What do you [players] really want a hack to be?

Started by ReneMartin02 December 18th, 2010 12:59 AM
  • 3587 views
  • 47 replies
Male
Seen June 6th, 2011
Posted February 26th, 2011
7 posts
12.5 Years
Before I say anything, I'm really new here and I don't know where to put this thread. Please correct me if I did something against your will and I am sorry if there is another thread that is like this.

Title speaks for the whole thread.

After reading replies in the thread "What annoys you about hacks?", I wanted to satisfy players in playing hacks made by our hackers. I wanted to make a "guide" for our future hackers so that they will know what should not and should add in their hacks.


I wanted to make this a community where players help hackers and hackers supply what the players suggest.



Thanks for reading!
Sorry for grammatical and spelling errors because I am just a 13 year old kid.
Age 48
Male
Scotland, Lesmahagow
Seen August 3rd, 2015
Posted February 7th, 2011
1,087 posts
13.4 Years
Before a guide can be made we need some decent hackers, which currently are non-existent. Everyone that was a "good"`hacker has long since left.
In other words, all new hackers suck. Take your negativity elsewhere please, there are a lot of good hackers still around.

I like fakemon, puzzles, side-quests, good tiles, good mapping, cut-scenes, and all of the little things that just make a hack great. Basically, creativity.
Male
Seen July 16th, 2016
Posted August 5th, 2014
559 posts
13.3 Years
Before a guide can be made we need some decent hackers, which currently are non-existent. Everyone that was a "good"`hacker has long since left.
That's a little mean, we all have to start somewhere. Even the "good" hackers started out being bad. Plus, who's to say that a hack made by an inexperienced hacker can't be good? It's unlikely but possible. Either way, the only way for who we have now to get better is experience anyways.

What I want in a hack, above all else, is originality. Even if it's bad but original at least we know you tried. So don't do a copy and paste of a Nintendo storyline or a rip-off of someone else's story. And don't pull any crap like this and say it is original:

You start off in GRASS Town and you must defeat the eight gyms of the JARNIX (Made up on the spot name, excuse me if it's a horrible name) region. Meanwhile, you must stop the evil Team FIRE.

That's just plain laziness when and fraud when you say that is your new and "original" story.

Another thing (mainly for the hacker as opposed to the hack itself) don't be cocky about your hack. Far too often I see things like this:

Features:
New Amazing Story
Beutiful Tiles and Maps
Exciting New Characters

It's stuff like this that makes you sound like an overconfident jerk. And for the love of all that is good, if someone gives you advice, USE IT.

Flowerchild

> there’s an echo

Age 24
She/Her
Hyperspace
Seen 1 Week Ago
Posted July 7th, 2022
8,699 posts
13 Years
I like to try and include all sorts of things Game Freak has forgotten. My best suggestion is this:
In the classic pokemon games, your player doesn't have much of a family. Usually just a mom. And she really never does anything. I think players should have a big family, and maybe at the start it's like a family party or something like that. Or at least something family-ish.
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Male
Seen June 6th, 2011
Posted February 26th, 2011
7 posts
12.5 Years
I, myself, am not a good hacker but if anyone would like to hack, I wish that the story would have some twists like your father is the criminal and he hated you from your childhood because he thinks that you are a wimp or something. So, you only hangout with your uncle but then your father will "kidnap" your uncle because your uncle is a hindrance in your father's plans. And here you will start your adventure tryig to find your uncle. If anyone offers you advice, please try and look at it!
Age 26
Female
Mossdeep City, Next-door to Steven Stone
Seen November 14th, 2015
Posted November 14th, 2015
18 posts
12.5 Years
I like to try and include all sorts of things Game Freak has forgotten. My best suggestion is this:
In the classic pokemon games, your player doesn't have much of a family. Usually just a mom. And she really never does anything. I think players should have a big family, and maybe at the start it's like a family party or something like that. Or at least something family-ish.

Ya, totally. Even in the Hoenn region all you had was a mom and a dad, no extended family and they did ABSOLUTELY nothing. At least in Johto your mom held your money for you or something special like that.

I want some creativity. maybe a little break from the 8 gyms then elite four and champion stuff. Maybe like an exciting side plot.

