ROM Hacking

ROM Hacking

What is ROM Hacking?

ROM Hacking is the process of modifying a video game ROM image to alter the game's graphics, dialogue, levels, gameplay, or other gameplay elements. This is usually done by technically-inclined video game fans to breathe new life into a cherished old game, as a creative outlet, or to make essentially new unofficial games using an old game as a foundation.

ROM hacking is generally accomplished through use of a hex editor (a program for editing non-textual data) and various specialized tools such as tile editors, and game-specific tools which are generally used for editing levels, items, and the like, although more advanced tools such as assemblers and debuggers are occasionally used. Once ready, they are usually distributed on the Internet for others to play on an emulator.

For more information on ROM Hacking:

"The ROM Hackers Bible"

Parodius - ROM Hacking Community

ROM-Hacking.net Archive

FCEUX ROM-Hacking Features

FCEUX provides a wealth of tools and resources to aid in hacking NES & FDS games. It features the most current and cutting edge tools debugging and hacking games as well as making the process quicker an easier.

Debugging / Reverse engineering:

Debugger, Trace Logger, Code/Data Logger, Cheat Search, RAM Filter, Movie Making tools/Frame Advance

Memory & PPU Viewing:

Debugger, PPU Viewer, Hex Editor, Trace Logger, Code/Data Logger

ROM Editing / Game Genie Codes

Hex Editor, Cheat Search, Game Genie Decoder/Encoder

2008

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