[Archived] Hack ideas: for those without the skill but with all the ideas.

[op89x]

I'd like to see someone hack Super Mario 64 to add all the characters and stars from Super Mario 64 DS and Super Mario 64, while also adding new worlds.  I think three or four new worlds would be enough to call it a truly groundbreaking hack.  And also, some better graphics would be better.  I mean, those blue thwomps just didn't do it for me.

And for good measure, the fire flower would be nice.

[creaothceann]

Characters and stars from Super Mario 64 DS and Super Mario 64 into Super Mario 64?

[Panzer88]

I think one fully functional level could be considered groundbreaking, perhaps even just adding the DS models and star events.

[Nightcrawler]

Yeah. At this point, it doesn't take much to be groundbreaking when it comes to N64 hacking because not much has been done with it to date.

[Griff Morivan]

Probably because it isn't nostalgic enough for the people who are old enough to hack, and even if it were, I can only assume it's several times harder to even think about, much less actually fiddle with.

[DarknessSavior]

Yeah, n64 games do have some nostalgia for me, especially OoT and Smash Bros. Problem being, I imagine it's pretty hard to hack, plus, my current PC can barely run StarFox 64.

~DS

[Panzer88]

well, that and the fact that smart level editing is a lot harder to accomplish in 3d. I mean even if it was easy to hack or there was an editor, it still is a lot more complex to create quality.

[DarknessSavior]

Quite true. I'd imagine even doing a translation hack would be fairly complex.

~DS

[Griff Morivan]

Now... there are a FEW games I could think of for the 64 I'd like to play with some. Possibly something like Starfox 64. I obsessed over that game for some time. But I dunno about any others... The only game I can think of beyond the 64 is Final Fantasy Tactics. I would LOVE to be able to hack FFT. But I'm not N-E-Arly good enough to play with that. But if someone made a map editor, I'd totally go grab an ISO and change that game around in half a second.

...

FF-Thackster. -drool-

[Piotyr]

Really what would be a better idea then hacking final fantasy tactics is making an engine in that vain and allow you to import final fantasy tactics sprites into. Think of the great stuff that could be done such as remixxed fft, tactics ogre, tactics ogre vs fft etc. Not to mention the thought of making your own stuff. Kinda like rpg maker or mugen for tactical rpgs.

[SaxonSwine]

SM64 would be a good game to hack.  In my opinion it needs a total overhaul! Eg improved models (see how even just mario has disconnected polygons? eg lower legs and thighs appear to be separate, rather than contuing triangles); increased draw distance - which would also required more memory allocation, and would near impossible to do if its encoded into the compiled BSP files; higher resolution textures (hahaha!); better texture alignment

I would love to see a Metal Gear Solid 1/2/3 level editor, even if just for VR stages.  MGS2 so badly needs a hack to play as Snake instead of Raiden!

[Piotyr]

SM64 would be a good game to hack.  In my opinion it needs a total overhaul! Eg improved models (see how even just mario has disconnected polygons? eg lower legs and thighs appear to be separate, rather than contuing triangles); increased draw distance - which would also required more memory allocation, and would near impossible to do if its encoded into the compiled BSP files; higher resolution textures (hahaha!); better texture alignment

I would love to see a Metal Gear Solid 1/2/3 level editor, even if just for VR stages.  MGS2 so badly needs a hack to play as Snake instead of Raiden!

Tere is a high res hack but its using the pj64 texture plugin.

[SaxonSwine]

Ah.. makes more sense to do it that way than directly inserting to the rom.
Thats a good point, people should start working on making higher res sprites for 16 bit games in the same way... it has bugged me for a long time to see such low res graphics.

[DarknessSavior]

Now... there are a FEW games I could think of for the 64 I'd like to play with some. Possibly something like Starfox 64. I obsessed over that game for some time. But I dunno about any others... The only game I can think of beyond the 64 is Final Fantasy Tactics. I would LOVE to be able to hack FFT. But I'm not N-E-Arly good enough to play with that. But if someone made a map editor, I'd totally go grab an ISO and change that game around in half a second.

...

FF-Thackster. -drool-

In that similar thought, I saw that the ISO for FFT in Japanese was pretty small, and I was thinking about going through it and attempting to hack it. It'll probably have to wait until I get my new PC, but it's certainly something I'm interested in fooling around with.

~DS

[creaothceann]

[...] people should start working on making higher res sprites for 16 bit games in the same way... it has bugged me for a long time to see such low res graphics.

That would be absolute nightmare for the emulator developer(s).

[Panzer88]

exactly, the system can only handle so much, if you start doing this you would have to use an inaccurate emulator as it would not run on the hardware.

if you really want something like this, you should hack 2D games on Saturn or PlayStation that have more capabilities, while still having a wide array of 2D games that you could hack.

[SaxonSwine]

Mmm true, though presumably if you keep the Textures externally from the ROM itself, it might be possible to have say a Textures subfolder for an emulator, and within that folder would be folders relating to certain ROMs.
(Eg Textures
> MarioWorld > MarioKart etc)
Then you could place here the replacement textures, and a .TXT file to say which hex positions the BMPs relate to?

This is all very broad, I'm coming at this from a Quake/HL2 modding perspective.

[Panzer88]

regardless of where you SPRITES are located, the machine can only render so many on screen at once, you are limited by the hardware not the game rom (only).

[Disch]

That's just the thing

Emulation is just that:  emulation.  The goal of an SNES emulator is to mimic the system.  Emulators are not game makers, and shouldn't be treated like they are.

If you want something beyond SNES capable graphics -- you shouldn't be hacking SNES ROMs.  Pick up a copy of Game Maker or whatever.

[KingMike]

Disneygaea!


Okay, end random stupid thought.