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04-25-24 09:59 PM |
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| 0 users currently in ROM Hacking | 6 guests |
| Main - ROM Hacking - What is a ROM Hack? | New thread | New reply |
| Chaobomr |
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 Buster Beetle Banned: Spammer takeover? Level: 45 Posts: 403/467 EXP: 638752 Next: 21412 Since: 05-07-13 From: The dirty south Last post: 3479 days Last view: 3478 days |
I feel like I should clear this up:
A ROM Hack is essentially a game made by someone using an established game as a base. A Mod, if you will. According to Wikipedia, This includes fan translations and even fixing glitches plaguing the original work. To make things clear, those Mario games you play on websites such as Newgrounds are not hacks, and neither is making a new game from scratch in the format of your favorite game. The latter can be called a homebrew, whereas I don't know what to call the former; a Java game, maybe? Games such as The Legend of Link and Super Mario Adventure are. ShaneM's SMB1 + SMB2J SRAM Plus is also a hack. ROM hacking isn't something you can just pick up and do. It requires some knowledge of the system's programming language and the hexidecimal format, unless you're just going to change the game's appearance in some way. You will still need tools in order to do so. The tools necessary, and whether they exist, depend on the game you want to hack. Many popular NES games have tools available for editing everything from the levels to the title screen's appearance. You will need a hex editor, though, as not everything is there for you to edit in any tool. I learned this the hard way. Thankfully, there are emulators out there that have hacking tools, such as FCEUX. For the more extensive stuff, you will need to know the system's programming language. Thankfully, ShaneM has provided a little how-to on 6502 ASM, the NES assembly language. A word of warning, though: ROM hacking could be considered illegal as you are modifying copyrighted software. However, the consequences depend on the copyright holder. They could ignore you entirely or send C&D letters to even outright suing you. The last part could become a possibility if you distribute the whole ROM on the internet. Creating an .IPS patch could, in theory, circumvent that problem, but you're still modding a copyrighted work.  
If you don't understand something, all you need to do is ask! There are plenty of experienced ROM hackers on here, Kafuka (not providing a link for weird reasons that not even I know), and other similar forums. Good luck and happy hacking!  ____________________ Sorry for the stupidity. That jerk will be dealt with in the most insane way possible. |
| justin3009 |
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 Tektite Level: 18 Posts: 49/56 EXP: 29567 Next: 330 Since: 09-08-10 From: Wisconsin Last post: 2934 days Last view: 885 days |
Is there a real possibility of being in trouble via IPS patches, or patches in general?
The main reason, I think, would because you worked inside a game that was copyrighted, but the patch itself is strictly changes, code YOU wrote, which I would think bypass any legality issue. |
| ShaneM |
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 Snifit Compromised account. Please contact an admin to restore access. Level: 36 Posts: 149/285 EXP: 293455 Next: 14655 Since: 02-17-14 Last post: 3136 days Last view: 2652 days |
Posted by justin3009 It would be an issue if monetary value of any kind came into play for the patch itself. Legally, the most you can do is request donations through systems such as PayPal, but only for personal labor and time. Nothing more. That way, one is 'compensated' for their actual labor but not for the copyrighted material/mascots. Xdelta format is usually preferred for mere shifts in data. --ShaneM ____________________ At the end, when the day is over, the only one left to face is yourself. Have you been true to yourself and made the most of your day? |
| Vanya |
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 Red Koopa Level: 27 Posts: 113/139 EXP: 105081 Next: 11078 Since: 01-22-13 Last post: 3293 days Last view: 3292 days |
I'll give you an example of potential risk.
There was an awesome hack in the works called Chrono Trigger: Crimson Echoes (or some such). Well it was being built off of the CT rom (of course) as a fan made sequel. It got a lot of traction and without an official ips patch even being released Square-Enix's legal department issued C&D letters to the guys working on it. This lead to a meltdown that basically killed CT hacking for a couple of years. Some theorize that because this was around the time that CT was rereleased for NDS SE felt that this high profile hack would cost them sales. On the other hand SE has been known to go after fan games too which are given some protection in copyright laws concerning fan works. ____________________ Krakenskin Leather Works, my Etsy store. LordVanya, my art page. FundamentalEssence, my game development page. |
| puzzledude |
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 Porcupo Level: 39 Posts: 284/302 EXP: 371149 Next: 33622 Since: 08-16-10 Last post: 2273 days Last view: 2273 days |
Some regard a romhack if you change the colour of Link's hair. http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/961/ Do you know where the name actually comes from: from ASM hacking. Namely if you write the custom code, you need to "jump" to it. So you need to "trace" the original code and locate the "pointer" or a code, and make a JSL jump instead. This is called a "hijack" in romhacking slang, which later resulted in "hacking". You "hijacked" the old code and reverted it to your new code. That's where the name comes from. But essentially we are dealing with the modification and Wikipedia described it best already. ------ It is to be noted that you also have something I call "clones", such as some Alttp-look-alikes. The authors actually brag how they have done everything from scratch, but you can clearly see the poor engine behind them, which is far behind from the original. A hack is thus considered to have the same base as original file, based from the cart scan (ie smc, sfc, nes file); the clones are rather PC applications (exe files). According to the official sites, a "hack" is a "cheat" which you can use with the original game, such as infinite life (which definitely is a false or inacurate terminology).
