ROM hacking just announced that it will transition to a news-only site and its database archive will be released on the Internet Archive. The website is considered a cornerstone for the ROM hacking community which managed to merge game modders, translators, and retro gaming enthusiasts for nearly 20 years.
Over the years, the website became the go-to place for people seeking game mods for classic titles, fixing bugs, and bringing untranslated games to a global audience.
While the site has helped the gaming community in many ways possible, it has accepted its fate to wind down its service. The transition is met with mixed reactions from the community but the site will remain a solid foundation for preserving gaming history.
Here are some of the milestones achieved by the company for nearly 20 years of service to the gaming community:
Early Years
ROMhacking.net was founded in 2005 when the members of the community saw a need for a centralized platform that would serve as an all-in-one hub for enthusiasts. Prior to its establishment, the community was scattered on various smaller sites and forums, which made it hard to collate and track works.
As soon as it was introduced, the site quickly gained popularity due to its unified database that allowed the community to share resources and gather new knowledge. The site was then filled with tools, documents, hacks, and translations.
The site's early stardom was also attributed to its user-friendly interface. It was easy for the members to submit and manage projects on the site.
Steady Growth and Expansion
In 2010, the company saw its growing community and decided to expand its database into more categories. Stuff like tutorials and game translations were welcomed to the site.
The forum became the most popular feature of the site which allowed the community to engage in discussions. They collaborated on how to troubleshoot specific problems or how to solve new hacks to a certain game. Fan translations were also a hot topic at the time.
Adapting to Modern Gaming
The new era of modern gaming failed to stop its popularity. The community managed to adapt to the modern needs of the members by adding more comprehensive tools, guides, and sections to cater to topics on newer gaming platforms.
The site remains a go-to place for newbies and veteran ROM hackers as they can share years of experience with new members. It is also credited with preserving classic game titles, helping them to keep older games relevant to modern audiences.
Legacy
The site announced its official transition and cited how different it was in 2005. ROMhacking.net became so busy and active 24/7 due to endless queues and inbox inquiries.
The company also revealed that copyright issues have increasingly become a legal burden. The site also became infested by bots and people who abuse the resources that they found.
ROM hacking will no longer accept submissions other than news. All the database and downloadable files are now released on the Internet Archive to continue its legacy to help preserve games.
