DS homebrew questions.

[Nadril]

So recently I broke down and got a DS. Yeah, my roomate got one and after playing the new zelda for it I broke down.

 

 

 

(if anyone is currious I got new super mario bros, Advanced wars: Dual strike and Sonic rush).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However I remember reading somewhere (on these forums I am certain) about homebrew. A quick google search gave me some information on Slot 1 and Slot 2 type cards, apparently Slot 1 is in the DS style format while Slot 2 is a GBA card. I tried reading a bit about the differences and all that jazz, but it still left me off a bit confused on what I want.

 

 

 

 

 

Well I've been thinking of getting one, and I have some questions to those who may be experienced in that matter.

 

 

 

 

 

- First of all, Slot 1 vs Slot 2. From my research it seemed as if Slot 1 was cheaper, and possibly more efficent, than Slot 2. However slot 2 has some of the best GBA emulators (yay?) but is more costly and tougher to set up.

 

 

 

- The actual setup as the card. I believe it is an SD card, correct? In that case any simple card reader should be able to read it right? I have an SD slot so I think it would work, but just want to know.

 

 

 

- Are they worth it, and what are the good ones to get exactly? (brand, ect.). I am mostly interested in homebrew projects, and possibly emulators (however I'll spare talk of emulators on here)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So right now I'm leaning towards a slot 1 card, but just looking for some of those who have done this.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks in advance for any answers. I've tried researching it (as I said) but didn't get much out of it. :P

[dsavi]

Well, first of all, having an sd card slot in a DS would be a dream come true. No, Nintendo went ahead and made their own, so they don't have to pay royalties. As for homebrewing (FTW), try YouTube.

[unknownmasterofnothing]

I thought it uses a gba cart.

[Abelmisi]

- First of all, Slot 1 vs Slot 2. From my research it seemed as if Slot 1 was cheaper, and possibly more efficent, than Slot 2. However slot 2 has some of the best GBA emulators (yay?) but is more costly and tougher to set up.

 

The newer homebrew carts use Slot 1, it can do more advanced technology.

 

- The actual setup as the card. I believe it is an SD card, correct? In that case any simple card reader should be able to read it right? I have an SD slot so I think it would work, but just want to know.

 

There are three types of SD cards mini SD's, micro SD's and normal SD's.

 

Slot 1 carts support micro sd's as far as I know.

 

- Are they worth it, and what are the good ones to get exactly? (brand, ect.). I am mostly interested in homebrew projects, and possibly emulators (however I'll spare talk of emulators on here)

 

 

 

The one I have is, in my opinion, the best. When you are thinking of getting a homebrew carts there are a lot of factors you need to take in consideration. Do you want to be able to play commercial games on it? Does the one you buy have the best customer support? (Meaning they release firmware updates fairly often) Etc.

 

 

 

I'd recomment the R4DS. It has one of the best customer supports if not the best, almost all (99.9%) commercial games work on it, no patching, or any of that weird stuff required, lots of emulators, just drag the file on the card and it works You also get a CD a case and an adapter with it..

 

 

 

 

Sites I recommend:

 

 

 

DS Flash Carts and Mod devices forums:

 

http://www.monroeworld.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=38

 

Buy new R4DS for $32.90:

 

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1202

 

R4DS official site:

 

http://www.r4ds.com/index-en.htm

 

DS Homebrew & more:

 

http://www.ndshb.com/

 

Ds roms:

 

http://bs1.emuxperts.net/?show=indexer&system=nds

 

 

 

 

 

So right now I'm leaning towards a slot 1 card, but just looking for some of those who have done this.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks in advance for any answers. I've tried researching it (as I said) but didn't get much out of it. :P

 

 

Hope I could be some use, I look forward to having some wifi matches with ya. :P

[Nadril]

Wow, thanks Abelmisi!

 

 

 

 

 

I'll check those links out. :D

 

 

 

edit: For the R4 card do I need to get an SD (mini I assume?) card to put in it or does it come with one.

 

 

 

double edit: Ok so I do have to. Trying to think though, just for emulators/homebrew how large of a disk would be necessary? I was debating between 1GB/2Gb, and possibly 4GB.

[megakiller32]

I have R4 DS. Its fantastic. Although illegal :oops:

 

if you order it new, it comes with everything you need :D

[Abelmisi]

I have R4 DS. Its fantastic. Although illegal :oops:

 

if you order it new, it comes with everything you need :D

 

That's like saying buying a blank CD is illegal.

 

 

 

You could buy an R4DS for playing homebrew games or to play music and videos on it. That's not illegal at all. It all depends on how you use it, what you store on it.

 

 

 

Wow, thanks Abelmisi!

 

 

 

 

 

I'll check those links out. :D

 

 

 

edit: For the R4 card do I need to get an SD (mini I assume?) card to put in it or does it come with one.

 

 

 

double edit: Ok so I do have to. Trying to think though, just for emulators/homebrew how large of a disk would be necessary? I was debating between 1GB/2Gb, and possibly 4GB.

 

 

 

You will need a micro SD.

 

 

 

Comes in sizes 1GB, 2GB and 4GB.

 

 

 

I'd highly recommend you getting the 2GB. The 1GB one starts at $16 (http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/104-6552057-6633508?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=micro+sd+1gb&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go)

 

and a 2GB one at $22 (http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/105-3663366-9433251?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=micro+sd+2gb&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go)

 

I'd recommend you investing that 6 bucks for double the storage.

 

 

 

For the record you can get 4 giggers at $41, but I think 2GB is already more than needed.

 

 

 

Watching videos an the R4 is not quite a cinematric experience, but it's actually quite a cool thing to do once in a while when you are bored out of your mind.

 

 

 

 

There's also a coolass iPod emulator to play music:

 

 

 

 

Oh and you can even get on msn with the DS!

 

 

 

 

Enjoy the brewing. ;)

[unknownmasterofnothing]

Hmm I'm thinking of getting a cyclods revolution. Did you get a r4 because it is cheaper?

[dsavi]

Hmmm. I wonder if my dad would mind me hacking our DS?

 

 

 

Tell me, can you still play the original games/Use the original firmware while hacking it?

[Abelmisi]

Hmmm. I wonder if my dad would mind me hacking our DS?

 

 

 

Tell me, can you still play the original games/Use the original firmware while hacking it?

 

 

 

Yes, you can always use original gba and ds games with the system. No hacking is done in the process, it is just a cart you take in and out. The firmware of the DS itself remains untouched. It's not something that voids your warranty, Nintendo has no way of detecting the carts you put in the DS.

 

 

 

Hmm I'm thinking of getting a cyclods revolution. Did you get a r4 because it is cheaper?

 

I don't know whom you you questioned, but I'm going to answer it anyway.

 

 

 

Partly yes, but I also chose it because I felt it had the best Customer Support, and that it released fixes and firmware updates regularly so I would not have a problem with playing games. (Some games on other flashcarts do not work)

 

 

 

You can find indepth reviews on almost all flashcarts here.