Editing File replacement

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'''File replacement''' is a general term used to describe replacing various elements of a video game like textures, sounds, music and [[moveset]]s.

File replacements are quite common in  the ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]]'' series. Initially holding niche appeal amongst gamers, improvements to the hacking scene, especially for ''Brawl'', have led to more and more sophisticated file replacement hacks for the games. A majority of [[Gameplay modification|game mods]] for the games feature extensive use of file replacement hacks in order to deliver a unique experience to the mod.

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''==
{{cleanup|Outdated, Smash 64 modding has been getting more advanced with new stages and new characters (ex. Wario in Smash Remix), plus people have found ways to run mods on actual hardware.}}
[[File:Tex hack SSB.png|thumb|150px|A texture hack of {{SSB|Pikachu}}'s {{b|Thunder|Pokémon}} that recolors the electric effects pink.]]
File replacement in ''Smash 64'' is accomplished by the use of the {{s|wikipedia|Rice Video}} plugin in conjunction with an emulator. The lesser fanbase of ''Smash 64'' is the primary reason why this type of file replacement is less common than for the other games; additionally, Rice Video has been implicated in causing stability problems with ''Super Smash Bros.'' with certain hardware and emulators

File replacement can be used on real Nintendo 64 hardware with a custom made cartridge.
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==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''==
{{cleanup|Outdated as of February 2021. More tools have been released that give more users access to editing not just texture hacks, but also models. These tools include DAT Texture Wizard and the m-ex engine. Such hacks are also compatible with playing online, and have introduced new characters such as Wolf.}}
[[File:HackedMeleeRoster.png|thumb|A character select screen hack for ''Melee''; the portraits more closely resemble those found in the previous game, and Captain Falcon now has palette swaps that resemble other characters from other media, including Batman and Ronald McDonald.]]
Largely untouched for the first nine years since the game's release, file replacement in ''Melee'' gained popularity when S. of Stack Smash posted his texture hacks online. This process entails replacing files directly to the ISO with a program such as GC-Tool, and then burning the ISO to a disc or saving the ISO on a computer so that it can be run with an emulator such as [[Dolphin]]. 

Due to the difficulty in hacking the GameCube console by itself, the difficulty in reliably accessing the Wii's RAM for playing GameCube games, and the steep system requirements of Dolphin, file replacement in ''Melee'' is considerably less widespread than that for ''Brawl'', though it does have a few devoted developers. Improvements in Dolphin itself have allowed for more hacks to be produced for the game, with ''[[Melee: SD Remix]]'' featuring numerous changes to the game's stages and character movesets via file replacement. With that in mind, more advanced modifications (like model replacement, new animations, and so on) have only very recently been made for ''Melee'', compared to its successors receiving the same treatment within a few years of release.
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==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''==
[[File:Geno in Brawl 5.png|thumb|300px|A popular hack that alters {{SSBB|Toon Link}}'s model, moveset and animations to create [[Geno]] from ''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars''.]]

Due to the ease of hacking the Wii through the use of the Homebrew Channel, the lack of technical expertise in getting the Homebrew Channel and replacement files, the ability to hack a Wii because of the [[Smash Stack]] exploit, and a wide variety of resources available for it, file replacement is the most popular in the ''Brawl'' community, with many websites available solely for downloading a variety of hacks for the game. ''Brawl'' hacks are also known for being the most sophisticated of any ''Smash'' game, with all-new character movesets and unique stages even being introduced to some mods; programs like [[BrawlBox]] and [[Open SA]] also exist to assist in the creation of file replacement hacks.

''Brawl'' hacking was initially restricted to particularly devoted players, as hacking the game's files initially required the extensive use of modified ISOs and Wii consoles in order to run hacked data. Hacker Phantom Wings is credited to expanding the popularity of ''Brawl'' file replacement hacks, as he made file replacement available to users using [[SD card]]s, with most prior file replacement hacks requiring hacking of the ''Brawl'' ISO itself. 
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==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''==
[[File:SSB43DS_Mario_texture_hack.jpg|thumb|Mario's modded "Jumpman" alt.|250px|right]]
[[File:SSB4U_Samus_texture_hack.jpg|thumb|{{SSB4|Samus}} wearing her [http://www.metroidwiki.org/wiki/Fusion_Suit Fusion Suit] from [http://www.metroidwiki.org/wiki/Metroid_Fusion ''Metroid Fusion''].|250px|left]]
[[File:20191024_062349.jpg|thumb|An animation swap showing {{SSB4|Zero Suit Samus}} with {{SSB4|Ganondorf}}'s taunt.|250px|right]]
File replacement returns in both {{For3ds}} and {{Forwiiu}}. Though somewhat more difficult to access compared to Smash Stack, due to the improved security of the two consoles, several mods have been made for each game, with the ability to use assets between them due to sharing the same file formats. Both games use a "Layered File System", or LayeredFS, implementation to run modded files loaded onto an SD card. With the advent of game updates, mods must be specifically compiled for the version of the game that is being edited.

