[Other] What exactly is RPG Maker + Pokémon Essentials?

[DaleFails]

Hi all,

So I used to ROM hack back in 2010-2012 and recently got back into it.

I've been using some of the amazing new ROM bases, Tools and resources and have really upped my game, however I am seeing a lot of amazing looking modern hacks and they blow my mind.

Games like Pokemon: Bushido. How the hell did they create that masterpiece so (almost) flawlessly?!

I'm sure they aren't running Advance Map, XSE, PGE etc etc like I am. I've seen talk of 'RPG Maker' and 'Pokémon Essentials'. What exactly are they? What have I missed?

How are people making these mind blowing new games from what seems to be a simple Firered base ROM?

 

[Asith]

RPG maker has nothing to do with rom hacking.
It's a software used for making rpg games. Pokemon essentials is a package that adds the pokemon system to that software, allowing people to make pokemon-styled games.
You don't start with a firered base rom, and you certainly don't end up with a gba rom either. It's just a fangame maker that mimics the style of gba games, but has nothing to do with an actual rom

 

[DaleFails]

RPG maker has nothing to do with rom hacking.
It's a software used for making rpg games. Pokemon essentials is a package that adds the pokemon system to that software, allowing people to make pokemon-styled games.
You don't start with a firered base rom, and you certainly don't end up with a gba rom either. It's just a fangame maker that mimics the style of gba games, but has nothing to do with an actual rom

Nice - thanks for explaining.

So in the case of Pokemon: Bushido (perfect example), do you know how that game was made? Was that made in the same way any other Firered hack would be?

I just want to make sure I'm not limiting myself by using Advance Map and other such software which was around 10 years ago

 

[KevinXDE]

Pokémon Bushido seems to have been developed in RPG Maker. I recommend you to read about developing with Pokémon Essentials if you wanna give it a try. Though it's kinda different from working on traditional ROM Hacking

 

[Asith]

Nice - thanks for explaining.

So in the case of Pokemon: Bushido (perfect example), do you know how that game was made? Was that made in the same way any other Firered hack would be?

I just want to make sure I'm not limiting myself by using Advance Map and other such software which was around 10 years ago

Like the other person said, a quick google search shows that pokemon bushido was made in rpg maker. It's not a firered hack - there was no base rom, as it has nothing to do with rom hacking.
The thing to note is that, while you end up with a pokemon fangame in both scenarios, rom hacking and using pokemon essentials are not really comparable at all. They're two very different forms of development, and it would be unfair to suggest one is better than the other. Rom hacking produces a gba game that can be played on a gba emulator or even real hardware; Essentials produces a standalone game that runs on a pc. Rom hacking uses a Gamefreak-made rom as a base; Essentials doesn't use anything of Gamefreak's other than the intellectual property of pokemon and any assets borrowed from the games, the latter technically being optional. Rom hacking enjoys using a game we love as a base, using limitations to breed creativity, and perhaps the satisfaction of making something that could be played on real gba hardware. Essentials enjoys a LOT more technical freedom, if you know what you're doing.

Which one to use in your development depends entirely on you and what you want your end product to be. Remember though, rpg maker creates an rpg maker game, NOT a gba game. It just looks like a gba game. Ultimately the two are nothing alike.
You should totally read up on both and go with whatever suits your fancy - there is no wrong answer!
(You could also consider decomp hacks, kind of a third option related to rom hacking but using the source code in C instead of the already compiled binary)

 

[DaleFails]

Like the other person said, a quick google search shows that pokemon bushido was made in rpg maker. It's not a firered hack - there was no base rom, as it has nothing to do with rom hacking…

Thank you so much for the detailed response. I totally get it now.

I did think it was strange how so much could be pushed out of a Firered ROM when I saw Bushido. As I said, it blew my mind a little. Take nothing away from games such as Bushido though, it looks incredible and I'll be playing it for sure.

It's nice to know that, while those amazing games exist, they aren't ROM hacks so I don't need to worry about comparing my capabilities with others so much.

I think I'll stick to my standard ROM hacking… it's a chore sometimes but I love it!