Just bought a DS
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Wolfman Walt
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Frater Perdurabo
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DSFrater Perdurabo wrote:Frater Perdurabo wrote:DS?
Serious Business.
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Wolfman Walt
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minigunwielder
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Smiley
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'kay I got Trauma Center: Under the knife
So far it's pretty cool. It's pretty fast-paced and you have to make some snap decisions.
I'm not use to this kind of game, so I fail most of the time =/
but the way you get to cut people up is really neat.
Definately recommendable so far.
So far it's pretty cool. It's pretty fast-paced and you have to make some snap decisions.
I'm not use to this kind of game, so I fail most of the time =/
but the way you get to cut people up is really neat.
Definately recommendable so far.
Testicular Pugilist
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Megatron
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here i just copied this off another ph0rumz
So, just what exactly is DS Homebrew?
GBA Homebrew has been around for quite a while since the flashcart was invented, allowing the GBA to run unsigned code. The scene was a bit bleak back then, but PogoShell was undoubtedly the best thing made for it, transforming the GBA into something of a portable media center. With the invention of the bridger/passer/whatever, it has become possible for the DS to run code designed for the DS off a GBA cartridge, meaning people could dust off their flashcarts and get ready for some very exciting new applications of the DS' power.
In a nutshell, DS Homebrew is (currently) running code designed for use with the DS made by those crazy people who program out the goodness of their own hearts. There are a lot of neat things you can do with a DS and a flashcart, and I suggest you read on to find out about some of them!
Sounds good, what do I need to get started?
You will need :
1) A storage method, such as a flashcart. These go in the GBA slot (there is a specialised stand-alone product coming soon that goes in the DS slot though), and the most popular kinds are Supercards, M3s and G6s. These are explained in more detail later on.
2) A pass device, allowing you to run NDS software from your chosen storage method. These come in the form of PassMes (aka Superpass) and NoPass devices (Max Media Launcher and soon the Superkey). Again, explained in more detail later on.
Storage Methods
Currently the most popular storage methods are Media-Based Cards. These adapt a CF, SD or Mini-SD card (commonly found in a whole bunch of stuff) for the GBA slot. Here's what to look out for :
The Supercard - Strikes a good balance between price and compatability. They will run about 98% of the homebrew out there, and have some on-board features as well. The main area where it falls is GBA compatability - a lot of games run with slowdown and some games don't run at all. Comes in CF, SD, Mini-SD and a Lite-sized version which takes Micro-SD/Transflash - However, some users are reporting some incompatability with some homebrew with the Micro-SD version.
M3 Media Player - Generally, the direct competitor to Supercards. Offers better GBA functionality and a nicer interface for a bit more cash. Apparently, it saps less battery power than the Supercard, but that's just what the manufacturer says, so it's not that trustworthy. Comes in CF, SD and Mini-SD variations. They have also announced a version that fits flushly with the Lite, but no word on how it functions.
EZ-Flash 4 - The first flashcart to fit flushly with a DS Lite. It takes Micro-SD cards, but homebrew compatibility is apparently pretty bad. Not compatible with Superkey or PassCard3, and given EZ-Flash's reputation you might want to give this one a miss.
GBA Media Player v2 - Not really in circulation anymore, this is the cheapest out there. It runs all the homebrew you throw at it after you hack the firmware, but you can only do this with the CF version, and it is very large and clunky. It's designed to play movies/music, but Moonshell does that a lot better and is functional with just about all the cards out there.
Max Media HDD - Avoid! Not only does the 4GB hard drive put an incredible strain on your battery, it's incredibly incompatible with homebrew. Too much money for too little functionality.
The G6 Lite - While not media-based, this looks to be a very good solution. Fits in the DS Lite perfectly, and runs the majority of homebrew out there while having all the benefits of the M3. It's main downside is that it doesn't have the same capacity as other solutions. The largest size, 4Gb, translates as 512MB, which is more than enough if you want to run homebrew.
NEW! The DS-Xtreme : This variant negates the need for a Passthrough altogether, since it goes in Slot-1. It has 512MB of internal memory, and is written to with a USB reader. However, the fact that it goes in Slot-1 only means it cannot do anything related to GBA, so if you fancy some BulletGBA or archiving your GBA games, this is the wrong solution for you. Not released yet.
Using Conventional Cards
If you have an old-school GBA flashcart, you can get a passthrough method and with enough ingenuity run DS Homebrew off it. This can get tricky with some carts though, and the size is often incredibly small compared to the carts listed above, so if you have the money I recommend just forking out for one of the above.
