[Other] Gen VI Rom Hacking Ressources? Skills?

[jaro0307]

Hey Guys,

I'm new at this forum and very curious about modifying the latest Pokemon games such as X&Y and OR/AS
So if anyone can link me to some resources or people who are trying to decode and modifying the games, maybe even successfully, I'd really appreciate it.

I want to try and recreate Gold/Silver in 3D with partly models/features from Gen VI and partly redesigns (while staying true to the game contents mostly) of my own or people who are willing to tackle this together.
Basically I wanna find out 1 to what extent you can mod a game. Is it possible to change maps, amount of buildings, polycount for certain models etc and 2 what skills do I need to at least get somewhere with this project.

I am a semiprofessional 3d artist who can basically handle everything around this matter from Modeling, sculpting, rigging, texturing, baking to animation(kinda).
I can sketch concepts at amateur level. I am in no way experienced at any form of programming/scripting :D

Maybe some of you will sigh when reading this because something like this is just not possible?
If so, can you tell me why?
Should I start hacking earlier gens to learn first?

I also know this is probably way too ambitious a project, but I really wanna find out what is possible and what is not and have fun trying myself out. Plus I am always really eager to learn ANYTHING.
Soo, I hope this post is not offensive to anyone due to lack of knowledge or something :3c

 

[Zervais]

It's great that you can do 3D modelling and want to give it a go hacking Gen VI but it really is impossible. As far as I'm aware no research has gone into decompiling X/Y and it probably won't for quite a few years. I don't even think you can download the ROM to begin with!

Gen IV - V (DS) has had some research go into it and there's a couple of tools which can be used to edit things like maps, trainer battles, scripts, ect, but Gen III (GBA) is where it's at. Though it might seem like a step in the past considering those games were released over ten years ago (wow, that long, huh?) but the extensive research which has been done as created things like working mega evolution, custom ASM routines, expanded pokedexes and move tables, and the community is still thriving and devoting their time to bringing us brand new games with that retro style yet modern feel.

Besides, spritework is so much easier than 3D modelling.

 

[Lunos]

It's great that you can do 3D modelling and want to give it a go hacking Gen VI but it really is impossible. As far as I'm aware no research has gone into decompiling X/Y and it probably won't for quite a few years. I don't even think you can download the ROM to begin with!

3D Custom Models are a thing for X/Y/OR/AS with a program called Ohana or something like that, as far as I remember.
There's also some ala-NDS tweaking-HackROMs like Eternal X & Wilting Y over here in PokeCommunity, so modifying some things is definitely possible.
And yes, of course you can download their ROMs, that's a fact. Finding them depends on the person tho.

 

[Vendily]

Project Pokemon has some progress on gen VI hacking.
https://projectpokemon.org
There might be something interesting there too.

 

[Zervais]

3D Custom Models are a thing for X/Y/OR/AS with a program called Ohana or something like that, as far as I remember.
There's also some ala-NDS tweaking-HackROMs like Eternal X & Wilting Y over here in PokeCommunity, so modifying some things is definitely possible.
And yes, of course you can download their ROMs, that's a fact. Finding them depends on the person tho.

That's amazing, I was under the impression that it was near-impossible. I read that it wasn't realistic from someone else, but I'm glad I've been proven wrong.

 

[jaro0307]

Well I CAN extract Models and Textures with their bones. Changing texts and randomizing characters and pokemon encounters is possible too.
But what I really wanna do is change complete maps and the story and I think you guys are right. It's not possible to do so.
I could probably try creating the game in another engine like Unity but I still need the animations for all the Pokemon and their moves as well..
So unless I really up my programming skills, make sense of Pokemons toon lighting and shading and spend hours and hours trying to match the original animations of all the pokemon and probably a thousand more things I haven't listed... And at that point I haven't even created anything original yet.

I will try and recreate only the first village + route and Pokemon in the new engine as soon as I have learned all the necessary stuff I need.
Who knows, maybe that will inspire people to make this a group project. And if not, I still learned a thing or two and had fun.