First and foremost I read many guides and FAQs, so please don't just point me in that direction without reading this post.

Okay, I can do all of the translating of a game myself (I have a degree in Japanese). I took a C++ class in university and got an A, but I didn't learn much about ASM (However... I use to hack some MMORPGS so I used some ASM... I know I am bad! but I am just saying this will help a bit, because I am a little familiar with it). My questions is about PSX hacking. I understand how ROMS work, but I want to rip an ISO and begin to translate a PSX game. I understand it is a bit more complicated than a ROM but I am not all that sure why. Problems I am facing?

1) I can read guides just fine, however most use Windows software. I am using a Linux system. Do you see the problem? I think I can use a lot of the Windows software using the Wine software on Linux to run the Windows software. However that may not work all of the time, and since it is my first time doing this I may not know IF the software is working correctly to begin with.

2) Text to Text hacking, literally changing the text is one thing, but I need to subtitle videos in the game and change menus etc. Is that going to be overly difficult?

I would like some input by people who hack PSX games, translate and/or are familiar with problems in this area. If someone could point me to universal guides (not just to ROMS or certain systems) that would be good. I find there is a TON of information out there about hacking, translating etc. that makes it more difficult, because there is so much to read.

Now I am reading a lot of guides on zophar.net (has some useful PSX guides).

That's all for now. Merry Christmas.

PS, if this should be in the general hacking forum could you please move it? I wasn't too sure and wrote it here.

where to begin? well another system might be a good idea, but I'm just the local idiot.

sorry, but I do think grasping the basics on something a bit more... well basic, is a good start. Just trying to be realistic, not saying it's impossible or trying to discourage.

What I CAN tell you is talk to Gemini, he's a freaking wizard at PSX.

If you are interested in hacking code, IDA is the tool for you. It's not free, but it has several goodies that will greatly help you, like the official function detection database and other neat stuff. Also, get PCSX debugger from the RHDN database and start analyzing doing very small hacks. You should also think about having a Windows partition only for hacking purposes.

...Huh? dd wouldn't care about copyright protection of any sort. It's a pure block-by-block copier.

PSX games uses its own weird ISO format. I spent months trying to find a program that can rip a PSX ISO.

Try CloneCD, although it is a Windows program.

On Windows you can use ISOBuster. I tried K3b burner on Linux but it had a read error on the PSX ISO. I am sure you can do it on Linux easily but I am not sure how. It is probably even possibly without any software.

PSX hacking is so over my head.
However backing up a disc is okay

http://pearsfyh.blogspot.com/2007/11/backing-up-non-pc-cd.html

I use .bin and .toc. There are plenty of other options for cdrdao, google or using "man" will be handy.

Also, bin can be converted to .iso and wav with bchunk.
http://he.fi/bchunk/

As for Wine, always check the WineHQ database, the program IDA that was recommended, has a Platinum rating for some versions. Wine has improved much since then too, try it out with the latest version.

http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=565

If you feel you have to run Windows, if you have speedy PC, especially with hardware virtualization. Try qemu

http://fabrice.bellard.free.fr/qemu/

Anyway, try the recommended apps out with Wine, a new version came out today too. See how things go. I've had very good luck with Wine.

P.S. And Gemini, the ToP translation is amazing