SUPER MARIO 64 HACKING ====================== by MCMania332 Everyone knows how to hack SM64 because they found it easier than any other ROMs. If you're a beginner (or a newbie), here are some steps to follow to get involved in SM64 hacking. 1. PREPARING YOURSELF --------------------- Before hacking SM64 by yourself, you first need to download any SM64 hacks suggested below: 1. Super Mario Star Road by Skelux (http://www.fileswap.com/dl/PP2syfHKp2/SM_Star_Road_Final_(Pre-Patched).zip.html) 2. Super Mario Bros 3D by Kazeshin (http://www.smwcentral.net/?p=section&a=details&id=5791) 3. SM64 - Legend of the Stars Demo by MYSELF! (https://www.mediafire.com/?onu9act8v62szoq) These are the source ROMs that can make you amaze and inspire. These can be used for your ideas in SM64 hacking. If you are skilled enough on SM64 hacks, then you can go to the next step. 2. PREPARING TOOLS IN A TOOLBOX ------------------------------- Involved? You need to search and download tools for use in SM64 hacking: - Google (Trimble) SketchUp PRO (Download the crack in any torrent sites) - Triangulate Plugin for SketchUp - Super Mario 64 ROM - SM64 Level Importer 1.9S - Toad's Tool 64 v0.59994b - M64 Text Wrangler (because the Text Editor in Level Importer isn't complete) - PPF-o-matic is optional because the Level Importer has ApplyPPF3 built-in. - Cygnus Hex Editor FREE - PPF Studio (for finished hacks) - M64 ROM Extender - LemASM (optional) If you have all of these, then you are ready for the next step. 3. STACK UP AND APPLY --------------------- If your mind is compatible for SM64 hacking, then you will first create your own level. There are some videos on YouTube which teaches you how to create your own levels. WAIT A MINUTE! Before you create a level, you need to have a blueprint first. You don't need your paper to be blue! If you're done making a blueprint, then you can make a level using your ideas stacked up in your blueprint. After that, triangulate the level (I RECOMMEND IT for assuming!) and export it in your folder of SM64 levels. You might name it "Material Resources" and its subfolders "Levels" and "Custom Models". 4. MODIFYING THE ROM AND THE LEVEL ---------------------------------- You need to extend the SM64 ROM first and it is located in the "Data/Patching Folder". Extending the ROM is recommended. Open up the SM64 Level Importer 1.9S and the SM64 ROM you've extended. The importer will automatically expand the bytes of the ROM to 65,536KB or ~65MB. The importer can also patch the Level Importer Patch for you. After these, you need to extend level boundaries manually. Under the "ROM Settings" tab, check "Extend Level Boundaries", "RCVI Hack (Reduces Lag)" and "Enable Widescreen Improvements" and save the ROM changes. Under the "Import Settings", load your exported level. Depending on how small or large your created level was (you need to open up the Level Preview first), scale it until the appropriate level size reaches. After that, open up the "Level to Replace" dropdown box and select where the level can be overwritten. Under the "Level Settings" tab, open up the "Terrain Type" dropdown box depending on the terrain and environment of your level. Some tools in this tab are self-explanatory. Under the "RAM Bank" tab, choose the object bank you need to be available on the level. Under the "Collision" tab, each texture you use in the material has its own collisions. Depending on the texture, you need to modify the collisions. Under the "Special Material" tab, you can place water boxes. You can also use scrolling textures. If you think you have the compatible modifications for the level, then you're ready to import the level! Don't worry, the level is centered. 5. WHERE HAVE ALL THE OBJECTS GONE? ----------------------------------- Open up Toad's Tool 64 and the hacked ROM. In some reasons, your modified ROM cannot be loaded. So rename your hack, extend another ROM, and open your extended ROM. Under "Preferences", check the "Skip Checksum (for experts only)". Ignore the "for experts only" thingy because the important is, you need to modify your hacked ROM. Open the list of levels and click the level you imported over. (For example, if your level imported is in Bob-omb Battlefield, you need to click Bob-omb Battlefield on TT64) Put the object "Warp (Mario Start 1)" on the desired spawning point. Now put all of the objects! If you think that's enough, including the stars, then save your ROM. Open your ROM using your recommended emulator. Everyone prefers Project 64 or Mupen64, so pick one of these. Test it, and if bugs took place, then modify some! I don't prefer fixing these in case of objects. Super Mario 64 hacking may be worth the time but is easy to use! If you're a little expert enough, then here are some tips in SM64 hacking: a. If you finished your hack and prefer to be patched by someone, then use PPF Studio. After creating the patch, test it. If the patch works, then release it! b. To make the chaos effective, use M64 Text Wrangler. This is used to transform imaginations into chaos. What I mean is, you can modify texts for what is said in your hack. c. For coding purposes, use LemASM and Cygnus Hex Editor FREE. Coding is used for more complex hacking. d. Music hacking is also an element of every hacks, especially SM64. Search some M64 files in SMW Central, enable size overriding and import it using SM64 Level Importer. e. For tracks, trajectory is needed. Use the Sample Trajectory file for sample. f. For unmodified stars, use Set Star Position on the said tool. g. For slide race, use Set Slide Time Limit. h. For more modifications, tweaks are used.