Guide to NDS Flash carts and Homebrew

[Harrison]

I've just found a great and very extensive PDF guide to NDS Flashcarts and homebrew that has a wealth of information about every aspect of the subject.

The file was obtained from a site called http://www.moddz.com/ which is the website of a maxconsole member called FifthE1ement. He is currently in the process of updating the guide to include bit of more recent information, but on the whole the guide is already very useful as it is.

I would suggest keeping an eye on the maxconsole thread here (http://forums.maxconsole.net/showthread.php?t=27045) for announcements about updates to this guide. Also post there to show your thanks if you find this guide of use.

To obtain the guide from his site you first need to register, otherwise you can't see the downloads area. But to simply things I have attached the PDF here for you all to download and read. Enjoy!

Hope this guide is useful for you Ghost.

[Buleste]

The guides a little old now so does anyone have any up to date information. I'm thinking about either a R4 card or an M3 from here. (http://www.r4ds.co.uk/)

[J T]

I haven't really looked at that website, but be aware that some of the R4/M3 cards are quite out of date now, so make sure you do your research and get a current one.

For the record, I have an M3 DS Simply, which I've had for a good 2-3 years now. I don't use the DS that often but so far haven't found any games that I cant eventually get to work on it - but I understand there are some, and likely to get more and more. Again, I'm quite behind on the new releases (most current game I've played is Castlevania Ecclesia).

[Buleste]

I've ordered the latest R4 with a 4GB card for £20.95 and noticed there was a voucher for a further 10% off so ended up getting it for £17.99.

[Harrison]

I'm interested to know what you think of it once it arrives. I still don't have a flash cart for an NDS, so with that price being so good I'm tempted.

Do flash carts work with the newer DSi?

[Buleste]

There is a separate cart for the DSi but for around the same price. Should be arriving tomorrow so I'm just downloading a few roms in preparation.

[Buleste]

I've had my r4 for a couple of days now so whilst I've had a little play I've no where near tested it's full capabilities. And it's quite a nice thing. I initially had some problems installing the software but eventually it worked, stuck a few ROMs on and away you go. I've tried installing Linux but to no success as of yet but I'll keep trying. Over all well worth the money.
WARNING : If you go for the DSi version make sure you get one built after sept 09 as the earlier versions do not accept the latest versions of the software although all the ones sold on the site I gave should be the newer versions.

I've had a bit more of a play and found there is a built in cheat mode for all but the newest of games that is regularly updated.

UPDATE: I now know why I can't run DS Linux. It requires the memory expansion pack on the DS/DS Lite. The DSi has 16 MB of RAM so it will work fine on that.

[Buleste]

I've managed to get the C64 emulator working!!!!!

[Harrison]

How fast was the emulation? Full speed? What about emulating the keyboard?

[Buleste]

I would say it depends on the game but on a standard DS it's about 95% - 100%. The keyboard is in the touchpad and the joypad is port 2. It's a port of Frodo. It would be interesting to see if VICE could be ported to add a little better compatibility and to add the ability to switch the joypad to port 1 so you can play IM on the move. I'm not sure if there is a possinility to try multiple disk games (KOL for instance).

[Harrison]

A lot of people seem to be recommended the Acekard DSi card at the moment. I just had a look and those cards are compatible with the DS, DS Lite and DSi, so the one card works for all which is good.

And the prices seem about the same as the R4 and R4i cards.

I've also discovered a great Hong Kong site http://www.dealextreme.com that reminds me so much of Lik-Sang. They are selling DS flash carts, plus lots of other stuff for many different systems. They also have some great looking handheld emulation systems worth looking at, and all at great prices with free shipping.

[Buleste]

All of the R4 cards are clones and the original has stopped being made so it's hardware will no longer be developed (I've just found this out:mad:) however it is a nice card. However as you say a lot of guys are recommending the AceKard which from what I've seen is very similar to the R4 that I bought although it has a more windoze like interface.

[Buleste]

The R4i-SDHC has had a major firmware update. Included with the latest firmware is something called Games Engine. This app allows you to connect to the Games Engine Site and look at the latest Roms and Cue them for download onto your SDHC card. You then plug your SDHC card into your PC and run the Games Engine software to download the Roms you want. Hopefully soon they will allow direct to card downloading onto the DS and also allow you to connect to the Games Engine site and download some of the latest movies in .dpg format.

[Buleste]

Last might I had a very strange experience. I had a spectrum emulator and was playing Doom on my DS. I have to say ZXDS is a great emulator that also allows you to access the world of Spectrum server and unzips and loads games from their site. you can also access a Spectrum Demo site (some of the demo's are quite impressive considering the limitations of the speccy).

