Lazy Bastard: Aside from hacking many great codes, you created, and still run and frequently update, The Code Hut. What was your inspiration for doing this? Tony H: I realized early on that I was addicted to hacking and would be making lots of codes and hacking guides... The Code Hut was a place to put all my stuff. I started it back in June of 2000 and still update it to this day (so yes, I'm still addicted). Lazy Bastard: What is your favorite code/hack that you hacked? Tony H: Hmmm... One of my favorites was a 4 part Game Genie code for Shining Force that leveled up everyone in your party to level 99. I found the table in the ROM that determined what each item in the game would do when used. I then found a little known and extremely hard to get (or impossible without hacking?) item called "The Kinden No Hako" that levels up a single character to level 99 when used. All I did was switch around some bytes so that an easy to get medical herb did the same thing as the very hard/impossible to get "Kinden No Hako". I also changed a byte so that it worked on everyone in the party instead of just one. Lazy Bastard: What is your favorite code/hack of all time? Tony H: I always loved the "multi-jump" Game Genie codes for SMB and SMB3. I was never very good at those games, so those codes really helped me to finish the games. Lazy Bastard: Who would you say influenced you the most in the video game hacking scene? Who did you 'look up to' when you first entered the scene? (doesn't have to be the same person for both). Tony H: When I first joined the GGCCC, there was a fellow member named Cheatmaster that was really good at making NES and SNES Game Genie codes. She (yes she) taught me quite a bit about 6502 assembly and code making. She's the one who wrote the "Game Genie Code Converter v4.00" program that's on the GSHI download page. Lazy Bastard: What was your first code/hack? Tony H: I guess I won't count spending countless hours entering random 6 letter Game Genie codes for SMB. My first "real" codes were probably character stat Game Genie codes for FF2j and FF3j for the NES. Lazy Bastard: What do you think is the most difficult type of code/hack to hack, and why? Tony H: Walk through walls codes are tough, but I also find that some infinite energy/health Game Genie codes can be difficult when your character dies with just one hit. Sometimes I can figure them out, but other times I hit a brick wall. Lazy Bastard: What is your favorite type of code/hack? Tony H: I really enjoy making high jump codes. They're relatively easy to make, and they can add new life to an old game. Lazy Bastard: What is your least favorite aspect of hacking? Tony H: When I get a request for a code and I have to play 30 minutes (or more) into a game to get to the part where the code needs to be made. No problem if it's a good game, but if it's a crappy game... not so much fun. Lazy Bastard: Which game did you find the most fun to hack, and why? Tony H: Too many to list, but one of my favorites was Road Rash 2 for the Genesis. I played Road Rash 2 a LOT on my Genesis console and found it very difficult to beat the game. I started digging around in the ROM and found all the offsets for how fast the bikes accelerate, their top speed, how well they handle, etc. I then hacked the ROM so that my bike was faster and handled better than any other bike in the game. The game was now much easier to beat. Victory through hex editing (cheating is such a harsh word). Lazy Bastard: Did you ever hack an awesome code, or find an address in memory that would've yielded an awesome code, but then lost it somehow? Tony H: Not that I can remember. Whenever I make new codes, I religiously add them to my website. Lazy Bastard: What was the most difficult, 'hair-pulling' hack you've ever accomplished? Tony H: That would have to be the hacks I made for a few Sega 32x games (Knuckles Chaotix, Kolibri, & Shadow Squadron). First off, I had no 32x assembly knowledge, and second, the only 32x debugger that I knew of was the crude and difficult to use debugger in the original "Gens". Lazy Bastard: Was there ever a code you just couldn't get to work quite correctly (something you hacked/attempted to hack)? Tony H: Oh hell yes. There were lots of 'em. One that comes to mind (that I've been back to on several occasions) is an infinite health hack for Blackthorne on the 32x. Still haven't figured it out. Lazy Bastard: Aside from hacking and gaming, how do you like to spend your time? Tony H: I like watching Family Guy and riding/driving anything offroad. Lazy Bastard: What do you think must happen for the video game hacking scene to continue to thrive? Tony H: I think that as long as they keep coming out with new gaming systems, there'll always be plenty of people that'll want to tear it apart and see how it ticks. Lazy Bastard: One last question: if you had one thing to say to current, aspiring, and future hackers, what would it be? Tony H: If you don't know something, read and then read some more. If you still don't know, go to a forum and start asking questions. There's lots of smart people out there. I've asked plenty of questions here at the GSHI forums. I almost always get an answer.