Pokemon Hacking

Below, I will explain, in detail, how to re-create/hack Pokemon GBA games.


First, you will need to have an emulator to actually play your game:

VBA - VisualBoyAdvance

You will need to extract this file, and then that's it! You have an emulator to play the game.

If you do not have an extractor, look up 7-zip on google, and download/install that, it works great!


Now you will need to actually get a game to edit.

Pokemon LeafGreen
LeafGreen Known Problems: You may encounter some problems when making scripts for what people will say in the game.

Pokemon FireRed
FireRed Known Problems: You will normally only encounter a problem with this game if your script is incorrect, which can easily be fixed.

Pokemon Emerald
Emerald Known Problems: Almost impossible to write scripts for, also, while editing some maps, you may encounter points where you will walk on the walls.

Pokemon Ruby
Ruby Known Problems: You will normally only encounter a problem with this game if your script is incorrect, which can easily be fixed.

Pokemon Saphire
Saphire Known Problems: You may encounter some problems when making scripts for what people say in the game.


After downloading and extracting the ROM (that is what the game file is called), you are going to need the map editing software.

You need to download AdvanceMap

AdvanceMap1.92


  • Yes, I know that there is a lot of downloading, but you would like to edit ALL aspects of the game, right????

Okay, finally, you need to download the Text and Script Editors.

1. Advance Text
2. PkmAdv
3. PoketScript


Alright, now, from here and down is the actual tutorial about how to use each tool, and how to make your own game.
Please try to remember that I am NOT a professional at doing these things, so, I'll only show you the basics, and then if you want to learn more, just use your best friend, Google.


Here Starts The Tutorials


First, AdvanceMap.

If that does not explain it enough, ask me, and I will tell you what you need to know about AdvanceMap.

Now, AdvanceText

In my opinion, AdvanceText is confusing, and sometimes very hard to work with on some ROMS.


Actual Game Scripting

Don't skip this part just because you don't know any scripting. Everyone starts there, it might be hard to learn at first, but it gets easier as you go.

You remember when you installed these?
- PkmAdv
- PoketScript

You should have downloaded those, if you didn't, links above.

Now, what you should do is install PoketScript first.
Then install PkmAdv IMPORTANT: Install PkmAdv to the same directory that PoketScript was installed to!!!!

Okay, now, here is a video series about how to script. Don't be scared, it's just another language, you'll learn, and then you can create your own games! The videos are progressive, and start with answering questions like, "What is a script?" and "How do I write a script?"
I have chosen these videos because they show examples of what your script could look like before you actually start scripting, showing you what you will be working towards.

Okay, here is the first video:

Video #2:

Video #3:

Video #4:

I do not edit battles yet, but if you would like to find and download that program, go ahead, but I cannot help with that.

Video #5:

Video #6:

If you get errors while compiling your scripts, please give me what the error says, and your script, then I might be able to help.
If you do not know how to compile your script after watching these videos, just ask me, and I will tell you how to do it.

Finally, playing your new game!
To play your newly made game, follow these steps:

1. Open VBS (VirtualBoyAdvance)
2. Go to File, then Open (not open gameboy)
3. Find your rom, it is probably a .gba file
4. Once you find your game, open it, and the controls are as follows.

A=Z
B=X
L=A
R=S
START=Enter/Return
I do not use Select, and have absolutely no clue what it might be.


This Ends The Tutorial


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