How do you plan your hacks?

Started by liuyanghejerry December 12th, 2009 12:04 AM
  • 3134 views
  • 31 replies
China,Xi'an
Seen July 31st, 2020
Posted January 23rd, 2017
219 posts
15.3 Years
I've never make my own complete hack (each one less than 10%).
Now I just started a new real project with many thoughts with my firends.
But when really sarted,I found myself hard to plan the hack.
I mean,I enlarged the rom,but don't know which part should or better to do what.
Which part should be maps?
Which part should be scripts?
And which part should be new OW or even new uncompressed pic?(In JPAN's engine)

How do you plan your hacks?Give me some advice...
Zel,thethethethe,LU-HO,Darthatron,HackMew,ZodiacDaGreat,Juan,score_under,JPAN,Tamah-chan,I really appreciate your kindness and your help!:D

Matteron (96)

Can't Read Lookin Ass

Age 26
Seen December 4th, 2022
Posted April 3rd, 2011
270 posts
15 Years
simple, story first.
then I begin to map the first couple of towns
once that is done I script the towns.
then I move onto inserting some graphics
after that I continue to map, then script, then insert anything that needs to be inserted to make the hack look nice.
Matteron(96)
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Male
Kentucky.
Seen January 21st, 2010
Posted January 13th, 2010
66 posts
13.9 Years
I start off planning my story, then I separate it into chapters. Then, I complete everything in a chapter, starting with maps, sprites, then scripts. Rinse, wash, repeat till I get what I want for my first beta.
Current project: Pokemon Mud Brown (Working Title, will be changed.)
No link because I haven't made a page for it yet.
Team: Myself as mapper, scripter, and spriter.Brandinokthx as spriter.

BlitŻ

guahh my dog is so cute

Age 28
Male
Bay Area, Califronia.
Seen October 1st, 2015
Posted January 22nd, 2013
472 posts
14.3 Years
I plan my hacks based on inspiration from writing or artwork. I'm surfing the webernet and I find a fan-fiction or some tiles that inspire me based on the atmosphere and aura that it givees off. It's very hard to resist it really xD. While preparing the ROM for my plans, I'm planning more parts of the story. It's like a flurry of imagination.
Age 29
Male
Ireland
Seen 1 Week Ago
Posted April 6th, 2023
1,655 posts
14.1 Years
I have a notebook I carry in my schoolbag. I spend most of my day in school, so anytime I've a free class or something I brainstorm. I've written the story (yeah, novel-style xD) and it's how I plan out my new trainers, towns, etc. It's pretty efficient.

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China,Xi'an
Seen July 31st, 2020
Posted January 23rd, 2017
219 posts
15.3 Years
I have a notebook I carry in my schoolbag. I spend most of my day in school, so anytime I've a free class or something I brainstorm. I've written the story (yeah, novel-style xD) and it's how I plan out my new trainers, towns, etc. It's pretty efficient.

I do that too!!Haha,sometimes,my teacher was totally fascinated about my novel~
Zel,thethethethe,LU-HO,Darthatron,HackMew,ZodiacDaGreat,Juan,score_under,JPAN,Tamah-chan,I really appreciate your kindness and your help!:D

Ray Maverick

Age 27
Male
Seen 21 Minutes Ago
Posted 1 Week Ago
3,411 posts
14.3 Years
It's not simple, really. First of all, you must think of a general idea of the storyline. The legendary, what the legendary has to do with the hack, some of the basic characters. Then, to make it easier think of the basic plot, you could make the region.
And then the Plot, the Maps, the Scripts, misc. etc.
Age 31
Male
GMT+2
Seen June 19th, 2018
Posted May 24th, 2018
658 posts
13.7 Years
My way is:
  1. Plot out the basic storyline
  2. Configure the characters - without the clothing, etc
  3. Think of the places that are about to be visited
  4. Pokemon and items involved
  5. the features
  6. sprites
  7. tiles and insertion
  8. scripts
  9. beta test
  10. a version release
That's about it. It's the way I like to plan things. My hack is currently at the 7th stage, thanks to everyone that helps me (and people who help in hacks in general. They play a big role as to how each hack develops).
Massachusetts
Seen November 29th, 2015
Posted November 29th, 2015
1,061 posts
14.3 Years
When I tried to make a hack I started with a very detailed story telling exactly what would happen in the hack. After that I broke it up into sections that would be released as betas upon completion. For each section I then wrote out what needed to be done first and then followed that. To put it simply I made a story then an outline.

psychicboy

Hacking is all that matters...

