Mooney

I once heard about a study that said men produce more sperm while either engaging in group sex or watching pornography. I think it had something to do with the male's primal urge to compete...

As some of you may have noticed, I have recently posted a buyer's guide on NDS flashcards. Included in this guide is a section on how to check the firmware that is installed on your DS. I would like to include original pictures (Not ones taken from other websites) of each firmware so readers have an easier time identifying their firmware. Since I only have a DS Lite, I cannot get all the pictures I need by myself. If you could just follow these quick steps to find your firmware version, take a picture, and send it to me, that would be awesome. How to check your firmware 1. Insert an official (commercial) GBA or NDS cartridge into the DS. 2. Turn on your DS, enter Pictochat, and enter any chat room. 3. Once you have entered the chat room, remove the GBA or NDS cartridge from the DS without turning the DS off. 4. Something should happen to both your screens, usually a change in color. Firmwares Needed - No change in color (Pictochat freezes): Firmware v1 - Both screens turn blue-gray: Firmware v2 - Both screens turn dark green: Firmware v3 (iQue DS systems have this firmware) - Both screens turn yellow: Firmware v4 - Both screens turn magenta: Firmware v5 (Most DS Lites have this firmware) - Both screens turn dark blue: Firmware v6 Credit will be given to the photographer. Thanks!

