4th line hack

[top shelf]

After finding out that fighting was back in the game, I just wondered what else thought impossible is possible. With fighting now in both games 93 and 94 having an extra line of tough guys would be great (thinking Washington Caps Simon-Hunter-Berube line). Not sure why they originally went with 3 lines – space maybe?

Only just found out we had the 92 source code! Unfortunately, have not touched this stuff in 15 years so have lost all the knowledge I used to have. I had a go at the ‘Finding RAM Values’ tutorial last month (highly recommended btw) to see if it would bring back any memories and thought I would have a look to see what I could find without really any hope of finding anything at all as have no clue what I was doing. 

Not sure if anyone has looked at this before or is looking at this but I managed to get it to select the Pw1 instead of the Sc1 line in the 92 Sega/Genesis version, see image.

I have also managed to get it to select the Pw1 in SNES 93 version although it is harder as I don’t have the code to cross reference, PIT Pw1 line against NY 5 players.

I guess I’m asking (from those with a much better idea than I have) is a full hack possible? 
I think this would involve requiring another button to select the fourth line and changing the menu graphic from A SC1, B SC2, C CHK to display A SC1, B SC2, C CHK, (new button) 4th LINE. We would then need to add in an extra line in expanded rom (or as an easier alternative we could perhaps use Pw1 as the fourth line or Sc1 as fourth line and Pw1 as the top line). 

I’m guessing adding the graphics shouldn’t be a problem as assuming something similar was done for the fighting in 94 but the extra button is. I believe some 6-button hack was done ages ago for the Gens version but not sure if anyone understands how it works or if it works on an expanded ROM? Can this be done on the SNES versions? 

 

[von Ozbourne]

To be fair, that the Genesis version had three lines and the SNES version had four does make sense when you look at the controllers.

That said if say, the Genesis version could be modified to use the D-pad instead and each direction is a different line, that would be a welcome addition.

[top shelf]

Yes that would be it, totally forgot it had only 3 buttons unlike the SNES! 🙂

[Drezz]

If you were using a 6 button controller (which can be configged in most emulators) this is definitely plausible.

You could swap the No Line Change line for Line 1 to get an extra line without having to bugger up your PP and PK units. It's just a matter of getting the popup to display 4 choices instead of 3. Then assigning a button to select that new choice (A-B-C-X).

Edited March 27 by Drezz

[Slafzilla]

Are you saying that NHL 94 has fighting now? 

[top shelf]

7 hours ago, Slafzilla said:

Are you saying that NHL 94 has fighting now? 

Yes, you can read about it here

 

[top shelf]

20 hours ago, Drezz said:

If you were using a 6 button controller (which can be configged in most emulators) this is definitely plausible.

You could swap the No Line Change line for Line 1 to get an extra line without having to bugger up your PP and PK units. It's just a matter of getting the popup to display 4 choices instead of 3. Then assigning a button to select that new choice (A-B-C-X).

Not sure how easy it is to add the extra button. There is the following post but not sure if anyone has done anything with it (other hacks) or whether it works on expanded roms which is why I'm asking if anyone has experience of doing it. 

 

[von Ozbourne]

3 hours ago, top shelf said:

On 3/27/2026 at 9:26 AM, Drezz said:

If you were using a 6 button controller (which can be configged in most emulators) this is definitely plausible.

You could swap the No Line Change line for Line 1 to get an extra line without having to bugger up your PP and PK units. It's just a matter of getting the popup to display 4 choices instead of 3. Then assigning a button to select that new choice (A-B-C-X).

Not sure how easy it is to add the extra button. There is the following post but not sure if anyone has done anything with it (other hacks) or whether it works on expanded roms which is why I'm asking if anyone has experience of doing it. 

There was a third party site that relayed the process of getting the Y-Button hack to work. It relays how the process doesn't exclude the X & Z buttons, but it's a matter of what is possible in the game engine.

That said, I know a percentage of players prefer the 3-Button controller. [my go-to is an 8-button configuration, but no one has figured out how to incorporate shoulder buttons into a Genesis/Megadrive game] This is why I suggested a D-pad option, but then that would need to overwrite the ability to keep skating around with the line change popup open so that might be a non-starter.

I think the No Line Change line is a good idea though. There is even precedent with NHL Hockey and NHLPA'93 using the NLC line simultaneously as the 1st line. I don't know if the NLC and 1st line had any reason to be different back in 1994, and even these days, unless you have a Draisaitl or Malkin as your SC2 center that you want to promote to your SC1 winger, I don't know if there is much reason still to make those different. Curious how easier-said-than-done getting that popup to display four choices would be.

[AdamCatalyst]

What would you think of this… when changing lines, press <Y> to select your NLC line (Line Change Off Line). You would presumably use this in select scenarios. It wouldn't have a Line Change menu Energy bar graph, but you could throw it on the ice if you want. I mean, it already exists in the game, it's just inaccessible when Line Changes are on. 

[jer_33]

Would it be possible to have one button cycle through you lines?

[77]

i was looking in a hex editor, i dont even see where that NLC would be in 94, theres no real label

i though maybe you could find some clues by comparing 93 and 94

 

what about doing LN1 (sc1), LN2 (sc2), LN3 (chk), LN4 (pp1), PP1 (pp2), PP2 (pk1), PK1 (pk2), and PK2 is just pk2 again =P

or like i mentioned before NLC and SC1 are the same like in 93, that should free up one set of lines in 94

Edited March 31 by 77

[AdamCatalyst]

NLC is the first line stored in the Lines section of each team's data, but I believe that it is referenced as Line #7 when being called in the code. There wouldn't be a label, as it is only accessible when Line Changes are off.

