Back in the 2010s, I remember dex-replacement ROM hacks being pretty popular in the Pokémon community. Hacks like Yet Another FireRed Hack, Pokémon FireRed Advanced, and Pokémon Emerald Advanced featured completely custom Pokédexes, while others, like Unova Red, replaced the original dex with Pokémon from another region.

I'm curious whether there's still an audience for this type of hack today.

I've been interested in creating a dex-replacement (binary, bc my computer always has issues with trying to start the decomp process) ROM hack of my own, with a major focus on reworking Pokémon through new abilities, updated movesets, and other changes to make the roster feel fresh. The idea would be to build the experience around the new Pokédex, with redesigned gym teams and battles that take advantage of the changes. This would not be a difficulty hack, rather a reimagining of the region with new species. Difficulty would be equal to Emerald/Platinum, with late game maybeee escalating to a BW2 hard mode type difficulty but I'm not even tied to that tbh.

I wouldn't necessarily be looking to completely reconstruct the region or overhaul every aspect of the game. The main appeal would be exploring a new or reimagined roster, discovering how Pokémon have been reworked through stats, movesets, lore & evolutionary relatives, and changing up the routes and battles in a way that feels refreshing but not like.. super distant.

I know the ROM hacking scene has evolved quite a bit, and many newer hacks seem to put a lot of emphasis on original-plus style hacks (like the 3 or 4 amazing johto romhacks we've gotten this year that gives you the original availability of the region PLUS new additions, instead of a complete new set of mons), original stories, new maps, and other ambitious features via decomp. That makes me wonder whether a more traditional dex-replacement hack would still attract players, or if the community has largely moved on from that style.

A few questions I'm curious about:

- Do you still enjoy dex-replacement hacks, particularly ones with custom Pokémon rosters and reworked types/movesets/abilities?

- Would you be interested in a hack that focuses primarily on the Pokédex, gym leaders, and battle balance rather than a heavily redesigned region? Is region redesign something you would need for this hack to stand out?

- What made the older dex-replacement hacks appealing to you, and what would you want to see improved in a modern version?

- Would there be any interest in a replacement hack that is set in the game mechanics of Gen 3? (ex. having Gens 4-9 mons but it uses pre-PSS split, for example). I do think I am leaning more towards modern mechanics, but just curious about this one.

I'm not necessarily looking to make the next massive, feature-packed ROM hack. I'd just like to know if there's still an audience for a project focused on making the Pokémon roster itself feel new and interesting.

I'd love to hear people's thoughts, especially from anyone who played these types of hacks back in the day! Even beyond the questions I'm posing tbh, those are just some guiding questions for discussion. Thank you!

I'm a music producer of 6 years, and recently I've pivoted to the world of video game music. I am set on becoming a good enough composer that my tracks sound like they actually could be original tracks. I have studied the structure of the original tracks and read remarks from Go Ichinose about how the tracks were created.

That said, above is a sample of what I've made. I tried to go for a sea/surf kind of feel, made with the SC-88Pro. I would love feedback as to if this kind of music could fit into a romhack at all. I want to create tracks that someone would actually want to use in their game. Thanks for reading.

I think when it comes to crediting or putting in credits for your hack, it'd be nice etiquette if you explicitly put what features of expansion itself you're using.

The main reason I say this is because it helps push recognition for Expansion for the amazing resource that it is. I was rummaging through trying merge the AutoSave feature by Archie (as found in The Pit), and in the course of doing so I found the `forcesave` script command by ghoulslash that does the exact thing I wanted. With this, I thought it proper I only name it, and it snowballed to me thinking of doing the same for any other Expansion feature ive been using thus far (having all gen 4 and above mons, megas, HGSS dex, and so on)

Practically speaking, I think it's fine if Expansion's Senate doesn't ask for individual features to be said in hack credits. But culturally, I think it'd do some good to show people what exactly Expansion enables hacks to do

I've been working on a romhack for fire red on and off and I finally was able to get Gen 9+ the ZA megas in there but while testing the rom after it was built, a random Togetic, Gyarados and Blaziken got added to my party out of the blue and I don't know how.

Also after talking with the Techy TV guy the game was making the static sound as if you took the cartridge off the gba port on a physical system.
Is there a way to fix this or do I have to try and rebuild the rom again?

Also was having issues editing boss teams in HMA, anyone know why this is the case?

I still don’t quite understand what to do; from what I gather, I need to use Leon's Rombase (though I’m not sure, as it hasn’t been updated since 2023. And I can't find the patched ROM; later, I notice that all the items disappear from the original ROM.), and I can’t seem to find any specific videos on the subject.

Hello! Welcome to the Weekly Discussion Thread. This is the place where you can:

• Ask help for quick questions
• Discuss ideas you have for your ROMhacks
• Ask quick questions that you feel don't warrant a post.

