Nintendo DS: Excellent for Homebrew, etc...

[fizzy_drink]

This thing doesn't stop surprising me.

I've got a GBAMP (v2).
http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=246&products_id=3983&

As it is, it can play movies, music and run old GBA games (below a certain size).


I wanted a bit more from my NDS, so I went for a Max Media Launcher.
http://uk.codejunkies.com/shop/product.asp?c=GB&cr=GBP&cs=£&r=0&l=1&ProdID=321

This max media launcher (£15 delivered), allows me to access homebrew NDS software from my GBAMP CF card (so, it acts as a "pass" card, allowing me to select applications from my CF card).

In order to do this, I flashed my GBAMP card with a hacked firmware, allowing me full access to the CF card (read & write). Many thanks to the talented people who have managed to code this.
http://chishm.drunkencoders.com/NDSMP/index.html


Now I can run pretty much anything on this - there are lots and lots of homebrews (including Organisers, Movie/MP3 players and games).

This allows you to select applications at boot-up:
http://mightymax.org/gbamp_multiboot.html

This is the DS "organiser"
http://www.dragonminded.com/?loc=ndsdev/DSOrganize

Lots of other stuff here:
http://www.ndshb.com/

 

[Mike-bham]

Genious, have considered getting one, but dont know how much i'd use it, same with psp really.

 

[darren_rallye]

Mind if I copy you post to my DS forum??

 

[fizzy_drink]

Nope, not at all. Go for it.

There's a bit more you might want to stick on there (a tutorial on how to flash the GBAMP and get homebrew running).

http://www.ndshb.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=26


You'll need a GBAMP firmware update before you flash/hack the GBAMP (as detailed in the tutorial above).
Download it here: http://www.rbenda.de/shop-pro/pages/files/update.e19

This firmware update is no longer on the official GBAMP web site, so download it and keep it somewhere safe.

** FORMAT your CF card as FAT32**

 

[MikeDX]

Those of you with a DS might be interested in.. http://dxdev.dcemu.co.uk/

In particular, my new ebook reader
http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=27266

 

[darren_rallye]

I'll check those links in detail when I'm home.

Thanks for the advice, geek.

 

[fizzy_drink]

 

[MikeDX]

I'll check those links in detail when I'm home.

Thanks for the advice, geek.

http://www.cliosport.net/index.php?page=forumRules
Personal attacks of any kind on forum users, club members or staff will not be tolerated.

 

[Iain C]

i read all that but all i saw was bla bla!
Wot does it all mean for us layman ds owners?
Can we get free stuff?

 

[Maxx]

Get a cf to gba convertor

 

[fizzy_drink]

i read all that but all i saw was bla bla!
Wot does it all mean for us layman ds owners?
Can we get free stuff?

YES!



MP3 & Movie Player/Calendar/Calculator/Games/Messenger/Browser/Picture Viewer & Editor etc...

 

[fizzy_drink]

This thing rocks!

I've just downloaded a game directly onto my DS wirelessly...

I strongly advise people to get all the hardware as described above, and to use the "DSOrganize" program.

Super.

 

[fizzy_drink]

UPDATE:

I'm now running Backups of my DS games off my CF card.

Rather than switching cartridges, all I need to do is re-boot.

The only downside is that all the "saved" game data is on the original cartridge, and not on my Backups - back to square one!!

 

[The Big Yin]

How do you back up the games Oms ? My daughter has one and im kinda taking ove it at themo

 

[fizzy_drink]

You'll need a USB ROM Cart reader.

You copy the ROM Game Cart .nds file(s) onto your computer, and keep it as a backup.

Drag that file (and any other files) onto your CF card (for use with the GBAMP, see link above), and run it as a normal game.

You might need to patch the .nds file to run properly (since the root directory etc will all be different).

The filename of the patcher program is Max Overload (cracked to be compatible with the GBAMP).

 

[Jay]

I sooooo wanna get a DS!!!

Could of bought one with the money I spent on booze on Saturday

 

[trailerparktrev]

Get one jay - they are superb. Bought Meteroid Hunter today, looks good but I haven't played it yet - too addicted to New Super Mario Bros., also ordered the SD version of the media player from liksang.com plus ordered a 2GB SD card from play.com for 18 quid!!!!!!!!!

 

[fizzy_drink]

^^

Uh oh, an important point:

The software cracks/patches that allow games to be played from the MediaPlayer (GBAMP) have only been written for the CompactFlash (CF) version afaik.

Therfore I'd stick with the CF version (despite the fact that it's bigger and sticks-out).

Finally, when you get a CF card, make sure it's a fast CF card (40x or more) so that reading-writing doesn't take that long.

 

[trailerparktrev]

^^

Uh oh, an important point:

The software cracks/patches that allow games to be played from the MediaPlayer (GBAMP) have only been written for the CompactFlash (CF) version afaik.

Therfore I'd stick with the CF version (despite the fact that it's bigger and sticks-out).

Finally, when you get a CF card, make sure it's a fast CF card (40x or more) so that reading-writing doesn't take that long.

Cheers for the tip mate, but I'll probably just be using it for music and movies - hence buying the 2GB SD card, although it does seem interesting in getting "downloaded" games. Used to use MAME on my work PC playing all the old arcade games from years ago - so always looking out for eerrrhhhhmmm backed up stufff

Oms dyu know if the Nintendo wi-fi dongle is mac compatible??

 

[fizzy_drink]

Oms dyu know if the Nintendo wi-fi dongle is mac compatible??

I have no idea... good question though!

 

[Jay]

Is there much difference in size/weight in a normal DS to DS lite?

 

[fizzy_drink]

^^

Yup!

The "lite" is beautifully compact, and the screens are much much brighter.

The lite is worth the extra money for sure!

 

[Jay]

just been reading a couple of reviews on the two. Defo going for the lite!

Not sure what colour though black or white?

 

[The Big Yin]

black

 

[Jay]

Heading into Birmingham tomorrow so will have a butchers for a DS

 

[fizzy_drink]

just been reading a couple of reviews on the two. Defo going for the lite!

Not sure what colour though black or white?

Black!

All the new top model Ipods are black...

...black is the new white!

:approve:

 

[The Big Yin]

Oms i need an idiots guide to what is needed to get this up and running Can you help

Will it allow me to d/l games and transfer them to the card aswell

 

[MattT]

^^ Yeah, I'm interested in this too!
Also, what's the difference between the 'Max media launcher' and the 'Max media dock' - from the reviews they both look to do the same thing but there's quite a difference in price!

 

[The Big Yin]

Anyone help

 

[MattT]

Anyone help

 

[fizzy_drink]

^^ Yeah, I'm interested in this too!
Also, what's the difference between the 'Max media launcher' and the 'Max media dock' - from the reviews they both look to do the same thing but there's quite a difference in price!

Hiya,

The "launcher" is the actual "passme" device, which allows you to run the software from the GBA slot.

The "dock" is the storage device slots into the GBS slot. This device cannot be accessed (for homebrew) without the "launcher".


BEST buys:

"Max media Launcher" as your passme device.

"GBA Media Player (GBAMP), CF version"

All the flashes/cracks are available on the tinternet if you search enough.

 

[MattT]

Cheers Oms.