I'm new. I also have some questions.

vgx441991 · 12-05-2009, 02:55 AM

I want to start hacking/modding NES roms, and I want to know what to use, how to use it, and what I should know first. I am going to start off with mario as a test ROM, if that helps.

Maximum Potion · 12-05-2009, 03:23 AM

What kind of changes are you planning on doing? Graphics are easy if the data is not compressed, same goes for text. Level editing can become complicated if you don't have a game specific editor, but it's still possible. Changing a characters stats in an RPG can be done if you can figure out how the stats are stored.

EDIT: Welcome to Zophar's Message Domain.

nosound.97 · 12-05-2009, 06:12 PM

You could start with any basic level editor and then advance further and further, just like me. I remember I've created Mario hack which had edited levels and then spirtes, music, etc.

vgx441991 · 01-18-2010, 03:08 AM

Oh wow very long time since last visit. I figured my way around mario for NES and I'm moving to pokemon silver. I'm wanting to edit text in a hex editor if possible, and also maps.

Maximum Potion · 01-18-2010, 03:19 AM

Ooh, Pokémon silver. That was the game that taught me how to hack.
I swear I know that game inside out.
Over at romhacking.net you'll find a nice document by Giegue that will tell you all about Silver, and you'll even get a free table file and the hex values for all of the pokémon.
As for the text, keep this in mind:
There will be seemingly random symbols and punctuation all over the text. Pay attention to it!!
4F or = Makes the text jump 1 line down, so that it doesn't bleed out of the text box.
51 or * Scrolls the text to a new page.
55 or # Indicates when the person is done talking. A trainer will have 3 areas of text: When they challenge you, when they lose, and when you talk to them afterwards.
52 or A1 Inserts the player's name. Be careful, as it takes up 7 spaces. If you try to fit in too many letters after it, it may bleed out of the text box.
53 or A2 is your Rival's name.
54 or PK inserts POK�
75 or . Is unknown, Just watch out when editing out a . for ! or ?. Make sure the . is E8 and NOT 75!
D5 or . is an 't like in isn't or don't
D3 or . is 'r like in you're
D4 or . is 's like in it's or he's
D2 or . is 'm like in I'm
D1 or . is 'l like in I'll

The 9th Sage · 01-18-2010, 05:24 AM

Ah, the joys of control codes. Reminds me of my work hacking skits in Tales of Symphonia. :P Not a story for this thread though.

Maximum Potion · 01-18-2010, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The 9th Sage

Ah, the joys of control codes. Reminds me of my work hacking skits in Tales of Symphonia. :P Not a story for this thread though.

Buzzkill :P

The 9th Sage · 01-18-2010, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximum Potion

Buzzkill :P

Well, I didn't want to get too horribly off topic. :P I guess I'll just post this:
*edit* I wish I could have figured out how to control the portraits and things directly. I have a feeling it's in the programming and not the skit files themselves.

Maximum Potion · 01-18-2010, 05:49 AM

Hahaha, they react perfectly too.
You know, my friend lent me that game a few months ago, but I was too distracted with the sequel to FF4 to really get into it. Hmm...

Did you hack all of the skits?

The 9th Sage · 01-18-2010, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximum Potion

Did you hack all of the skits?

Nah, just a few of them (for humor purposes). That's probably the best one there (STFU Genis is probably my second favorite though, there's like four of them altogether on my YouTube account). It was a pain since I couldn't find an app to insert a file into a gamecube disk image, so I had to load the entire disk image into a hex editor. @_@ I had to burn the game several times too in order to figure out the formatting. :P