rom hacking

[Underdog]

okay i am new here but how many of you guys can hack roms and how did you guys learn it?

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

okay i am new here but how many of you guys can hack roms and how did you guys learn it?

Hi! I hacked a few games for fun, mostly by messing about on editing tools. Here's my "Magnum Opus" -- Major League Mushroom, a game that not only didn't fix the original, but added new bugs to it lol:

 

[MasterEn]

there's quite a few programs out there for different games. they are some what user friendly, just have to explore a bit to get the hang of it. i'm slowly working on a ff1 hack. got a few sprites done for base classes and a bit of work done on an overworld. got a new idea for improving the sprite quality that i'll be trying out soon.

 

[bloodywing]

I have a programming background and a general interest in understanding how things work. My old job required me to reverse engineer some 3rd party APIs which helped me to taught myself that skill.

However, I still reach my limits with less researched binaries.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

So, I'm not a Rom Hacker, but I first learned of the practice around 2011-2012. I was about eight or so? The early days of GBA Pokemon hacking was coming to a close around that time, so not only had a lot of early big projects been completed, but there were very beginner friendly tools out around that time (Toad's Tool 64 for Mario 64, that type of thing, but for GBA hacking). ADORABLY, I had all these ideas about making my own Pokemon game, then Nintendo would hire me, and I would get them to release a new GameBoy lmao

I learned very quickly just how hard rom hacking actually was. Not to mention, I think my family was STILL on EeePeeCee at the time, so I never had a chance. Made for some fun memories though! And a lot of bad """concept art""" I made as a third grader.

 

[DunkeyKong]

I'm not a romhacker as well, but what I did know is that it's not easy. If you wanted to know where it came from though, you can check it here, it's a romhacking site

 

[Xdqwerty Xdqwerty]

there's quite a few programs out there for different games. they are some what user friendly, just have to explore a bit to get the hang of it

Sometimes there are, sometimes there arent, and sometimes when there are they can be quite limited

 

[MasterEn]

Sometimes there are, sometimes there arent, and sometimes when there are they can be quite limited

yeah. ffhackster is quite useful and fairly easy to use after poking around a bit, but it exports sprites in bmp files only and the maps are in some bizarre format call ffm. legit couldn't find any info on it, just stuff about mpeg files.

 

[Xdqwerty Xdqwerty]

yeah. ffhackster is quite useful and fairly easy to use after poking around a bit, but it exports sprites in bmp files only and the maps are in some bizarre format call ffm. legit couldn't find any info on it, just stuff about mpeg files.

Maybe paint.net (not a real site, just the name of a program) supports those formats

 

[MasterEn]

Maybe paint.net (not a real site, just the name of a program) supports those formats

i figured out how to get around the bmp file thing; and found a companion program that is straight up a map editor with features like paint brush for large areas and placing down some data points for town and dungeons as well. can't import stuff like pngs or jpegs; i have to be meticulous when laying out the tile data. i've been taking notes on index cards and text files like i'm playing disgaea or botw.

 

[ciro64]

Once I hacked SMB1 so he would throw mugs instead of fireballs

 

[Underdog]

Hi! I hacked a few games for fun, mostly by messing about on editing tools. Here's my "Magnum Opus" -- Major League Mushroom, a game that not only didn't fix the original, but added new bugs to it lol:

View attachment 23904

well i am a noob i have no idea about any of these things you guys do but i am fascinated by them and the most i am interested in is hacking software hacking can you tell me about some forums or any kind of source or commiunity ? and thank you for your time.

Post automatically merged: Feb 12, 2025

Once I hacked SMB1 so he would throw mugs instead of fireballs

cool but i don't understand how it works could you maybe explain?

Post automatically merged: Feb 12, 2025

I have a programming background and a general interest in understanding how things work. My old job required me to reverse engineer some 3rd party APIs which helped me to taught myself that skill.

However, I still reach my limits with less researched binaries.

can you teach me or point me in the right direction pls i am interested

Post automatically merged: Feb 12, 2025

there's quite a few programs out there for different games. they are some what user friendly, just have to explore a bit to get the hang of it. i'm slowly working on a ff1 hack. got a few sprites done for base classes and a bit of work done on an overworld. got a new idea for improving the sprite quality that i'll be trying out soon.

which ones?

Post automatically merged: Feb 12, 2025

Sometimes there are, sometimes there arent, and sometimes when there are they can be quite limited

i don't get what you said?

Post automatically merged: Feb 12, 2025

Maybe paint.net (not a real site, just the name of a program) supports those formats

hmm

Post automatically merged: Feb 12, 2025

Once I hacked SMB1 so he would throw mugs instead of fireballs

cool do you still do it?

 

[Xdqwerty Xdqwerty]

i don't get what you said?

Some games have programs that basically allow to make romhacks of them while some don't, and sometimes those programs can be quite limited

 

[MasterEn]

well, to answer your question, you'll need to answer this one: what game are you wanting to hack?

 

[micjohvan]

There are different types of romhacking. Theres graphics hacking, text hacking, palette hacking, ect... So the game you want to hack and what you want to do with it matters a lot. Think of it like working on a car.

You buy a used car and you want to restore it. What do you want to restore? The exterior? The interior? The engine or transmission? Each of those things requires a different skillset. If you want to do a full restore then you need to learn each one. If your only interested in doing 1 thing then its much easier.

Another example. If you want to change a graphic in a NES game, like say you want to switch marios sprite out for a kirby sprite thats fairly easy. Now if you want to do a full conversion of Mario and turn it into a kirby game with all the enemies and mechanics thats FAR more involved.