Texture and vertex hacking (eg. a "Jumpman" costume for {{SSB4|Mario}} and the Fusion Suit for {{SSB4|Samus}}), model replacement via importing ([[Chrom]] or [[Magnus]] over {{SSB4|Ike}}) and costume addition (eg. an extra costume slot for a {{S|mariowiki|White Yoshi}} costume) return. 

The ability to edit a character's moveset returns, ranging from a character's attributes to their animations.

Other cosmetics such as selection portraits, names, fonts and menu backgrounds can also be changed as well.

There are some new additions to file replacement in ''Super Smash Bros. 4'', which include:
* Adding new music tracks without the need to replace existing ones (eg. adding the piece "One Winged Angel" to [[Midgar]], which only has two songs). Additionally, with the re-introduction of individual fanfares (for characters like {{SSB4|Meta Knight}} and {{SSB4|Rosalina}}), all characters who share a fanfare can once again be given their own.
* Giving characters extra sounds in-game via their alternate costumes, rather than replacing their SFX entirely (eg. Fierce Deity costume uses Link's voice from ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'', ''Smash 64'' and ''Melee'', with the default Link still using his ''Brawl'' voice). However, not all characters (specifically DLC newcomers like {{SSB4|Cloud}}) have this feature as of yet,
* Adding unique names plates and announcer calls for alternate costumes on the [[character selection screen]]. Names, portraits and aliases can also be edited on the [[Boxing Ring]] stage.
* The ability to port character animations from ''Brawl'' to ''SSB4'' and vice versa, being more efficient to create custom animations or movesets.

''Smash 4'' modding, like with ''Brawl'', is perhaps equally popular. All the new aforementioned additions to modding have been demonstrated on [http://gamebanana.com/games/5547 GameBanana], a website which is similar to Brawl Vault.
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==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''==
[[File:SSBU Ninten Import hack.jpeg|thumb|One of the recolors of a mod that turns [[Ness (SSBU)|Ness]] into Ninten from ''Earthbound Beginnings''.|250px|right]]
[[File:Bowser Mod.jpg|thumb|A mod that changes [[Bowser (SSBU)|Bowser]]'s down air to be a spiking swipe with an animation change based off his forward air.|250px|left]]
Like the previous game, ''Ultimate'' file replacement relies on LayeredFS and mods placed on an SD card. Currently, all consoles released prior to July 2018 contain an unpatchable bug present in their bootloader and are capable of running mods via CFW (custom firmware).

Hackers have been able to replace the game's textures, models, UI elements, voices, parameters, animation edits, moves, and music. Released file replacements are most commonly available on [https://gamebanana.com/games/6498 GameBanana] much like the game's predecessor.

In August 2020, a mod loader known as ARCropolis was developed. This mod loader is a plugin for Skyline, a game patch that allows for directly hooking the game's code. This tool is considered an alternative to the older, more limited Ultimate Mod Manager. It currently removes file size limits. Future updates aim to support breaking more limitations in the future, and are currently being broken thanks to said updates.

One of these limitations for file replacement in ''Ultimate'' is the ability to add brand new files and costumes. Certain files, such as some character's models, are also shared on all slots to save on file space and currently cannot be made independent of each other. The most recent version of ARCropolis allows one-slot without any bugs. As a result, the ability to create one-slot costumes and costume specific voice mods is once again possible. Examples include:

* Changing the voice clips for [[Sora (SSBU)|Sora]] to match the costume's origins (''Kingdom Hearts 1'' voice for the ''Kingdom Hearts'' costume, etc.)
* Turning [[Ganondorf (SSBU)|Ganondorf]] into Sigma from the ''Megaman X'' franchise. 
* Giving [[Wolf (SSBU)|Wolf]] his ''Brawl'' design without replacing the ''Ultimate'' design. 
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==Specific hacks==
Each hack varies from one to another. Either one or all of these files can be replaced.

