Modding consoles/flashcarts
Contents
PS1
PSIO (Not released yet)
Disc Swap Method (youtube it) (can damage optical drive with excessive use)
PS2
Free McBoot Requires any one of the following:
PSP
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
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)
EverDrive N8 Famicom ($109)
Game Boy (Color)
usb 64m smart card ($40, no RTC, only one .sav stored at a time)
Everdrive GB ($88)
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
3DS
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+ Not much information on this card yet, other than it being a dual-mode 3DS and DS cart, Emulated NAND support, CIA installation, Homebrew, support for 4.1 to 9.2.0. A followup to the DSTWO, but pretty much a Gateway clone.
CFW It is possible to downgrade to FW 4.1-4.5 if on 5.x - 9.2.0. With that, it is possible to use a CFW for piracy (older games only) + homebrew. There are CFWs above 4.5, but they all block piracy, and they only support homebrew.
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)
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)
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)