I’m going to channel my inner idea guy here and throw out a bunch of ideas I have for projects. I’m probably never gonna make most of this (I find working on stuff harder and harder to do =/) so if anybody wants to pick up something please do, I would perhaps even be willing to contribute!
Tools
- port all EA tools (including EA itself) to a single easy to compile language (from me would be C or C++ (easier to compile) or Rust (nicer to write)) so that they don’t require a million different tools to compile.
- Make a “better” alternative to EA for buildfiles
- lua-based EA-like tool (“lea” trademark copyright). Could run both EA-like scripts for ease of use/port and lua scripts for more complex installers.
- PyEA kind of serves a similar purpose but I personally don’t really like the python choice for this.
- module-based hack injector. Apply modern PC game modding principles to rom hacking.
- mix of the above two.
- any alternative to EA would also need to have a lot ported to it and also good documentation and also ease of set up otherwise nobody will use it.
- lua-based EA-like tool (“lea” trademark copyright). Could run both EA-like scripts for ease of use/port and lua scripts for more complex installers.
- analytical randomizers that understand the data structures of the game. Could randomize generic rom hacks.
- rom2ea. Different application of the tech needed to make analytical randomizers. Converts existing ROMs to buildfiles (EA or otherwise).
- random hack maker. Make hacks comprised of a sequence of randomly chosed pre-built chapters with some variation and other random factors (random cast, maybe random selection of wizardry, etc).
- blitzes are a good (“good”) source of free to use simple self-contained generic chapters that can be used for this.
- web based stuff (web apps are great because just get the url and it runs; also cross platform native apps are hard to make)
- web based randomizers
- web based collaborative interactive disassembler for gba games. So we can have a community annotated disassembly that everybody can contribute to that is easier to work with than the decomps. Also generate resources (sym files, etc) from it.
non-GBAFE
- smart disassembler for gameboy games (I have one that is almost done!).
- web based interactive disassembler for nes or gameboy games.
- buildfile-like tools for filesystem based games such as Gamecube/Wii/DS games.
Hacks
- public domain fe6 (either menu only or complete) translation buildfile (more flexible than existing translations which are patches) for basing rom hacks off of.
- I have already made the supporting hack necessary to insert and display english text.
- self-generating rom hack. Basically the random hack maker idea but as a self contained ROM rather than an external tool.
- self-generating rom hack that generates its own chapters rather that choose from a pool. basically an implementation of “roguelike emblem”.
- fe1 ported to gba programatically from an fe1 rom.
- full “disassembly” of TLP. Might need to be done partially programatically to avoid permission issues relating to assets.
- imma keep the more esoteric (read: dumber) ideas to myself for now.