Posted: 4/3/2010 2:58 AM
Post subject: Game hacking
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Uvaz
Joined: 4/3/2010
Posts: 4
Hello this is my first post, so I dont know if this should go here... So I have always wanted to know how to hack/edit a game. I have tried reading about the topic online but I don't find edible resources. This site seems to be teeming with experts on the field so I may as well ask it here. Can you guys direct me to somewhere I can learn? Or at least tell me what to do to learn by myself. My long term goal is to make a level editor to something like wario land 3. Thanks. (PS: I know C programming, some memory stuff and etc so I am not a total noob. Just a 80% noob.)
U♥az
Posted: 4/3/2010 3:08 AM
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Flygon
Joined: 11/4/2007
Posts: 1772
Location: Australia, Victoria
Well, it really depends on the type of hacking. Though they are related, TASing and ROM hacking are effectively branching down two different paths, though, they both can use similar resources to achieve a different result (A TASer wants to find out the statistics of a monster in an RPG to know how to work with them, a ROM hacker wants to know the same information in order to modify them). In this case, you appear to want to know about ROM hacking specifically, it's probably a good idea that you would have made this topic in the Off Topic discussion area (Though, I am actually a bit unsure myself... it's really a difficult question to sort into what forum and whatnot). Anyway, this might not even be the best forum to ask the question, honestly. Anyway, for what I can help with, I've found that editing bytes in the RAM to see if the layout changes could be a good start, I established how some of the layout is stored in Gourmet Paradise via this method (TODO: Document how Gourmet Paradise stores its layout), though, this relies on a fair bit of luck and brute force in doing so... and even so, it relies on the layout being stored uncompressed inside the ROM. Talk to me on AIM, MSN or the TASVideos IRC channel if you want more information. I admit I am probably not the best man for the task of answering this question, but I do welcome you to TASVideos. Edit: <Dacicus> Flurret: Send the newbie to romhacking.net <Flurret> I never thought of that fff I never visited there myself, but it's apparently useful.
Posted: 4/3/2010 4:02 AM
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Uvaz
Joined: 4/3/2010
Posts: 4
Yeah I visited that site some time ago. I learned some stuff but it still left me with big questions. I will go to recheck it now anyways. And yes, I also tried that memory method. I could get some insight of how the data is stored in the ram but I have no idea how to go and search it in the rom.
U♥az
Posted: 4/3/2010 5:07 PM
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gia
Player (109)
Joined: 5/3/2006
Posts: 223
Glitchy TAS of 2008 Innovative TAS of 2008 Lucky TAS of 2008
I dont hack roms, but I'd download xvi editor (its an hex editor) and learn its search tool. learn about rom structure for the console you want to tackle. Then maybe the work is already done for the game too, so search datacrystal, romhacking.net, etc. Then somehow you find out where is the data you want and how it is stored (you can disassemble the code, do that plus debug the code (with breakpoints and stuff), plain guess, or whatever your creativity and knowledge allows). Finding stuff in RAM doesn't mean it is stored the same on the ROM, but with data lists that may be the case. then you get lucky and the data is not stored compressed, split, or encrypted. Finally once you know everything you want to make a level editor, a tool, thats another world.
Posted: 4/3/2010 5:14 PM
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henke37
Editor
Joined: 3/10/2010
Posts: 899
Location: Sweden
I don't do romhacking, but I suppose that I would do it the same way as I usually do, find the entry point and go from there.
Posted: 4/3/2010 5:30 PM
Post subject: Re: Game hacking
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Dromiceius
Joined: 10/3/2005
Posts: 1332
Uvaz wrote:
Hello this is my first post, so I dont know if this should go here... So I have always wanted to know how to hack/edit a game. I have tried reading about the topic online but I don't find edible resources.
My first (and I think, only) rom hack was a simple text-replacement. I used translhextion. I think text hacking has the lowest barrier to entry, so you might want to start there. I think that— just playing with tools, I mean— would give you a foothold to learn about pointer tables, compression, and how ROMs work in general. Also, it's ridiculously fun to make characters talk about dicks instead of the plot.
Posted: 4/4/2010 3:03 AM
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Flygon
Joined: 11/4/2007
Posts: 1772
Location: Australia, Victoria
For the record, I'd suggest Hex Workshop, it has served me excellently well in my hacking adventures (Mostly regarding Shining Force and Gourmet Paradise) but it costs money... unless you do what I did, anyway. >> <<
Posted: 4/4/2010 6:56 AM
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creaothceann
He/Him
Editor
Joined: 4/7/2005
Posts: 1874
Location: Germany
http://www.romhacking.net/?page=utilities&category=13 has hex editors. Try WindHex32 or HxD.
Posted: 4/4/2010 10:15 AM
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Uvaz
Joined: 4/3/2010
Posts: 4
Thanks for your help guys. I fudged with the memory viewer to change the text and here are the results. (He is saying "You eat it, Wario", "it" obviously means dick) Well I just changed the ram so I am back to step one I guess... this is actually kinda off topic...
U♥az