How to Patch

This is a common question among those new to using fan translations. There are a bunch of different methods to apply an .ips patch to a game, whether it's for a SNES game, Genesis, or anything else for that matter, and thankfully all the methods are fairly simple. Below I've listed a number of tools you can use to apply a patch to the game, and a quick basics section for those who're really lost.

The Basics

You're most likely planning to play the game on an emulator, so this page is concerned mainly with that. You'll need the patch (the .ips files that can be found on this site and many others), the game ROM, and an emulator. For emulators, go to Zophar's Domain. Emulators due exactly what the name implies - they act like a game system's hardware. The ROM is the software, the actual game in an electronic file. ROMs are not available for downloading from RPGClassics, but our Affiliates section on the main page should have a link to at least one such site at any given time. Be aware that you will need the original Japanese version of the ROM in most cases. In addition, many patches won't work correctly if applied to a corrupted ROM. A corrupted ROM is one that has already been altered (by a patch, for example) or is flawed in some other way. Lastly, the .ips file. This is the file that contains the changes to the original ROM. ALWAYS check the readme files that usually come along with patches to see if there is anything you need to know about the ROM you need to use. In some cases, you may need to add a header to the ROM. Scroll down to SNEStool below for more on that. Since this is a translation section, the .ips files found here are concerned with changing the language in the original ROM to another, in almost all cases from Japanese to English. To patch the ROM, you will need to apply the .ips file to the ROM. Then you're ready to start playing by loading up the ROM in the emulator. Below I'll list some ways to apply patches to ROMs, and maybe include some other useful tools.

ZSNES*

ZSNES is a superb SNES emulator, and will serve most. Put both the ROM and the patch in the same directory. Make sure the patch and the game share the same name (for example, ff4e.ips and ff4e.smc). Load up the game in ZSNES and the emulator will automatically apply the patch. ZSNES homepage: ZSNES.

ZSNESw*

The Windows version of ZSNES. Instructions same as above. ZSNES homepage: ZSNES.

Gens*

The Genesis/32x/CD emulator Gens has also apparently added autopatching support, but I haven't tried the feature out yet, and didn't see anything more than a passing mention of it in the information files. Gens homepage: Gens.

IPSWin

Instructions are included with the download. Get it from the ZeroSoft hompage.

SNEStool

SNEStool is an easy to use program, the one I originally used and for some reason still do. Open up the program, hit "u" for "Use IPS." Select the .ips file to use in the area at the left (make it easier on yourself and put both the .ips and the game file in the same directory with SNEStool). It'll then prompt you to select the game file. Do so in the same way, and hopefully the program will return the message "IPS patched OK" or something similar. If case you need to add a header to the ROM, this utility can handle that too. Download SNEStool.

Sorry to anyone using a Mac out there. I don't myself, so I really don't know anything about patching utilities for that system. If anyone would like to drop me a line on how to use patches on a Mac, please do so.

*Note: Soft patching (the automatic patching that emulators like ZSNES perform) applies the patch during the playing session only. The ROM itself remains unchanged. Hard patching (when you use programs such as SNESTool) permanently alters the ROM by applying the patch.
Contributed by Hiryuu