Amaya
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Age 27
Male
Best City OCE
Seen October 18th, 2021
Posted April 1st, 2013
5,978 posts
15.2 Years
Fun. That's all I ask for; fun and playability. I'm not going to be playing much past the Elite Four and Champion or whatever, so just make me want to keep playing up til then; if you can make me complete the main story of the game, I'd count it personally as a success.
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Spherical Ice

Age 25
Leicester, UK
Seen 4 Days Ago
Posted February 20th, 2022
5,251 posts
15.5 Years
Before a guide can be made we need some decent hackers, which currently are non-existent. Everyone who was a "good"`hacker has long since left.
js that zel has returned.

Anyway in a hack I want to see a new game that sticks to the official formula with canon-styled fakemon and tiles. I want it to seem as if it were a totally new game made by Game Freak with the only limitations being those of the GBA. I want something that I can enjoy and spend my time doing. I want something that is clear that effort has been put into it.

I want a lot.
Seen August 28th, 2022
Posted November 17th, 2014
694 posts
15.9 Years
Before a guide can be made we need some decent hackers, which currently are non-existent. Everyone who was a "good"`hacker has long since left.
You really can't make a generalization and expect not to be called on it, cause truth be told you sound like an elitist jackass. There are plenty of decent hackers still around *DrFuji & Manipulation come to mind* So like Altariaking said you can take your negativity elsewhere. Just my two cents.

Anyways on-topic a good hack would have to add more reality into it. There are 649 (or something like that) Pokemon species which, logically,not one of a kind. There are well over thousands of Trainers around. What are the chances that you're the FIRST to run into a legendary...also what are the odds that you'll be the ONLY one to use a legendary pokemon on your team. A sense of realism is definitely a must in hacks.
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Male
Seen July 16th, 2016
Posted August 5th, 2014
559 posts
13.3 Years
.
Anyways on-topic a good hack would have to add more reality into it. There are 649 (or something like that) Pokemon species which, logically,not one of a kind. There are well over thousands of Trainers around. What are the chances that you're the FIRST to run into a legendary...also what are the odds that you'll be the ONLY one to use a legendary pokemon on your team. A sense of realism is definitely a must in hacks.
The problem with that is that Legendaries are, well, legendary. They're basically gods and as such, should be near impossible to capture. (A pet peeve of mine for the Nintendo games.) I say hacks should either have no catchable legendaries, or no legendaries at all.

I would actually prefer a hack where legendaries are disregaurded completly. It always seems nowadays every evil team is out for some legendary. It just gets boring where every evil team's sole source of power is a Pokemon that they don't even get. In my opinion either let the evil team get the Pokemon, to actually make them a challenge to defeat and an actual threat to the region. Or just to make it so the evil team's goal isn't to get the legendary Pokemon. I mean it is possible to take over the world without a giant bird that's on fire.
Male
Sitting in the shaddows plotting how not to pay next months rent
Seen September 27th, 2011
Posted January 11th, 2011
19 posts
13 Years
I agree with the two previous posts that legendaries should be impossible to catch or non-existent. But i like a game that has a completely original idea and an unordinary plot.
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Age 26
Male
The Netherlands
Seen October 15th, 2014
Posted February 25th, 2011
7 posts
12.4 Years
A good storyline. Funny things. And I think good sharp graphics are important. But it must give a kind of warmth. I miss that in the real Fire Red/Leaf Green and real Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald but some of the rom hacks have it and I like that. And another thing, I think there are enough remakes of gold/silver and red/blue, I like it if it is in a new region. And I like if there a new pokemons BUT it must be nice made pokemons and not dumb pokemons.
Male
Chicago
Seen February 20th, 2023
Posted January 19th, 2016
437 posts
13.6 Years
i dont agree taking out gyms, i always loved the gyms, even in hacks, but anyway

No, or at least barely any, fakemon- i always hated them, some look like complete s**t and some others are really good, but i just never had a feel for em.

Good Graphics- Who wants crap graphics in a game anyway?

GOOD PLOT AND SCRIPTS!- I can't STAND hacks that dont even focus on a story, honstly whats the point of making a game with no story? I can roll with the whole evil person thing, but make them actually run past the 8th gym, or make the gym leaders do something, or maybe even a rival that actually helps you in a story, you dont need to pack a game full of legondarys to make it a good hack....


