Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Nintendo 3DS users All three formats can still buy (or install be converted to *.cia dumps from elsewhere) DSiWare titles specificallynds format. So farCompared to regular DS games, no emulator (save for NO$GBA, more on DSi games had some additional header information that later) can play wasn't even correctly dumped in the earlier broken dumps from the first two types in DSi mode. The only flashcard able to play the first two types (and not the third) on real DSi/3DS hardware is the (discontinued and now expensive) CycloDS iEvolution flashcard. To use said flashcard on a 3DS2017 set has updated many of those, since though it's otherwise blockedstill severely lacking in DSiWare exclusives. DSiWare dumps exist in both NDS format, you'll need custom firmware allowing you or CIA format (for the ones who want to do soboot it on their 3DS).
That aside, compared to regular DS gamesOn the DSi/3DS family of handhelds, the first two formats can be played on some select DSi games had some additional header information that wasn-compatible flashcarts like the (discontinued and now expensive) CycloDS iEvolution flashcard (which won't even correctly dumped in work on a stock 3DS not with custom firmware to whitelist it). As for the earlier broken dumps. The 2017 set has updated many of thosethird type, though it's still severely lacking available for digital purchase at their respective stores (DSi Shop for DSi, eShop for the 3DS) and installed as apps to the limited TWL NAND. In the 3DS' case, they can also be installed as custom titles in DSiWare exclusives. DSiWare dumps exist in both NDS cia format(like all 3DS applications, or CIA format (but here it's also a container for the ones who want to boot an .nds rom in on their 3DSthis case, and converting back and forth is possible).
Emulation is very iffy due DSi used an encryption system for the game dumps that went on to a so-so DS emulation foundation in NO$GBA, be enhanced and used for the camera 3DS. This encryption is just spoofed as a static imagechecked at start-up, meaning games that use it may boot but it wonhence why DS emulators don't be very playableeven manage to boot DSiWare dumps. It's very unlikely DSiWare DSi-mode emulation is ever going to be implemented in Desmume in particular due to various factors ''creative differences'' unique to that project. ===BIOS Files===DSi emulation requires a copy of the lower 32K-halves of the ARM7/ARM9 BIOSes (BIOSDSI7.ROM and BIOSDSI9.ROM), which are different from the regular DS BIOS files and needed for the decryption. All the needed files are bios7i.bin, bios9i.bin, BIOSDSI7.ROM, BIOSDSI9.ROM, BIOSNDS7.ROM, and BIOSNDS9.ROM. These unicorns can be found [http://archive.org/details/DSiFirmwareFiles here]. It's also advised (but still completely '''optional''') to use a NAND dump as well to increase compatibility (though adding games is more complex, and a soft-modding solution to dump it is still being worked on). Rename it to "DSi-1.mmc" (should be about 250MB). Change "Reset/Startup Entrypoint to "GBA/NDS BIOS" to now boot the emulator and games in DSi mode. Hex editing required to "install" new DSiWare titles, though loading retail games in DSi mode from the menu is still possible easily. This fixes lots of glitches and crashes related to languages and use of the internal DSi font.
→DSi
Nintendo released the DSi in 2009, doing away with Slot-2 (used by GBA cartridges and Guitar Hero games) but also adding new lighting effects, a camera, more RAM, and downloadable titles called DSiWare though those were capped to 16MB because they were installed to the very small internal NAND memory. DSiWare releases were also region locked, and the system language couldn't be changed. The Nintendo 3DS is also compatible with those games and offers a way to back them up to an SD card.
===Game Formats===
There's three types of games using DSi hardware enhancements:
* '''DSiWare:''' Downloadable titles downloaded only through the DSi eShop (discontinued), or the Nintendo 3DS eShop (though it uses a different file packaging format). They have a 16MB size limitation and there's lots of interesting exclusives for the system released that way.
On the old DS or DS Lite models, as well as most Nintendo DS emulators, the first type will load in regular DS mode without any DSi used enhancements, the second will show an encryption system for error message, and the game dumps that went third will crash on to be enhanced and used for the 3DS. This encryption is checked at startboot-up, hence why DS emulators don't even manage due to boot DSiWare dumpsmissing encryption abilities and DSi hardware support.
===Emulation===No$GBA added support for DSi games of all three formats starting with version 2.8, although some games wont boot and others have graphical glitches. You'll need to enable "16MB DSi/retail" under the settings. DSi emulation requires Emulation is very iffy due to a copy of the lower 32Kso-halves of the ARM7/ARM9 BIOSes (BIOSDSI7.ROM and BIOSDSI9.ROM)so DS emulation foundation in NO$GBA, which are different from the regular DS BIOS files and needed for the decryptioncamera is just spoofed as a static image but just causes an emulator crash whenever used, though nobody on the internet bothered to upload those from their old useless permanently-offline DSi (they contain system specific info)meaning games that use it may boot but it won't be very playable.
==Special Hardware==
