DS Lite Action Replay - ignorant, naive question

[NoahsMyBro]

knowing my interest in video games, a neighbor called me this afternoon with a question about the DS Lite and the Action Replay cartridge.

His son has a DS Lite, and wants an Action Replay, in order to change the rules of the games. The son's aunt went to a toy store to buy one (I'm guessing TRU, but it's irrelevant), and was told they used to stock them, but don't. She was also told that the use of such cartridges can damage the DS, and will void the warranty.

Now, I think that's a load of FUD. I'd think the unit is solid-state, and the only possible damage could be if the Action Replay cart flashed the BIOS, something that seems unlikely to me. Hell, I don't think it would even be possible to know that such a cartridge had been in a DS if there ever was a problem with it.

In a nutshell, is it reasonably safe to use an Action Replay in a Nintendo DS Lite? Was what the salesperson told this lady BS?

Thanks,
Steve

[PapaStu]

The DS itself is more than likely safe, its the games that run the risk of being broken. Often times the GS style things hack into running code and can merf up game saves and even game functionality making running the games running with sed codes not run properly. So worst case scenario is the loss of that game save (and in some cases all game saves since erase functions wipe all saves, not just a single file).

[stonecutter]

Hey Steve,

My son has one that he uses with the original DS. We bought ours at EB Games. The girl at the store told us the same thing, that it can damage the DS and void the warranties. I asked her how, she said messing up saves and game files as well as the possibilty of introducing a virus was her suggestion, then I asked her how many people she has had come back for this reason...... none. So then she told me that they have to inform customers of the possibility.

My sons DS is too old to have warranty left, so not an issue. My next question to him was, if it ruins your DS, are you going to be ok with that because I will not be buying you another. It was a chance he was willing to take. So he has had it now about 4 weeks, no issues, we have downloaded codes off the internet and been ok. codejunkies.com is the official site for codes from Datel who makes it, if you want to look I don't know if it says anything. The book has no warnings. My thinking is that they don't want to scare off buyers if there is the possibility.

Anyway, sorry for the long winded post, but that is my experience.

[OldSchoolGamer]

Geez people, come on..............
Action Replay, Game Shark etc, none of those devices can hurt HARDWARE or software, they merely make a temporary change to the running game code, even if the game crashed nothing more than a rest is required as IT DOES NOT PERMANANTLY CHANGE CODE. So go ahead, warranty or not don't sweat it. That said, even if it COULD cause damage (which it definitely can't)
well you just wouldn't mention that you used such a device when returning your game or DS right?
OH and FYI I am not just talking out of my ass, I've used several such devices over the years on systems including but not limited too: Sega Saturn/NES/PS1/PS2/Dreamcast/GBA/DS/ I a sure others I can't even remember..................................

[c0ldb33r]

Action Replay, Game Shark etc, none of those devices can hurt HARDWARE or software, they merely make a temporary change to the running game code, even if the game crashed nothing more than a rest is required as IT DOES NOT PERMANANTLY CHANGE CODE.
Seconded.

Worst case scenario it may damage a save file for a certain game (i.e. Animal Crossing DS can get screwed up if you're not careful). Other than that, reboot the game without using the AR and it's 100% normal.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Geez people, come on..............
Action Replay, Game Shark etc, none of those devices can hurt HARDWARE or software, they merely make a temporary change to the running game code, even if the game crashed nothing more than a rest is required as IT DOES NOT PERMANANTLY CHANGE CODE. So go ahead, warranty or not don't sweat it. That said, even if it COULD cause damage (which it definitely can't)
well you just wouldn't mention that you used such a device when returning your game or DS right?
OH and FYI I am not just talking out of my ass, I've used several such devices over the years on systems including but not limited too: Sega Saturn/NES/PS1/PS2/Dreamcast/GBA/DS/ I a sure others I can't even remember..................................

You mean the PS2's Action Replay doesn't corrupt PS2 memory cards?

Oh that's right, it does, and the manufacturer got so many complaints they don't even acknowledge that anymore. They even closed their forum instead of fixing the problem.

[Jorpho]

OH and FYI I am not just talking out of my ass, I've used several such devices over the years on systems including but not limited too: Sega Saturn/NES/PS1/PS2/Dreamcast/GBA/DS/ I a sure others I can't even remember.

Unlike most of those systems, though, it is entirely possible to brick a DS using unlicensed hardware and software (i.e. a Slot-1 device and a BIOS flasher).

Not that I'm saying that this might actually happen with an Action Replay; I'm just saying that the DS differs in this respect.

[NoahsMyBro]

Thanks guys.

[c0ldb33r]

You mean the PS2's Action Replay doesn't corrupt PS2 memory cards?

Oh that's right, it does, and the manufacturer got so many complaints they don't even acknowledge that anymore. They even closed their forum instead of fixing the problem.
Getting back on topic though, the DS version is safe AFAIK.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Getting back on topic though, the DS version is safe AFAIK.

I apologize for my off-topic comment. I just wanted to make a point... the PS2's Action Replay CAN damage hardware, but that's because of crappy programming. I've never heard of any other game enhancement utility that can cause that same problem on other systems. :)