ROM hacking: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:14, 3 February 2025

Revision as of 20:31, 10 March 2025

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{{About|modifications to ROM images of video games|video games unofficially produced by hobbyists for closed systems|Homebrew (video games)}}

'''ROM hacking''' (short for '''Read-only memory hacking''') is the process of [[Modding|modifying]] a [[ROM image|ROM image or ROM file]] to alter the contents contained within, usually of a [[video game]] to alter the game's [[graphics]], [[dialogue]], [[Level (video games)|level]]s, [[gameplay]], and/or other elements. This is usually done by technically inclined video game fans to improve an old game of importance, as a creative outlet, or to essentially make ''new'', unofficial games using the old game's engine.

ROM [[Hacker (hobbyist)|hacking]] is generally accomplished through use of a [[hex editor]] (a program for editing non-textual data) and various specialized tools such as [[tile-based video game|tile]] editors, and game-specific tools which are generally used for editing levels, items, and the like, although more advanced tools such as [[assembly language|assemblers]] and [[debugger]]s are occasionally used. Once ready, they are usually [[#Distribution|distributed]] on the [[Internet]] for others to play on an [[Console emulator|emulator]] or a games console.<ref name="dictionary">{{cite web|url=http://www.romhacking.net/dictionary/?page=dictionary|title=Dictionary of ROM hacking terms|website=ROMhacking.net}}</ref>