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An alternate hack classification system

Since perhaps the time SMW hacking took off, hacks have generally been classified as either Vanilla, Chocolate, or ChocoNilla. All this really tells potential players is whether or not there's custom content in the hack. I'm not saying the flavor system should be completely scrapped, but it can easily be supplemented with a second system that further defines the hacks in question.

Traditional
A traditional hack is a hack that aims to feel like an official Mario game. Story is very minimal and is usually able to be summarized in the text box on the Intro Screen of the game. Naturally, most vanilla hacks are traditional, but it's not uncommon for a chocolate hack to also fit into this style if most of the custom content consists of graphics, sprites, music, and blocks, with most applied patches doing little to alter gameplay beyond what's normal for Mario platformers.

Puzzle
As the name implies, puzzle hacks require the player to solve puzzles to proceed, rather than simply run through levels jumping on heads, eating mushrooms, and shooting fireballs. While a puzzle hack can possibly be created with vanilla resources, it's much more common for said hacks to use custom ASM-based resources to add more variety to the puzzles. Examples of puzzle hacks include Mario's Keytastrophe and Karoshi Mario.

Adventure
Adventure hacks have more elaborate stories that are often told through cutscenes. These hacks are rarely vanilla, as the VWF Cutscene Tool is typically used to create the story-advancing cutscenes. These hacks will also use NPC sprites and may also have RPG elements such as a coins-as-currency system. The best example of an adventure hack would be SMW2+3: The Essence Star

Gimmick
These hacks focus on elaborate ASM-based gimmicks and almost serve as tech demos to show the extent to which Super Mario World can be hacked by someone with enough skill in 65c816 Assembly code. Most of these hacks come from Japan, but there could be one out there somewhere that doesn't. A good example of a gimmick hack would be Brutal Mario.

Transformation
These hacks replace Mario with a different character, either from another game or, more frequently, a character made by the author him/herself. These are almost NEVER vanilla hacks, as almost everything in the game is changed, from graphics to physics. This category may be more of a subcategory than anything, as these hacks can have the narrative simplicity of a traditional hack, the epic feel of an adventure hack, the brain-tease of a puzzle hack, or the wow factor of a gimmick hack. Examples of Transformation hacks include Just Blob and Saph and the Great Rebellion.

Kaizo
Unlike the other categories, this one has existed for as long as SMW hacking itself. If you don't know what a Kaizo hack is, it's basically a hack that takes its difficulty to the very limits of human capability. TV Tropes refers to such hacks as Platform Hell games.
Quintesson Judge: Silence, or you will be held in contempt of this court!
Hot Rod: I have nothing but contempt for this court!
- Transformers the Movie (1986)
That actually would be a good idea. It might be hard to make it an official classification system, but hack submitters and moderators could certainly add it to the description, as well as combinations like "Adventure/Puzzle" or "Transformation/Kaizo".

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I'm working on a hack! Check it out here. Progress: 64/95 levels.
I... really like the idea. It covers practically all types of SMW hacks we've ever seen, and in a simplistic and easy-to-understand way. Implementing these cattegories (either officially or unofficially) would be a great plus imo, esp. if they're labelled (mentioned in the description or something) in a hack, so people will know what type of hack they're going to play before testing themselves. imamelia's idea of combinations should work as well. I'd be glad to label my hack with "Adventure, according to these definitions" once it's released.
This should be used for the new hack section.
I really like the idea as well. I think that making it an official field to fill when submitting a hack would be great (making it optional is also good); you have all classes of hacks in a list (not a dropdown menu), with a description appearing when you hover over the text, and being able to select more than one type of hack. Hmmm I like dreaming...

But yeah, I find it a nice way to classificate hacks and I hopeo see it being used in the future.
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to hear birds and see none.
Brilliant idea. This is definitely perfect for the new Hack Section, if they ever add it.
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As a secondary classification, I really like this idea.
I don't think this system would work out.
Personally I'd have no idea how to classify my hack with this. The choosing here is way harder to do than with the classic method and I think it's okay as it is.
Originally posted by Undy
I don't think this system would work out.
Personally I'd have no idea how to classify my hack with this.


Kaizo would fit.


I like this system. Everything from Original to Gimmick is covered and I really like this system being optional, so if people don't want to use this classification system, they simply don't have to.
Originally posted by Undy
Personally I'd have no idea how to classify my hack with this.

Somewhere between Traditional and Adventure, perhaps?

Another one I just though of would be Non-linear, which has a lot of extended levels with multiple paths and entrances. I guess you could look at Super Metroid for a good example like this, since there isn't a hack that classify this entirely as far as I see. I guess that is sort of like Adventure, huh?
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Sounds like a Great idea, V.
With some work, It would replace the damn unused "grades" system perfectly.

It respects the different "preferences" of hack players.

@Undy
I don't think it's OK as it is. Nowadays, players don't want to play any good hack there. They have personal preferences.

And it might be a good idea to create another system to classify graphic style as well (Vanilla, Choconilla, Chocolate, Transformation, Violent Clash)
Originally posted by Undy
I don't think this system would work out.
Personally I'd have no idea how to classify my hack with this. The choosing here is way harder to do than with the classic method and I think it's okay as it is.