Passthrough Methods
Conventional Pass Devices (PassMe2/SuperPass2)
This is a physical piece of hardware that goes in the DS slot. It requires an original DS game to function (the Metroid Prime demo should work fine), and also requires programming to work with later versions of the DS firmware (which include DS Lites). This is a somewhat Engrish manual on how to program a SuperPass2.
Here's a link to the passaround, where you can get one for free from people who have flashed their DS' firmware (more on that later). Just pay the shipping and you're good to go! These are bulky, but once you've flashed it you don't need it anymore (more on Flashing further down)
NoPass Devices (Superkey/PassKey3)
A NoPass device is very simple, it's just a NDS cartidge that goes in the DS and... well, that's it. No programming required, no unwieldy devices sticking out, it sounds very nice. However, they are a bit expensive compared to getting a SuperPass2 for almost free, and the MML does not support sleep mode (ie, conserving power when you close the DS). The SuperKey seems to solve this issue. They are only compatible with the SuperCard or the M3 (apparently). The people over at M3 have also come out with their NoPass device, the PassKey3. If you get one of these, there is no need to flash your DS!
Flashing Your DS/DS Lite
Here's where things get a teensy bit technical. This is the process of overwriting your DS' existing firmware with a hacked version, allowing you to run DS software without a Pass Device/noPass Device. However, to run Flashme, you need a Passthrough Method to start off with, hence why there's a passaround - people buy the devices, flash their ds' and have no further need for one, so they give them away.
You'll need to take off your battery cover and short out a circuit (jab a piece of metal in there) which will let the normally write-protected firmware be written on. Here's a tutorial, and here's the latest version of FlashMe (Mirrored by angel). NEW! Here's a tutorial specifically for the DS Lite, make good use of it!
The main benefit from having your DS flashed is that you now have recovery code installed. Should you ever run malicious code (not that there's much going around), this will allow you to quickly and easily undo any adverse effects. The MML or SuperKey will not allow you to do this.
So, just what exactly is DS Homebrew?
GBA Homebrew has been around for quite a while since the flashcart was invented, allowing the GBA to run unsigned code. The scene was a bit bleak back then, but PogoShell was undoubtedly the best thing made for it, transforming the GBA into something of a portable media center. With the invention of the bridger/passer/whatever, it has become possible for the DS to run code designed for the DS off a GBA cartridge, meaning people could dust off their flashcarts and get ready for some very exciting new applications of the DS' power.
In a nutshell, DS Homebrew is (currently) running code designed for use with the DS made by those crazy people who program out the goodness of their own hearts. There are a lot of neat things you can do with a DS and a flashcart, and I suggest you read on to find out about some of them!
Sounds good, what do I need to get started?
You will need :
1) A storage method, such as a flashcart. These go in the GBA slot (there is a specialised stand-alone product coming soon that goes in the DS slot though), and the most popular kinds are Supercards, M3s and G6s. These are explained in more detail later on.
2) A pass device, allowing you to run NDS software from your chosen storage method. These come in the form of PassMes (aka Superpass) and NoPass devices (Max Media Launcher and soon the Superkey). Again, explained in more detail later on.
Storage Methods
Currently the most popular storage methods are Media-Based Cards. These adapt a CF, SD or Mini-SD card (commonly found in a whole bunch of stuff) for the GBA slot. Here's what to look out for :
The Supercard - Strikes a good balance between price and compatability. They will run about 98% of the homebrew out there, and have some on-board features as well. The main area where it falls is GBA compatability - a lot of games run with slowdown and some games don't run at all. Comes in CF, SD, Mini-SD and a Lite-sized version which takes Micro-SD/Transflash - However, some users are reporting some incompatability with some homebrew with the Micro-SD version.
M3 Media Player - Generally, the direct competitor to Supercards. Offers better GBA functionality and a nicer interface for a bit more cash. Apparently, it saps less battery power than the Supercard, but that's just what the manufacturer says, so it's not that trustworthy. Comes in CF, SD and Mini-SD variations. They have also announced a version that fits flushly with the Lite, but no word on how it functions.
EZ-Flash 4 - The first flashcart to fit flushly with a DS Lite. It takes Micro-SD cards, but homebrew compatibility is apparently pretty bad. Not compatible with Superkey or PassCard3, and given EZ-Flash's reputation you might want to give this one a miss.
GBA Media Player v2 - Not really in circulation anymore, this is the cheapest out there. It runs all the homebrew you throw at it after you hack the firmware, but you can only do this with the CF version, and it is very large and clunky. It's designed to play movies/music, but Moonshell does that a lot better and is functional with just about all the cards out there.
Max Media HDD - Avoid! Not only does the 4GB hard drive put an incredible strain on your battery, it's incredibly incompatible with homebrew. Too much money for too little functionality.