[von Ozbourne]

10 hours ago, AdamCatalyst said:

What would you think of this… when changing lines, press <Y> to select your NLC line (Line Change Off Line). You would presumably use this in select scenarios. It wouldn't have a Line Change menu Energy bar graph, but you could throw it on the ice if you want. I mean, it already exists in the game, it's just inaccessible when Line Changes are on. 

If I may offer a hundredth of a two dollar bill, I find this idea intriguing, but I can't say I'd be a fan of this in practice. Without knowing how viable the line is, or being able to view it in the Edit Lines menu, it kind of feels like a gaffer tape solution. Plus there is the question of what line will that NLC line be in a game?
Do you make it your 4th "Energy" line that you use sparingly and don't have to manage their... energy...?
Or is it your first line because that is still what you would use if you play Line Changes off.
In that case, is your opening line in a Line Changes on game technically going to be your SC2 Line?

I feel like there are a lot of questions around this idea that lead me to think that depending on what the technical limitations dictate the final result is going to have to be, this may or may not be worth the effort.

[AdamCatalyst]

The idea was that they would be your offensive zone faceoff line with 30 seconds left or pulling the goalie line. 

[von Ozbourne]

11 hours ago, AdamCatalyst said:

The idea was that they would be your offensive zone faceoff line with 30 seconds left or pulling the goalie line. 

Ah. Curious, so would that basically just be the NLC line? As in a team's best players anyway, but ones that might not be on a regular line together in reality?
Now I'm thinking this is kind of like a "Desperate nuclear option" when say Edmonton would put McDavid and Draisaitl together. Or Crosby and Malkin in Pittsburgh. Or what Winnipeg should have done when they had the chance and put Nikolaj Ehlers on the top line.

Admittedly, my preference would be to have a proper 4th line, but barring that, this seems like an interesting alternative.

[77]

On 3/31/2026 at 7:12 PM, AdamCatalyst said:

NLC is the first line stored in the Lines section of each team's data, but I believe that it is referenced as Line #7 when being called in the code. There wouldn't be a label, as it is only accessible when Line Changes are off.

so this is where you're saying the line changes actually are?

i thought that was just the team colors...

 

so, wed need to do the same thing as the main menu where you limit the number of teams... somewhere theres gotta be a value to look for SC1, make i find the NLC instead, and see if the line changes shift

Edited April 2 by 77

[AdamCatalyst]

11 hours ago, von Ozbourne said:

Ah. Curious, so would that basically just be the NLC line? As in a team's best players anyway, but ones that might not be on a regular line together in reality?
Now I'm thinking this is kind of like a "Desperate nuclear option" when say Edmonton would put McDavid and Draisaitl together. Or Crosby and Malkin in Pittsburgh. Or what Winnipeg should have done when they had the chance and put Nikolaj Ehlers on the top line.

Admittedly, my preference would be to have a proper 4th line, but barring that, this seems like an interesting alternative.

It would literally be the NLC line. Just crossing the wires to give access to it with Line Changes on, for when you want to go nuclear. 
 

A real 4th line would be nice, but it’s too expensive for me to pursue personally.
 

 

[AdamCatalyst]

12 hours ago, 77 said:

so this is where you're saying the line changes actually are?

i thought that was just the team colors...

 

so, wed need to do the same thing as the main menu where you limit the number of teams... somewhere theres gotta be a value to look for SC1, make i find the NLC instead, and see if the line changes shift

Here is how it is stored in the ROM:

 

 

[von Ozbourne]

2 hours ago, AdamCatalyst said:

It would literally be the NLC line. Just crossing the wires to give access to it with Line Changes on, for when you want to go nuclear. 
 

A real 4th line would be nice, but it’s too expensive for me to pursue personally.
 

 

This does make me wonder how the Save Lines function works now. As in if I go into a game with line changes off, set and save a line, then reset and start another game with line changes on, then go into Edit Lines and load your save. What happens then?

I know that this will just load your NLC saved line into the SC1 spot, so if you want those to be different, you will need to re-edit your SC1 line. But now the question is what happens with your NLC line? Does loading a save mean that this line is also loaded up behind the scenes or is it completely ignored by the code of a Changes On so you're locked into whatever default was already set.

[top shelf]

On 3/31/2026 at 7:46 PM, jer_33 said:

Would it be possible to have one button cycle through you lines?

This is not something I had thought of. I can change the buttons so they all select the same line which is pretty useless but to get one button to select different lines would be difficult and would need someone with a great understanding of how the game works and how to code it.

[top shelf]

On 3/31/2026 at 3:20 PM, AdamCatalyst said:

What would you think of this… when changing lines, press <Y> to select your NLC line (Line Change Off Line). You would presumably use this in select scenarios. It wouldn't have a Line Change menu Energy bar graph, but you could throw it on the ice if you want. I mean, it already exists in the game, it's just inaccessible when Line Changes are on. 

I think this is something to try first just to see if it can actually be done. If we can do something like the 'Extra button for goalie control hack' that I mentioned above. I had a quick look at it and I got it to work on the 30 team wboy rom (although doesn't load the original rom but that might be a me thing).

Unfortunately it's more written what he was doing rather than a tutorial of how to do it. However, it will need something similar using the expanded rom.

Another option I was thinking was if a combo option could be used e.g. A+C or to random a 3rd/4th line to avoid not losing the line change menu using Y, but that is getting ahead of myself. I don't even remember how to use the expanded rom in the gens version so need to look at that first (although have got it to work in the SNES). I have found quite a bit of the button stuff in both games but still not sure i can get this to work having not done this in such a long time. Need to do some more testing then can hopefully upload my findings.

Edited April 3 by top shelf