Frequently asked questions
Don't worry, we all need to start somewhere — if you're a beginner and still need to find your way around, chances are the F.A.Q. will answer a lot of the questions you may have. Before asking in the forums, it's wise to check this page first!
If you have a question (and answer) you'd like to see added here, feel free to suggest it here.
SMW Central
General
- SMW Central
- General ROM Hacking
- Miscellaneous
Game specific
- Super Mario World
- SMW2: Yoshi's Island
- Super Mario All-Stars
- Super Mario 64
- Super Mario RPG
Forum rules
What are the forum rules?
Badges and trophies
What are badges?
Badges are special images that appear in your profile. They can be earned for contributing to SMW Central positively.
What badges are there and how can I get them?
Some Badges and how to get them (if possible) are found somewhere.
What are trophies?
Trophies, which are similar to badges, are given out in various contests that appear around SMWC rather frequently.
Username colors
Why are some users different colors?
The different colors represent the status of the user on SMW Central.
What do standard users look like?
Male users have this color, female users have this color, and unspecified users have this color.
Emulators and ROMs
What is a ROM?
A ROM is a hardware chip in a game cartridge that contains the game data.
You can play this ROM using an emulator, and you can use this ROM for hacking.
You can play this ROM using an emulator, and you can use this ROM for hacking.
Where can I find a ROM?
Search for it on Google. Don't ask for it on the board. It's against the rules. It's also against the rules to post links to ROMs or sites containing ROMs.
How do I play a ROM?
In order to play a ROM, you need an emulator.
Hex
What is "Hex"?
Hex (short for hexadecimal) is another way to write numbers. Unlike the normal (decimal) system, hexadecimal has the numbers A, B, C, D, E and F between 9 and 10.
In decimal, you count like this:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32...
In hexadecimal, you count like this:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 20...
10 in hexadecimal is the same as 16 in decimal, because it's the 16th number in the list.
20 in hexadecimal is the same as 32 in decimal, because it's the 32nd number in the list.
7F in hexadecimal is the same as 127 in decimal, because it would be the 127th number in the list.
FF in hexadecimal is the same as 255 in decimal, because it would be the 255th number in the list.
100 in hexadecimal is the same as 256 in decimal, because it would be the 256th number in the list.
...and so on.
To convert between decimal and hexadecimal, you can open the Microsoft Calculator and click on View -> Scientific.
To convert from decimal to hexadecimal, click on Dec, enter the number and click on Hex.
To convert from hexadecimal to decimal, click on Hex, enter the number and click on Dec.
In decimal, you count like this:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32...
In hexadecimal, you count like this:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 20...
10 in hexadecimal is the same as 16 in decimal, because it's the 16th number in the list.
20 in hexadecimal is the same as 32 in decimal, because it's the 32nd number in the list.
7F in hexadecimal is the same as 127 in decimal, because it would be the 127th number in the list.
FF in hexadecimal is the same as 255 in decimal, because it would be the 255th number in the list.
100 in hexadecimal is the same as 256 in decimal, because it would be the 256th number in the list.
...and so on.
To convert between decimal and hexadecimal, you can open the Microsoft Calculator and click on View -> Scientific.
To convert from decimal to hexadecimal, click on Dec, enter the number and click on Hex.
To convert from hexadecimal to decimal, click on Hex, enter the number and click on Dec.
Wait a minute... What does this have to do with ROM hacking?
Well... As you probably know, everything in a computer is stored as zeros and ones. This means that a ROM must also be stored as zeros and ones. If we change these zeros and ones in the ROM, we modify the game.
However, if we want to edit the ROM this way, it would be really painful to see just tons of rows like "0101001111010100001010100100011110100100", right? Therefore, we convert these zeros and ones into something more readable. It's usually converted into hexadecimal.
To edit the ROM, we use a so-called "Hex editor", a program that reads a file's (or in this case, a ROM's) zeros and ones, converts them to hexadecimal and allows the user to read and edit them.
A more advanced editor, like Lunar Magic, works in the same way. It reads a file's zeros and ones, but instead of showing the hexadecimal numbers, it translates the zeros and ones into blocks, sprites and graphics to make it easier for the user to see and edit levels.
Move and add blocks like in Lunar Magic or enter tons and tons of hexadecimal numbers in a program? Of course you use Lunar Magic for level editing. However, there's a lot of things that Lunar Magic can't edit. Then you have to use other programs. However, not even these can edit everything. The only program that can edit absolutely everything in a ROM is... that's right... a hex editor.
However, if we want to edit the ROM this way, it would be really painful to see just tons of rows like "0101001111010100001010100100011110100100", right? Therefore, we convert these zeros and ones into something more readable. It's usually converted into hexadecimal.
To edit the ROM, we use a so-called "Hex editor", a program that reads a file's (or in this case, a ROM's) zeros and ones, converts them to hexadecimal and allows the user to read and edit them.
A more advanced editor, like Lunar Magic, works in the same way. It reads a file's zeros and ones, but instead of showing the hexadecimal numbers, it translates the zeros and ones into blocks, sprites and graphics to make it easier for the user to see and edit levels.
Move and add blocks like in Lunar Magic or enter tons and tons of hexadecimal numbers in a program? Of course you use Lunar Magic for level editing. However, there's a lot of things that Lunar Magic can't edit. Then you have to use other programs. However, not even these can edit everything. The only program that can edit absolutely everything in a ROM is... that's right... a hex editor.
and so on
and so on
and so on
and so on
and so on
and so on