ROM hacking: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:51, 20 September 2024

Revision as of 22:50, 3 October 2024

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A more recent patching format, the APS patching system, has also been developed by a devoted Game Boy Advance ROM hacker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pokecommunity.com/member.php?u=28656|title=The PokéCommunity Forums - View Profile: HackMew|website=www.pokecommunity.com}}</ref> The APS system is more space efficient, is reversible, and is faster than its predecessor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pokecommunity.com/showpost.php?p=2488977&postcount=1&highlight#A-Ptch|title= Newest patching format, APS, recently released|website=www.pokecommunity.com}}</ref>

The main purpose of distributing a hack in patch form is to avoid the legal aspects of distributing entire ROM images; the patch records only what has ''changed'' in the ROM, hence distributing it does not usually distribute parts of the original game. In this case, patches usually contained user-made code changes to the game and not the original game’s copyrighted code, which would have eliminated any copyright issues that may occur with distributing unofficial patches for games.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024|reason=A claim of legality without source}} A patch is also normally drastically smaller than the full ROM image (an NES ROM can run anywhere from 8&nbsp;KB to 2&nbsp;MB; a Super NES ROM can run from 256&nbsp;KB to 6&nbsp;MB; and Mega Drive/Genesis ROMs can run from 512&nbsp;KB to 4&nbsp;MB). Patches are not illegal to be distributed, as they usually contained user-made code changes to the game and not the original game’s copyrighted code, thereby eliminating any copyright issues that may occur with distributing unofficial patches for games.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024|reason=A claim of legality without source}}

In a novel example of legal distribution, Sega released a [[Steam (service)|Steam]]-based virtual hub for its previous collection of Mega Drive/Genesis games, entitled ''[[Sega Mega Drive Classic Collection#Sega Mega Drive Classics Hub|Sega Mega Drive Classics Hub]]''. The ''Hub'', besides allowing players to play emulated versions of these older games, takes advantage of Steam's support for user-created content through the Steam Workshop, officially allowing the distribution of ROM hacks of any of the offered games.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-04-29-modders-are-already-having-fun-with-sega-mega-drive-classics-on-steam | title = Modders are already having fun with Sega Mega Drive classics on Steam | first = Wesley | last = Yin-Poole | date = April 29, 2016 | access-date = May 3, 2016 | work = [[Eurogamer]] }}</ref>