I may have mentioned this idea a long time ago to a few users but I'm bringing it up again and taking it into consideration more now.

Basically the "Rom Hack Room" would be like the Retro Game Room except it'd only contain rom hacks and it'd contain the patch files for those games for download. It'd also offer the user a link to play the game if the game is playable on Vizzed.

I think this would be a great addition to the site since it'd allow me to bring back the hacked Pokemon games in a more "legal" and that's a big deal because the Pokemon pages use to draw in a ton of traffic, especially all of the Pokemon rom hacks. It'd also draw in a whole new type of audience which would be great since that would eventually result into a boost in traffic. I'd also make it so that someone would have to sign up to download the patch files which is always a good way to get someone to stick around.

Making the Rom Hack Room wouldn't be as time consuming as you might think. I'd basically use the template from the RGR and VGR search pages and game pages and alter it a bit so that it has it's own distinctive look and feel. The thing that would be the most time consuming would be having to upload the rom hack patch files, but I could have the staff help me out with.

What does everyone think of this idea?

EDIT: I should also point out that rom hacks for games that don't exist in the RGR would benefit from this. The VGR doesn't include hacks since the VGR is dedicated to actual games. The RGR is dedicated to playable games so it doesn't include game pages for anything that isn't playable. There are a lot of games that have rom hacks available for more modern systems (like PlayStation 2, Wii, DS, etc) so this would offer pages for those finally.

tRIUNE : I'm pretty sure you liked the idea of this years ago when I brought it up so I'm summoning you to this to get your feedback.

I sort of remember you talking about this a while back, I definitely like the idea.

There's already a site that has been around for ages: romhacking.net, which hosts thousands of patches for hacks and translations, but it would be cool to see a 'Vizzed version'.

Well, it could be a nice way to have modern games available, as many people is requesting. They won't still be playable, but now we have a reliable and easy source to search for altered versions of modern games. I don't know if those hacks will be as good as to substitute the original and harder to find games, but we won't know if we don't try, right?

Pokemon hacks, specially, should totally return. They were the main source of traffic before Nintendo set their eyes on this site, so having them back could not only increase traffic but also maybe recover a good chunk of users who went away after they were removed.

I think you should give this a try. Due to the potential this idea has, I'm sure it will rank high in your list of priorities despite the less amount of time you can dedicate to this site now, so it will be done rather soon. What a good Christmas present would this be

I am intensely approving to the point where I am radiating approval

can you feel the approval?

But yes, this is a great idea. I'd like to see this happen

I would also love to see this take place.

I'm extremely curious as to all the different hacks and alterations to games out there. This would also help organize the playable hacks from the RGR without having to use the search feature to do so. I agree with what every one else has said as well.

I also should point out that this would benefit more than the already existent 'romhacking.net' because Vizzed can have patches which that site doesn't, including a lot of patches from smwcentral.net and pokecommunity.com, for examples.

If this will get the Pokemon hack playable on the site again, and even do so in a less legally ambiguous fashion, then there really isn't a need for any other reasoning. There were a whole lot of people that signed up to the site just to play Light Platinum and a whole lot of people still haven't figured out play.rom.online. Even looking past the money, it would still be a worthwhile expansion to the site.

The idea sounds good to me. Maybe include an option to sort by which game the hack is for, as well.

m0ssb3rg935 : It won't get the Pokemon hacks playable – it will provide the patch to the hack.

tRIUNE : Does that mean that we can add new patches and texture packs? I'd really like to see the Nicholas Cage reskin of Majoras Mask on this website

Ooh I love this idea! Since I am normally someone who does play a lot of hack games lol. Ok maybe not as much as I used too, but still sometimes I do. It would make the search much more easier in a way.

From my point of view this seems like a great idea. It has the potential of bringing back some of the lost traffic from having to take down the Nintendo games and could bring a whole new audience with it. Maybe even make the rom hacking forums a bit more activity without really having the same legal risk.

I don't really see many downsides to it besides the time it would take to make but since you're able to base it on the look of the RGR and VGR that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

I like the Idea! It would be great to play new Rom hacks.

I couldn't like this idea more. Would be an awesome option to bring back some of that traffic we lost back when the Nintendo stuff happened. Sounds cool.

That's a really great idea! 
Make sure you include the patcher and instructions. :3

Vanelan : Most likely there should be a download available for various patchers instead of including the patcher with every patch upload. Plus there will most likely be instructions on the patch page (instead of having to read the file from the hacker included in the zip archive).

tRIUNE : Yea. That's what I meant. I suppose I wasn't clear. ^^;
There should be a separate link to a patcher.