ROMhacking.net Hacks Section Up

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Nightcrawler

New member
As promised on site launch, I have completed the Hacks section with a few new features not found anywhere else.

First, we have some of the most advanced searching features seen on any other ROMhacking related website to my knowledge to seach the archive to find what you need need.

Furthermore, we have taken the next step with this section putting the power in the community's hands. We now allow PUBLIC submissions that will go straight into the database(assuming staff approves it) and create the page for the entry. No more waiting for somebody else to put hacks in the database. You can do it yourself. We are eliminating staff bottlenecks on this site.

Not enough hacks in the database for you? Don't see your favorite hack there? Add them yourself. You don't have to be the hack author to add hacks!

*NOTE: We are one of the only sites to my knowledge that is also excepting bug fix patches for original ROMS.

Additional Information can be found at:

http://www.romhacking.nethttp://www.romhacking.net</a>
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> > I disagree.
> I agree with your disagreeing.

I disagree with both of your disagreements.

Unless the hack author specifically says "do not redistribute", once the hack is released to the public by the author, it's implied it should be freely distributed. Just like it is with programs.

How would you like it if emulator downloads existed ONLY on sites that the emu author submitted the emu to? Or VG music players. Or hack utils. Or translation patches. Or technical docs. What makes ROM hacks so different from these that the same rule does not apply?

If we're doing things by author submission only -- mass archive sites would be impossible.
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my point is that if the author does not wish to have it redistributed, then somebody can't just go and submit it. And if the author doens't mention it, a request should still be sent to the author first, in my opinion.
<P ID="signature">http://hwody.comKilla's Blog</a></P>
 
> my point is that if the author does not wish to have it
> redistributed, then somebody can't just go and submit it.

I agree. If the author does not want it distributed for whatever reason he should have the final say. This is a big 'if' though... and 99% of the time is not the case. Especially in the ROM-hacking world, where most people are more than happy to have thier work reach a wider audience.

Remember this is the internet -- and more than that... the emulation scene. This entire realm revolves around the free exchange of files and information. Once you put your emulation related stuff on the internet -- if you expect to be notified everytime a file changes hands... or if you don't expect the file to be passed around... you're a fool.

> And if the author doens't mention it, a request should still
> be sent to the author first, in my opinion.

That's crap. You wouldn't expect as much from a Hacking Utility or an Emu or anything else. Why is such a formality required for a measley ROM hack?


Do you think all these sites that have a copy of FCEU (or one of its derivitives) available for download got explicit permission from Xodnizel before they uploaded? I'm sure they didn't. To expect them to would be lame -- or do you really think all these sites should remove FCEU from their download section?

Furthermore... there are hundreds... nay... thousands of ROM hacks.. not even counting translations. Do you really expect site owners to get in contact with EVERY author for EVERY hack? That's just nonsense.
 
> Do you really
> expect site owners to get in contact with EVERY author for
> EVERY hack? That's just nonsense.
>

no, I expect the submitter to get into contact of the author of the ONE hack they are submitting. FCEU is on hundreds of sites as it is.. nobody is going to ask permission. Super funkadelic disco brothers 4 might only be found on ONE site, (the site the author submitted it to). I think that makes a difference. A simple, "is it ok if I post this on another site?" is all you need.

Now, a hack like Mario 99 or something common like that, is different, obviously nobody cares, since it's on every hack archive in history.
<P ID="signature">http://hwody.comKilla's Blog</a></P>
 
> Now, a hack like Mario 99 or something common like that, is
> different, obviously nobody cares, since it's on every hack
> archive in history.

speaking of which, what was the first ROM hack that was published? Anyone old enough in the scene to know that one?
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> no, I expect the submitter to get into contact of the author
> of the ONE hack they are submitting.

What if that person is impossible to get in contact with? What if they don't speak their languange? What if the submitter has a giant package of hacks they want to submit (more than just one)?

You're saying all these people should jump through all these hoops... and for what? So the author can have his ego stroked? I really don't see the issue here. People don't give a second thought to contacting authors of other (far more respectable) works.