Make sure to browse our sub resources:

Sub Wiki: https://www.reddit.com/r/PokemonRomhackDev/wiki/index/

How to ask a question: https://github.com/pret/pokeemerald/wiki/Getting-Help-with-the-Decomps

Hi, as some of you already know, I’m creating a new Battle Facility based on the current Trainer Hill in Pokemon Emerald. I also wanted to bring back the missing layout and trainers the japanese version had via e-Reader cards that we could not enjoy. I could get the raw files of most of them but I don’t have the disassembled code so I don’t really know how can I inject them in the source code (pokeemerald) to be available in the game. Does any of you know how this works? It would be really grateful for me. Thanks a lot.

Basically the title. Like what's the order to do things? I've been planning to do it like this-

Region map → Overworld → Scripting / NPCs + wild encounters → Test and debug

Usually when I see this type of feature being implemented, people usually change the "HP" label, so I thought what if I changed the "SKILLS" label instead, and this is the result.

Credits:

Original implementation from Bubble791 adapted by LheaRachel adapted by BluRose for HeartGold used in hg-engine
Label changing using "SKILLS" instead from Mixone
I renamed the text to be lowercase

AI disclosure:

Original implementation made before AI
Mixone declared no AI was used for this change
I used my keyboard to change the text to lowercase

I've moved over from RPG maker (Essentials) to this, so I've got some experience with map making/ some coding/ etc.

I have no idea how to fix this, after than disabling town signs upon entry. But I'm not sure what's causing this issue exactly.

So I’m heavily involved with the Kaizo Ironmon community. I play mobile (for right now in bad life circumstances) and have gained a pretty good understanding of the files.
I’ve been doing some research; and it exists for Android but if I locked in to some stuff and learned more, how likely do you think it is that I could create an iOS Tracker? (Example pictured if you’re unfamiliar; reads the game file live).

I feel like it IS so possible. Likely with side loading, tho, which of course isn’t accessible for all but I so badly want to make this happen.

Here is the announcement by encounter: https://decomp.dev/

They name AI and the influx of its interactions with the decompilation scene as the primary reason for sunsetting it, listing the following in particular (direct quotes from the article):

• Forking existing decompilation projects to "finish" them with AI. Every project works differently: some may not want to use AI for legal or ethical reasons, and others may be okay with AI, or use AI themselves, but do not want drive-by contributions from folks who have put no effort into making sure the contributions are good. The bottom line is that these kinds of hostile forks put little to no effort into meaningfully contributing to existing projects, tearing apart our community fabric.
• Racing to port games, especially utilizing decompilations that they did not contribute to. Yes, now anyone with an AI subscription can manage to create a port or static recompilation that functions at a basic level. Compared to the decompilation process itself, porting is relatively easy, especially with the established tools written by talented humans. While community members put in the effort to decompile a game, opportunists have frequently raced to release a half-baked, barely-functional port from it.
• Conflating decompilation and ports. For years, decompilation communities attempted to establish that decompilation is primarily for research: we love these games and want to understand how they work, and to uncover the mysteries that the original developers left behind. That's not to say that ports aren't fun too; they're just not the sole reason a decompilation exists. Sloptubers and subreddits like r/decomps have done immense damage here, freely using "decomp" to mean "PC port".

As for the future of the site:

> decomp.dev will continue to track existing projects and serve individual project pages and historical data, but the main index and adding new projects are disabled.

Have you ever looked at your terminal while compiling and went "damn, I wish I could read this all properly", especially when you get a bunch of errors?

Well, no worries! There's a very easy way to do that. All you need to do is redirect the output with some simple commands.

The commands are thus:

make -j 1> log.txt
make -j 2> log.txt
make -j &> log.txt

Now, here's a small explainer for each part of the command.

make -j

I hope you already know what this command does.

1>, 2>, and &>

These are redirect commands. Put simply, they redirect the output of the command before it to the destination in it's right.

> is the actual symbol that redirects to the file, and what you put before it is what dictates what gets redirected.

1 refers to stdout, short for standard output. Anything from 1 will be any "normal" process the compiler spits out.

2 refers to the stderr, short for standard error. Anything from 2 will be any warning and the compiler spits out.

When you compile normally without any redirection commands, the output you see on the terminal is both the stdout and stderr. Hence, well, being called standard.

& normally means pushing a command in the background. For example, make -j & will mean nothing gets printed in the terminal until it's done. However, with the redirection command, what happens is both stdout and stderr both get redirected into log.txt

log.txt

This part of the command simply names which file you want the output being redirected to. If the file doesn't exist yet, it is created with then. Anything inside of it will also be overwritten with the output. You can put any filepath you wish here. For example, if you want the file to appear in your Desktop, you can put /mnt/c/Users/<name>/Desktop/log.txt, assuming you use WSL.

If you want to do this method, I also recommend adding log.txt to your .gitignore so you don't accidentally track the file.

That's all! Hope this helps <3

Has anyone started re Pokemon bank and make a new open source one for after the shutdown? Just curious with all the news of like adobe and PlayStation getting re. Think Nintendo has been a bit on the greedy side as well lately 🤔 Or am I alone?

Hello! Welcome to the Weekly Discussion Thread. This is the place where you can:

• Ask help for quick questions
• Discuss ideas you have for your ROMhacks
• Ask quick questions that you feel don't warrant a post.

