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Given not all game consoles use iso 9660 or UDF formats or worse do not use them exclusively (the playstation 1 and 2 ostensibly use iso 9660 but they can also do raw reads and some companies did this as crude anti piracy) and few optical media image handling programs handle much other than those and the minor archive formats popular back when (CDRwin, cloneCD, Nero's NRG) you are usually lumped with a given console ISO handling tool. The general tools are many and varied though between ultraiso, isobuster, magiciso. poweriso, daemon tools, in some cases basic compression tools (7zip can handle iso) and so forth you can usually get a lot done.

It is basically the general purpose hex editor vs ROM hacking hex editor thing again. This is not so bad though as the ROM/image/iso handling tools for the consoles usually have a few bonus features that help lots with the console in question and in some cases will even have more hacker oriented techniques like file relinking (most notably in the PSP in the case of umdgen).

Thanks for your advice on this. I was aware that the 6502 and Z80 were the two involved here, and from my rudimentary analysis I could see that they both shared quite a few common functions, so it's certainly possible to adapt it, but since I know almost nothing about either, I think I'll leave it for now.

I didn't think I'd need any compression, either. As I said, the carts are huge on GBC despite being 8-bit games (I imagine NES games would have precious little space available). I probably could expand the ROMs, but I doubt I really need to: all of the main dialogue in these patches was placed in empty ROM space and linked to using pointers, so I haven't even overwritten any of the dialogue yet. This makes me feel that I'll be pretty comfortable when I actually get all of the text done.

And regarding my "better than nothing" comment, I was more trying to defend myself against potential criticism. I'm not half-assing this translation: I'm doing the best I can do, and it's a hobby in itself for me. Most of the fun for me is the translation, not the hacking. I suppose there may be translators around, but I didn't want to be another guy begging someone to help me for free, so I figured I'd just do it myself. 

If anyone would actually like to contribute (or even just look at my translation and tell me if it's OK or not), I'm very much open to it.

Lin, are you still working on this? I looked for something like this years ago and was surprised to not find anything, so I'd love to see your tool released (and I would happily help if I can). I think this is the best looking 2D zelda game and I'd like to try and remake some older titles in this engine/graphical style. I know that would be a big project, probably requiring some ASM programming to change how equipment works, and some things would likely not work at all, but it seems like it would be a fun thing to try.

has anyone else beaten Skies of Arcadia?

I did a very, very long time ago.  Same with Grandia... I kinda wanna play Grandia again.  Just to remember what RPGs used to be like.

UPDATE: 5/22/13: This one has more about puppet animating, as well as info on the marionette, stone rose, and the new wakwak tree. It also contains two shiny new videos in it. Remember to check my blog for ll the newest updates too, as I do not always post them here. Enjoy!

http://sotnhacked.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/update-52213-marionette-stone-rose-and-the-wakwak-tree/

The nature of 2D Mario(And for that matter Sonic) gameplay pretty much precludes a good boss fight. It's all about jumping on their head or some variation there of, with the exception of Mario 1 where you could also get the axe and beat the fight seven times as fast.

I refuse to agree with that!

If a game’s mechanics are adequate, the potential for a good boss fight is there. The 2D Sonics have some great boss fights, and saying it’s all about jumping on whatevers is a bit like saying you can win by holding right and pressing jump.

Mine would definitely have to be Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals. That game is a brilliant masterpiece.

The nature of 2D Mario(And for that matter Sonic) gameplay pretty much precludes a good boss fight. It's all about jumping on their head or some variation there of, with the exception of Mario 1 where you could also get the axe and beat the fight seven times as fast.

I heard of attempt but I haven't seen or heard what became of it. You are always welcome to try something even if someone else has done the same thing before. Your version might be better.

I was kind of hoping for better bossfights in the game. To be fair, Mario usually doesn't have good bossfights, but I really disliked the third boss, which was just a series of rooms with Goombas in them.