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===Game Images=====3DS vs. CIA===
(Note that Citrus, Citra or CTR being is the internal code name for the 3DS).
The first type Due to one format being so far restricted to overpriced flashcarts and the very slow Citra development ('''.3ds''') meaning playing on a real 3DS is used for data on still the physical cartspreferred way to go), and can be executed right off the bat. These ROMs are playable on official developer flashcardsCIA format is preferred in many sharing websites, downloader tools and 3DS flashcards like Gateway/Sky3DS, but are not playable on CFW aka custom firmwares (because no one bothered even tools to code homebrew doing so... for now)dump your own games.
The second type (.cia) are essentially '''installers'''However, unpacking and installing the game's contents converting a CIA image to your SD card or the 3DS's NAND memory, provided you have a '''ticket''' proving you own that game. They're found on digital installs and Nintendo's servers format (and some vice-versa) is still possible with no loss of content. Either 3DS homebrew apps like Freeshop and CIAngel can fool them into thinking you have the tickets and can download the (GodMode9) or PC tools ([http://github.cia for free even without the eShopcom/ihaveamac/3dsconv 3dsconv]). Some unofficial homebrew apps like FBI and DevMenu can install cia files on 3DS systems with CFW, even if the cia files don't have the proper signature or region codedo that.
The ===Encryption===Most dumps online are also encrypted. This encryption poses no problem for playing game images on a real 3DS custom firmware since it can only load .cia files and not .3ds files. In addition, deal with that encryption with internal keys included in the more recent dumping tools output .cia filesbootrom, even from physical cartridgesbut becomes a problem when trying to emulate them on PC. And more and more Citra will refuse to play encrypted games are digital only nowadays.
This means most dumps online are in Formerly, decrypting those ROMs used to require real 3DS hardware (bafflingly enough, Citra devs still ask users to do this even nowadays). It required files generated by a real 3DS called '''xorpads''' unique to that game version, using the encryption engine within the preferred 3DS.cia formatAfter this part, considering games these xorpads (which are more playable on big) can be used with PC tools (or other 3DS-based homebrew) to produce the decrypted game image. After that, some 3DS homebrew (Decrypt9, GodMode9) included tools to directly convert encrypted images to decrypted images with a single button press, but those still require a real deal than on the Citra emulator3DS.
Even The game changer was the ones in .3ds format will be most of the time '''encrypted''' (same for sighax exploit, allowing to dump the 3DS bootrom which includes these encryption keys.cia ones, for that matter). The This file is specific to each 3DS can decrypt and play those dumpsso many people are reluctant to share it, even unofficial onesbut assuming you have one, but Citra you no longer need a real 3DS to do the decryption part. You can'tthen just use it with PC tools (like [http://github. Currently, converting an encrypted (normalcom/ihaveamac/3dsconv 3dsconv]) game dump to a produce decrypted dump requires files generated by a real 3DS called '''xorpads''' unique to that game versionimages.
Fortunately, converting from ===Citra==='''Citra''' can only load game images in '''decrypted 3DS format''' so far.cia A solution to .3ds and vice-versa load encrypted images is still possible. It still needs those xorpads, except if for the moment on the game is already decrypted (back burner and [https://githubthere's not much developer interest for it.com/ihaveamac/3dsconv 3dsconv] can If you want to play games on Citra, you'll have to convert 3ds dumps back your game images to cia in case you needed them for the 3DS CFW)that format.
→Game Images: outdated
'''The Nintendo 3DS currently has no emulators that play all games with all features intact.''' This is mainly because for a long time the hardware was documented only sparingly, and homebrew code execution was hard to achieve. Nowadays, the hardware is better known and homebrew is being developed. Many games boot now, with a few even having no noticeable graphical issues. However, sound has not fully been implemented. This, along with other various issues, exist that make 3DS emulation not ready for prime time just yet.
There's two big types of 3DS game images currently:
* '''NCSD-type: ''' Includes '''.CCI ''' (Citra Cart Image), aka '''.3DS''' - data on physical carts, can be executed right off the bat, not used much since no one bothered to develop a CFW solution to load them yet (besides converting them to CIA) and only overpriced flashcarts (Gateway/Sky3DS) can load them.* '''NCCH-type: ''' Includes '''.CIA ''' (Citra Importable Archive) and '''.CXI''' - installers that unpack game data to the SD card or the 3DS NAND memory (if you have a ticket proving ownership of that game, but tickets can be shared and even fool Nintendo's servers into letting you download the game, using tools like FreeShop or Wii U USB Helper if on a PC). Some homebrew apps (FBI, DevMenu) can install CIA files on 3DS systems with CFW installed. Digital only games will use this format internally.
Some outdated dumping utilities intended for use with Citra (like braindump) produce damaged decrypted 3DS images that can only load .3ds files and not .cia files for now. However.'t be easily converted back.No known solution exists so far to fix those dumps.
[[Category:Consoles]]