v0.9 by Mooney (Last edit: May 17, 2008) Still a lot to work on... Intro Whether you're getting in to NDS homebrew or you've grown tired of buying games that look good only to find out they're crap, you've probably become interested in purchasing a flashcard for your NDS. Flashcards for NDS are incredibly useful things. Not only do they allow you to play homebrew and backups of your original games, most of them will also let you listen to music, watch videos, and view picture files. Each cart has its own pros and cons, so you have to look carefully for the cart that is right for you. What you need to know The difference between slot-1 and slot-2 This seems to be one of the main things that baffles first time buyers. What's the difference and why the heck should you care? Pictures: Slot-1 on the NDS Lite Slot-2 on the NDS Lite Slot-1 and slot-2 on the original NDS The difference between NDS slot-2 flashcards and GBA flashcarts Slot-2 NDS flashcards are NOT the same as GBA flashcarts. The main difference is that slot-2 flashcards generally use seperate memory cards to store ROMs while GBA flashcarts have on-board flash memory. Since a flashcart’s memory is not expandable, and usually fairly small to begin with, they are quickly going from new technology to fossils of the past. Also, many of them have rather poor compatibility with NDS ROMs. Therefore, I will not talk about them in this guide. Quick Overview - Slot-1: This is the DS game card slot located on the top of the system. This slot can be used for original DS game cards, a pass device (PassMe, NoPass), or for a DS flashcard (M3 Simply, SuperCard DS). Pros: Fits right into the slot, does not require any additional hardware, relatively cheap, can be used as a PassMe. Cons: Cannot play GBA homebrew or backups, low compatibility with some of the early DS homebrew, too expensive to be used just as a PassMe. - Slot-2: This is the GBA cart slot on the bottom of the system. This slot is for original GBA carts, DS option packs (Rumble pack, Opera memory expansion), GBA flashcarts (EFA, EZ-Flash), or slot-2 NDS flashcards. Pros: Can play GBA games, great homebrew compatibility. Cons: Requires additional hardware to play NDS homebrew and backups, rather expensive. Slot-1 As the latest addition to an NDS owner's homebrew arsenal, the main advantage to slot-1 cards would seem to be that they fit right into the DS card slot and they don't require any other hardware (other than a memory stick, of course), so they are easy to set up and start using. Most slot-1 carts will let you drag and drop your homebrew and game backups right on to your memory card so there's no hassle with extra software. These carts will also works with DS option packs, such as Opera's memory upgrade and the DS rumble pack. Unfortunately, even clouds with silver linings are still clouds. A huge drawback with slot-1 cards is that they cannot play GBA homebrew/backups/emulators. You may not realize the magnitude of this until you realize that some of the best emulators are for GBA (PocketNES, Goomba, SMSAdvance, PCEAdvance) and not DS. Required Equipment - Slot-1 flashcard - Memory Card (Usually microSD or microSDHC) - Memory Card Reader/Writer Another feature that most clot-1 cards have is the ability to act as a NoPass device. This means you could use your slot-1 device to run NDS games off of a slot-2 device. However, I would not recommend getting a slot-1 device just for that feature, go with a product whose only function is to be a NoPass device. It'll be cheaper yet just as reliable. SDHC Most new slot-1 carts support SDHC (Secure Digital High-Capacity) cards. SDHC cards have a much higher capacity that regular SD cards (from 4GB to 8GB, soon to 16GB) and come in 3 speeds: - Class 2: 2 MB/s - Class 4: 4 MB/s - Class 6: 6 MB/s NOTE: SDHC cards will only work on slot-1 cards that support it. Popular Devices - R4DS - CycloDS Evolution * - M3DS Real * - M3 Simply - TopToy DS * - SuperCard DS One - EZ-Flash V - AceKard R.P.G. * - AceKard 2 * * Supports SDHC Pros - Only takes up one slot - Compatible with DS expansion carts (RAM expansion, rumble, etc) - Supports drag-and-drop of clean ROMs - Not very expensive Cons - Does not support GBA ROMs without a slot-2 expansion pak - Not very compatible with older homebrew (Homebrew usually requires a DLDI patch to work on a slot-1 device) Get more info on DLDI here: Mooney's Complete Guide to DLDI Slot-2 The first generation of flashcards made for the NDS were slot-2. As I mentioned before, slot-2 flashcards go in the GBA slot located on the bottom of the NDS. Most people who buy slot-2 cards do so because they want to be able to play GBA games and emulators, which slot-1 does not support. However, slot-2 flashcards usually do not support the convenient drag-and-drop method for writing ROMs to the memory card that slot-1 cards support, they usually require software to write ROMs. Also, since you need an extra piece of equipment to run NDS games and emulators from a slot-2 device, it can get a bit pricey. Required Equipment - Slot-2 flashcard - Memory card (Usually SD, MicroSD, MiniSD, or CF) - Memory Card Reader/Writer Optional Equipment - Pass Device (PassMe, PassKey, NoPass, WifiMe) A pass device is not required to use a slot-2 flashcard. However, if you want to be able to run NDS games or emulators off of your slot-2 device, a pass device is required. The only alternative is FlashMe, but installation of FlashMe requires a pass device to get started. For more info on pass devices, please scroll farther down the page. Popular Devices - M3 Family: Pro, Perfect, Lite, Slim, Mini. Memory Cards used by M3 adapters: CF, SD, MiniSD, MicroSD - SuperCard Family: CF, SD, MiniSD, Lite, Rumble (Does not support GBA mode) Memory Cards used by SuperCard adapters: CF, SD, MiniSD, MicroSD Pros - Support for GBA games and emulators - High compatibility with older homebrew - Works with all models of the NDS - Compatible memory cards are relatively cheap Cons - Requires a pass device to play NDS games and emulators - Flashcards are rather expensive - Does not support drag-and-drop - Do not support some newer homebrew designed for slot-1 cards Pass Devices Anyone with a slot-2 flashcard who wants to play NDS games will need one of these. A pass device is a piece of hardware that you insert into the DS card slot (slot-1) of the DS that allows you to load NDS games off of a slot-2 flashcard. It must be noted, however, that the model and firmware of your DS will decide which pass devices are right for you, as not all pass devices work with all models of DS. How to Check Your DS’s Firmware The following set of steps will allow you to determine the firmware of your NDS, and therefore help you choose a compatible pass device. 1. Insert an official (commercial) GBA or NDS cartridge into the DS. 2. Turn on your DS, enter Pictochat, and enter any chat room. 3. Once you have entered the chat room, remove the GBA or NDS cartridge from the DS without turning the DS off. 4. Something should happen to both your screens, usually a change in color: - No change in color (Pictochat freezes): Firmware v1 - Both screens turn blue-gray: Firmware v2 - Both screens turn dark green: Firmware v3 (iQue DS systems have this firmware) - Both screens turn yellow: Firmware v4 - Both screens turn purple: Firmware v5 (Most DS Lites have this firmware) - Both screens turn dark blue: Firmware v6 ^ Click for pictures ^ Now that you have determined your firmware, here is a list of pass devices and the firmwares they support. Popular Devices Pass Devices for Firmwares v1-v3 (Requires a commercial NDS cartridge) - PassMe - EZPass - SuperPass - PassKey WifiMe is another option for people who’s NDS has firmware v1, v2, or v3. Pass Devices for Firmwares v1-v6 (Not compatible with GBA Movie Player, requires a commercial NDS cartridge) - EZPass2 - PassMe2 - PassCard 2 - PassKey 2 NoPass (Compatible with all firmwares and flashcards) - EZPass3 - MAX Media Launcher - PassCard3 (Not compatible with EZ-Flash IV) - MK4 Mini - MK4 Key - SuperKey (Not compatible with EZ-Flash IV) - Ninjapass Media Launcher - Action Replay DS (With firmware 1.02 or later, hold “select” while booting up with an NDS flashcard in the GBA slot) NoPass is becoming the most popular pass device today because it does not require a commercial NDS cartridge to be inserted into the device and it does not stick out of the DS slot at all. Coming Soon - Any changes I might make - Anything someone might suggest to include - Probably a whole crapload of edits and additions Special Thanks - lakalt (Pictures of firmwares v3, v4, and v5) - iq_132 (Picture of firmware v2) Sources http://wiki.pocketheaven.com/DS_Firmware http://wiki.pocketheaven.com/PassMe http://wiki.pocketheaven.com/PassMe2 http://wiki.pocketheaven.com/NoPass http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PassMe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy_Adva...lash_cartridges http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M3_adapter

