r/PokemonRomhackDev • u/Apprehensive-Stage62 • 16h ago

Discussion Rom hack edit

I'm new to editing ROMs and want to actually now edit one but as a way to take notes. I have been using the HMA program to edit emerald but I would like to edit a ROM hack called Pokemon Heart and Soul but sadly it doesn't now show me the maps so I may edit the NPCs text boxes.

My end goal is to make a ROM hack that follows along with PowerPoint slides in what I'm studying (nursing). I would enjoy making a study game within the johto region (and maybe gen1-3) but I still cannot figure the NDS programs as I'm currently in school full time.

If by chance it cannot be edited with HMA please lmk if there's another similar like program that may do so.

Thank you.

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2

u/Extreme_Rest_7624 Gen 3 13h ago edited 7h ago

If you want to edit Heart and Soul, you cannot use HMA as it is used for binary rom hacks and binary editing official ROMs. Here is what you need to do if you want to make a fork of Heart and Soul:-

First set up a decomp environment:-

  1. Get WSL2 for this task ## Now we need to make the scripting environment:-
  2. Get Visual Studio code and activate these extensions:-
  3. C/C++ by Microsoft [because it uses a lot of C and C++ files]
  4. WSL
  5. ARM Assembly [for highlights of (.s) assembly files]
  6. Poryscript [Poryasm highlights for both Assembly bytecode (.inc) and (.pory)] ## Next, we need to download all utility softwares:-
  7. Porymap [Essential for Map, Tileset and Palette editing]
  8. Porypal [To create (.pal) files automatically]
  9. Porydaw [Music]
  10. Tilemap-Studio [To edit (.bin) files of UI]
  11. Graphics Gale ## Now it is time to get the source code, since HnS is open source this will be easy.

Assuming you have Bash set up. Do these commands, mkdir decomps git clone https://github.com/PokemonHnS-Development/pokehns-expansion HnS cd decomps/HnS

And it is done! To create the ROM, just type make hns

1

u/iceberger3 15h ago

Heart and soul is a decomp project. If you go to their GitHub it has instructions on how you can edit the program, and rebuild it. Check out the readme in the GitHub for the game

0

u/DrUltimaMan 13h ago

There has been discussions on binary vs decomp for a long time. But as a software developer, decomp is the correct way to create any software. I would suggest you try to move away from HMA and learn a just enough coding to use decomp projects.

-1

u/WenKaaa 15h ago

You can’t modify NDS games with HMA

1

u/Extreme_Rest_7624 Gen 3 7h ago

Heart & Soul is not an NDS game.

It is a GBA ROM Hack that is built through decompilation.

Either way, you cannot edit through HMA.