Editing ROM hacking (section)

==Distribution==

Once a hack is completed (or an incomplete version is deemed suitable for an interim release) it is released onto the Internet for others to play. The generally accepted way to do this is by making an [[unofficial patch]] (in IPS format or others) that can be applied to the unmodified ROM.<ref name="dictionary"/> This, and usually some form of documentation, is put in an archive file and uploaded somewhere. IPS is a format for [[File comparison|recording the differences]] between two binary files (in this case, between the unmodified and hacked ROMs) and is suitable for ROM hacks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pokemon Rom Hacks |url=https://www.inversegamer.com/best-pokemon-rom-hacks |website=InverseGamer.com |date=20 September 2020 |access-date=31 March 2021}}</ref> IPS is still used today for small patches—however, as ROMs became larger, this format became useless, leading to quite a few file formats being created—such as NINJA and PPF (also known as "[[PlayStation]] Patch Format"). PPF is still used today, particularly to patch large files such as ISO [[CD-ROM]] images as well as [[Nintendo 64]] games. A new patch format, UPS, has also been developed by the ROM hacking community, designed to be the successor to IPS and PPF.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.romhacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,6059.0.html|title=New patching format, UPS, debuts today|website=www.romhacking.net|date=27 September 2023 }}</ref>
A more recent patching format, the APS patching system, has also been developed by a devoted Game Boy Advance ROM hacker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pokecommunity.com/member.php?u=28656|title=The PokéCommunity Forums - View Profile: HackMew|website=www.pokecommunity.com|date=27 June 2006 }}</ref> Compared to other patching formats, the APS system is more space efficient, is reversible, and is faster than its predecessor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pokecommunity.com/showpost.php?p=2488977&postcount=1&highlight#A-Ptch|title= Newest patching format, APS, recently released|website=www.pokecommunity.com|date= 20 May 2007}}</ref>

The main purpose of distributing a hack in patch form is to avoid the legal aspects of distributing entire ROM images; the patch records only what has ''changed'' in the ROM, hence distributing it does not usually distribute parts of the original game. {{Citation needed span|date=September 2024|reason=A claim of legality without source|This practice would have also potentially eliminated any copyright issues that may occur with distributing unofficial patches for the ROMs themselves.}} A patch is also normally drastically smaller than a full ROM image (an NES ROM can run anywhere from 8&nbsp;KB to 2&nbsp;MB; a Super NES ROM can run from 256&nbsp;KB to 6&nbsp;MB; and Mega Drive (Genesis) ROMs can run from 512&nbsp;KB to 4&nbsp;MB).

In a novel example of legal distribution, Sega released a [[Steam (service)|Steam]]-based virtual hub for its previous collection of Mega Drive (Genesis) games, entitled ''[[Sega Mega Drive Classic Collection#Sega Mega Drive Classics Hub|Sega Mega Drive Classics Hub]]''. The ''Hub'', besides allowing players to play emulated versions of these older games, takes advantage of Steam's support for user-created content through the Steam Workshop, officially allowing the distribution of ROM hacks of any of the offered games.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-04-29-modders-are-already-having-fun-with-sega-mega-drive-classics-on-steam | title = Modders are already having fun with Sega Mega Drive classics on Steam | first = Wesley | last = Yin-Poole | date = April 29, 2016 | access-date = May 3, 2016 | work = [[Eurogamer]] }}</ref><ref name="steamworkshopsmd" />