The Official GBA/DS Thread. [was Damn Right!!!!]

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:52 pm

Wow. Works VERY well. I got a SanDisk Ultra II 512MB card, and it works perfectly. It's actually on their recommended list, but I didn't know that until after I picked it up. After doing a spot-o-research, it looks like there are faster cards around, but this one is fast, and reliable. Standard card is around 6MBPS or even a little less. The Ultra II is 10-11MBPS, and there are some that go up to 12-13, but that's not a lot of difference for the $, and those other cards aren't in the recommended list. I've got about 10 DS games, 15 GBA games, and still have a little space left.

Post by **enderzero** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 2:09 am

That is cool. How long do you think it will be before we see a working DS emu for PC? They have titles loading I guess. What is the dev time on that usually like? How do you think they will handle the stylus - just have a second screen with mouse input?

So I loaded up Phantasy Star collection. It does include I, II, and III. I played them all for a bit. II seemed like the sweet spot although I am sure I was super fun in its day (a bit slow though). III seemed like it was trying too hard. But I only played each for about 15 mins because the rom had a broken save game mechanism! Damn! How the hell can I get into an RPG that can't save.

So I started playing Mega Man X 3. Good ol Rockman. Damn that game is difficult. It really needs save states to try to play. But they have done a bit to it with collecting items and such to try to spice up the same gameplay - and a ton with the story, whether or not it it good.

Does your new fangled linker allow for state saving of GBA games? Now that would be hot shit!

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:05 am

Those newer Megaman games are absolutely ridiculous. I could get through the first few NES ones, and the first Megaman X (SNES) but the new ones are incredibly hard. You can get the Action Replay image. I think you can use it with ROMs somehow, though I'm not sure.

I haven't a clue on the DS emulator thing. I've been following the emulators FOR the DS not OF the DS.

ElektroPlankton is amazing fun!!! I got sucked into that for about 3 hours last night. The cool thing about the DS is that it has a headphone jack. I actually whipped up some pretty cool music in EP, so maybe I'll record it, and stick it up. It's silly of course, but fun.

So far Mario Kart DS isn't working. Only one of the ROM patchers currently works with it, so I have to wait for an update of my M3 software, or a hacked version of the ROM.

I can in fact save states, and up to 400 save games.

The M3 also works on the GBA, so you could pick one up, and still use it if you got a DS later. I highly recommend it. (especially since you can use as big, or as many CF or SD cards as you like, (cuts down on reflashing all the time.)) The Super Card is also cool, (and smaller,) but I guess it has some slow-down issues with several GBA games. I think they're working on the firmware to solve that, but we'll see what happens. I'm thinking about trying one out since they're so cheap. They aren't as full-featured as the M3, but I do like the fact that they don't stick out at all.

You'd probably need to play the Phantasy Star games longer than 15 minutes to really get into them. They are quite cool though. I wouldn't play without a save though. You may want to see if there is a new version of your linker software. Sometimes certain games have to be patched to save properly (like if they use a different save method, EEPROM, battery backed RAM, etc.) I don't know which linker you have, or how it works.

spidermonkey · Post by **spidermonkey** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 4:30 pm

But supposing one got a DS emulator for the PC, one could then perhaps install emulators within an emulator?

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 5:35 pm

I've done that.

McNevin · Post by **McNevin** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:37 pm

Welp... I pre orderd my M3-SD! It was supposed to ship today, but It aparently didn't.

Can't wait.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:06 pm

MK3 was released as well, should ship any minute. Happy day!

So, I installed Flashme. It was VERY easy. You just grab the Flashme.nds file, stick it on the flash device, and load it. You start the firmware upgrade, which will just sit there at 0%. You open the battery lid, take a little sticker off, poke something metal in the hole (like a flat screwdriver) so it shorts the solder-pad jumper (enable write for the DS firmware,) and it goes. If the screwdriver slips it just stops and waits until the jumper is shorted again, and continues copying. Once it's on there, you can recover the BIOS at any time by holding a key combo when the DS boots. So if you get any nasty homebrew, or bad ROM or something, you can fix your firmware. As soon as you get your M3, go here: http://ds.gcdev.com/dsfirmware/ grab the Flashme NDS file, and install it. This also more or less eliminates the need for the Passkey. You can just stick a regular game in the slot, and it will work. No need for sticky-outy-backy-binzniss. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! We have to wait for an update for the M3 patcher before we can play Mario Kart. I've tried every combination. The GST Patcher works for NeoFlash, but that patcher format doesn't work for us. So at least it's known to work on one device. I don't mind the M3 sticking out the front a little, but I hated having the Passkey in the slot all the time.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:08 am

