Modding consoles/flashcarts

This page contain console modding information. Game Tech Wiki may also have useful information.

PS1

Modchip

PSIO (Not released yet)

Disc Swap Method (youtube it) (can damage optical drive with excessive use)

Cheapest ModChip Ever

PS2

Free McBoot Requires any one of the following:

• PS3 Memory Card Adaptor
• Agent Under Fire
• AR Max/AR Max EVO
• CodeBreaker
• SwapMagic
• Memor32
• PS1 GameShark/GameShark

PSP

CFW4Dummies

Don't use PRO-C2 listed there, use PRO-Cfix3 instead. PRO-C2 has a bug that breaks PSN PS1 EBOOTs.

Alternatively, you could try LME instead.

PS3

PS3 Modding

3K3y ODDE ($90, only recommended for unhackable consoles. Soldering required.)

PS Vita

Only the PSP emulator inside Vita is hackable, and to use these hacks you either need to wait for a game exploit, or be on a lower FW.

NES/Famicom

Everdrive N8 NES ($109) Uses SD cards, and receives support, including fan-made mappers, such as the Sunsoft 5B.

EverDrive N8 Famicom ($109) Uses MicroSD cards, and is the exact same product as the above.

PowerPak ($135) Uses CF cards to play games. Does not receive any updates anymore, but is still a good option if you need to use Compact Flash cards instead of SD cards.

Game Boy (Color)

usb 64m smart card ($42) No RTC, only one .sav stored at a time (alpha hack available, but deletes saves on occasion), issues when having GBC and GB games in the same bank, and not the easiest to use. Only uses an MBC5 mapper, and tries to fake other mappers. There are game-specific hacks to fix any issues caused by this. [ref]http://thegaminguniverse.org/ninjagaiden4/mottzilla/[/ref]

Everdrive GB ($88) No RTC, supports the use of MicroSD cards, mappers MBC1, MBC2, MBC3, MBC5, Game Genie cheats, individual ROM sizes up to 8MB (128Mb), and saves for each game.

SNES

SD2SNES ($190)

N64

EverDrive 64 v2 ($115 including a CIC chip)

GameCube

POT Tweak (No homebrew, only useful for pirating games)

SDload (Requires Action Replay)

Phantasy Star Online Mod (Requires PSO and BBA)

DriveChip (Solderless, $25)

NDS

DSTwo Flashcard ($35)Only Nintendo DS flashcart that has decent to good GBA and Super Nintendo emulation depending on the game due to the DSTwo having it's own processor, but also drains your battery when using them. Works on the DSi's latest firmware and supports MicroSDHC.

R4i GOLD One of the various R4 Clones, but unlike the majority of them these aren't that bad. Make sure the URL displayed on the flashcart are http://r4ids.cn/ or http://r4idsn.cn/ or else you'll be getting a shitty counterfeit card. Supports DSi's latest firmware and support MicroSDHC. Be sure to update Wood Firmware as soon as you get it.

R4 If you don't have a Nintendo DSi and are okay with the 2GB MicoSD limit the you might as well go with original R4, although you're most likely going to get a clone because the original R4 team disbanded shortly after the R4's release the clone cards although not the greatest they get the job done, just be sure to get an R4 flashcart and not an R4 SDHC, R4 dualcore, etc. Usually found for around $5-$7, does not support DSi or MicroSDHC. The R4s usually come with Wood Firmware but if they do not be sure to install it for a much better recommended experience.

If using an older or clone flashcart, it is still possible to get firmware updates, albeit third-party, to work with newer games. To see the (very) expansive list of supported carts plus download links, go here: RetroGameFan firmware

Wii

Complete Softmod Guide

3DS

CFW ($0) There is CFW on the 3DS for any version 9.2.0 or below with a web browser, and versions up to 10.3.0 can be downgraded to 9.2.0. 10.4 and 10.5 consoles will need to be hard modded to be downgraded. Also has EmuNAND to be able to play the latest games with no issue. This is the best method if it is available, as it is free.

DSTwo Flashcard ($35) NDS flashcard, only have access to 'NDS-mode'. Note: You may need to update some flashcards with an NDS before you can use them on a 3DS.

Gateway (~$60) Can be used for Homebrew, backups, and CIA installation, with EmuNAND support to upgrade to the latest 3DS version. Only works on versions 4.1-9.2.0. New 3DS requires either Cubic Ninja or Ocarina of Time 3D to use.

Ninjhax (Requires copy of Cubic Ninja) Softmod, can only play homebrew, no backups. Works with all firmwares from 4.0.0 to 9.2.0 and models, even the New 3DS.

SKY3DS (~$75) Works on all firmwares (as of 9.6.0), as it emulates a real card. Only useful for backups/piracy, as homebrew will not work, although Ninjhax will work with Cubic Ninja as a ROM. Non-upgradeable. The blue-button version will support unlimited games, whereas the red-button version will only support 10 games forever (even if you switch out microSD cards), although this has been cracked. Clones are available (QQ3DS which comes with a DS flash cart DS support, r5sdhc)

DSTWO+ (~$45) It is a dual-mode 3DS and DS cart with Emulated NAND support, CIA installation, Homebrew, support for 4.1 to 9.2.0. A followup to the DSTWO, but pretty much a bad Gateway clone that causes bricks when using the latest Gateway software, combined with a DSTWO.

Wii U

Currently only vWii (Wii mode) is hackable. vWii Soft Mod Guide.

Nintendont (run GameCube games, requires hacked vWii)

Master System

Master Everdrive ($77)

Megadrive/Genesis

Mega Everdrive ($143) The premium option complete with an FPGA, save state support, larger ROM support, and near instant load times, along with some other possibly useful features.

Everdrive MD ($78) The first Everdrive to be released. Long loading times, but it does its job well.

Saturn

PCB v3 ($40, For Saturn models: Model 1 and Model 2 64pin IC)

SSIC8B ($37, For Saturn models: Model 2 32pin IC and Model 2 Sanyo)

Dreamcast

All PAL models, all 3020 models, and all dreamcasts that came in a white and orange box can play burnt CDs without modding. Some 3030 models can, but not all, and dreamcasts that came in a black and blue box can't.

DC-SD ($18, kinda shitty compatibilty)

Xbox

Game Exploit (Requires: Original MechAssault, Splinter Cell or 007 Agent Under Fire)

Hotswap Method

various modchips available

earlier models can be soft modded then TSOP flashed.

Xbox 360

DVD Flashing (No homebrew, only useful for pirating games)

Reset Glitch Hack (Advanced users only)

JTAG (Better tut needed)