Undy, that shows where you fail at hacking. You base your hacks simply on aesthetics. They look good, yes, but not being able to classify your hack under one of those therms means it's just an aesthetical showoff instead of something that could be actually played for fun.

Not to mention many people have preferences other than how the hack looks like, as how the hack feels like and what the fun in it is based on. That said, that sounds like an excellent idea. Of course I wouldn't exclude the idea of a graphics style filter either; like some said, we could have both. This way it would be much easier to people to find what they're looking for.
It's easily the best thing I've done
So why the empty numb?
Originally posted by Koopster
Originally posted by Undy
The choosing here is way harder to do than with the classic method and I think it's okay as it is.

[whoa insult out of nowhere]


Okay, I don't know where that came from, and it's obvious you've wanted to say that for a while, but this is not the place for that. You should take it to PM if this is a serious issue.



Anyway... I have to disagree with you Undy. Classifying hacks solely by the amount of custom resources used is backwards IMO. I think it would be fine if used along with a classification system like the one in the first post.

Also, from what I can tell your hack would be classified as "traditional" under this system.
Originally posted by Koopster
Originally posted by Undy
I don't think this system would work out.
Personally I'd have no idea how to classify my hack with this. The choosing here is way harder to do than with the classic method and I think it's okay as it is.

Undy, that shows where you fail at hacking. You base your hacks simply on aesthetics. They look good, yes, but not being able to classify your hack under one of those therms means it's just an aesthetical showoff instead of something that could be actually played for fun.

Not to mention many people have preferences other than how the hack looks like, as how the hack feels like and what the fun in it is based on. That said, that sounds like an excellent idea. Of course I wouldn't exclude the idea of a graphics style filter either; like some said, we could have both. This way it would be much easier to people to find what they're looking for.


Couldn't resist but I laughed pretty hard at that.
Ignoring these last sudden occurrences...

Originally posted by TRS
Anyway... I have to disagree with you Undy. Classifying hacks solely by the amount of custom resources used is backwards IMO. I think it would be fine if used along with a classification system like the one in the first post.

Also, from what I can tell your hack would be classified as "traditional" under this system.

I agree with these, except that I think most choconilla hacks (Undy's included) have a "custom" atmosphere that imo somewhat exceed the "limits" of the Traditional category. What I'm trying to say here is: when I play aesthetics-inclined hacks, that exploit palettes, graphics, organization (Map16 modifications), animations in a more detailed way, I really can't actually see much of the original SMW in them. By thinking about it, I came up with an idea of category:

Concept/Original (Not sure what's the best name for this. Suggestions are appreciated.)
Hacks in this category appeal to the player's esthetic sense by showing off creative ways of changing the whole in-game atmosphere (doesn't matter if it's graphically and/or musically, etc.), or by adding unique elements to the overall design. They are usually representations of the authors' own artistic styles. "Choconilla" and "Self-drawn GFX" hacks are examples that fit into this category. Specific examples: the Super "Mario" World series, Choconilla Rise and Lunar Legends.

I think this could work as a subcategory as well, like Gamma V's Transformation.
Originally posted by TRS
Okay, I don't know where that came from, and it's obvious you've wanted to say that for a while, but this is not the place for that. You should take it to PM if this is a serious issue.

Actually my intention was to make that feel the less offensive possible, but I guess I failed at that. #ab{x_x} Apologies to all, especially to Undy. I may not be a fan of the way he hacks, but this doesn't beat be to like him as a person.

...Good Lord this is embarassing...


...Actually, disregard my post. I pretty much agree with Gloomy, a category for those could work out rather than just unconsidering those hacks. I suggest "Semi-Traditional" for a name.
It's easily the best thing I've done
So why the empty numb?
Why don't we abolish classifications? They really don't help to identify things all that much. PBSIdeaChannel did a video on genre designations which pretty much sums up my thoughts on why these classifications are arbitrary and useless. Don't judge a hack by how it's classified, judge it by its merit as a video game.
Originally posted by MolSno
judge it by its merit as a video game.

It doesn't sound like a good idea to me. You cannot judge a hack in any way. There are games I like that I've never seen someone else that likes either, merit depends on who plays and reviews it.

But people here have personal preferences. The hack won't be better or worse because of its classification, but some people prefer choconilla, some prefer Transformation, some prefer Vanilla, etc.

Just like in games world, some people prefer 2D adventure games, some prefer FPS, some prefer Fight games, etc. (It's not rare to see people liking all kind of game/hack by the way).

Judge by grades or merit will be like judging the hack because more people like it or not.
The point of this alternative classification is not to judge a hack, but literally to classify it, and this kind of system would be used to search for hacks, not to tell the person how good or bad it is like you said classifications do. It could even make the "Which hack should I play?" thread become useless, because a lot of people ask for things that are almost identical to what Gloomy Star's classification covers (i.e. "a hack with lotsa custom bosses" - "a hack that has a good storyline and is long" - "a short preferably vanilla hack with a classic Mario feel").
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Why don't we use unlimited tags to classify hacks? I think is not very clever to use a limited system when hacks can be so complex.