[Archive] ROM Hacking Newsletter 2008 | Issue 1 - 18

[Heart's Soul]

This newsletter keeps getting better and better each week! Keep it up!

 

[Argent Crusader]

Weird... The issues are usually up at this time. I hope that issue 11 come soon.

 

[Darthatron]

Weird... The issues are usually up at this time. I hope that issue 11 come soon.

There was a delay on a few of the articles, but it will be up later today, hopefully. ^^

 

[zel 2.0]

That's what happens when something becomes a routine :laugh:

Hoping to read another interesting issue (hopefully, with a few more reviews this time :))

 

[Ripper]

Just wait a bit guys.

Yes, the latest issue isn't up yet, it was pointed out once, other don't need to come along and point it out again. It's not really helping anybody.

Some guys weren't able to help this week so naturally it may take a bit more time. Be patient and let Thrace work his magic.

 

[Thrace]

Rom Hacking Newsletter

Issue 11 - Monday, 10 November 2008

Introduction

Opening words

Yes, yes, I realise its late, I apologise, I just had school stuff to deal with and I forgot to post it. Its nice to see how much RHN is appreciated though, thanks everyone. Since I don't have much to write about I'll take this opportunity to recap all of RHN's segments. We may not have all of them each week. Some of them you may have only seen once or twice. Hopefully we'll get to see more of the segments that are rarer.
» Hacking News
» Hack Reviews
» Map of the Week Review
» Interviews
» Hack of the Week Review
» Tips and Tricks
» Question of the Week
» Beginner's Corner

Article by Thrace​

Hacking News

Staying current with the rom hacking scene

Hack of the Year - Nominations Round
The nominations round of Hack of the Year have officially begun! In this round you nominate your favourite hack to compete in Rounds 2 and 3! Do not neglect to nominate a hack just because someone has already done so! The hack with the highest number of nominations will win the Fan Favourite award. To have your say simply post your nomination in this thread, make sure to read the first post though! It has very important information in it that you need to know before making your nomination.

Hack of the Year Nominations Coverage
So far we've had 49 acceptable nominations in the HotY Nominations thread. The nominations round ends on the 26th of November so make sure you try as many hacks as possible before making a nomination!

Current Leaders:
Pokemon Genesis - 15 votes
Pokemon Distant - 10 votes
Pokemon rijonAdventures - 5 votes

Hack Rating System
RHN will follow a standardised rating system similar to that of IGN, ratings and their meanings are described below.

Spoiler:

10.0 to 9.0 - Masterful
Its almost impossible to make a hack that is perfect, but ratings in this range get pretty close. These hacks are flawless in all aspects of hacking, they are innovative and engaging.

8.9 to 8.0 - Impressive
Hacks that we feel are outstanding and are exceptional in at least one aspect will receive ratings in this range. Hacks that we feel are worthwhile and that everyone will find enjoyable. You'd need to put in a lot of effort to get this rating.

7.9 to 7.0 - Good
An excellent hack that is let down by a one or two major problems. Above average in all aspects but just missing a few things it needs to be great. Not amazing but has potential.

6.9 to 6.0 - Passable
Hacks that are just above average. Nothing to really get excited about. Nothing particularly horrible about the hack but nothing all that great either.

5.9 to 5.0 - Mediocre
A hack that provokes no emotion, standard, run-of-the-mill whatever you want to call it, these hacks are as average as they come.

4.9 to 4.0 - Lackluster
Hacks that do not have enough effort put into them. Probably not worth the attention for the time being. Has some potential to be better, but not enough to become something spectacular.

3.9 to 3.0 - Poor
Hacks that are flawed in all areas, most likely caused by inexperience by the author rather than effort. Not worth checking out regularly, will probably be cancelled the next week.

2.9 to 2.0 - Bad
Hacks that we recommend you avoid, not worth playing. Might have a few interesting ideas but ultimately is just very poorly executed. Major flaws in all aspects.

1.9 to 1.0 - Terrible
A hack we believe should not have had its thread accepted. These hacks are not even worth browsing over. These hacks are usually made by people trying to achieve internet stardom.

0.9 to 0.0 - Abysmal
Hacks that are not even truly hacks, more like edits. A few small changes to the original game, achievable in mere minutes.

