.VIV File Extension
Need for Speed Car Archive
| Developer | Electronic Arts |
| Popularity |
4.2 | 39 Votes |
What is a VIV file?
A VIV file is a game data archive used by early versions of the Need for Speed car racing series, specifically Need for Speed 1 through 3. It contains compressed vehicle data, which includes 3D models, .FCE mesh files, textures, and sound effects associated with the racing cars. The Need for Speed game utilizes these files to render and operate the cars during gameplay.
More Information
Players and modders often find VIV files in the game's installation directory. Players can extract and modify these files to customize cars or add new vehicles for an enhanced gaming experience. Modders often edit VIV files to tweak performance characteristics, change appearances, or add new sound effects to in-game vehicles.
NOTE: While VIV files are integral to the older versions of Need for Speed, the format is obsolete in newer game releases.
How to open a VIV file
VIV files are not meant to be opened. Instead, Need for Speed 1 through 3 reference the files to load the assets they contain.
However, modders may open VIV files with VIV Editor in Windows to modify the assets they store.
Programs that open VIV files
PlayStation Video
| Developer | Sony |
| Popularity |
3.9 | 14 Votes |
A VIV file may also be a video file extracted from a PlayStation (PS1) game. It contains video clips played in the game. VIV files are rare; PS1 games more commonly use videos saved in the .STR (PlayStation Video Stream) format.
How to open a VIV file
There are no known programs that can open VIV files.
Programs that open or reference VIV files
VivoActive Video File
| Developer | RealNetworks |
| Popularity |
3.6 | 11 Votes |
A VIV file may also be a video saved in a format created by Vivo software. It is typically used for storing adult videos. VIV files were replaced by .RM files.
More Information
VivoActive products were discontinued in 1997 and integrated into RealMedia. The format was still supported by RealPlayer for a number of years but is no longer supported.
Programs that open VIV files
EA Sports Game Data Archive
| Developer | EA Sports |
| Popularity |
1.5 | 2 Votes |
More Information
In the NBA Live series, VIV files contain all the data needed to show and animate a player. These files are named plrdata#.viv.
Common .VIV Filenames
Plrdata#.viv - Contains textures, shaders, and other files used to show and animate players in NBA Live.
How to open a VIV file
Modders interested in editing the game data that VIV files contain can use the EA Graphics Editor (Windows) to open VIV files and edit their contents. However, because the EA Graphics Editor is no longer regularly updated, it may not fully support newer VIV files.