ROM Hack Can someone give me a basic startup guide to rom hacking?

[vaibzzz123]

Hey guys, sorry If im not allowed to post this, and I know this is VERY n00by, but here it goes: I used to make some small Pokémon Emerald Hacks a while ago (Just some basic map editing), And I'd like to move up to DS, but I have no clue where to start. I don't know where and what tools I need, Wether I need to learn some coding (I'm willing to learn some programming if I need to), and whatever else is needed. Please reply, It'd help a lot. Thanks!

 

[Shiro09]

Websites
http://www.romhacking.net/start/
http://gbatemp.net/t...on-project-wip/
http://gbatemp.net/t...tools-also-asm/
and anything else from FAST. These are all the basics and, I think, a little more.

Tools
NDSTool
Crystal Tile 2 (Basically does everything)
DSBuff / DSLazy (Unpacker)
NFTR Editor (DarthNemisis made tool to edit a common font in the games)\
Nitro Explorer
NDSTS
These are the basic tools you need.

 

[raystriker]

http://gbatemp.net/t...on-project-wip/

http://gbatemp.net/t...tools-also-asm/

^^^^
Both of the above are by FAST6191

 

[vaibzzz123]

Omg, thanks for the quick reply guys, you're awesome!

 

[Shiro09]

man the above post beat me by a minute

Hehehe ninj'd

Omg, thanks for the quick reply guys, you're awesome!

Yep, no problem.

 

[vaibzzz123]

Also (I know this might be impossible for now, just asking), is it possible to make legit game carts where I can put my rom in, so it only loads that? I have bought an Acekard (on its way atm), but not every1 I know has a flashcart of some sort. I was thinking I could do something like the game companies do, have a dedicated card for the game.

 

[Cyan]

You can't make Legit games card without a Nintendo license.

The nearest way to do it is to use a Flashcard which allow auto-booting games (Most of them have a firmware which allow that, Wood firmware for example).

but you can't sell them pre-patched/pre-installed, that would be VERY illegal.
The only thing you can do legally is providing the patches to your hack and explain to users how to setup their flashcards.

 

[raystriker]

Also (I know this might be impossible for now, just asking), is it possible to make legit game carts where I can put my rom in, so it only loads that? I have bought an Acekard (on its way atm), but not every1 I know has a flashcart of some sort. I was thinking I could do something like the game companies do, have a dedicated card for the game.

hmm...the closest you could get is a flashcart like g6 real(too bad it doesn't run on dsi and 3ds)
the only way to transfer is through a flasher(or whatever its called)

 

[rastsan]

there is a service that you can find on google where you can flash a custom nds cart. (easier to get a flash cart though as the last time I checked the fee for one cartridge was 80 to 100 canadian dollars plus whatever for shipping)

 

[vaibzzz123]

there is a service that you can find on google where you can flash a custom nds cart. (easier to get a flash cart though as the last time I checked the fee for one cartridge was 80 to 100 canadian dollars plus whatever for shipping)

Have you tried it? Is it legit?

 

[Gericom]

Also download mkds course modifier. It can open and edit many file formats.