HOTW Winner

Spotlight on the Hack of the Week

Pokémon Thunder Emblem [Link]
Hack Author: mitchel1
Reviewed By: Kaizer-X

And this week's HoTW winner goes to Thunder Emblem by mitchel1. From the quality of the graphics itself, this hack undeniably deserves the award. But graphics is not everything, a hack with good graphics but a lousy storyline is only good to see but not fun to play.

This hack has greatly improved in terms of storyline and the graphics from the last time it was reviewed. The story seemed to have progressed well from the one before the update. The idea of the three emblems is original and interesting nevertheless. The main plot of the story revolves around the three legendary dogs and Team Rocket.

From what I have seen, this is one of those hacks with the best graphics around. It is a surprise to me, how can you fit all those pallets and tiles into the game. It shows that the effort you put into a hack decides the attractiveness of it. The new tiles are really eye-appealing. The globe and the gold building is one of my favourite part of the hack. The maps in this hack are original and unique. The only thing I don't really like is the bright pallets of the ground and the TV which seemed a bit unrealistic but other than that is fine with me.

I personally like the new OWs and sprites of this hack. The OWs of the hero and the intro sprites are amazing and the boot screen and the titlescreen a fitting additional to the hack. The new OW of Nidorino which replaces the bicycle or as the author called it Poke Ride is very creative and appealing.

The scripts in the hack are really good but the main point of the story is a bit confusing as you progress along the hack. I personally would like to see more scripts that progresses along with the story and more improvement in the grammar. But inspite of all that, mitchel1 again shows his creativeness when he introduces the climbing shoes into the hack

Overall the hack is enjoyable and I personally recommend you to check it out if you haven't. This is one of those hacks that I wouldn't miss out on.

Article by Kaizer-X​

Hack Review

Hacks in review

Pokémon Flame of Rage [Link]
Hack Author: Rom Reaverz Inc.
Reviewed By: Darthatron
Reviewer's Rating: 8.1

I've liked this hack from day 1. So much so that I helped with a few things, and still do whenever X-Buster asks. Anyway, enough about me, here is the review...

It starts off the same as many other FireRed hacks, kind of. You wake up next to your bed (?), then go down stairs. But then something different happens, your little sister comes to tell you that your dad wants you to see him in his office. It's a good replacement of the Pokémon Lab, and it's where you get your very first Pokemon. I don't want to ruin any more of the story, but let me tell you this, it's not like any other Pokémon game you've played.

I found 3 things VERY appealing in this hack, the maps, the overworld graphics, and the scripts. However, I was dissapointed with the lack of new tiles. You can tell the maps in this were either made by Neti, or fixed by Neti, they are brilliant, everynow and then, you'll wonder why there is a patch of empty grass, and the map connections are a bit messed up, but this simple errors are to be expected. Shadow Arcanine's OverWorlds are fantastic, and really well draw. You look at them and think "Wow, it looks like GameFreak made these overworlds!". I'm looking forward to all the OverWorlds being replaced at some point, hopefully. I was also impressed by the use of Level Scripts in this, most hacker are affraid of them, and hack no idea what they are doing, but you can tell these hackers know how to script. Not just the level scripts, though. Every script in this game is good (well atleast what I've played up to). And finally, the story in this is way different to other hacks I've seen, and that's a good thing.

All in all, a great hack and you should try it out.

Article by Darthatron​

Map of the Week

A review of the weeks MOTW winner

Map Author: Neti
Map of: FireRed
Rating: 9/10
Map Shot: Click Here!

Of course the first thing I notice with this map is the repetitive use of snow tiles. Of course, it is okay in this case, since he's the one that made the rombase =O. Anyways, onto business. I like the realistic effect that the overall shape is giving from this map. There is a nice amount of houses, which almost causes a crammed look to the map. Almost. I also like the way how he fit in an icy pond at the left side of the map. Another thing that I love about this map is how Neti tried to incorporate all the houses to look the least bit different. Most mappers from what I see just repetitively use the same looking house, and never bother to set a diverse mark. What I don't like is that there are always two skinny trees between the large trees. It is never one, it's always two. It makes it look like he really is against the slightest bit of empty space in this map.

Article by Disturbed​

Map Author: Lucario 9
Map of: FireRed
Rating: 6/10
Map Shot: Click Here!

