If you know nothing about programming and compression, Suikoden I and II is a bad place to start. I've already looked into hacking this game, and they use a file-compression scheme to compress the files with the stuff you'd need to edit.

If this is your first romhacking project, I suggest doing something a little more low tech. The systems with the most documentation (which would make them easier for you to learn) are the NES and SNES. Shortly after that, GBA. If you really want to do something more modern, PSX emulation and debugging is getting better, but it's still fairly limited.

~DS

HyperBog, have you gotten in touch with the people behind the Suikogaiden Translation Project? I wonder if they'd tackle Suikoden I & II after that -- and I'd say working with more experienced people in a team environment is the best way to grow fast. It'll probably be awhile until they're done with Suikogaiden though.

Although it's not the PSP version, you're free to check out some old "brute-force comparison" attempts to examine the PSX version of Suikoden II's graphics decompression routine. Notice how ffgriever jumped in and radically saved the day by sharing actual source code for the game's decompression routine? To be a truly effective modder, you'll eventually have to learn a programming language and be able to develop your own tools to implement compression and decompression routines when they're complex. Although, if your comparative advantage is in learning Japanese, you might be able to team up with technical wizards provided your interests are compatible.

Too bad they compressed the script in PSP Suikoden II, then. I see now that Konami put both games on one UMD (according to the game's wiki article at least) so I guess that would explain it.


EDIT: Text is actually easily accessible, though we still need to confirm 100% that the Unicode in the uncompressed files isn't just some kind of dummy text. Someone will have to test with a live PSP since there aren't any working emulators AFAIK. Check out the progress in this thread. Some text injection tools might help, but even doing this project "by hand" with a hex editor and WinRAR might be possible.

I think everything that's absolutely needed for the project on the technical side is available now (and easy to pick up for a beginner), but it might be best to wait until PSP emulation becomes more accurate, so that needed testing won't become such a hassle. I'd definitely be up for pitching in with this, but I'll have to wait until I've got a couple projects off my plate.