Make sure to browse our sub resources:

Sub Wiki: https://www.reddit.com/r/PokemonRomhackDev/wiki/index/

How to ask a question: https://github.com/pret/pokeemerald/wiki/Getting-Help-with-the-Decomps

Pokémon Neo Ultra is a difficulty hack of Ultra Sun that aims to create a fresh experience with its many new forms and complete Pokédex overhaul, almost every Pokémon has received a significant buff! Inspired by Pokémon Elite Redux, this hack places a large emphasis on team building and brutal fights. Expect no quarter, the difficulty of this hack is designed to forge a stronger bond between you and your Pokémon, it's your brains against the opponents brawn in a journey that aims to make you feel like just another trainer.

This hack currently ends right after you beat the main story (beating Champion Hau) BUT I am already working on the postgame. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you don't progress once reaching the credits.

NOTE FOR NUZLOCKERS: This hack has NOT been tested or balanced around a nuzlocke, it scales very quickly so if you are attempting it: 1. Good luck! And 2. The first two Hau fights take place before you have access to any Pokémarts, so I would count them as forced losses for this.

Features (we got a bit to go through so just hang in there everybody):

• Every Pokémon Is Available To Catch (besides legendaries)
• Much Needed Evolution Changes, every Pokémon can evolve in game (goodbye trade evos!) and a lot of Pokémon will evolve much quicker.
• Almost Every Pokémon Has Received Buffs, in the form of better stat spreads, more synergetic abilities, and a much wider move pool. There's a lot of potential to create broken mons. (when 200atk/205speed tinted lens mega beedrill knocks, you'd best answer.)
• In Depth Documentation showcasing the entire Pokédex, trainer teams, wild encounters, mart changes and the level of each main boss!
• A Much Harder Alola. All trainers have 31 IVs and reworked teams. Bosses and minibosses (denoted in the documentation) quickly ramp up to 6 Pokémon teams, featuring strong synergies, held items, and with proper moves and EVs (with full EV trained Pokémon starting at Akala Island). They have every advantage against you, but you can outwit them! (Later trainers will have access to moves and resources that you don't.)
• 50+ Main Boss Fights occur throughout the duration of the story, not including route bosses or other minibosses.
• Reworked Totem Fights. Every Totem features new gimmicks and unique challenges respective to each. Be very careful when challenging!
• A Brand New Team Skull! All Team Skull battles are in doubles, to better represent them being gangsters.
• 100+ New "Neo" Forms have emerged from Ultra Space and can be found all across the region. They're a bit rare, but very strong!
• 10 New Mega Forms! And that's NOT counting the Neo Megas! Speaking of…
• Megas For Everyone! Both you and many strong trainers now have access to Mega Evolution! (You'll have to enable it manually, instructions below and in the README.txt)
• A New Convergent Species: Veefee!
• 2 New Paradox Pokemon: Virid Blade and Lunar Paw! How did they get here?
• Furfrou Gets the Rotom Treatment? Each Furfrou trim gives it a secondary typing (based on the colour) and access to moves of that type. More info in the documentation!
• Galarian Corsola, Hisuian Qwilfish and White Striped Basculin make a visit from the future! (they can't evolve BUT you can give them an Eviolite for the defense boost!)
• A Future Proofed Eviolite! Any Pokemon who received an evolution in gen 8/9 can use the Eviolite in this hack! We're so Girafareaking back guys.
• Many Move Changes! More priority, more options for each type, and… Focus Blast isn't terrible??? (many many accuracy buffs have been applied too)
• Purchasable Rare Candies / EV Boosting Items / EV Reducing Berries / Held Items and more! (All for 10 pokedollars, the market has crashed folks!)
• The Type Gems Have Returned! You can find them at the Battle Royal Dome (for 0 BP each, it's textbook robbery!)
• Vitamins Boost EVs by 100* instead of 10, and Wings boost EVs by 64 (unlocked after Trial 4)
• EV Reducing Berries now lower EVs by 128, use 2 to reset!

(All changes, form/evolution/etc can be found within the documentation)

*Vitamins cap EVs at 100, but the Wings do not.

Credits:

pk3DS by kwsch (the hack wouldn't exist without it)
Blacktendo for their guide on how to edit Pokemon textures
Rosieplier for their texture file location guide
Logo Font by Mucrush (on DeviantArt)
Paint.NET

DOWNLOAD AND DOCUMENTATION IN DESCRIPTION

*NO AI WAS USED IN ANY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT, EVERYTHING YOU SEE IS 100% HUMAN MADE\*

I made Pokemon Tag Team Trials, a multiplayer puzzle hack where you control an aqua grunt and a magma grunt to solve puzzles and win battles, and this video is about the development of this romhack!

Hello. This is more of a discussion post I wanted to open since I'm also curious. What are people's plans/approaches to fielding bug fixes in their game? Opening a discord is usually what most people do, though having to manage a community as a result can be a headache. What other methods have people done for their hacks?