First of all, is there documentation on the Smash Bros. ROM? Where level data is stored there, how it works, etc., etc. If that's the case, then getting a simple level viewer going shouldn't be too difficult. Editing on the other hand is a bit more complicated, especially 1) depending on how the level data works (i.e. if levels are made of individual objects with separate positions, etc., or if - at least part of them - is made of one static model) and 2) depending on if you want a mouse-based editing interface (like Toad's Tool or Zelda's Utility of Time) or a text-based one (like Zelda's OZMAV2).

As for code and such that might give you an idea on how to tackle a level viewer/editor for an N64 game, check out the sources of the aforementioned Zelda tools UoT and OZMAV2 at http://code.google.com/p/uot/ (written in VB.NET) and http://code.google.com/p/ozmav/ (written in plain C).


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cu xdaniel

Well, then the first step will be finding the level data. As long as the game doesn't use any kind of data compression, one way of at least getting somewhere near that data might be looking for level textures in the ROM - like the Sliph Co. logo on the Saffron City stage or something. You could try using ex. Tile Molester for this. There's some modified versions of the program out there that might be better (ex. with more features), but I could only find the original at the moment - that should get you started, tho.


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cu xdaniel

Originally posted by Joe

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It looks like SSB doesn't use any of those formats. This either means it's uncompressed, or it uses something cooked up by HAL.

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Probably something by HAL; I couldn't find much in terms of textures or display lists inside the ROM.

Also, on the subject of languages, don't go the Windows API route whatsoever - it's a bitch to work with, especially if you want a GUI. Once/if you get to that point, look into some more modern alternatives.


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cu xdaniel