******************************** Hacking Tools Resources********************************
First download an US rom
Project64 1.6:
The most basic N64 emulator. There are many (more accurate) emulators, but this emulator, specifically its 1.6 build, are the most commonly used among hack creators and players alike. This is the option that should run best on very slow computers. Set your emulator to have 8mb of RAM! Untick “Hide advanced settings”.
Project64 Nightly:
A very stable and high performance version of PJ64, handling more intense plugins like Angrylion much better than prior PJ64 versions. Fairly recommended for those discontent with 1.6 performance.
Retroarch:
While a particularly awkward emulator to setup, it boasts high performance for some pretty accurate graphics options.
Emulator Plugins:
These handle all of the game’s visuals. When something looks wrong, these are probably the cause. Place in Plugin\GFX\ folder and switch inside application settings. If there is no GFX folder, just put it in the Plugin folder.
GLideN64:
Somewhat difficult to run, better accuracy than Jabo’s.
LINK’s GLideN64 (Pre-setup Emulator)
A fork of GlideN64 that is supposedly more stable than the original.
Emu download link contains a PJ64 1.6 + LINK’s GLideN64 preset with recommended settings for hacks. Bundled with dgVoodoo to fix Jabo’s crashing, may trigger anti-virus, but this is a false positive.
Angrylion:
Extremely hard to run, extreme accuracy. (PJ64 2.4+ nightly may run this better).
Lemd3d9:
Easy to run, poor accuracy, simple texture/model ripping tool.
Jabo’s Direct3D8:
Comes with PJ64 1.6.1, could be required for some hacks, still not advised for development.
3D Modelling Program: FUNDAMENTAL
Used to create level models, object models, and anything else requiring 3D files. Any program that can export as .obj or other common 3D model formats will also work. The most common 3D modelling programs for SM64 are:
Blender:
A technically challenging program with a steep learning curve, but has a myriad of features and plugins and is more suitable for general use. Free and open source. Blender may seem daunting at first, so it is highly recommended that you seek out a beginner tutorial on youtube before diving in, such as one of the most popular tutorial series. See Fast64 tutorial for advanced SM64 Blender usage
Sketchup:
A much simpler, yet more limited program based more around drawing shapes rather than constructing them. Remember to take advantage of polygon grouping in order to keep level triangle counts low. (Choose a Sketchup Make version and sign up! Browser version of sketchup is impractical, use the downloadable version.)
Some sketchup plugins are near-necessary for optimal usage with the program:
Cleanup3
Model optimizer that could increase level performance by cleaning up garbage leftover in the model, get rid of unused lines + materials, as well as potentially simplifying shapes.
OBJExporter v3 (For free Sketchup)
A simple yet functional OBJ exporter for those who don’t have the Pro version. Note that OBJ is the recommended SM64 model importing format.
TT_Vertex (Month free trial, after $20)
Useful tool that allows for precise vertex moving, can also work with groups of vertices, easy-to-use and very helpful but not free.
Basic Hacking Tools:
Number of stars represents the relevance / usefulness of the tool currently.
SM64 ROM Manager:
An all-in-one, open-source versatile tool used for importing levels, moving objects, and a variety of other functions, like importing music, changing text, importing object models, and more.
Bowser’s Blueprints: - Needs quad64 for level editing.
An open-source tool for creating Super Mario 64 ROMhacks, and an alternative to ROM Manager. It is currently in Alpha, but already has a lot of features, including easy access to complicated custom codings, git-like rom collaboration, and is being actively developed.
Quad64:
An object viewer / editor, has simple texture replacers and script viewers (level scripts, geometry layouts, fast3d scripts.) Discontinued by author.
Alternate version of Quad64 capable of ripping geometry from levels & objects: Select a level, it will be dumped in .dae format to the Quad64 Folder, if having issues importing the dae you could convert it through Noesis.
Floating IPS (Flips):
A tool used to create and patch .bps files. A must have to create and/or play hacks which do not infringe on Nintendo's copyright, and save space in file size.
Seq64:
A tool used to convert .midi songs into .m64 files. Through this process, one can convert custom songs to be played in-game. (Download the whole .zip, the .exe is in the bin folder!)
N64TextureTool:
A tool to replace the end screen, fixing some graphical weirdness that older endscreen importers have. Requires a hex editor to import the file it generates, or by using the example .asm file provided.
SM64 Cake Eater:
A user-friendly tool used purely to replace the end screen of a SM64 hack. Often causes graphical artifacts.
SM64 Tweaker:
A tool for tweaking various elements of a hack. Most of these features are incorporated into ROM Manager, so irrelevant for RM users, but this tool can work with any binary hack. Notable features include restoring checksum & the ability to change some variables.
SM64 Text Manager:
A user-friendly text editor for SM64. Entirely incorporated into ROM Manager, irrelevant for RM users.
SM64Paint:
A user-friendly vertex color editor for SM64, as well as a moderately accurate level viewer. However, development has ceased, so not everything is finished. Felegg’s fork works with Rom Manager, original works with SM64Editor
Costume Color 64:
A user-friendly Mario model color editor, works well with any hack as well as Kaze’s optimized Mario model
.
Advanced Hacking Tools:
HxD
The standard for hex editing. Making any sort of change beyond what the basic tools give you will require this. Remember to use ctrl+b to replace hex code or else your rom will break.
SM64 Decompiled:
A complete decompilation of SM64, allows for much friendlier extreme modifications of the game’s code in the C coding language. Not many tools available for it currently, nor is it suitable for beginners. Building is Linux only. Virtual Machines or WSL for Windows 10 are alternatives for those without it
.
Simple Armips GUI:
A simple graphical tool used to patch .asm files to roms.
Project64 Nightly (again):
A more advanced version of the normal Project64. This program includes real-time memory and ASM viewers, along with various other technical and debugging functions. A great tool for many purposes, may also perform better than 1.6 in some circumstances.
Fast64:
A powerful Blender 2.8+ plugin that allows one to export display lists, geolayouts, and animations directly into ROM or as C for use with decomp.
STROOP:
A TASing tool used to view & edit real-time object statistics, including other statistics about the current game session (playtime, camera stats, etc.) Can be useful in many debugging situations, but by no means required.
N64SoundTool:
A tool used to replace sound effects in most N64 games, including SM64.
LemASM:
A tool made to read and write ASM directly to the ROM. However, with the existence of Armips, this may not be an ideal tool to use.
Texture64:
A more robust texture editor than what's offered with other programs. Features many different texture types and previews. Requires knowing the texture’s exact hexadecimal position
Quad64 (level ripping fork):
A fork of Quad64 which has allows you to rip level models from both ROM hacks, or the vanilla game. Note that it can only rip any given level’s 1st area.