 

[Underdog]

Some games have programs that basically allow to make romhacks of them while some don't, and sometimes those programs can be quite limited

oh i dont really know much about them . well i got my first computer in 2020 in 2021 internet connection no wonder i dont know about them.

Post automatically merged: Feb 17, 2025

Hi! I hacked a few games for fun, mostly by messing about on editing tools. Here's my "Magnum Opus" -- Major League Mushroom, a game that not only didn't fix the original, but added new bugs to it lol:

View attachment 23904

wow !

Post automatically merged: Feb 17, 2025

There are different types of romhacking. Theres graphics hacking, text hacking, palette hacking, ect... So the game you want to hack and what you want to do with it matters a lot. Think of it like working on a car.

You buy a used car and you want to restore it. What do you want to restore? The exterior? The interior? The engine or transmission? Each of those things requires a different skillset. If you want to do a full restore then you need to learn each one. If your only interested in doing 1 thing then its much easier.

Another example. If you want to change a graphic in a NES game, like say you want to switch marios sprite out for a kirby sprite thats fairly easy. Now if you want to do a full conversion of Mario and turn it into a kirby game with all the enemies and mechanics thats FAR more involved.

thanks! you gave me a lot of information i am greatful for that. I really learned from them.

Post automatically merged: Feb 17, 2025

well, to answer your question, you'll need to answer this one: what game are you wanting to hack?

i am just curious basically . you can drop me some info on what you know maybe.

Post automatically merged: Feb 17, 2025

i figured out how to get around the bmp file thing; and found a companion program that is straight up a map editor with features like paint brush for large areas and placing down some data points for town and dungeons as well. can't import stuff like pngs or jpegs; i have to be meticulous when laying out the tile data. i've been taking notes on index cards and text files like i'm playing disgaea or botw.

wow you know what you are doing.

Post automatically merged: Feb 17, 2025

I have a programming background and a general interest in understanding how things work. My old job required me to reverse engineer some 3rd party APIs which helped me to taught myself that skill.

However, I still reach my limits with less researched binaries.

what kind of job did you had please tell me i am interested in learning reverse engineering.

 

[MasterEn]

i am just curious basically . you can drop me some info on what you know maybe.

well, depending on the game, you could do all sorts of things. some games like mario, zelda, final fantasy, pokemon get hacks of all sorts; from color edits, sprite edits, randomizers.
pokemon tends to get whole fan games, brand new stories with their own casts of characters and brand new fan made pokemon.
final fantasy 1 has several hacks to make it difficult or just change the graphics. i got one that makes the party members into mario characters. one that replaces the characters with an all female cast. i'm working on my own hack of ff1 with rgt-tan as the main character.
other games can have character and level models swapped out, like pikmin 1² or become insane trips like bikmin269. everything; the characters, the enemies, the treasures, the textures, music and sound effects are memes.
and theirs so much more. which was why i asked what game are you wanting to hack and/or mod.
i would suggest start out with something simple, and then work up from there.

 

[bloodywing]

oh i dont really know much about them . well i got my first computer in 2020 in 2021 internet connection no wonder i dont know about them.

Post automatically merged: Feb 17, 2025

wow !

Post automatically merged: Feb 17, 2025

thanks! you gave me a lot of information i am greatful for that. I really learned from them.

Post automatically merged: Feb 17, 2025

i am just curious basically . you can drop me some info on what you know maybe.

Post automatically merged: Feb 17, 2025

wow you know what you are doing.

Post automatically merged: Feb 17, 2025

what kind of job did you had please tell me i am interested in learning reverse engineering.

Backend Developer for Websites. Which usually required some sort of automation. Since I had to work with many different suppliers who thought it would be a marvellous idea to make their ordering software closed source and as a standalone software.

The best way to learn to program is to have a problem that you know you could solve with code.
Check out: https://www.codewars.com/

 

[Underdog]

Backend Developer for Websites. Which usually required some sort of automation. Since I had to work with many different suppliers who thought it would be a marvellous idea to make their ordering software closed source and as a standalone software.

The best way to learn to program is to have a problem that you know you could solve with code.
Check out: https://www.codewars.com/

thanks for the help i was away for some time but now i am back

 

[Shadow501]

Tip if you want to learn how to modify video games first you have to learn how to find cheat codes in the game over time you will have an idea Then you have to learn how to use debugger "ASM" Then you will can modify video game from my point of view.

 

[happymasksalesman happymasksalesman]

So with debugger on emulator can romhack it? I trying to use crystal tile 2 for gba. And I'm so confuse. I'm want to use it for translation patches. I heard hex editor work for doing this.
But we'll I get lost a bit. I don't know much about hex editor.

 

[Shadow501]

So with debugger on emulator can romhack it? I trying to use crystal tile 2 for gba. And I'm so confuse. I'm want to use it for translation patches. I heard hex editor work for doing this.
But we'll I get lost a bit. I don't know much about hex editor.

Hi, I think this is useful to you. Link​

 

[happymasksalesman happymasksalesman]

Thanks a lot(*me find out files password after 1 year and 2 tries*) okay......no let's try again

 

[Shadow501]

Thanks a lot(*me find out files password after 1 year and 2 tries*) okay......no let's try again

Welcome!

 

[happymasksalesman happymasksalesman]

Welcome!

Thanks! I will make a translation patch for 2 games on gba. First dark matrix(not sure about name) and second monster summoner.
Thanks a lot for help.