The ups and downs of different ROMs.

[Hermes]

Well, after deciding that I'll hack mainly two ROMs, FireRed and Diamond (eventually), I became curious about what the ups and downs of the different Pokémon ROMs are, and which you would prefer to hack now, and when another ROM is possible to hack.

The "up" side to FireRed in my opinion is that there is not much need to change things, and a lot is already given to you.
I also like how the menus look, and everything for that matter.
The "down" side to it is that there are certain boundaries to the ROM, but obviously there are limitations for every ROM out there.

So, what is your opinion?
(Also, if you like to hack a ROM other than RBY/GSC/RSE/FRLG/DPP, then specify.)

 

[Binary]

Well, I think I've been more comfortable hacking with Firered the past year, but I somehow got the urge to try something new out. I even tried to hack Gold once. I managed to create a single script but I didn't know anything after that. Just goes to show how hard it is to hack. You don't even have a script editor for it. Well, I think I'll be more comfortable with just ruby now in my opinion. Yes, I agree it has really poor graphics, but Ruby doesn't have any boundaries to graphics. And I think the graphics are way easier to hack than that of Firered. Take the player backsprite for example. There may be certain boundaries as there are in every rom. That's the down side.

Well, for me it's just ruby and firered for now. I'll see about the more "advanced generation" games hacking after there is something new. Perhaps a script editor? XD. I just hate hex..lol

 

[Griin.]

Don't use FR. There are too many hacks based on FR. Use Ruby or Sapphire. Or maybe emerald, if you'll making backups. But don't hack Diamond. Because not much can't be done yet. Only if you're planing on changing only evolutions...
I think you should use Sapphire.

 

[Innocence]

I even tried to hack Gold once. I managed to create a single script but I didn't know anything after that. Just goes to show how hard it is to hack. You don't even have a script editor for it.

Boo! Boo!

But seriously, you don't want to put gold down at first try. And definitely don't try to change the scripts until you're good at it. It's tricky at first, but that results in a greater sense of accomplishment. That said, I'm actually starting an advance hack, as a bit of a holiday.

When choosing the rom for my hack, which I will not reveal the name of, I first tried fire red...did a few maps, looked up ruby, and decided to switch to it. Then I decided that ruby had too much clutter and stuff, and I'd be better to code my own features anyway. So I'm back to Fire Red.

On the subject of advance hacking, maps are a lot harder to make. Scripting is easier, I find tile editing harder, naturally, and everything else is a walk in the park.

My verdict:

Spoiler:

Ruby is easier for new hackers, but if you don't want the clutter of features you're never going to use(Mostly), try Fire Red. I THINK double battles are a feature in it. That's my main problem.

Ciao,
Ryan

 

[/Circa]

Let me try this ^^.

Fire Red/Leaf Green
+ Nice Graphics
+ Two Regions
+ Land Features (Caves, Rivers, Oceans etc)
+ Double Battles
+ Large Cities/Routes
+ Very Stable
+ Easy To Change Tileset
+ Inbuilt Ruby/Saphire/Emerald Sprites
- No HM Dive
- National Dex Late In The Game
- Only One Evil Team
- Only Kanto Pokemon Until 7th Badge

Ruby/Saphire
+ Easy To Change Grahics
+ Easy Scripting
+ More Tools Available (Some Might Be Dodgy Though)
+ Can Catch Some Pokemon From All Regions
+ Two Evil Teams
+ Puzzle House
+ Good Landscapes
+ Boat Travel PLUS Mountain Carriage Thing
+ PokeBlocks
+ Shards (Used To Make Stones)
+ Replantable Berries
+ Very Stable
- Only One Region
- Crappy Graphics
- National Dex Late In Game

Emerald
+ Some Nice Graphics
+ Better Sprites
+ Battle Frontier
+ Double Battles
+ Pokeblocks
+ Replantable Berries
+ Shards
+ Good Landscapes
+ Two Evil Teams
+ Some Kanto & Johto Pokemon Available
- Unstable
- National Dex Late In Game

Thats about all I can remember right now, that was my contribution :P

 

[Luck]

Let me try this ^^.