Hey! It's my rombase! Nobody really used it, so it sets the mark for originality of tiles. I'll point out the bad things in this map first. The shapes of the cliffs sicken me. They seem like they were rushed on at the last minute. Also, it one spot on the middle left, you'll be able to see the cliff go into the border! After seeing that, I saw that there was yet another tile error, this one was actually pretty noticeable and I'm surprised that Lucario 9 didn't notice it when mapping. Look in the upper left corner of the map, in the trees. Another thing I despise is the benches are behind the same tree twice. Usually you wouldn't see that in a normal route, maybe just one bench. I think that he used that as a filler, or to add a more realistic tone to the map. What I really like in this map is the trees. They seem like they fit the environment fairly well, and overall, leading to the map looking better! The scattering of the tall grass also seems pretty nice, and will give the player multiple battles to fight in throughout the map. I like this map overall, but I know you can do better, Lucario 9.

Article by Disturbed​

Beginner's Corner

Common Problems/Questions

I bet many of you have suffered from that endless clicking when mapping a group of trees. You always asked "Isn't there a more convenient solution?" Actually, there is, and a simple one.

LU-HO has documented this function in his ReadMe file for AdvanceMap, but common thing over here is to ignore them. Afterall, it's quite boring to read such files.

To make a bigger block, move your mouse pointer to the block palette or map area you want to replicate and hold down Ctrl and right mouse button. Now, a small window will show up. Don't put your fingers off the buttons, drag the mouse instead. See? The window is larger, and it's containing more blocks. Now you are free to release the buttons. You should release the mouse button and Ctrl simultaneously, I have experienced a few oddities if Ididn't do so, like when moving the mouse pointer around the map, the contents of the "Bigger Block" window were changing and the window itself was changing size.

Article by Martin™​

Interview

An in-depth chat with...

Spoiler:

<Darthatron> Let's begin.
<Darthatron> You founded PokeCommunity, correct?
<Haruki Hanai> Nice suggestion, but nope. I merely administer it.
<Darthatron> I see, and when did you become the administrator?
<Haruki Hanai> Uhh,
<Haruki Hanai> About three years ago.
<Darthatron> Ah, ok. That's about when I joined.
<Haruki Hanai> Haha.
<Darthatron> You used to be rather active in the ROM Hacking section, but not so much lately. Why is that?
<Haruki Hanai> I've had other things to do.
<Haruki Hanai> ROM hacking has to be put down in terms of priority,
<Haruki Hanai> And I think supporting PC is one of the things I need to do
<Darthatron> I understand.
<Darthatron> Your hack Rijon Adventures was pretty epic when you started it, but it's thread was recently locked. Do you plan on continuing it?
<Haruki Hanai> Of course!
<Haruki Hanai> I have a few different scripts running,
<Haruki Hanai> And I've never completed them.
<Haruki Hanai> But they're there and they're ready to be continued anytime.
<Darthatron> That's good to here. I've never played your hack, but I always liked the screenshots.
<Haruki Hanai> Thanks.
<Darthatron> Do you spend any time in the ROM Hacking section anymore?
<Haruki Hanai> I've had a bit of renewed interest.
<Haruki Hanai> But I'd rather see a lot more quality hacks that actually are maintained for a long time.
<Darthatron> Oh? I find most people are the opposite. What has got you interested again?
<Haruki Hanai> Simply the chance to watch over its new mod,
<Haruki Hanai> And look at the newspaper.
<Haruki Hanai> The member community in there has really grown.
<Darthatron> Yes, but that also means lots more people who have no idea what's going on.
<Haruki Hanai> The fact that you have people like Thrace around maintaining stuff while being a member
<Haruki Hanai> Is absolutely astounding
<Haruki Hanai> Mmm. The forums have been like that for a while.
<Darthatron> Indeed.
<Darthatron> What are your thoughts on most of the newer members not being able to Hex edit?
<Haruki Hanai> A lot of them don't seem to be making much attempt to learn.
<Haruki Hanai> More tools are being made to help such people, yet I think that those without the ability to hex edit to begin with shouldn't be in this field.
<Darthatron> I agree. Hex should be a very big part in hacking.
<Darthatron> Tools are being made a lot more now than a year ago. But, there are also many duplicated tools. What are your thoughts on this?
<Haruki Hanai> I honestly can't say.
<Haruki Hanai> I'm not big on tools, besides map editing and spriting. Everything else I need to do is with a hex editor.
<Haruki Hanai> You could say the tools duplicate the editor.
<Darthatron> Indeed.
<Haruki Hanai> I guess if a tool makes the job easier, then it's fine.
<Haruki Hanai> AdvanceMap's palette editor could take a few pointers from Advance Palette Editor, for example
<Darthatron> I agree, that palette editor can be difficult to understand.
<Darthatron> When you look at a hack what is the thing you would like to see the most? (New scripts, graphics, ect..)
<Haruki Hanai> Mapping first, scripting and text next.
<Haruki Hanai> Though if not mapping,
<Haruki Hanai> Then graphics that aren't derivative are nice too.
<Darthatron> I see... That's about all I can think of.
<Darthatron> Would you like to recommend a hack to our readers?
<Haruki Hanai> It might look a little biased and it's probably been said before,
<Haruki Hanai> But The Ruby Dagger Murders is one that looks interesting.
<Darthatron> And how about a tip for the newer hackers?
<Haruki Hanai> Hmm.
<Haruki Hanai> New hackers should try to make decent-looking maps before actually delving into tiling.
<Darthatron> Nice tip.
<Darthatron> Well, thanks for your time. I hope we can talk again some time, you seem pretty interesting.
<Haruki Hanai> Thanks for the interview.