If everyone really want to know, what really legal or illegal is regarding so called mods ie hacks, from the pointview of the original authors, here's the list. Official companies regard emulators of any kind as the main enemy. For SNES for instance, Nintendo regards ZSNES and Snes9x and all other Snes emulators as the essence of illegal actions. Their official explanation: "emulators were made for playing the game on a system, which was not meant to be played on." Irronically it is not so in romhacking communities (but only for old systems), since emus are considered as programs, owned by their authors (but for only for old systems). Official companies regard any editing software, such as Lunar Magic or Hyrule Magic as illegal programs and the use of them as well. I know someone, who posted a screen shot of one room of the edited Alttp game. The problem was, that he did it on official Zelda site. The admin erased his topic on the fly, stating that this was done with illegal programs and will not "be tolerated on their forum" (just because of one picture of a never released and far from finished mod). However most of the original companies tend not to do anything or ignore all sites which host Ips or other patches. They usually target sites, which host roms, companies which make carts, but specially sites or stores which host anything (from emus, roms, patches, homebrew) for new-generation games. According to less strict terminology, patches are tolerable. The same goes for private use of mods, if the user and the author "made no profit and were not engaged in buying or selling". The carts are out however, because Nintendo is being highly generous, and doesn't want to sue or attack, what are clearly their greatest fans (who buy their official games anyway); but only if we are dealing with very old systems. But this highly differs. Some companies tend to take actions against all mod-activities (emus, hacking, roms, carts). According to the law (strict official version), if you own and open an emulator and press load and open any game (can be original too), you are doing something illegal (strict official version). The same if you take Lunar Magic and just load SMW in it. According to less strict version, all private use of emulators and hacks for old systems, which are not connected with buying or selling is barely allowed. But only if the hack was presented as a patch and the user owns the original game, which is at least so old, that it has been removed from stores. It is because hacks are similar to the original, and the changes to the original are freeware, this less strict terminology allows the mods to be applied for private use, but only if the games are old and if their use can not harm the company in any way. This becomes logical with so called Master Quests. A master quest is not much different from original, so if someone owns the original, he should also own the freeware master quest "add-on". The same for bug fixes or translations. If I own a game in Japanies languege and don't understand a word, I should be entitled to also own the same game in english. That's where romhacking was born (master quests and translations). However we could argue with so called Complete hacks (specially the ones who use gfx of various games!) But this less strict version is unofficial and is a "non-written" rule, which someone could easily disregard. We could say this: using no emulators and editing no original games and playing no hacks and using no editing programs is standing far from the edge; doing all the above for very old games and posting patches and using all the above for private use is standing on the very edge; making and selling carts and using emulators and homebrew for games, currently being around (new-age games) is falling of the edge (the ground is legal, the pit is illegal). Every person should choose for himself. The most logical choice would be the middle way (but you have some who prefer the pit, and irronically some who prefer the far-from-edge as well). |
| Vanya |
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Red Koopa Level: 27 Posts: 114/139 EXP: 105081 Next: 11078 Since: 01-22-13 Last post: 3293 days Last view: 3292 days |
I think you're confusing what is legal/illegal with the opinions of a given company.
