

[life02]

Got usb mounted and had a go at the script, but keeps saying directory not found
Could you possibly do a video?

Yeah I'll see if I can't throw one together tonight/this weekend. What game are you trying?

Note: Each game requires a game data folder on the USB drive that matches my script (or you can create your own folder and edit the script). You will also need a blank folder on the sdcard (/sdcard/android/data/GAMEFOLDER_from_Script - You have to use this folder name). Once this folder from the USB drive has been mounted to the correct position on the SDCARD, the game data will download to the USB drive.

 

[phiberoptick]

So I purchased the 8 GB Nexus 7 and began to regret not getting the 16 GB version. These 1-3 GB games are killing me. I purchased The Bard's Tale (great game btw) and the TegraHD version requires 3.5 GB! I already had a USB OTG cable so I began looking for a way to store the game data on the USB drive and mount it to the data directory on the sdcard.

You will need:

• Compatible USB OTG Cable
• Paragon NTFS&HFS+
• GScript Lite
• Compatible kernel (ntfs read/write support)

I've tested this on ParanoidAndroid and SGT7 but it should work on any rom.

Note: Each game requires a game data folder on the USB drive that matches my script (or you can create your own folder and edit the script). You will also need a blank folder on the sdcard (/sdcard/android/data/GAMEFOLDER_from_Script - You have to use this folder name). Once this folder from the USB drive has been mounted to the correct position on the SDCARD, the game data will download to the USB drive.

STEPS:

1. Plug in USB drive to Nexus 7 and unmount if the system automounts the drive (Settings - Storage - Unmount shared storage)
2. Open Paragon NTFS&HFS+ and mount the USB drive using the automatic mount point setting (/storage/usbdisk).
3. Open GScript Lite and run a game script to bind mount the game data folder to the sdcard.
4. Enjoy your game and extra space!
5. When done, unmount with Paragon NTFS&HFS+.

Script for Bard's Tale:
mount -o bind /storage/usbdisk/BardsTale /sdcard/Android/data/com.inxile.BardTale

Script for Max Payne:
mount -o bind /storage/usbdisk/MaxPayne /sdcard/Android/data/com.rockstar.maxpayne

Script for Dead Trigger (gave me an error the first time opened but worked fine afterwards):
mount -o bind /storage/usbdisk/DeadTrigger /sdcard/Android/obb/com.madfingergames.deadtrigger

I'll add more scripts as time permits.

*FAT32 drives may work fine using the default Android USB automounter (just skip step 1 (unmount part) and step 2. When finished, unmount via storage instead of Paragon NTFS&HFS+). Please let me know if this works for you!

Gotta love bind mounts! I use em all the time.

-Ronan

Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

 

[kieso]

Dead Trigger works.. added script.

No lag? Wow you deserve a beer! Awesome work! I have a 16 gig and don't want to get below 4 gig and this will be a big help. This should be pinned.

 

[gizmomelb]

thanks for the tip, very useful info. I'm looking at using a USB to micro SD adapter and using the micro SD as storage (obviously), will report how well (or not) it works.

 

[Jordanooo]

Oh, wow. Just got this working.
Didnt see the space in the script
Great work, thanks for this tutorial!

 

[Jordanooo]

Ignore...