===Texture hacks===
[[File:ChristmasPeachMelee.jpg|thumb|left|A "Christmas Edition Peach" stands on a modded [[Final Destination]].]]
[[File:Fierce Deity Link.png|thumb|The textures of {{SSBB|Link}}'s model have been modified and replaced to make him look like his Fierce Deity form from ''The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask''.|250px]]

Texture hacking refers to the modification of individual textures in the game's data. Pioneered by the hacker Pharrox, a majority of texture hacks are cosmetic in function, and often take the form of alternate costumes for characters, such as those seen in the images to the left and right. Textures from both characters and stages can be modified, as can various other texture; some hacks, for instance, replace the graphics featured in {{SSBB|Peach}}'s [[Peach Blossom]]. Particularly extensive texture hacks are also often featured in moveset hacks, such as those seen in ''[[Project M]]'' and ''[[Brawl-]]''.
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===[[Music]] hacks===
Music hacks feature the replacement of music tracks and replacing them with tracks that the user prefers to use in the game. Custom music was popularized by GHNeko (one of the main developers of ''[[Brawl+]]''), who made a video displaying various stages with custom music, although it was done with a modified ISO. Eventually, Phantom Wings continued his file replacement code used for textures to incorporate music (the first post about it can be seen [http://board.gscentral.org/showthread.php?t=30533#22 here]). Initially difficult for some users to understand, due to the required use of a .brstm file and necessitating music to loop in an acceptable or desired manner, fellow hacker Bionic Sonic created a tool that required considerably less hacking and editing from the end user's part. The hacker Dantarion [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu-IT_-ULXc&annotation_id=annotation_781800&feature=iv  later improved on this method].

Music files do not solely represent the songs played on the menu or stages. They also represent the [[fanfare]] of a character. The files follow a chronological trend, and in this case, the files are named Y(XX).

In ''Brawl'', [[Unused content (SSBB)|leftover music data]] appears in the form of empty music and fanfare files. For the fanfare files, through the use of cheat codes created by Dantarion, it is possible to give characters their own individual fanfares (though one must also provide one for it to work). In ''SSB4'', the ability to do so returns. The process is much simpler, though as stated above, they will need a file for that fanfare.
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===Moveset hacks===
[[File:IkeisCloud.png|thumb|The vertices of {{SSBB|Ike}}'s model, his moveset, and even animations have all been altered to turn him into ''{{s|wikipedia|Final Fantasy VII}}'' protagonist [[Cloud Strife]].|250px|left]]
[[File:Pit%27s_Other_Twin.png|thumb|Similar to Ike, {{SSBB|Pit}} had the vertices of his model and moveset altered. In his case, Pit has been turned into ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' protagonist [[Sora]].|250px|right]]
Created by Phantom Wings, moveset hacks (known as "Project Smash Attacks" after the [[Project Smash Attacks|identically-named program]], as well as "Plan Zeroes" after the first notable moveset hack) alter the movesets of an individual character to varying degrees. This type of hack, however, requires extensive knowledge of scripting and floating values in order to perform, though multiple tutorials exist in an attempt to teach newer users on how to perform such hacks. The first notable moveset hack was "Plan Zero", a moveset hack of {{SSBB|Mario}}. Although not the most popular moveset hack, it became the most widely known amongst hackers after the release of Project Smash Attack. Today, most moveset hacks are more refined than before, and often feature famous characters such as Cloud Strife from ''Final Fantasy VII'', Sora from ''Kingdom Hearts'', Waluigi, and [[Mewtwo]], who was eventually hacked into ''[[Project M]]''.
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===Vertex/Model Replacement===
[[File:A_%22Square%22_off.jpeg|thumb|Cloud fighting against {{SSB4|Shulk}}, with the latter having his model modified to resemble Sora from ''Kingdom Hearts''.|250px|left]]
[[File:Hyrule_Warrior%27s_Hero.png|thumb|Link's model has been replaced with another taken from his appearance in the ''Zelda'' spin-off, ''{{s|zeldawiki|Hyrule Warriors}}''.|250px|right]]

The default models of a character, starting from ''Brawl'', can have their vertices relocated. The model itself becomes reshaped, and in turn resemble the intended design. Texture hacking is done with this to ensure they correlate with the model's new design.