The G6 Lite - While not media-based, this looks to be a very good solution. Fits in the DS Lite perfectly, and runs the majority of homebrew out there while having all the benefits of the M3. It's main downside is that it doesn't have the same capacity as other solutions. The largest size, 4Gb, translates as 512MB, which is more than enough if you want to run homebrew.
NEW! The DS-Xtreme : This variant negates the need for a Passthrough altogether, since it goes in Slot-1. It has 512MB of internal memory, and is written to with a USB reader. However, the fact that it goes in Slot-1 only means it cannot do anything related to GBA, so if you fancy some BulletGBA or archiving your GBA games, this is the wrong solution for you. Not released yet.
Using Conventional Cards
If you have an old-school GBA flashcart, you can get a passthrough method and with enough ingenuity run DS Homebrew off it. This can get tricky with some carts though, and the size is often incredibly small compared to the carts listed above, so if you have the money I recommend just forking out for one of the above.
Passthrough Methods
Conventional Pass Devices (PassMe2/SuperPass2)
This is a physical piece of hardware that goes in the DS slot. It requires an original DS game to function (the Metroid Prime demo should work fine), and also requires programming to work with later versions of the DS firmware (which include DS Lites). This is a somewhat Engrish manual on how to program a SuperPass2.
Here's a link to the passaround, where you can get one for free from people who have flashed their DS' firmware (more on that later). Just pay the shipping and you're good to go! These are bulky, but once you've flashed it you don't need it anymore (more on Flashing further down)
NoPass Devices (Superkey/PassKey3)
A NoPass device is very simple, it's just a NDS cartidge that goes in the DS and... well, that's it. No programming required, no unwieldy devices sticking out, it sounds very nice. However, they are a bit expensive compared to getting a SuperPass2 for almost free, and the MML does not support sleep mode (ie, conserving power when you close the DS). The SuperKey seems to solve this issue. They are only compatible with the SuperCard or the M3 (apparently). The people over at M3 have also come out with their NoPass device, the PassKey3. If you get one of these, there is no need to flash your DS!
Flashing Your DS/DS Lite
Here's where things get a teensy bit technical. This is the process of overwriting your DS' existing firmware with a hacked version, allowing you to run DS software without a Pass Device/noPass Device. However, to run Flashme, you need a Passthrough Method to start off with, hence why there's a passaround - people buy the devices, flash their ds' and have no further need for one, so they give them away.
You'll need to take off your battery cover and short out a circuit (jab a piece of metal in there) which will let the normally write-protected firmware be written on. Here's a tutorial, and here's the latest version of FlashMe (Mirrored by angel). NEW! Here's a tutorial specifically for the DS Lite, make good use of it!
The main benefit from having your DS flashed is that you now have recovery code installed. Should you ever run malicious code (not that there's much going around), this will allow you to quickly and easily undo any adverse effects. The MML or SuperKey will not allow you to do this.
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Megatron
- Mamma's Gang member
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- Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2002 1:00 am
- Location: The United Kingdoms
'm still pretty unsure on what to get. vv
This could be reguarded as an essential kit if you don't want to flash your DS :
Superkey / PassCard3
Supercard Mini-SD (go ahead and swap this out for a M3 if you want)
1GB Mini-SD card (You're very greedy if you want more than 1GB, and that's enough for a good few hours of Moonshell video. Also, ScummVM takes up a large amount of space, so bigger may indeed be better.)
USB Mini-SD card reader (Only needed if you don't already have some way of reading Mini-SD cards.)
If you do want to flash, just swap the Max Media Launcher out for a SuperPass2, obtained from the passaround. (If you can't get one though, FlashMe will still work with a MML)
http://www.dspassme.com/FlashMe.shtml
http://www.double.co.nz/nintendo_ds/
http://www.realhotstuff.com/ - buy chit
i cant link the original thread as its on something AWFUL lol so its all hidden and chit
This could be reguarded as an essential kit if you don't want to flash your DS :
Superkey / PassCard3
Supercard Mini-SD (go ahead and swap this out for a M3 if you want)
1GB Mini-SD card (You're very greedy if you want more than 1GB, and that's enough for a good few hours of Moonshell video. Also, ScummVM takes up a large amount of space, so bigger may indeed be better.)
USB Mini-SD card reader (Only needed if you don't already have some way of reading Mini-SD cards.)
If you do want to flash, just swap the Max Media Launcher out for a SuperPass2, obtained from the passaround. (If you can't get one though, FlashMe will still work with a MML)
http://www.dspassme.com/FlashMe.shtml
http://www.double.co.nz/nintendo_ds/
http://www.realhotstuff.com/ - buy chit
i cant link the original thread as its on something AWFUL lol so its all hidden and chit
