Any DS Modders Here?

[norkusa]

I'm big on PSP homebrew but I've been getting kinda bored with it. Been playing my DS Lite a lot lately and would like to start messing around with the firmware and homebrew on it. The problem is though I don't know the first place to start. Any DS modders here that can give me some tips?

Also thinking about getting a flash cart soon. I saw this one that's supposed to be out next month that looks pretty good. Can use drag-and-drop file transferring which is a bonus for me since I'm a Mac user and almost all flash cart software is PC only. Any opinions?

http://www.modchipstore.com/Nintendo-DS-emulator-rom-cheats-download-backup-unit-development-modchip-1-278.html

[NE146]

I'm big on PSP homebrew but I've been getting kinda bored with it. Been playing my DS Lite a lot lately and would like to start messing around with the firmware and homebrew on it. The problem is though I don't know the first place to start. Any DS modders here that can give me some tips?

http://www.monroeworld.com/ds/hacking/

[shadowkn55]

Those are way expensive in that link you provided. Try M3 adaptor combo from Divineo (http://www.divineo.cn/cgi-bin/div-cn/ds-m3msd2.html). It's much cheaper and the shipping is only $5.

M3 works great but I think you need to use the software they provide. I tried drag and dropping files into the sd card but the game wouldn't work properly. I think the software patches the files as it transfers to the sd card. I tried NesDS and SnesDS. They don't work so well for the games I like to play (FF and other rpgs) but it seems to work perfectly for other games like Mario World.

The passcard makes it so you don't need to mess with the DS internal firmware. Flashing the DS is a bit more tricky than the PSP but not all that hard. But still, its a safe bet and it doesn't void the warranty.

[shadowkn55]

double post

[norkusa]

M3 works great but I think you need to use the software they provide. I tried drag and dropping files into the sd card but the game wouldn't work properly.

Well like I said, I'm on a Mac and I won't be able to use any flash card that requires software (unless it's available for OSX). That's why I've got my eye on that DS Xtreme card...looks like you just drag/drop everything into it and you're set. May cost a lot but if that's the only one that'll work for me, then I guess that's what I need to get. :/

Also, is there any advantage DS homebrew apps have over the PSP ones? Do any emulators run better on the DS?

[shadowkn55]

The product is still yet to be released and you are still not guaranteed Mac compatibility. The wording is a bit ambiguous and doesnt explicitly state that it works with Macs. Just have to wait for someone to test out on a mac when it gets released.

As far as homebrew is concerned, I personally think homebrew on DS blows. Its far more matured on the PSP. Give it a little time to improve. DS homebrew also isnt as flexible as it is on PSP.

For example, on the PSP, you just install the snes emu and store the roms in a separate folder. For the DS, you need to rebuild and inject the snes emu into each rom. Basically each transformed rom is treated as a separate game.

[norkusa]

Wow, I didn't know setting up homebrew on the DS was so complicated. Guess I'll leave that to my PSP. :/

I suppose the only reason to get a flash card then is for DS/GBA roms. I can live with that since I don't like to rent games and that would be a good way of trying games out before I buy them. I refuse to believe though that all you gotta do with that DS-Xtreme card is just drop the ROM into it and you're good to go. It can't be that easy, can it?

[NE146]

Man it's easy. Flash your ds. Get a supercard or whatever (www.supercard.cn ).. I order mine from www.jandaman.com. Patch the rom, then drag and drop to the memory card of your choice (I use a mini-sd card). Done!

And as far as macs go.. heck, go to friggin goodwill, get a couple of cheap ass parts, piece together a pc and slap on some bootleg windows on it. Everyone should have a pc at least as a side utility computer :P

[jonjandran]

Man it's easy. Flash your ds. Get a supercard or whatever (www.supercard.cn ).. I order mine from www.jandaman.com. Patch the rom, then drag and drop to the memory card of your choice (I use a mini-sd card). Done!

And as far as macs go.. heck, go to friggin goodwill, get a couple of cheap ass parts, piece together a pc and slap on some bootleg windows on it. Everyone should have a pc at least as a side utility computer :P

There's so much wrong with this post I do't even know where to begin.

Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh matey. :P

[norkusa]

And as far as macs go.. heck, go to friggin goodwill, get a couple of cheap ass parts, piece together a pc and slap on some bootleg windows on it.

You make it sound a lot easier than it really is. ALL the Goodwills around here sell old, junky PC's at ridiculous prices and make it totally impractical to piece one together at a reasonable price. And believe me, I've been keeping my eyes open for one FOR YEARS too.

You have no idea how frustrating it's been for me. x_x

[shadowkn55]

Patch the rom, then drag and drop to the memory card of your choice (I use a mini-sd card). Done!


Thats the problem. He has a mac and all the patching tools are windows only.

Try checking out Fry's ad on friday. They usually have a decent budget setup that you can buy or build for a couple bills.

[norkusa]

Try checking out Fry's ad on friday. They usually have a decent budget setup that you can buy or build for a couple bills.

The closest Fry's is 200 miles from me, so that's not even an option.

Guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope I can use the DS-Xtreme. I was reading up on it though and heard that the built-in GUI interfaces with Windows XP. Not many details out on the card yet, so I don't know if that means I can use it with OSX or not though.

[Borman]

VMware or something similar is free, even for PowerPC macs (im on an Intel Macbook Pro so). You dont need performance, you just need to be able to operate. Thats the easiest way really

[jajaja]

How much homebrew is it for the DS? Or do you mean homebrew = warez? hehe :P

[shadowkn55]

Homebrew is typically free.

[jajaja]

Ye i know :) But how big is the DS scene? All ive seen is a couple of demos. I dont like that people uses the word homebrew as a coverword for warez/piracy, since its something completely different. I dont know if thats the case here tho, thats why i asked.

[shadowkn55]

It's not all that big right now since it costs money to get started and actually play stuff unlike psp which is mostly free. Pretty much its just emus for older consoles besides the few demos. It's also the only means of playing patched games when those come out in the future.

[zektor]

You no longer have to flash any DS. Get a Passcard3 or Superkey and a flash cart of your choice. Done.

I go the flashing route myself, even tho I do not have to....I guess because I just want my DS's to be "special" :)

If you have any questions regarding homebrew, shoot them my way. I have been doing this for a very long time now, and have flashed more DS/DS Lite units than I can count.

As for homebrew...it is picking up quite nicely. We already have fully functional media playback (movies/mp3/ogg..etc) as well as DSOrganize...which is quite an amazing app. As the name implies, it turns the DS into a pretty nice organizer/todo/browser/etc....as well as has one incredible feature. You can browse and download homebrew games and apps from the DS itself, right through the program via an online homebrew database. Pick your homebrew, downloads right to the flash cart, and then run. I tried nesDS today using this method. Kicked ass!

Yep, homebrew is very nice on the DS.

BTW: You ONLY have to patch illegal NDS romfiles. NDS homebrew apps need no patching whatsoever, so you CAN use the mac and simply copy them to the SD card and pop it in your M3/SC device.

Lastly, if you need a card and a passcard3, let me know. I have a brand new M3 unit, and a brand new passcard3 for sale. The M3 unit would be good for you, as you also do not have to patch gba files to allow them to run. PM me if you are interested...this will be all you need to immediately get up and running with DS homebrew.

[norkusa]

If you have any questions regarding homebrew, shoot them my way. I have been doing this for a very long time now, and have flashed more DS/DS Lite units than I can count.



Yeah, is there any way I can use a Passcard3 and Superkey + flash cart with OSX to run homebrew? That's my main problem here...no PC.

Zektor, you know anything about the DS-Xtreme card that's supposed to be released soon? Looks like all you gotta do with that is drag-and-drop with no special software or PC required.

[zektor]

If you have any questions regarding homebrew, shoot them my way. I have been doing this for a very long time now, and have flashed more DS/DS Lite units than I can count.



Yeah, is there any way I can use a Passcard3 and Superkey + flash cart with OSX to run homebrew? That's my main problem here...no PC.

Zektor, you know anything about the DS-Xtreme card that's supposed to be released soon? Looks like all you gotta do with that is drag-and-drop with no special software or PC required.