Age 29
Male
Twilight Town
Seen May 1st, 2016
Posted April 28th, 2016
538 posts
13.7 Years
Hmm, easy question answered for me. Well I've only ever started one hack, but its pretty far.

First I think of a great unique story thats never been thought up before.

Next I ask myself "Would I buy this game if nintendo released it?" (yes I would :P)

Next I make a few test maps using imagination and script as I go along.

All the maps after that are drawn on paper using simple things such as v's for trees and squares for building.
Soon to be Hacking legend...
~Psy







Wanna play my hack? Check it out here!

My sig was "too big brah", so I shortened it.

0m3GA ARS3NAL

Im comin' home...

Age 30
Male
Superjail Penitentiary
Seen February 25th, 2023
Posted September 12th, 2013
1,816 posts
15.3 Years
I start of by writing a complete game script of my hack.
Yes, this means that I end up writing a short novel, lol.

Next, I'll end up taking my ROM, and inserting any and all graphics, that means that I wont be inserting anything else throughout the game, unless it is something that I didn't think of during the creation of the game script.

Now at this point I end up mapping... I'd end up mapping half of the game, I don't like small betas...

From there I move onto scripting, keeping a list of any flags or variables I use in the game. So I don't ever overwrite anything, or use a flag more than once (Unless needed)
Finally, I beta test myself, and release beta 1.

(Though I can't do any of this except writing the script, since the good computer of the house has been sent off to be repaired... (My sister + computers = mobo problems that can't be fixed due to her ruining the diagnostics...))
>Boot Jailbot
>Pass *****
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Greetings Warden
of Superjail Penitentiary
Awaiting user input...

>Display User_Info
╠══User Info══╣
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0m3GA ARS3NAL
Age: 18
Sex: Male ♂
Race: Caucasian
Quote:
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I don't even..."

M/O: Often acts out to get attention, but recently has changed that. Has been studying up on hacking information and hopes to participate in more advanced hacking discussion.
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>
Ontario, Canada
Seen December 15th, 2015
Posted October 10th, 2010
529 posts
13.5 Years
I have a different way of planning.
  1. Main characters—what happens to them that makes them the main characters?
  2. Other characters/NPCs—what are the roles of each character?
  3. Region geography—what does the vast region where you adventure look like, and where is it located?
  4. Graphics; tiles, sprites, etc.—just so I'll have nothing to worry about. XD
  5. Maps and scripts—now I've got everything that I need, so all I have to do is do what I've planned.
SoulSilver Friend Code: 3696 3852 0232

558122_DG

Learning how to make mistakes

Male
Seen May 27th, 2021
Posted April 1st, 2010
737 posts
13.5 Years
I usually just wing it, and it comes out fine, and i do tile insertion followed by, mapping/scripting.
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Age 32
Seen January 24th, 2021
Posted March 7th, 2011
61 posts
14.6 Years
I start with characters and plot, then divide into chapters.
For each chapter, I do things in this order:

1. Writing Dialogue (Story events, NPCs, and Trainers)
2. Mapping
3. Adding Scripts/Events
4. Implement Items
5. Implement Trainers
6. Implement Wild Pokemon
7. Script Side-quests
8. Repeat for next chapter

Pogeygothaxed

Pokémon exDeltaSpecies Creator

Age 32
Male
Too far away from my girlfriend.
Seen April 16th, 2015
Posted April 5th, 2011
231 posts
14 Years
Well, I don't think the story is as important as most people claim it to be. Honestly, all of them really have the same basic concept in the end. Either way, it's a matter of preference. Personally, I plan it like this;

1.Features - What do I want my hack to do? And how do I do it?
1.2. - Working on implementing those features. If it's new tiles, or sprites, inserting them. Or if it's something else (like someone else mentioned changing attacks).
1.3 - Test.

2. Basic storyline - Where does the hack take place? What happens in the first events?
2.1 - Mapping out the first few towns and routes, and then added scripts for each event.
2.2 - Testing.

3. - Beta release. Play through it yourself, and get some feedback by other people.
3.1 - Make the changes accordingly if they need be.

If you'd like support this hack, then please add this to your sig!
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii245/xmouvelianx/exdeltaspeciess.png
Pixel Placement - My Pixel Art Showcasing thread;
http://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=195942
You can see the latest concept art for exDelta here, along with some other things related and not to the hack!