Editing Smash Stack

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[[File:SmashStackLogo.png|thumb|The Smash Stack's logo on WiiBrew.]]
'''Smash Stack''' is the name for the exploit that allows one to use ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''{{'}}s [[Stage Builder]] to modify otherwise-protected system memory, allowing the usage of [[hack]]s without specialized hardware.
'''Smash Stack''' is the name for an exploit that allows the use of ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''{{'}}s [[Stage Builder]] to modify otherwise-protected system memory, allowing the usage of [[hack]]s without specialized hardware. In the hacking community of ''Brawl'', the Smash Stack's primary use is to run [[mod]]s or [[file replacement]] hacks for the game, such as ''[[Project M]]''; this exploit, however, has considerable usage beyond ''Brawl'' hacking, and it can be used to permanently install mods to the Wii, such as [http://wiibrew.org/wiki/The_Homebrew_Channel The Homebrew Channel], or modify the firmware of the Wii itself, such as in the case of [http://wiibrew.org/wiki/BootMii BootMii].


Discovered in 2009, the Smash Stack notably works with [[List_of_regional_version_differences_(SSBB)|all versions]] of ''Brawl'', as well as on all Wii firmwares.
The name of the exploit implies its function. By getting the [[Wii]] to load a file disguised as a custom stage that's bigger than the block of memory reserved to hold custom stages, due to the code not checking to see whether the stage file is too large, a [[wikipedia:stack smash|stack smash]] occurs. Due to the way the exploit works, the subject stage file must be the only custom stage on both the SD card and on the Wii itself (including the default ones and any daily downloads), or the game will likely freeze as it tries to load the stages. Once the game is quit or the console is turned off, all traces of the hack disappear, though the method can be used to install more permanent hacks such as the Homebrew Channel.


==Operation==
Unlike most other Wii hacks involving stack smashes, which tend to involve editing save file data to accomplish a similar effect, the Smash Stack is entirely self-contained within ''Brawl'' as it is running. As a result, it is not possible for Nintendo to inform Wiis what such a file looks like and delete it if detected, due to the process occurring outside the console's control. This renders the hack particularly resilient compared to the [[wikipedia:Twilight Hack|Twilight Hack]] (involving ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess]]''), a former major avenue of hacking Wiis via in-game exploits before it was eventually defeated via a system update. The Smash Stack is strong enough that even a [[Wii U]] running in Wii mode is vulnerable to it (though this does not currently allow hacking of the Wii U itself). As a result of its unpatchability, simplicity, and presence in a popular game, the Smash Stack is one of the most common ways of hacking or modding a Wii, and the method is supported by all major ''Brawl'' mods for players who do not wish to make any permanent changes to their console.
The Smash Stack works by exploiting an oversight in ''Brawl's'' programming. The file used for the exploit is disguised as a custom stage file, which is then read by ''Brawl'' when the Stage Builder is opened. By default, a certain amount of memory is reserved to load the file; ''Brawl's'' coding, however, does not actually check to ensure the file is smaller than this amount of memory, and as a result, the exploit file, designed to be larger than this block of memory, causes a {{s|wikipedia|stack smash}} when it is actually read. The console is then forced to restart as a result of this stack smash, but as it does so, it will read boot files from the SD card instead of the console itself. These boot files, in turn, then run modified code that can be used to run a variety of different applications after the reboot. Once the loaded hack is quit or the console is turned off, all traces of the hack's use vanish from the console, barring any modifications to the console performed by the hack itself.


Due to the way the exploit works, the exploit file must be the only custom stage on both the SD card and on the Wii itself, including the [[sample stages]] and any stages from the [[Smash Service]], or the game will likely freeze as it tries to load the stages. Furthermore, as the file is disguised as a custom stage file, it will still be read by the game while selecting a regular stage for versus battles; as the exploit is not intended to be run via this route, the game will instead [[game crash|freeze]] when it attempts to load the data. As such, hacks that run on top of ''Brawl'' via the Smash Stack require extra coding to prevent the game from reading custom stages.
==Video==
<youtube>e34rKsHYU84</youtube>


Unlike most other Wii hacks involving stack smashes, which tend to involve editing save file data to accomplish a similar effect, the Smash Stack is entirely self-contained within ''Brawl'' as it is running. As a result, it is not possible for Nintendo to inform Wiis what such a file looks like and delete it if detected, due to the process occurring outside the console's control. This renders the hack particularly resilient compared to the previous [http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/Twilight_Hack Twilight Hack] (involving ''{{S|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess}}''), a former major avenue of hacking Wiis via in-game exploits before it was eventually defeated via a system update. The Smash Stack can even be run on a [[Wii U]] running in Wii mode, though this does not allow hacking of the Wii U itself.
==Trivia==
 
*If an SD card containing the Smash Stack is inserted upon entering the stage selection screen, the game will freeze as it attempts and fails to load the Smash Stack file as if it were a custom stage. As a result, in order to play a VS match with stage hacks, a hack that disables the loading of custom stages must be in place.
As a result of its unpatchability, simplicity, and presence in a popular game, the Smash Stack is one of the most common ways of hacking or modding a Wii, and the method is supported by all major ''Brawl'' mods for players who do not wish to make any permanent changes to their console. It can even be argued that the exploit is one of the biggest reasons that the hacking and modding community, for both ''Brawl'' and other Wii games such as ''{{S|mariowiki|Mario Kart Wii}}'', reached a level of popularity and sophistication that was previously unheard of for consoles.
**This can also be avoided by simply not having the SD card inserted on the stage selection screen; the core game and selected characters are loaded beforehand, so not having the card inserted will not have any effect other than making it impossible to load stage or music hacks. The card however must be reinserted once the match begins in order to load any hacks done to assist characters or mid-match character changes.


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Smash_Stack Smash Stack on WiiBrew]
*[http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Smash_Stack Smash Stack on WiiBrew]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e34rKsHYU84 A video tutorial on the Smash Stack]
 
[[Category:Hacking]]
[[Category:Hacking]]

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