Interview by Darthatron​

Closing Notes

Some house keeping

Yeah, we don't have a Tip this week. To tell the truth I'm running out so if anyone has a Tip they'd like to donate it would be very much appreciated. This is the time when a lot of people have exams so of course its going to be difficult to get issues out on time. We will be making an effort to get them in on time but RHN can't always be on the top of our priorities.

Closing by Thrace​

CSS design and graphics by Thrace. Ask for permission if you want to use them!

 

[Dratii]

Great Thrace you got it out. You kind of messed up the first review, it says pokemon breakdown, but it is pokemon thunder emblem. Any ways great.

And also you missed a 'e' off of the in the hacking news.

 

[Surf]

Pokémon Breakdown [Link]
Hack Author: mitchel1
Reviewed By: Kaizer-X

Ah Ha I found a mistake
Michel1's hack is Thunder Emblem Not Breakdown
Can i have a cookie?

 

[Ninja Caterpie]

It is teh cool and it's still made of WIN.
It was...interesting, although the Beginner's Corner tip was a Tip of the Week some things ago. -.-

 

[Argent Crusader]

Again, interesting...
Better later than never. Again, you still have a lot of hacks to review! Keep on that :D

 

[Neti]

nice, like always
Hasnt Flame of Rage been in a previous issue? i think it was when it won the hotw...
well, im glad about the good rating for my map! and yes, the rombase is a bit overused already, thats why i orginaly didnt plan to release it before the lof beta, but the tiles were made by fanking omega and he wished so...
gl on the next issue

 

[Chimchar 9]

lol i didnt know my worst map will be reviewed, i normally notice a tile error but i dont think i was caring enough.

well overall it seemed great !
i hope my hack gets reviewed !

 

[Νιτραμ]

Oh, hello guys!

First, I want to congratulate Thrace and our team for making another nice RHN. You've done good issue as always.

Next, someone noticed that the tip in the Beginners Corner section was already in one of RHN issues. But you should look at number of people who still ask for a "Bigger Block" feature even though it's already there. Anyway, this tip was a filler I whipped up as I am working on a guide to graphics altering for beginners, which will be divided to at least 3 parts, and I am sure beginners will appreciate it. Till then, you must wait. I think I will get the part 1 done just in time for RHN 12.

Cheers!

 

[destinedjagold]

I have read it yesterday, and today, and I still find it short. :\
anyways, do not mind about it, for it was still great. :)

continue the great work, team~

 

[Satoshi Sugimori]

Another nice issue ^^ can't wait to see the new one :D
well good luck further!

 

[torferno lvl-X]

Another good issue of RHN. Good job:D.

 

[Thrace]

There isn't going to be an issue today guys, sorry. I just haven't had the time to prepare it and I don't want to do another rushed issue. There will be one for this week, it'll be released sometime in the next 4-5 days.

 

[Neti]

There isn't going to be an issue today guys, sorry. I just haven't had the time to prepare it and I don't want to do another rushed issue. There will be one for this week, it'll be released sometime in the next 4-5 days.

A good issue is always better than an issue that comes in time
ill be waiting

 

[destinedjagold]

I guess life's getting pretty busy towards everyone, huh? :\

oh well. no need to say sorry though. :)

 

[Madridista]

I hope it will be about the same length as Issue 9 :D I rather read an interesting issue, even if it's late, than a rushed one with only 1 hack and 1 map review...