If you can run a virtual PC in OSX (I am not very familiar with the OS personally) and that virtual PC accepts standard USB mass storage controller card reader drivers (most do) you can run a virtual PC with Windows installed inside of OSX and run and patch files. There are many testaments on the net that this does indeed work, so I would not imagine you would have a problem....providing you have and know how to set up the virtual pc software.

The DS-Xtreme is proclaimed to be the "kill-all" NDS device. Thing is, it runs from slot 1. This can be great for the DS person, but it will also mean no GBA support whatsoever. GBA files cannot run from slot 1 unfortunately. Also, there are reports of the device absolutely needing the NDS flashed to work, as it has no passme functions built in to it. But, that is just speculation. We will not know for sure until it is released. The GBA portion of my statement however is correct. And as for drag and drop, yes, that is what they claim. Again, it is not released, so we'll have to wiat and see if the proof is in the pudding.

If you are NDS only, the Xtreme may be for you. But I like options. Get a SC or M3 and a passcard3/Supercard. Done, and you'll have it all. It may be harder for you to get the software patcher to run on an OS that is not Windows, but it may be worth it in the long run if you enjoy GBA stuff as well. Matter of preference.

[rbudrick]

So exactly what is used to patch NDS roms? Some special program? Howdo you know whether it is already patched or not? What does the patching actually change in the rom? Are there incompatibilities with any games? And why doesn't the DS-Xtreme (DS-X) 4Gb flash card play these?

-Rob

[shadowkn55]

So exactly what is used to patch NDS roms? Some special program? Howdo you know whether it is already patched or not? What does the patching actually change in the rom? Are there incompatibilities with any games? And why doesn't the DS-Xtreme (DS-X) 4Gb flash card play these?

-Rob

The software that comes with the flash card. It does something to prevent crashing and sram management.

[zektor]

So exactly what is used to patch NDS roms? Some special program? Howdo you know whether it is already patched or not? What does the patching actually change in the rom? Are there incompatibilities with any games? And why doesn't the DS-Xtreme (DS-X) 4Gb flash card play these?

-Rob

If you own an M3, you use the M3 Manager. If you own a Supercard, you use the Supercard Manager. The roms that you get from the "usual" places are never patched. You may see roms labeled "CleanDS". These are the ones you would want. The patching process like stated in the last post adds save functionality, sometimes patches the game so that it will work correctly from the GBA slot and so forth. It is very simple. Load the manager, select the rom (zipped or not) and select the output to your memory card. After a few seconds, done. As for incompatibilities, none that I can see from within the current 541 releases :)

Again, the DS-Xtreme is NOT released yet, so everything is really speculation at this point. But chances are that it does not need patching because it is not running from Slot 2 (the GBA slot) but rather the actual DS slot. But, you will sacrafice GBA playback due to the DS-X nature. Not something I would want honestly. With an M3 or SC, you can do it all...and very easily.

[rbudrick]

But, you will sacrafice GBA playback due to the DS-X nature. Not something I would want honestly.


Oh, so I can't play GBA games from the DS slot. That's ok, though. I already have a GBA card, and I really would like to have that slot free for rumble packs or whatever.


With an M3 or SC, you can do it all...and very easily

But those both still require a GBA flash cart, right?

-Rob

[shadowkn55]

The M3 and Supercard are both GBA flash carts.

[Matt-El]

If I can't drink beer out of a PSP, then it should not be called homeBREW.

[norkusa]

Okay, the DS-Xtreme site is finally up-and-running and they've finally got some more info about the DS-X flash cart up there, including my Mac OSX compatibility question:


Q: Does Drag and Drop functionality work on a Mac and other Operating systems except Windows?

A: Of course. Our device is fully mass storage spec compliant, and should work with any operating system which supports this standard.

That settles it. I'm getting one of these ASAP. Drag and drop functionality on OSX and *NO* need to re-configure roms? Best flash cart ever.

[norkusa]

Oh yeah, here's the site if anyone is interested in taking a look at the DS-X flash cart:

http://www.ds-x.com/cgi-bin/dsx/engine.pl?page=home

[shadowkn55]

You still may want to wait for some PC/Mac reviews of this and see if any issues pop up. Not to ruin your fun or anything but there has to be a serious reason why this has been delayed several times. Let the early adopters figure out the problems.