Fire Red/Leaf Green
+ Nice Graphics
+ Two Regions
+ Land Features (Caves, Rivers, Oceans etc)
+ Double Battles
+ Large Cities/Routes
+ Very Stable
+ Easy To Change Tileset
+ Inbuilt Ruby/Saphire/Emerald Sprites
- No HM Dive
- National Dex Late In The Game
- Only One Evil Team
- Only Kanto Pokemon Until 7th Badge

Ruby/Saphire
+ Easy To Change Grahics
+ Easy Scripting
+ More Tools Available (Some Might Be Dodgy Though)
+ Can Catch Some Pokemon From All Regions
+ Two Evil Teams
+ Puzzle House
+ Good Landscapes
+ Boat Travel PLUS Mountain Carriage Thing
+ PokeBlocks
+ Shards (Used To Make Stones)
+ Replantable Berries
+ Very Stable
- Only One Region
- Crappy Graphics
- National Dex Late In Game

Emerald
+ Some Nice Graphics
+ Better Sprites
+ Battle Frontier
+ Double Battles
+ Pokeblocks
+ Replantable Berries
+ Shards
+ Good Landscapes
+ Two Evil Teams
+ Some Kanto & Johto Pokemon Available
- Unstable
- National Dex Late In Game

Thats about all I can remember right now, that was my contribution :P

ooh, thats a nice list, but don't forget that firered has items from both regions.
and the crappy graphics can be changed easily, so its not much of a problem.
but it really doesn't matter if some pokemon can be found in certain places, just changing the will pokemon can make it better.
and scripting can fix the national dex problem.
the shards were nice, but i think its better that you can just buy it at the dept. store.
oh, and you forgot that ruby has "time", but that can go with the replantable berries.
that was a nice list though, i just find it a bit easier to change the firered maps since they are crappy and plain.I'm guessing this means if you just stared out though right?

 

[thethethethe]

I feel like there's been at least 3 or four of these topics already.
But here's my general idea of the positives of each rom.

The way I see it is,
Ruby/Sapphire
1 World Map
8 HM's
Default Tiles are hideous(I think that's how to spell it)
National Dex Only Available via ASM
A wide Range of tools
Plantable Berries
Real Time Clock

Emerald
2 World Maps
8 HM's
Majority of Default Tiles are ugly
National Dex Easily Available
Slightly Less tool support
Plantable Berries
Real Time Clock

Fire Red/Leaf Green
4 World Maps
7 HM's but you could probably make a somewhat workable Dive HM
Default Tiles are more attractive
National Dex Easily Available
A wide Range of tools

 

[Thrace]

I agree theres already a thread here for this, its probably dead though so I guess its fine.

I like to hack FR mainly because of the original tiles and OW sprites. It also has a few features that are absent in R/S.

Emerald is my second choice just because its got some really neat features that most people haven't tried to implement yet such as the Clock and that mobile phone/VS seeker thing (I can't remember what its called). Another thing I really like is that it has different headers (the thing that pops up when you enter a map), a small detail but I think its a nice touch. The only problem with Emerald is the lack of space, you could expand it but repointing things manually would be a pain.

Maybe you should add a summary at the first post?

 

[thethethethe]

The only problem with Emerald is the lack of space, you could expand it but repointing things manually would be a pain.

Or you could just delete default scripts and some other useless images. But I guess I wouldn't recommend that for everyone.

 

[Thrace]

You don't even have a script editor for it.

You can make GSC scripts in PKSV.

Or you could just delete default scripts and some other useless images. But I guess I wouldn't recommend that for everyone.

True, but deleting scripts can be quite hard, unless you've memorised all the commands and their parameters how will you know which 02 marks the end of each script? I hear the new XSE will have support for expanded roms which will make it a lot easier.

 

[Hat?]

Here's something similar for RGBY and a bit of GSC at the end to compare:

Yellow
* 1 available starter, but if you hack it you'll need to do a whole lot more to get it to follow you
* "nicer" looking pokemon pics
* surfing pikachu game/all the stuff that goes with pikachu
* james and jessie
* support for CGB palettes

Red/Blue
* 3 available pokemon starters
* "nicer" looking pokemon pics than JP R/G

Japanese RGBY:
* less default space to work with than US ROMs (1/2 a megabyte)
* a language that takes a long time to learn, and shorter areas to type stuff if you're translating 'em

GSC (in general)
* a scripting system not available in RGBY, which makes things a whole lot more flexible
* a tool to change compressed stuff (though many people can't use it, due to errors)
* more VRAM/WRAM to work with (things like meanmrmustads big tileset hack therefore possible)
* a lot more space to store stuff in the ROM by default
* 2 world maps
* berries
* takes advantage of RTC
for Crystal there's also things like animated pkmn pics and the battle tower

 

[Binary]

You can make GSC scripts in PKSV.

0.o I didn't even know XD. But I don't plan on hacking gold anytime soon.

 

[Snowfield34]

I believe that Fire Red and Leaf Green alreaddy got Dive...
youtube.
com/watch?v=Lji9MztyRkY

 

[poddish]

ok I know there's alot of these but anyway...

