How do you judge ROM hacks?

Started by Spherical Ice December 29th, 2010 10:49 AM
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  • 25 replies

Spherical Ice

Age 25
Leicester, UK
Seen 4 Days Ago
Posted February 20th, 2022
5,251 posts
15.5 Years
Do you decide whether you not you like a hack because it's good as a game, or because you know effort has been put into it?

When judging the hack itself, do you base it solely on the hack, or do you base it on the hacker aswell?

sab

Now too much of a life.

Age 26
Male
Midgar
Seen 6 Days Ago
Posted December 28th, 2021
999 posts
14.8 Years
I don't care how much time or effort was put into a project so long as the end output is good. I could spend weeks trying to sculpt with clay, but It would still be horrible, and a great sculptor could have worked for several hours, and done much better. For the hack vs. hacker thing, it's kind of redundent, because a hacker can only get really well know if he/she has a good hack. So if you judge a hack based on the hackers popularity, it should work pretty well.
Seen January 23rd, 2014
Posted December 17th, 2013
71 posts
12.8 Years
I like hacks based on what I get from playing them, but I also appreciate it a lot more if I know that the hacker put tons of effort into the final product. Similarly, I try to judge a hack based on its own merits and not on the attitude of its creator, but if the hacker's real arrogant and such I'll probably be a lot more critical towards their work.
Age 27
Male
Best City OCE
Seen October 18th, 2021
Posted April 1st, 2013
5,978 posts
15.2 Years
I would hope to base the hack based on just the hack, but, as a human, my feelings for the hacker will get in the way of my decisions. Whether that's a good thing or not is really dependent on the situation, but it's human nature. That's about all I have to say, really.
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Seen August 28th, 2022
Posted November 17th, 2014
694 posts
15.9 Years
but if the hacker's real arrogant and such I'll probably be a lot more critical towards their work.
I try to base hacks on their own merit, not just on the way the hacker presents (himself and the hack). BUT in accordance with the quote if a hacker acts like their hack is the best thing since sliced bread then I will judge it in that manner. If you make it seem like you're the greatest prepare to be able to back that up. If you can't be prepared to be called out on it.
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Vrai

can you feel my heart?

Age 28
Male
Seen October 24th, 2022
Posted April 1st, 2016
2,896 posts
14.9 Years
I'm going to assume that I'll be the first to say that if I don't like the person (to a great extent; minimal dislike really doesn't affect anything), I'm not going to like the hack. I'm biased in that manner, I suppose. At the point where I can't stand someone, I usually cannot stand anything that they've said or done, including a hack. Also, a hack somehow always manages to be a reflection of its creator; a straightforward hack generally happens to go along with a straightforward creator. Likewise, a half-ass hack goes with a half-ass creator.

And as far as a hack itself, effort =/= quality. I cannot judge a hack based on how hard "lucario_master41" worked on it, I can only judge it on how well it plays. That's the only viable way in my mind.
Age 48
Male
Scotland, Lesmahagow
Seen August 3rd, 2015
Posted February 7th, 2011
1,087 posts
13.4 Years
How good the hack is. And this is the thing with most gen 1/2 hackers such as Sawakita and Miksy91, they act like their hacks are better because they put more work into it. I don't care how hard you worked on it, I'll like it if its good. Also what Vrai says, if I don't like the hacker, I'm not going to like the hack either, which is also part of the reason I don't like hacks made by people like the others I just mentioned, because I don't like their attitude. Also, if there is a hack with amazing scripts, but terrible maps, as opposed to a hack with decent scripts and maps, then I will enjoy the latter more.

Full Metal

C(++) Developer.

Age 27
Male
In my mind.
Seen August 19th, 2018
Posted May 27th, 2017
810 posts
15.4 Years
Well, in general a good hacker will make a good hacker. [That's to qualify a hack as 'good' in my book]
THEN I look at a storyline (look up 'function crawling' -- a good game ruiner, that good hackers may be likely to inflict on their hack) and if the storyline is no good, I look at the features for inspiration (beit artistic/hacking related)
If a hack doesn't have a good/well known hacker, but has a [really] good storyline, then I like to try and give out tips/hints to help improve what they have on the first post/most recent updates.
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Shiny Quagsire

I'm Still Alive, Elsewhere

Age 25
Male
Hoenn Safari Zone
Seen August 7th, 2020
Posted April 17th, 2017
697 posts
14 Years
When I see hacks, I like good storylines, good scripting, and good mapping. I tend to play hacks with a brand new theme sort of, but hacks that I don't like are the ones where I can tell what map was changes and where the original scripts were. Kind of like some of the others up there, I could care less how long you worked on it or how much effort is put into it, as long as it has some good reason for the effort.

colcolstyles

Yours truly

Male
The Bay Area
Seen May 18th, 2019
Posted August 13th, 2012
1,588 posts
15 Years
if I don't like the person I'm not going to like the hack.
if I don't like the hacker, I'm not going to like the hack either
This is what I dislike most about this forum. Everything's too political. Why can't we all just hack and let hack? I'm not saying that I'm not guilty of this, because I most certainly am and definitely more so than the average forum-goer. In these past two and a half years, I've made more enemies than I can count on two hands in just this section of PC. And I hate how my personal relationships with people influences how I comment on their hacks. I guess it's just human nature.