Again... what makes ROM hacks so special?

> FCEU is on hundreds of
> sites as it is.. nobody is going to ask permission. Super
> funkadelic disco brothers 4 might only be found on ONE site,
> (the site the author submitted it to). I think that makes a
> difference.

So it's okay to distribute a publication without express permission... if it has already been distriubuted without express permission in the past? That doesn't make any sense.

> A simple, "is it ok if I post this on another
> site?" is all you need.

A simple "do not redistribute" in the readme is all the author needs if that's really such a concern. But again the whole point of releasing a ROM hack is to have it be distributed.

All this hoop jumping serves no purpose.

> Now, a hack like Mario 99 or something common like that, is
> different, obviously nobody cares, since it's on every hack
> archive in history.

This is the same thing as your FCEU example.... it's such a double-standard... I just can't see your logic. It's like you're saying it's okay to steal from someone that's already been stolen from in the past. (Note: not that I see this as stealing -- it's just an analogy).
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Mario Zelda by EFX, IIRC, which changed Link to Mario in The Legend of Zelda.
<P ID="signature">irc.esper.net / #rom-hacking: Hack the r0hms, bro.</P>
 
While at one time I would have agreed with Killa on this, I believe I'm seeing things a little different now.
If you submit a hack somewhere to where the public has access to it, that's it. You can't pull a "well I don't want that site redistributing my patch" attitude.
That's what makes some people call romhackers "elitist". And having hacked a few, being called that would annoy me.
If you're not romhacking for fun or to let other people enjoy it, don't offer the damned thing up to a site where it's gonna be downloaded. For that matter, don't put it up on your own site either.
If you're that much of a control freak, get the hell out of emulation.
<P ID="signature"><img src=http://www.elazulspad.net/ubbthreads/attachments/13449-henry.gif>
I will eat your soul!</P>
 
I'm not really going to jump into this dispute, but I will say the following.

Author's wishes are respected. If they wish to have their work removed, they simply need to contact us. We will remove their work promptly. We're quickly growing into one of the largest ROMhacking related sites with the largest archives, so it's not like authors will not know about the site.

It's assumed that any hacks in archives out there already which do not explicitly say not to be distributed in a readme are fair game until we are told otherwise by the author.
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Ah... you guys think romhackers are elitist by trying to control which sites distribute their work...

...you should check out the realm of fanart. :) It's much more 'elitist' and borders on insane at times.
<P ID="signature">--

http://www.oddigy.com
beadsprites and PSFs, oh my!</P>
 
> If you're that much of a control freak, get the hell out of emulation.

There's another reason to control which sites have it: you can more easily get critical updates into distribution.

If everyone mirrors the file, then it's very possible that some new person to emulation who is for fuck knows what reason visiting Bob's ub3rl337 Translation h4x will download some oldass bug-riddled version of the patch, then mail you pondering why it doesn't work.

Yes, this happens. I've gotten emails about software I wrote and translation stuff I dropped five years after the fact. It's extremely annoying.
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Cinnamon Pirate.com</P>
 
> There's another reason to control which sites have it: you can more easily get critical updates into distribution.

What really gets to me is that a number of ROM sites have Castlevania Retold 1.1 up without the custom palette (Which is needed, I used a 100% original (shitty) NES palette for the hack).
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I understand 100% where you're coming from. But a ton of hackers are one or two-time artists....they get bored with it or pissed off cause nobody e-mails 'em on how good or bad the hack was. That's what's necessary. To either do it just cause you love it and accept the criticism or praise, or just not worry about it if you're ignored.
As far as the other stuff is concerned (getting emails about old bug-riddled shit) send updates out that it's the final version or release it as open source.
Shit, I still get emails about Crystal All and it's mostly from the dumbasses that aren't patient enough to play every area every time of the day.
<P ID="signature"><img src=http://www.elazulspad.net/ubbthreads/attachments/13449-henry.gif>
I will eat your soul!</P>
 
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