Chip8 emulator for PSP Get it here: ZionMax

My friends and I have plans to see this at the local IMAX. That is gonna be SO tight!

I was just playing some Jump Ultimate Stars and Metroid Prime: Hunters on my DS. Ultimate Stars is definitely better than Super Stars, and MP:H never gets old with Wifi play.

When you say backup "ability" do you mean the ability to play NDS ROMs or to dump your actual game carts? If you mean the ability to play NDS ROMs, just about every flashcard out there can do that, but some require more equipment than others (Slot-2 flashcard require a pass device to play NDS homebrew). If you want to be able to dump your own game carts, then you'd need a custom firmware called FW Nitro. The M3 Perfect (slot-2) can save your games without a patch (unless you want real time saving) and the software includes a tool to import/export saves from your ROMs. Slot-1 cards never require patching at all, and no software either, so I'm not sure if you could import/export saves. As for getting the saves off of your own games, you'll need an app called Rein. If you want GBA compatibility, you'll need a slot-2 device (and a pass device, for playing NDS stuff). Just about every slot-1 and -2 device there is requires a memory card. The most commonly used are CF, SD, miniSD and microSD. Depending on which flashcard you choose you'll know which you need. There are a few cards that do not require a memory card, such as the DS-X, but they do not have very much built in storage. For less than $50, your options would probably be a SuperCard or a CycloDS. The M3 is well over $50. If you want slot-1, the R4DS usually goes for around $45 Again, a slot-1 flashcard will not work with GBA stuff, so unless you don't really need that, I'd say go with slot-2. That said, the best slot-1 card out there is probably the R4DS (the M3 Simply is an exact clone of this). I'll have a buyer's guide to NDS flashcards up soon, so you may want to take a look at that as well.

Source / Download

Well, one thing is for sure: Bus cleaners will be getting a surge in business.

Isn't the US supposed to be the "land of the free?" Every day this becomes farther from the truth. As soon as I leave college, I'm either going to Canada or Italy for some real freedom.

Action Replay clone for NDS GBADev Release Thread

MAME32FX SDL MAME MAMEinfo.dat WolfMAME SDLMAME for the G4 mac MAME32Hp4 and info.dat Catlist

What's the point? They haven't shown up in ages... Neither had you.

Or, if you're too lazy to use the command line version, download a Popstation GUI such as PSX2PSP v1.2. GUIs make the process much easier and include more features than the command line version.

Holy crap it's you! Man... what a blast from the past! So yeah, as you can see I am now a moderator (And I have refrained from 1337 speak since you've been away ). What else... James has stepped down from his position as moderator, Gamecop is trying to increase site activity like a man in a midlife crisis, and we have a few new active members that I'm not sure you'd recognize... \/\/3|_(0/\/\3 |34(|<, 50/\/\3|30|)|)'/!!!

Yeah, but it's probably the only one that will be available in stores like Wal-mart. To some people, that is quite handy.

From Datel

Happy b-day, Someboddy! Where'd ya go? 2 members are celebrating their birthday today Baekayl(23), Human-Bahmaut(16) Now where'd Human-Bahamaut go, too?

Shell replacement for NDS Get it here: Infantile Paralysiser

Cheating tool for GTA:LCS on the PSP Get it here: DCEmu Release Thread

Actually, it's true, it's a glitch in the game itself. Theres a specific method without using a cheating device to fight and capture Mew. Really? I know how to get to Missingno, but I've never actually heard of someone catching Mew without a cheating device or one of those special events Nintendo has where you get rare pokemon.

Cinder doesn't work in the Morgue... he's visiting the morgue. I don't know why Cinder's finger is red. Woops, guess I read that wrong. And maybe Cinder's finger is filling up with blood, so when Carl pulls it he'll get sprayed? Just an idea.

Wait... if he works in a morgue... why is he wearing a Best Buy employee shirt? And why's his finger red? Carl sure has an odd way of drawing things...

From eXophase I say it's about damn time. Not including a vibration function in the controller to begin with was really stupid, IMO.

Chip8 Emulator For PSP Get it here: DCEmu Release Thread