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Kevin

kevin del rey

Age 24
Male
Virginia
Seen February 3rd, 2021
Posted July 5th, 2015
2,686 posts
12.8 Years
As long as the gameplay is good I don't care who the hacker is. It can be the most horrible person in all of PC, but they have a very well developed hack to have people play. I mean, seriously, what does personality have to do with skill?

Platinum Lucario

The Legendary Master of Light!

Age 30
Male
Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia.
Seen April 2nd, 2023
Posted April 1st, 2021
1,605 posts
15.4 Years
For any ROM hack on the forum, here's what I would usually do. I would always have a look at the ROM hack first and decide how good it is and brilliently done it is. Just look at Light Platinum for instance, it's nicely done with the tilesets and many other things done with it, I would rate it more than Zel's Shiny Gold, that's for sure (not meaning to disapoint Zel or anything, because I know his FireRed hack is great as well). It's because the storyline is well done and all that, many sprites made. And of course... unlike most people... I would never ever ever EVER dislike a hack just because I dislike the person or how much the person dislikes me, I would always think how nicely done a ROM Hack is, I would always give out some good advice when replying to a hack thread on what to do to improve the hack and all that (eg. tiles, sprites). I repeat, I would not dislike a hack just because I dislike someone or if someone dislikes me, I always look at the ROM Hack itself, not judging the hack author or anything like that. This is why I just wonder... "what is going wrong with us?!". :x

I always look at a ROM Hack and see how much effort has been put into it, not just looking at the storyline or anything like that (which some new people would).

When I judge the hack, I always judge it solely on the ROM Hack itself. I would not want to judge it on the hack author, because the hack author has nothing to do in how the ROM Hack was made, remember... there's teams in which help each other out and create stuff. Just think of how Nintendo also creates their games, it's not just one person.

So yeah, that is all. Thanks for reading! ^^

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colcolstyles

Yours truly

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The Bay Area
Seen May 18th, 2019
Posted August 13th, 2012
1,588 posts
15 Years
I would not want to judge it on the hack author, because the hack author has nothing to do in how the ROM Hack was made, remember... there's teams in which help each other out and create stuff. Just think of how Nintendo also creates their games, it's not just one person.
Are you saying that if a hack was made by a single person, with no help from any other hacker, you would be willing to dislike the hack if you disliked the author?

Also, "the hack author has nothing to do in how the ROM Hack was made" sounds incredibly paradoxical to me. :\

Brother of Vrai

Vrai

can you feel my heart?

Age 28
Male
Seen October 24th, 2022
Posted April 1st, 2016
2,896 posts
14.9 Years
And of course... unlike most people... I would never ever ever EVER dislike a hack just because I dislike the person or how much the person dislikes me, I would always think how nicely done a ROM Hack is, I would always give out some good advice when replying to a hack thread on what to do to improve the hack and all that (eg. tiles, sprites). I repeat, I would not dislike a hack just because I dislike someone or if someone dislikes me, I always look at the ROM Hack itself, not judging the hack author or anything like that. This is why I just wonder... "what is going wrong with us?!". :x

I always look at a ROM Hack and see how much effort has been put into it, not just looking at the storyline or anything like that (which some new people would).

When I judge the hack, I always judge it solely on the ROM Hack itself. I would not want to judge it on the hack author, because the hack author has nothing to do in how the ROM Hack was made, remember... there's teams in which help each other out and create stuff. Just think of how Nintendo also creates their games, it's not just one person.

So yeah, that is all. Thanks for reading! ^^

~Davin (aka Platinum Lucario)
I feel the need to respond to you because you bolded and italicized some words that make me feel like you're saying my response is demeaning in some way, shape or form. And that last sentence of your first paragraph makes me believe that you think there's something wrong with the way I think.

Let me start off by saying this: the fact that I dislike a hacker does not mean that I think they have a bad hack. I mean, I can dislike a hack for being bad, but a hack cannot be bad for me disliking it's creator, and in that manner my dislike for a person does not have any effect whatsoever on the quality of the hack.

Secondly, if I dislike the hacker, I'm not going to go and post rude comments on their thread. In any situation, I'm unlikely to view their thread at all. Improvement is no concern of mine for someone I don't care about.

Again, I'd like to highlight the fact that effort is not quality. Quality is worth judging hacks on; effort is not. You can try and try and try all you want but if all you can do is manage simple talking scripts you're probably not going to have a good hack.

