Hacking Oldies Getting started on GB to GBC colorizing

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Hi, completely new here! I’ve been digging around looking for info on how to convert a monochrome Game Boy game into a Game Boy Color version and colorize it, but I’m not having much luck so I thought I might ask here.

First off, I’m not sure if it’s even capable with my current abilities - I don’t really know any programming. I get how to use a tile editor, and I gave the old Game Boy Colorizer tool a go - unfortunately it’s very limited. Any Konami games seem to have their sprites compressed (I couldn’t see any sprites when digging through the banks, just garbled tiles), and while I could find sprites in Mega Man II, the game was too big for the tool. Patching it made it run way too fast and most of the sprites turned invisible. Oops.

If it’s something I could do, I’d love to give it a try! But the main thing is I don’t really know where to start. For example, is there a way to convert a Game Boy game into a Game Boy Color format somehow so that I can revise the monochrome tiles into color? Or is it a bit more complicated than that?

And if/when I’m able to actually make a modified game, how would I create a patch so that the hack can be distributed? Probably getting ahead of myself here, but good to know anyway.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Also, after digging around in old games for a while, seeing how sprite artists worked within the console’s limitations has really impressed me. Huge respect to them!
 

lordelan

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Interested too but there's no guides I'm aware of.
I think toruzz had some online but eventually removed them (I dunno why).
 

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    I just found out that the EU version is better in literally every way, better sound quality, better lighting, and there's even a patch someone made to make the text look nicer
  • TwoSpikedHands @ TwoSpikedHands:
    Do I restart now using what i've learned on the EU version since it's a better overall experience? or do I continue with the US version since that is what ive been using, and if someone decides to play my hack, it would most likely be that version?
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    @TwoSpikedHands, I'll preface this with the fact that I know nothing about the game, but, I think it depends on what your goals are. Are you trying to make a definitive version of the game? You may want to refocus your efforts on the EU version then. Or, are you trying to make a better US version? In which case, the only way to make a better US version is to keep on plugging away at that one ;)
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    I'm not familiar with the technicalities of the differences between the two versions, but I'm wondering if at least some of those differences are things that you could port over to the US version in your patch without having to include copyrighted assets from the EU version
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    @Sicklyboy I am wanting to fully change the game and bend it to my will lol. I would like to eventually have the ability to add more characters, enemies, even have a completely different story if i wanted. I already have the ability to change the tilemaps in the US version, so I can basically make my own map and warp to it in game - so I'm pretty far into it!
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    I really would like to make a hack that I would enjoy playing, and maybe other people would too. swapping to the EU version would also mean my US friends could not legally play it
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    I am definitely considering porting over some of the EU features without using the actual ROM itself, tbh that would probably be the best way to go about it... but i'm sad that the voice acting is so.... not good on the US version. May not be a way around that though
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    I appreciate the insight!
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