Tutorial: How to Change Text (Character Names) in MK4

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Gambid
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Tutorial: How to Change Text (Character Names) in MK4

Post by Gambid »

This tutorial will show you how to edit text (Strings) in Mortal Kombat 4, for example to give your character skin the name he or she deserves.

In this tutorial you will learn how to edit strings like "Scorpion Wins", "Flawless Victory", "GAME OVER", etc... This tutorial will not show you how to change the names in the life bars. These are not strings, but images, and MK4Strip is the right way to edit them.

Requirements
  • The Mortal Kombat 4 executable file (Mortal Kombat 4.exe or MK4.exe)
  • A hexadecimal editor (Hex Editor). For example HexEdit. It is a freeware, open-source tool created by MIT. You can download it from http://www.catch22.net/software/hexedit
Goal
Our goal is to change Scorpion's name to Reptile, to better fit a new skin that we want to develop. We want to change the "Scorpion Wins" to "Reptile Wins". Take a look at these Before and After screenshots from the game:
Unedited-MK4.jpg
Edited-MK4.jpg
Steps
  • Open HexEdit and Drag and Drop the Mortal Kombat Executable into the program's window.
    HexEdit01.png
  • Click on Find. In the small window that will pop up, go to the "Text"-Tab. Type "Scorpion Wins" in the input field and choose ASCII String as Data type from the Drop Down menu. Click on Find or press Enter. The editor will jump to the first found match.
    HexEdit02.png
  • Edit the text so that it says "Reptile Wins". Please note, you can only override symbols. You can only edit the text from its starting position until the end of the empty spaces that follow it, regardless of whether the text takes 1 or 2 lines. If the text is shown on a single line only, you cannot leave the borders of that line. While editing you can also use the ASCII numeric representation of the Text to add empty spaces for example (zeros). Breaking one of the above rules, might damage the executable file or the game might not show the whole text.
    HexEdit03.png
  • Save the edited executable file as Mortal Kombat 4.exe
  • Replace the original executable file with the one you just edited. Don't forget to make a backup of the original file, just in case you messed up.
  • Start the executable and enjoy the results!
Hope you liked this small tutorial. Would love to get some feedback from you guys.


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Re: Tutorial: How to Change Text (Character Names) in MK4

Post by superfamoso »

IT WOOOOOOOOOOOOOORKED!!!!!
thank you very, very much :'D
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Re: Tutorial: How to Change Text (Character Names) in MK4

Post by Gambid »

Glad I could help. Hopefully the tutorial will be helpful to other modders too :)
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Re: Tutorial: How to Change Text (Character Names) in MK4

Post by Agahnim »

hmm you can just change the pointers of any text and completely extend them.

i have an incomplete project (but not dead :D ) of translating mk4 pc into greek language

check a very early preview video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OQTsA8klkY

i already finish with the menu text. it's extended :D

two problems:
1) translating the names in the bars (because it isnt text but images)
2) translating the DAMAGE % area (when you do a combo)

i can upload a program created by me about how to change the pointers (to extend any text ingame) if you want
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Re: Tutorial: How to Change Text (Character Names) in MK4

Post by Gambid »

Sure, that would be a great addition to the forum. Could you please also post a tutorial on how to use it.
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Re: Tutorial: How to Change Text (Character Names) in MK4

Post by Agahnim »

okay i will open a new topic about that very very soon :D prepare your hex editors :D
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Re: Tutorial: How to Change Text (Character Names) in MK4

Post by Noob Cyborg »

Could you make a video tutorial for us?
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Re: Tutorial: How to Change Text (Character Names) in MK4

Post by Gambid »

Was that for me.

If yes, I will put it on my ToDo list. Let me know.
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Re: Tutorial: How to Change Text (Character Names) in MK4

Post by Noob Cyborg »

Gambid wrote:Was that for me.

If yes, I will put it on my ToDo list. Let me know.
what do you want to say? :?:
I want a video tutorial on this topic :(
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Re: Tutorial: How to Change Text (Character Names) in MK4

Post by Gambid »

If you are familiar with any of them, you can send me the info and I will add it to the first post or you can add it yourself as comment.

My first post was from 2013 and a lot of things changed since then.
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