I can see where you're coming from as far as judging a hack solely for the hack itself. However, your attempt to back up that point was unhelpful for your argument; a signficant amount of hacks are indeed created by a single person. If you haven't noticed, there really have never been any solid teams created in the Team Discussion section, and even if the threads get lots of posts they never go anywhere with the hack. Joining a team tends to be something that happens when new hackers come and that's become what it's associated with. Most, if not all hacks nowadays have a single creator, so their influence (and therefore personality) dominates the hack. So, um, yes, the creator has everything to do with how it was made, and that is my main reasoning behind disliking hacks with creators whom I don't like.


People can go enjoy that person's hack if they want, I don't care. My point is that I do not like hacks of people I dislike, and I wanted to show you (and everyone else) my reasoning behind that so I'm not automatically assumed to be "wrong" or "rude" or "ignorant" or whatever.

Logan

Age 28
Male
Salisbury, England
Seen July 19th, 2022
Posted November 12th, 2021
10,414 posts
14.5 Years
I like hacks if I like them. :)
Age 28
Seen April 7th, 2014
Posted April 2nd, 2014
3,977 posts
15.8 Years
Going to agree with Manipulation here. You like hacks if you like them. There's really no need for much more of an elaborate explanation here, in my opinion. Sure I might have different viewpoints on different people, but overall the hack surpasses the author in terms of expression for me.

Poster

Will pixel art for pizza

Somewhere in between
Seen August 23rd, 2011
Posted August 22nd, 2011
193 posts
12.4 Years
i think that the hackers attitude greatly affects the final product, if the hacker does their best, then the final product will reflect it
Sorry, what? These two things differ a lot. For example, let's take Manipulation. (THIS JUST AN EXAMPLE)


Personally, I didn't enjoy talking to him, and I presume he didn't enjoy talking to me as well. Not the best attitude among people, I'd say. BUT, his devotion has earned him a great hack overall. So yeah, I'm definately not the type to have the hacker affect my opinion.

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colcolstyles

Yours truly

Male
The Bay Area
Seen May 18th, 2019
Posted August 13th, 2012
1,588 posts
15 Years
Sorry, what? These two things differ a lot. For example, let's take Manipulation. (THIS JUST AN EXAMPLE)


Personally, I didn't enjoy talking to him, and I presume he didn't enjoy talking to me as well. Not the best attitude among people, I'd say. BUT, his devotion has earned him a great hack overall. So yeah, I'm definately not the type to have the hacker affect my opinion.
I think he was referring to a hacker's attitude toward hacking, not his/her attitude in social interactions.

Also, can we please stop using specific names? Somebody's feelings are bound to get hurt.

Brother of Vrai

Poster

Will pixel art for pizza

Somewhere in between
Seen August 23rd, 2011
Posted August 22nd, 2011
193 posts
12.4 Years
I think he was referring to a hacker's attitude toward hacking, not his/her attitude in social interactions.

Also, can we please stop using specific names? Somebody's feelings are bound to get hurt.
Sorry. I don't believe there can be a wide variety of attitudes on hacking, though. I still don't think that should even become a factor, though.

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colcolstyles

Yours truly

Male
The Bay Area
Seen May 18th, 2019
Posted August 13th, 2012
1,588 posts
15 Years
Sorry. I don't believe there can be a wide variety of attitudes on hacking, though. I still don't think that should even become a factor, though.
Actually, I can think of a couple of different attitudes off the top of my head. For example, there's the guy who feels he has to hack for the public, changes everything based on the reaction in his thread, and gets annoyed when people don't post in his thread; there's the "hacker" who relies completely on tools and decides which features to include based on which ones can be implemented with tools; the solo hacker versus the team hackers; the hacker who just hacks in his spare time and the hacker who seems to spend every waking hour hacking; the hacker who makes small projects but never a full-length hack; the hacker who thinks he's better than everyone for whatever reason. There are probably a couple more that I'm missing, too.

Brother of Vrai

Alignment

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Male
Seen December 25th, 2016
Posted September 30th, 2012
308 posts
13.2 Years
I'm really biased when it comes to what hacks I like. There's a lot of things that I look for when I feel like playing a hack. Usually seperated like this:

Things I like:
- Good storyline
- In english
- Good graphics
- Fair quality maps and scripts
- Humorous
- New sprites

Things I dislike:
- Bad or completely unedited graphics
- Scripts with grammar mistakes ( I don't mind "simpler scripts", everyone's gotta start somewhere, but if your grammar/spelling is crap then..yeah )
- Desperate for people to post in their thread (like bumping it for no good reason).
- Bad social qualities (This includes bashing noobs/noob hacks and making fun of people's mistakes.)

Pokepal17

More cowbell~

Age 28
Male
Steeltown
Seen July 7th, 2011
Posted May 22nd, 2011
1,517 posts
14.6 Years
Well honestly, chances are if I don't like the hacker, I won't even play the hack (unless I'm ranting to someone how bad hacks and download the hack and play it to prove my point). If I am playing a hack, I say how good it is by how much I enjoy playing it. :3
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