Pros

Ruby/Sapphire

time
some g/s music
more extra item slots
one region
more tools
2 teams
battle tower
one sprite (that I know of) that seems COMPLETLY pointless except for editing porpusses
stable
better game corner games
secret bases

Fr/Lg

NO TRUCK SCENE
multiple maps (for 2+ region games)
more flyspots
extra sevii island maps (why are they there? I don't know, but hey, they're there)
Trainer tower
better tiles
sprites from ruby/ sapphire
key items from r/s
more boat stops (if you run out of flyspots, use them)
stable
better sprites for 1st gen pokemon
move tutors
2 daycares (so you can leave three pokemon in the daycares!)
less "garbage" data
national dex id found
better game corner prizes


Emerald

battle frontier
johto starters after Hoenn dex
national dex id found
2 teams
more events already in the game
better game corner games
secret bases
time
one region
more tools
fr/lg key items
both fossils with out having to script for the other one
more maps


g/s

kanto AND johto
16 gyms
were the best pokemon games made
crystal


Battle tower
kanto AND johto
time AND day of week
16 badges


r/b
the original games
missingno. (if you're into glitches)


d/p/p
(as of posting)

newest versions
all deoxys forms
pl. has new forms for more pokemon
best graphics so far...
3d
cons

r/s
truck at begining (if you don't get creative with it it comes across as lazy)
national dex item id NOT found
one region
berry glitch
alot of garbage tiles
worse tiles


fr/lg

less tools
slightly less space than r/s
you need to set certain flags to link w/ r/s
one team
no time (unless you hack into it and add it, like zel)
no berry trees (although the berries in berry forest come back if you go back to kanto)
no battle tower
alot of hacks use this as a base but don't finish


emerald

unstable because of the little "extra" space
truck at begining
tiles that aren't that great
cloning glitch (good while playing the real game, but a problem for hackers that want the game to continue to be a challenge after the pokemon league)

Gold/Silver

less tools because pokecomunity got erased awhile back
less pokemon
less "extra" spaces for pokemon (256 - 251 = 5 - the 00 hex one=4 -egg =3- the one that realy glitches up the game =2 free pokemon slots)
worse graphics (not bad for some though...)
worse tools (I can't edit the events on some maps on gold map)
legendaries (except ho-oh and lugia)always run
no running shoes


crystal

less space (more room than emerald though)
less tools because pokecomunity got erased awhile back
less pokemon
less "extra" spaces for pokemon (256 - 251 = 5 - the 00 hex one=4 -egg =3- the one that realy glitches up the game =2 free pokemon slots)
worse graphics (not bad for some though...)
worse tools (I can't edit the events on some maps on gold map)
legendaries (except ho-oh and lugia)always run
no running shoes

r/b

cluttered data
fewest flyspots EVER
glitches
no running shoes
black and white
least spots for fakemon w/o deleting pokemon trainers
pokemon and trainers in the same hex thing ie. 256 -the 00 one=255 -151=104-trainers = I don't know, but not that many
bad graphics


d/p/p
(as of posting)

few tools
no map editors
3d so tileset editing MIGHT be a problem because of the multiple angles of the tiles
I think nintendo got rid of the "extra" ?? pokemon from the 3rd gen. games



There are probably more things that affect which game to hack (mostly in emerald because I just don't want to get far and have to restart)

 

[Geeked]

Let me try this ^^.

Fire Red/Leaf Green
+ Nice Graphics
+ Two Regions
+ Land Features (Caves, Rivers, Oceans etc)
+ Double Battles
+ Large Cities/Routes
+ Very Stable
+ Easy To Change Tileset
+ Inbuilt Ruby/Saphire/Emerald Sprites
- No HM Dive
- National Dex Late In The Game
- Only One Evil Team
- Only Kanto Pokemon Until 7th Badge
- No clock(however most people don't know there's a #raw that checks if a certain amount of time has passed by :p

Ruby/Saphire
+ Easy To Change Grahics
+ Easy Scripting
+ More Tools Available (Some Might Be Dodgy Though)
+ Can Catch Some Pokemon From All Regions
+ Two Evil Teams
+ Puzzle House
+ Good Landscapes
+ Boat Travel PLUS Mountain Carriage Thing
+ PokeBlocks
+ Shards (Used To Make Stones)
+ Replantable Berries
+ Very Stable
- Only One Region
- Crappy Graphics
- National Dex Late In Game

Emerald
+ Some Nice Graphics
+ Better Sprites
+ Battle Frontier
+ Double Battles
+ Pokeblocks
+ Replantable Berries
+ Shards
+ Good Landscapes
+ Two Evil Teams
+ Some Kanto & Johto Pokemon Available
+ Pokemon Movement Animation(I love this feature :p)
- Unstable
- National Dex Late In Game
- Less space

Thats about all I can remember right now, that was my contribution :P

I almost completely agree with your list, however I added a few things in Bold

I'm currently hacking Emerald for all the "+" stated above.. I'll see how things go with it, I recommend everyone try it, and just import everything to Ruby/Sapphire if you can't continue from a fatal error or something... Which is exactly one I'm doing =)

(I'm clearing free space like thethethethe said above, and so far everything seems to function fine, and Emerald has yet to crash on me)