In addition to texture hacking and model vertexing, a character's in-game model can be replaced with another. For this to be done, the model must first be rigged over the character's skeleton. Importing model rips from other video games (like {{uv|Street Fighter}}, ''Marvel vs. Capcom'', or even previous ''Super Smash Bros.'' titles) are commonplace in ''Brawl'' and ''SSB4'', and ''Melee'' to a lesser degree.

Some mods like ''[[Project M]]'' have patched characters by giving them extra costumes. Most are are inspired by other characters (such as Mario [[Dr. Mario|in his doctor's attire]] or Ike wearing [http://fireemblemwiki.org/wiki/Hector Hector's] armor); other characters (those of ''The Legend of Zelda'' and ''Star Fox'') have costumes that reference their designs in ''[[Melee]]''.

This idea, as well as the method below, to add characters allows modders to add a certain character they desire to appear in ''Smash'' as playable. 
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===Clone Engine method===
The Clone Engine method refers to a process of creating new characters by using the data of pre-existing characters. The process of creating new characters requires replicating character data and giving it independent placement on an SD Card. This allows modders to create and play as characters that are not on the base roster without replacing the original whatsoever. Ranging from those who appear in past or future installments, were planned to appear but did not make the cut, are overlooked, or even non-existent in Smash all together, the opportunity of adding characters is limitless. 

[[File:Mewtwo_vs_Lucario.png|thumb|A well known example of using the clone engine. Here, {{PM|Lucario}} is fighting against {{PM|Mewtwo}}, with the former being the basis for the latter's creation.|250px|right]]

The earliest form of a character clone engine dates back to December 9th, 2013. During its own development, ''Project M'' made use of a unique clone engine in version 3.0, which added {{PM|Roy}} and Mewtwo. About a month later, in January of 2014, Phantom Wings created another program called "BrawlEx", an independent external clone engine program. By default, these extra characters are considered ''clone characters'' due to being replicated from a character's internal data and are identified through the "Ex" suffix next to their file name (eg. LucarioEx, MarioEx, etc). The names can be changed to the character planned to be created. Once the placement is completed, the "Ex" character data can be completely modified (models, animations, effects, etc.) and replaced to whoever is being created. In regards to movesets, there can be either new and unique fighters, full clones, semi-clones, or psuedo clones. 

The ''Melee'' mods ''Team Akaneia'' and ''Beyond Melee'' use this method to expand ''Melee's'' roster; the former includes Wolf, Diddy Kong, and Charizard (based on it's Smash 4 incarnation) being playable, while the latter includes Wolf, Meta Knight, Shadow Mewtwo (from Pokkén Tournament) Skull Kid, Raichu and Fey.

Certain ''Brawl'' mods like ''[[Brawl-]'' made use of this tool to create characters like Pichu and Waluigi. After ''Project M's'' development ceased, ''Project+'' used it to create {{b|Knuckles|P+}}, who was planned to appear in ''Project M''. 

There are some oddities in regard to clone engine characters. For example, in ''Brawl'' related mods:
* All characters share the same codec conversation as Mario. 
* During the credits for Classic mode, music does not play. 
* Unless modified to be given one, clone engine characters do not have a Classic ending video or trophy. 

These oddities were addressed by giving Roy and Mewtwo their own Classic ending in the former, and later giving the two and Knuckles their own detailed Classic Mode trophy in the latter. 
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==External links==
*[http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=106573 Smashboards ''Smash 64'' hacking guide]
*[http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=247119 Smashboards ''Melee'' hacking introduction]
*[https://ssbmtextures.com/ SSBM Textures, Home to Melee Mods and Skins]
*[http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=225642 A guide to using the File Replacement code for users using the SD loader]
*[http://forums.kc-mm.com/Gallery/BrawlView.php Brawl Vault, which hosts numerous ''Brawl''-related texture hacks]
*[http://Kc-mm.com Kitty Corp: Meow Mix, a texture hack team.]
*[http://elitesmashhackers.wordpress.com/ Elite Smash Hackers, a blog concerning file replacement hacks]
*[http://stacksmash.kontek.net Stack Smash, a resource for hacks]
*[https://gamebanana.com/tuts/12827 A gamebannana tutorial for modding]
[[Category:Hacking]]
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