I cancelled my MK3 order. I just don't see what it could possibly offer me that I can't already do with the M3. Now that I don't need the PassKey installed all the time, there's even less of a reason that I'd want a fancier one with an SD slot

It's so much cooler with Flashme installed. I really didn't like the PassKey sticking out. I can handle the 3/4 inch that the M3 itself sticks out the front. That doesn't get in the way at all.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 10:12 am

I WANT TO PLAY MARIO KART!!!!! They haven't updated the M3 patcher to support it yet. They released a new version of the software a couple days ago, but that was about a day before MK became available. All the other patchers are slowly adding support for it, so I expect it will be soon.

Admiral McNevin: Make sure you install the latest FlashMe firmware from the link I gave you above. If you install an old one, Mario Kart will brick your DS. I guess it writes its network settings to an area of the firmware memory, and older versions of Flashme used part of that memory. So, when Mario Kart writes there, it kills the FlashMe firmware. (and then you have to reflash) The new version is fixed. The SD M3 still says pre-order on the Divineo site. Any news?

McNevin · Post by **McNevin** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 11:57 am

Just a temporary brick though, right?

No, still no updates on the M3.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:51 pm

Yes, if Flashme is installed in the first place, then you can recover your firmware via its recover function I believe. Anyway, if you install the new one, there isn't a problem in the first place. I have the new one installed, and haven't seen any problems. There was something going around for a while that would brick your DS if FlashMe wasn't installed, and for that you have to do a bit of soldering to get your DS back. That's one of the reasons to install FlashMe in the first place, (so you can recover if something like that happens.)

McNevin · Post by **McNevin** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:35 pm

Well I'll definitely be installing flashme!

So I'm getting all ready for my M3 arrival. I got by GBA collection updating, should be up to snuff in about 3 hours. I also have gotten the first 99 DS games as well.

I might even play nintendogs!

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:58 pm

I heard it's really fun, and this is from several REAL game players like ourselves. I haven't brought myself to throw it on the cart yet, but who knows.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 9:26 am

The SD M3 will be shipping on the 20th. At least, that's what someone in the unofficial forum said they got in an email. http://www.m3-forum.com/index.php?sid=0 ... 21baeedaaf

Everyone is more or less waiting for Mario Kart support. Most of the other cards are getting it. The M3 guys said it would be very soon. I guess the new Sonic game is really good. I'm going to give it a whirl tonight.

McNevin · Post by **McNevin** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:11 am

i downloaded sonic last night, also nintendogs, metroid prime pinball, kirby canvas curse, and tiger woods.

That would be great if it shipped on the 20th, cause i need it.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:56 am

I can't wait for a new Mario Golf. I hope either that, or a new Zelda game come out soon. Of course, they'll probably go the Mario route, and put Ocarina of Time on it or something. (Which I'd actually really like, as I never finished it.) Now that I cancelled the order for the M3, I kinda want it. It doesn't do a lot that I can't already do, but there are a few interesting things about it. You don't have to patch games to save to the GBA cart, because it has memory onboard, and it sits in the DS slot. If it wasn't so big, I'd probably reorder it. I just don't like having to turn my DS into Voltron to play a game. "And the MK3 will form... ...the head..."

McNevin · Post by **McNevin** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:26 pm

Have you played the Zelda:Minish Cap? I started it, but now I plan to start over, soon as my M3 gets here. I'd also like to play ocarina of time, because I also never finished it. Ive gotten close, but i always put it down, and then forget what i was supposed to be doing, and have to start over.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:37 pm

I really liked The Minish Cap. I only played until I was about to leave town. I shall have to play through it. I put it on the M3 the other night, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I still have a few percent left to finish on DoS, so I'm trying not to get into other long games.

Post by **enderzero** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 11:39 am

Ugggh, Mega Man X3 is just too hard. I have not been able to get past one stupid part on the first boss level and it is just not worth the torture when I know how possible it will be with state saving.

Minish Cap is definitely worth playing through. I give it a B+ because the main "difficulty" in the game is figuring out what to do next. The dungeons are really fun but pretty easy. But the game is Zelda for sure and well worth beating.

Still looking for a new game to really capture me.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 2:04 pm

Playing Mario Kart DS online.

McNevin · Post by **McNevin** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 2:54 pm

did i see that a new patcher is coming out on tuesday, or is that old news about 2.0?

The M3 supports save states!