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Female
Seen October 28th, 2020
Posted January 24th, 2015
192 posts
15.8 Years
I like to try and include all sorts of things Game Freak has forgotten. My best suggestion is this:
In the classic pokemon games, your player doesn't have much of a family. Usually just a mom. And she really never does anything. I think players should have a big family, and maybe at the start it's like a family party or something like that. Or at least something family-ish.
Family is not something Game Freak has forgotten. It's something they intentionally left out. Getting rid of the parents was the main selling point in the old days. Adding family wouldn't make the story better. It would make it different.
Male
Seen June 26th, 2015
Posted December 24th, 2010
2 posts
12.8 Years
a game that goes with the manga or anime not some random stuff that does not go with it. and something other than you not having a say when you talk to someone. like if you talk to a guard and he says you cannot pass i just want to say "il wait" and it skips passed a few in game days while whatever was happening finnaly ends. and more than 1 region with new area's and an edited map instead of hopping from lets say pallet town to the indigo plateau to mt moon and then to cinibar just to end up in lavender town in a few minutes.
Male
Seen July 16th, 2016
Posted August 5th, 2014
559 posts
13.3 Years
Family is not something Game Freak has forgotten. It's something they intentionally left out. Getting rid of the parents was the main selling point in the old days. Adding family wouldn't make the story better. It would make it different.
And different=bad? I wouldn't be surprised if someone said this to me, it's the basic mindset of a lot of Pokemon fans, unfortunatly. And it really ticks me off.

U.Flame

Maker of Short Games

Age 27
Male
Unknown
Seen 1 Day Ago
Posted January 17th, 2023
1,322 posts
15 Years
I like hacks with more realism and maturity. Cussing isn't absolutly needed but you can't expect a dramatic moment with someone saying "Dang it all to heck"

I like hacks with a great story. Like the Ruby Destiny series. Unique maps are also important to not bore players, but opinions differ.
And don't exaggerate on the features. "New Maps, New Region, New scripts, New Characters" is just stating the obvious.
The more you learn about something, the more you realize just how much you don't know. I've shelved my more ambitious ideas in favor of smaller, more feasible projects and contributions. While I still have an ongoing project, and still intend to experiment with improving Gen 3's multiplayer, it's been much less stressful doing smaller things, like entries for Anthroyd's MAGM contests.

Of which you can check out here:
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Magical Altering Gym Menagerie
Age 28
Male
Seen July 26th, 2022
Posted November 22nd, 2015
665 posts
14.9 Years
Don't follow what other people want, because it'll just make what you do less enjoyable.
Going by what other people want isn't worth it, plus overrated.
You'll just end up with an uninspired POS.
Just be creative, even if it's a remake or mod. It's definitely possible in any situation.

The PC mentality on what makes a "good" hack is inconsistent, so just go with what you want.
Everyone looks for different things, so why try to fit one person's mold?
Before a guide can be made we need some decent hackers, which currently are non-existent. Everyone who was a "good"`hacker has long since left.
you sound like an elitist jackass.
Male
Seen November 2nd, 2016
Posted January 9th, 2013
94 posts
12.9 Years
I like hacks with more realism and maturity. Cussing isn't absolutly needed but you can't expect a dramatic moment with someone saying "Dang it all to heck"
I like hacks with a great story. Like the Ruby Destiny series. Unique maps are also important to not bore players, but opinions differ.
After reading this and other opinions like it, i thought I should say...

Well...no matter how much realism or maturity you add, no matter how great your story is(unlike ruby destiny which had a terrible story and was a terrible hack), no matter how much minor swearing you add, it's not going to make pokemon more fun. That's the whole point of hacking, to make pokemon more fun.

Let's take a closer look...what's the problem with pokemon in general? It lacks fun, it lacks good gameplay. The two most broad components that go into a game are gameplay and storyline. To fix pokemon, you must make the gameplay better. Sure a good storyline adds to a game(as long as it's good) but rewriting the storyline of a game with bad gameplay doesn't help anything. To prove this, look at storyline and gameplay. Can a game exist with gameplay only? Yes, example is tetris. Can a game exist with a storyline only? No, if you have storyline and no gameplay that would be a movie.
Well then...how do you fix gameplay? It's basically impossible to fix everything in a rom hack do to it's limiting nature, but you can improve some things at the very least. For example, fix imbalances in pokemon stats?

In conclusion: To fix pokemon, you need to make it fun. To make it fun, you need to fix gameplay. Like I said the most that could honestly be done in a hack is improve a few of the flaws of Pokemon... And it's not about the fame when you do a rom hack, it's about fixing the game. Hopefully it all makes sense... [Players] want a hack to make pokemon more fun, and improve it's flaws.