For a good site that lists almost all the available emulators for the ds go here. (http://emulationrealm.net/modules/wfdownloads/viewcat.php?op=&cid=33)

[Harrison]

That does sound good, and a great feature being able to select and play games that auto download and extract on the DS.

But why was it a strange experience?

[Buleste]

Doom on a Spectrum!!!!

[Harrison]

Ah! I see your point. I've never tried it. Will have to take a look. Does it play OK?

[Buleste]

I think it never got above prerelease but if you remember what you're playing it on (or emulating) it's very impressive (especially when you consider what Amiga you need to get Doom running at a good speed (yes I know that the Amiga displays 248 more colours but still)).

[Harrison]

http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/mrdaveo/reviews/doom.gif

Wow! I just found a video on Youtube of the game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v7cFGneuaw

That is quite impressive for a spectrum. I wasn't expecting it to actually work in 3D like the real game. Quite fast refresh rate too.

Reading a review, it isn't actually Doom though, but a tech demo to prove it could be done, with just one level which is extremely hard. But still, it is impressive.

[Harrison]

Have you also seen the port of Wolfenstein?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzm9KkJ5lGI

There is some impressive stuff done on this little system.

[Demon Cleaner]

Really impressive, although it looks a bit shitty :lol:

[Harrison]

Looks better than most Speccy games with their colour clash sprites! ;)

[Buleste]

Remember Dynamite Dan the colour clash man?:lol:

I've been trying the MSX emulator and surprisingly the original version of Knight Lore runs slower than the new MSX2 version.

I'm slowly having a run through of all these (http://nintendo-ds.dcemu.co.uk/NintendoDS-HomebrewApplications.php) Homebrew apps for the DS.

[Harrison]

The RetroWorks MSX2 remake of KnightLore is indeed very nice. The game looks great in more colour. Shame the MSX wasn't more popular in Europe.

The same company have also remade Sir Fred for PC.

[Buleste]

I forgot to update this when I found it but they also made an Alien 8 Remake although it is a lot sluggish.

However here's a rare treat for all those who have a card for the DS. The attached 2 games have never been commercially available and do not show up on most ROM sites. The first contains Oil Panic, Donkey Kong and Green House and the second (which has some Japanese text but is perfectly playable) contains Parachute and Octopus.

[Demon Cleaner]

I have a whole set of Game & Watch which includes these games.

[Buleste]

Here's some piccies to show how they look on the DS.

http://i43.tinypic.com/2whikj8.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/20u1q2o.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/5yhjdy.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/j8o64k.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/a2usyu.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/2zewgfc.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/j8cu4n.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/nc0ehl.jpg

Shame they didn't put Donkey Kong II on the second collection.

[Harrison]

Those look great.

[Buleste]

They are a bit of retro heaven. I just have to get used to the DSi controls being better than the 26 year controls on Donkey Kong. I will get a high score of 999 again.

:EDIT:
Just been on the DSIWARE site and it looks like the big N are loving the G&W as they've released 3 as downloadable games. Mario's Cement Factory, Chef and Judge.

[Buleste]

In a little bit of miggy related news I've found the lemmings DS site (http://www.mrdictionary.net/lemmings/) which has all 292 levels from Lemmings, Oh no more Lemmings and XMAS Lemmings '91 '92 '93 '94. All I can say is it's miggy Lemmings on the DS.

[Harrison]

Nice :thumbs:

[Demon Cleaner]

:EDIT:
Just been on the DSIWARE site and it looks like the big N are loving the G&W as they've released 3 as downloadable games. Mario's Cement Factory, Chef and Judge.A friend of mine came back last week from Japan, and brought me a tiny Game & Watch, like a keychain, never saw that before, but it's very nice. And the game is Chef :)

Mine is still wrapped, and I will also keep it like that, looks nice in the japanese wrapping.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y184/cioprgr/classicamiga/game_watch_chef-620x465.jpg

[Buleste]

I had seen some similar but they were in the shape of GB's but i've just seen this

http://www.strapya-world.com/pic/2010/Englishminisoler-06.jpg

So I may have to spend some money here. (http://www.strapya-world.com/categories/12_3202_5356.html) or here. (http://www.japantrendshop.com/nintendo-game-watch-keychain-p-829.html?currency=GBP&utm_source=googlebase_GBP&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=googlebase_GBP)

[Harrison]

I've also seen some mini game and watch style ones like this too. great for collectors.

[Buleste]

I've found a excellent site for old movies and books that you can play on your DS. Go to www.moonbooks.net and have a look.