McNevin · Post by **McNevin** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:11 pm

As far as good GBA games go, i see you mentioned golden sun, i hear that is popular. Also the Wario Ware Inc: Mega Micro Games is good i hear.

I'll keep you posted, as i get back into the scene.

Post by **enderzero** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 1:40 am

Wario Ware Inc is not exactly what I have in mind when I think about games to "get into." It is the epitome of pick up and play for a few seconds. In terms of that sort of game, I prefer Mario Vs. Donkey Kong. Tried that one?

What I really want is a new Metroid (or Dawn of Sorrow). All new high profile games like that, tho, will be on tehDS.

YOu know what would be very cool? Metal Gear Solid for GB. All the original gameplay of the first MG - but with modern story and modern hand held additions. sweeeet.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 9:51 am

Well, the MK3s are shipping now. (never reordered though) I'm going to wait and see if they can somehow eventually bypass having to use the GBA slot. If they pull off some interesting things like that, then perhaps I'll get one. Divineo still says pre-order on the SD M3. A new version of the M3 software will be released tomorrow, 11/22. It adds support for all games except one Pokemon game (OH NO, BIG LOSS!!!!

)

The M3 is working VERY well now. I was having a slowdown in Metroid Pinball, but they fixed that too. Weeeeeeeeeeeee!!! I've got a nice mixture of emulators, DS games, and GBA games on there now. I'm thinking I might need one more CF card. Then I could put DS games on one, and GBA games/emus on the other. I started a game of Lunar, which is quite cool. I think it's exactly what 3nd3r is looking for. (they also happen to have a couple of installments of the series for the GBA) Haven't gotten very far yet though. (too busy playing NFSMW on the PC)

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:05 am

Nearly forgot to mention, I played Mario Kart online off of the M3 the other night.

Quite fun. Now I just need more people I know to buy DSes. McNevin, as soon as you get your M3, let me know, and we shall play some Mario Kart online. It is extremely easy to set up. You just find the access point, put in your WEP key, and play. Weeeeeee!!!!

Post by **enderzero** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:21 am

I've got Lunar Legend sitting right here. I'll give it a whirl. Thanks.

According to Gamespot, Final Fantasy IV Advance (AKA SNES's FFII) will be arriving soon. That will be great to replay on teh handheld. EB has it out on 12/12. Please let me teh know if you see the rom out and about.

DK: King of Swings looks sounds like it could be a fun action game. For the most part, though, you'll be using the shoulder buttons to control DK's left and right arms as you swing between pegs to collect bananas, find medals, and reach exits to subsequent areas.

People seem happy with Riviera: The Promised Land.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 9:41 am

You need a DS. There are some very cool adventure/rpg type games for it. There's a Konami one I grabbed the other night that is pretty cool. Let me see if I can find the name of it... ...ah yes, Lost in Blue. I only played it for a few minutes, but it seems pretty fun. You get stranded on this island, and you have to build things to survive. (like fire starting tools, etc.) You have to find food, and keep your character alive. I think it would be good if your character had nunchuk skills and bow hunting skills though.

McNevin · Post by **McNevin** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 3:24 pm

Damn, the SD version is taking forever to come out!

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 3:36 pm

Yeah, I kind of figured as much, which is why I went with CF. It's not any bigger, and it was available now. SD cards are cool, and I would have liked to have used them, but since the unit itself isn't really any smaller, I just couldn't justify the wait. I thought it would take a while, because they had already had some problems with their first run, and had to wait for the manufacturing company to fix it, and do another run. Plus it's a Chinese company putting out products that "potentially"

aid piracy, so really, what responsibility do they have to anyone? I hear they are quick to honor their 1 year warranty though, and are fairly pleasant to deal with, which is nice. I bet if you changed your order to a CF version, you'd still get it faster.

You know what's really cool? Whenever I've ordered something from China, I get 2 day express UPS or FedEX, and it travels through the weekend (even in their timezone) and gets to me Monday. That just doesn't happen with domestic shipping unless you pay a TON for weekend delivery, and even then, you're out of luck if Sunday is involved in any way. I'd just get the CF, and then grab a SanDisk 512 Ultra II for $39 (after rebate) It's fast and reliable. (not that SD isn't, but it's reliable, fast, and available) Anyway... Hope it shows up soon, you're going to love it. I don't have a single game that doesn't work flawlessly on it now.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 9:38 am

Well, they didn't actually cancel my MK3 order, so I guess I'll be checking it out soon. Perhaps they'll figure out a way to make it work without a GBA flash card or something.

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The Official GBA/DS Thread. [was Damn Right!!!!]