What the copyright holder does or does not regard as legal or illegal is irrelevant. Copyright law is not left to the interpretation of copyright holders. And like all laws they are specific. There are legal definitions for what a hack is and what actions companies can take when they feel their copyrights have been infringed. Capcom U.S.A., Inc. v. Data East Corp., 1994 WL 1751482 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 16, 1994). Capcom regarded Data East's "Fighter's History" as infringing on their copyrights for "Street Fighter II". However, by the letter of the law, the Judge in that case ruled that Data East's product (that IS a blatant rip-off of SF2) was not violating any copyrights held by Capcom. In another case more akin to hacking. The company GCC created an "enhancement kit" for the arcade version of Missile Command titled Super Missile Attack. In this case Atari sued GCC and they settled out of court. Atari would have won because GCC modified the copyrighted software of Atari and sold it without permission. It get's slightly trickier when it comes to non-profit works. These circumstances are covered in the "Fair Use" doctrine of the US copyright code. This is where artistic works and fan works are protected. However, anything that a company can prove leads to a loss in profits is negated from protection by the Fair Use doctrine. In the case of a hack distributed by any means (not just IPS) while it is not in and of itself illegal their use does involve potentially illegal action such as the procurement of unlawful copies of copyrighted materials. Similarly, regardless of Nintendo's opinion, an emulator is not technically illegal because it is not copyrighted material, however, Nintendo can legally fight the distribution of certain emulators on the grounds of the copyrighted software that they run. Thus, an IPS patch is not in and of itself illegal, but the modification of copyrighted software is. Thus the creation and application of an IPS is illegal without the expressed permission of the original copyright holder of a given software. If you want to know what is legal or illegal go here: http://www.copyright.gov/ You can find out everything you need to know there. At least as far as the US. Copyright laws do vary from country to country. ____________________ Krakenskin Leather Works, my Etsy store. LordVanya, my art page. FundamentalEssence, my game development page. |
| puzzledude |
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Porcupo Level: 39 Posts: 285/302 EXP: 371149 Next: 33622 Since: 08-16-10 Last post: 2273 days Last view: 2273 days |
A very intellectual post Vanya. I guess the emus tend to be in the "more" legal zone then. Shame however that Ips patches fall under the editing of copyrighted material.
I just wished that Nintendo would bring out at least 3 more games (remakes) for each of the 3 main known Snes games: Super Metroid, Alttp and SMW. Or at least somehow use some of the hacks, adopt them and make them their own. For instance like SM Eris 2014. Would love to play this on 3ds or Wii or something, similar to what they've done with the Alttp - actually released on Wii (WAD file as far as I know). But what did they do - it is the very same game, that I've finished like a hundred times. Couldn't they at least added the Master Quest of it. Maybe someone could gave them a hint: open up the "retro remake division" of the company. What great amount of money would they gain, if they would be doing "hacks". |
| Vanya |
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Red Koopa Level: 27 Posts: 116/139 EXP: 105081 Next: 11078 Since: 01-22-13 Last post: 3293 days Last view: 3292 days |
Thank you.
If Nintendo and other companies were smart they would work with romhackers and publish the better hacks digitally and make some extra money while providing new experiences for a broader audience, yes. There have been instances where hacks & hackers have gone on to work with copyright owners. The remakes of Sonic CD and Sonic 2 for example started out as a series of hacks and then a fan game before the author was hired by SEGA. GCC, which I mentioned above, created a hack for Pac-Man called Crazy Otto which was the basis for Ms. Pac-Man. And the free game, Megaman Vs. Street Fighter, that Capcom released for the combined 30th anniversary of both franchises started as a fan game and the author was hired to finish the game with Capcom's support. ____________________ Krakenskin Leather Works, my Etsy store. LordVanya, my art page. FundamentalEssence, my game development page. |
| Insectduel |
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 Hammer Brother Level: 68 Posts: 910/1069 EXP: 2687646 Next: 41154 Since: 02-16-08 From: Insectduel's office Last post: 1256 days Last view: 1255 days |
Do you remember MegaPhil X builds Mega Man 10 before it became Mega Man Unlimited. Because CAPCOM claims the rights for Mega Man games, MegaPhil X got slapped in the face and change the name. At first, I thought CAPCOM hired MegaPhil X to make Mega Man 10 but my believe was false. I think CAPCOM already seen it coming and why would CAPCOM would take the Mega Man 10 image that comes straight from MegaPhil X on the website? |
| Vanya |
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Red Koopa Level: 27 Posts: 119/139 EXP: 105081 Next: 11078 Since: 01-22-13 Last post: 3293 days Last view: 3292 days |
Capcom has the copyright to Megaman so if you create a logo for a Megaman game without permission, Capcom has the right to use the logo you created however they please.
The thing about the protection for fan works is that it's a double edged sword. While you are protected from litigation under fair circumstances, you also have no copyright to the material either. If Capcom wanted they could claim Mega Man Unlimited, release it commercially, and shut MegaPhil X out. Of course if they did that the PR backlash would be substantial. And I don't think they'd be stupid enough to such a thing. ____________________ Krakenskin Leather Works, my Etsy store. LordVanya, my art page. FundamentalEssence, my game development page. |
| Chaobomr |
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Buster Beetle Banned: Spammer takeover? Level: 45 Posts: 409/467 EXP: 638752 Next: 21412 Since: 05-07-13 From: The dirty south Last post: 3479 days Last view: 3478 days |
Posted by VanyaWith how they've been treating Mega Man these days, I wouldn't be surprised. ____________________ Sorry for the stupidity. That jerk will be dealt with in the most insane way possible. |
| Main - ROM Hacking - What is a ROM Hack? | New thread | New reply |
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