Topic: Understanding Hex (Read 112 times)

evil_inside · « **on:** August 20, 2003, 10:15:00 AM »

Understanding Hexadecimal (Hex) Numbers:

Link

Link 2

Hexidecimal is a numeric system slightly different then what most are currently used to. The standard system of counting we use today is called the "Decimal system", also called Base 10. This means that all numbers are based on the number 10 (more specifically 0...9, 10..90, etc). The Hexidecimal system differs as it is based on the number 16 and promptly named Base 16 (Thus the term Hex). Hexadecimal number systems are very common on computers, since they allow higher numbers to be placed in smaller areas of memory, or in our case - in a smaller area of the screen.To stay with symbols we are familiar with; hex uses A-F for all numbers past 9. Thus, a hexidecimal string representing numbers of 1 through 20, would be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F, 10, 11, 12, 13 and so on. This is how many large numbers will be accessed in Buzz, and have been accessed in every tracker written. To comfirm the concept, let me illustrate visually. The following chart shows numbers in both Base 10 (decimal system, right) and their equivalents in Base 16 (hexidecimal system, left). Please note that the numbers in this chart are very common to daily Buzz use. While you will not need to memorize anything (decimal values will always appear in a status bar), these are good to know and help make editing faster..

00 0
40 64
80 128
FF 255
FFFF 65335

Figure 2.6

If you do not understand this system yet, don't worry. It is one of those things you master as you use it frequently. For now, just realize that numbers in Buzz are from 0 to 15, rather then 0-9, and accessed with 0-F. The rest you'll pick up as you go.

pkScary · « **Reply #1 on:** August 20, 2003, 10:37:00 AM »

When I get back I'll read the second links, but I liked the first one

evil_inside · « **Reply #2 on:** August 20, 2003, 02:23:00 PM »

Basic Hex Editing Guides:
Basic Explanation of Hex Charts
Mogsy's Guide to Hex Editing

Hex Editors:
hex workshop
Hackman 7
Hex Editor XVI32
WinHex
Cygnus Hex Editor 1.52

pkScary · « **Reply #3 on:** August 20, 2003, 10:39:00 PM »

Thanks for the links, they're great

dj_fintan · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2003, 04:20:00 AM »

This is an excellent idea, just the kind of thing I have been looking to read up on, when I have a bit of time later on, Im gonna print off some of those guides and get learning !
Here is a friendly *bump*

evil_inside · « **Reply #5 on:** August 21, 2003, 05:43:00 AM »

Thanks for the bumps. I'm glad some of you are finding this useful. If anyone else would like to add anything, please feel free.

Here's another link on the basics of hex editing:

Hex Editing Today! By: Joey Santinino

cexe · « **Reply #6 on:** August 21, 2003, 08:26:00 AM »

ok, i can swap bytes pretty well now. i have put fying ghost in most of the levels, and i have been working on a hang em high with a black setting, and blue beams all over the place (looks like a night club), but i just have on question...

Define offset for me..........

evil_inside · « **Reply #7 on:** August 21, 2003, 08:38:00 AM »

QUOTE

All the way to the left,
you will see an 8 digit alphanumeric. This is what we techies
call the "Offset," you can call it a "Tag." Think of it as a
name for each row. The "Tag" keeps everything in order.
"Offsets" or "Tags" cannot be edited by you. "Tags" are
permanent and are used extensively by the computer.

So there you go.

poiygon · « **Reply #8 on:** August 21, 2003, 06:53:00 PM »

Great idea. Maybe this one should be pinned. This will help others with being able to hack on their own and add diversity to this forum.

evil_inside · « **Reply #9 on:** August 22, 2003, 09:29:00 PM »

I'm glad this is helping people. I'm still absorbing the data myself.

I machine language courses in college along with digital courses and hexidecimal was a major part of the circirulum - that was over 10 years ago and I've forgotten most of it.

I'll have to dig up my old college text books this weekend and see what I can extract from them that could help expand this thread and my knowledge a little further.

I hope some coders around here could add something to this thread eventually.

NooberTehGod · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2003, 11:53:00 AM »

evil_inside · « **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2003, 06:07:00 AM »

Does anyone else think the Game Hacking forums need to be expanded?

How about a Game Hacking 101 forum? Tutorials, guides and general game hacking FAQs could go there. Like "How do I make Warthogs Fly on BG?" etc.

Now that there are so many Halo editors out, this title is dominating the Game Hacking forum. I think Halo can finally have it's own hacking forum since 90-something % of the threads in this forum are questions and requests for Halo hacking help. This is causing other important game-hacking threads(like the Serious Sam progress) to get lost in all the Halo questions.

mrscary5150 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2003, 08:38:00 AM »

Well I dug right into this as soon as I got home friday.
I found it quite easy to identify numeric values in saved games (search for instances of the value in hex)
I am trying to modify stats in Knockout kings 2002 BTW.
So i compared two files with one slightly modified stat and sure enough it was the area I had suspected!
Yahoo.........
Now I learn these saves will not work unless they are "signed"! (TY M$)
Moving on to editing the XBE to accept unsigned saves. A few ok tutorials on this @ Xbox-saves.com

1 big question though........
One of the tutorials lists a program you need called IDA. Anyone have any idea what this is??

Thanks

cexe · « **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2003, 02:46:00 AM »

This is one of my favorite threads....

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