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How to decompress and extract sprites from a GBC ROM??? - Printable Version

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How to decompress and extract sprites from a GBC ROM??? - A.Neuensc - 07-31-2022

I'm trying to extract the tilesets from a GBC rom, specifically Metal Gear Ghost Babel.
I've uploaded some sheets for the game, but using hardripping, you know, screenshoots and photoshop, but I want to learn how to extract the tilesets with debug and code, or at least know how to find such information in an emulator.
In my case, I found a thread in RomHacking on how to find the stage data, but the problem is that it is necessary to make a breakpoint in a specific part and, also, decompress the data, which I don't know how to do (link: https:// www.romhacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=29300.0).
The help I am asking for is what programs to use to do this and how to do it. I appreciate any help.


RE: How to decompress and extract sprites from a GBC ROM??? - A.Neuensc - 08-01-2022

Update: I found this executable on RomHacking (https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/1110/) which, in theory, does what I'm looking for. Still, I don't know how to use this, since I don't understand the instructions nor what programs to use.
I appreciate any help with this.


RE: How to decompress and extract sprites from a GBC ROM??? - Barack Obama - 08-04-2022

Downloaded ROM and the tool mgs_gbc, but when I click on the .exe, nothing happens. Also dragging the ROM into the .exe seems to be useless.

Quote:This utility can compress/decompress image data from Metal Gear Solid for the Game Boy Color.

Usage to decompress from input file from offset to output file:
mgs_gbc.exe d [input_file] [output_file] [offset]
Example of usage: mgs_gbc.exe d “Metal Gear Solid (U) [C][!].gbc” “output.bin” 0×178cf4

Usage to compress:
1) input file to output mgs_gbc.exe c [input_file] [output_file] Example of usage: mgs_gbc.exe c “uncompressed.bin” “compressed.bin”
2) input file and insert it in romfile to offset mgs_gbc.exe c [input_filename] [rom_filename] [offset] Example of usage: mgs_gbc.exe c “uncompressed.bin” “Metal Gear Solid (U) [C][!].gbc” 0×178cf4
Since we want to decompress the ROM, I crossed out the useless part of the instructions and highlighted the important part which you have to type into the command window of the tool (if you're able to open it, I can't).
The name of the ROM in this example must be Metal Gear Solid (U) [C][!].gbc but if your ROM has a different name, you use that one.

Overall this tool reminds me of [Windows] + [R] und typing cmd into the box, which opens a windows tool with similar command structures.


RE: How to decompress and extract sprites from a GBC ROM??? - Yawackhary - 08-04-2022

You would have to use command line, typical of compressors/decompressors.

So first you would have to open up the Command Prompt and then most likely you would have to change the directory to where you saved the tool. If it is already on C:\Users\yourname, then type cd then "the folder/the path where you saved the tool". You'll need both the tool and an unzipped ROM to be in the same folder.

There are easier and quicker ways to do this but it is one that works for me.

Follow the instructions given at the post above but the name of the ROM is only given as an example, most likely your ROM is named Metal Gear Solid (USA).gbc. I don't know whether it would work on the Japanese (Ghost Babel) or the European ROMs, it might or it might not. After that, it should decompress into another ROM file that you can open with YY-CHR and have it as GB 2bpp for the format. Some decompressors allow to do the lot so you might have to do it one at a time for this one, you might need to rename the output.bin to either the (offset).bin or (subject).bin otherwise it would get overwritten the next time you'll do it.

Failing that, it might be easier to just use an emulator that supports a tile viewer and rip it from there. At least you'll get the palette too instead of recolouring the tiles. If you know the game very well, probably is the better option.


RE: How to decompress and extract sprites from a GBC ROM??? - A.Neuensc - 08-04-2022

Thank you very much. I's working perfectly for me, now I am going to extract the tilesets that are possible for me and, when I finish them, I will upload them by spirte resource.