> Majora's Mask (NTSC-U version) can now be included in the list of 100% decompiled projects, which servers as an open-source clean room recreation of the game's code<p>I'm a bit confused - is it actually clean room if they basically checked the disassembled compiled binary and wrote or generated (the actual project page mentions mips_to_c) the C code that compiles into 100% exact same binary? I was under the impression that "clean room" meant reimplementations that were made by only looking at the results (in this case - how the game actually plays), not at the original binaries.
Decompilations and recompilations have been really interesting lately. They seem largely driven by fans interested in replaying old content in ways the original sources haven't provided. E.g. rather than "run normal N64 Mario and Zelda on your switch" you can run them at 4k120 FPS widescreen with all sorts of QoL improvements, modifications, or new gameplay modes. Even extremely classic titles like Super Mario Bros. 3 or The Legend of Zelda a Link to the Past get widescreen hacks.<p>Of course there are other benefits too that some use for playing the originals as they were. Some just want to more easily read through the games code to figure out how it works, hunt for new glitches, figure out why that odd thing in a speedrun happens. Others want to mine for cut/missing content.<p>I personally hope <a href="https://zeldaret.github.io/tww/" rel="nofollow">https://zeldaret.github.io/tww/</a> gets completed this decade. Nintendo has at least made an actual remake of this game, adding a certain level of the improvements and enhancements, but there are still more which would be nice (more than 30 FPS anyone?) and I can only imagine what kinds of customizations would be made feasible.
Reading the thread: How is it even illegal to decompile ?<p>The binary is readable so what is it wrong to say oh i have a code that produces the same binary ?<p>Especially if you dont monetize