Classic game modifications site stops taking submissions after 20 years
ROMhacking.net, a leading online platform for classic game modifications, has announced a significant shift in its operations. The site's creator and operator, Nightcrawler, revealed that it will no longer accept submissions and will instead focus solely on news updates. This decision marks a major change for the website that has been an integral part of the online classic gaming community for over two decades.
A hub for classic game modifications
ROMhacking.net has been a hub for community-created alterations of classic games, hosting a wide range of ROM hacks. These modifications varied from minor changes like replacing the original Mario sprite with Super Mario Bros. 3 version, to more extensive alterations such as Mario Builder 64. The latter allowed users to design their own levels for Super Mario 64, reminiscent of the Nintendo series Super Mario Maker.
ROMhacking.net's contributions and future plans
Contributors to ROMhacking.net regularly provided tweaks for game ROM files, including bug fixes, additions, and translations of games that were never released in certain languages like English or Spanish. The site also hosted reverse-engineered source codes for original games like the NES Metroid. Nightcrawler has assured users that the site's collection will remain accessible on The Internet Archive, with two decades' worth of hacks and other files primarily stored in a single 11.7GB zip file.
Forum to remain active amid operational changes
Despite the operational changes, Nightcrawler confirmed that the forum will continue to be active and downloadable content will remain available for now. However, the site has transitioned into read-only mode. This decision was made due to "24/7 use, endless queues, and an endless inbox," as well as "legal burdens," according to Nightcrawler. He also alleged that members of a group who had offered to take over administering the site, had doxxed him and plotted his removal from the site.
