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Nintendo DS emulators

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The '''[[gametech:Nintendo DS|Nintendo DS]]''' (NDS) is a handheld console produced by Nintendo on November 21, 2004 and had 2 ARM CPUs (ARM9 and ARM7) with 4MB of RAM. The main selling point was the use of dual screens for gameplay, with one being a touchscreen. It is the only console to have come close to the [[PlayStation 2 emulators|PlayStation 2]] in lifetime sales (154.02 million units), as a result of attracting a large amount of casual players, and even non-gamers, into the gaming community.
==Emulators==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col"|Name
! scope="col"|Operating SystemPlatform(s)
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! scope="col"|GBA
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
|-
!colspan="9"|PC/ x86
|-
|[[DeSmuME]]
|Multi-platformalign=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
|[https://ci.appveyor.com/project/zeromus/desmume {{DeSmuMEVer}}]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[[melonDS]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux}}
|[http://melonds.kuribo64.net/downloads.php {{MelonDSVer}}]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}} <small>(WIP)</small>
|-
|[[DeSmuME#Graphical_Enhancement|DeSmuME X432R]]
|Multi-platformalign=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
|[http://shikaver01.webcrow.jp/desmume_x432r/index.html 2015-04-19]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}
|-
|[[GBE+]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux, |macOS (untested)}}
|[https://github.com/shonumi/gbe-plus/releases {{GBEVer}}]
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>
|-
|[[mGBA#medusa|medusa]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux}}
|[https://mgba.io/downloads.html alpha 2]
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} || {{✗}}<ref name="medusa suspended"/>||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>
|-
|[https://corgids.wordpress.com/ CorgiDS]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux}}
|[https://github.com/PSI-Rockin/CorgiDS/releases 0.1]<br />[http://www.emucr.com/search/label/CorgiDS SVN]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}<ref>https://corgids.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/extended-break/</ref> ||{{✗}}
|-
|ndsemu
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://github.com/rasky/ndsemu Git]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|[[No$|No$GBA]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |DOS}}
|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm {{No$GBAVer}}]
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110225190819/http://neonds.com/ NeonDS]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20100925152735/http://neonds.com/system/files/NeonDS_0.2.1.zip 0.2.1]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|dasShiny
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux}}
|[https://github.com/Cydrak/dasShiny Git]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|[http://ds-duos.blogspot.com/ DuoS]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[http://www.emulator-zone.com/download.php/emulators/nds/duos/DuoS.zip 8/25/2012 Beta]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|[[Ensata]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[http://www.mediafire.com/file/x0odmalrndt9m7a/Ensata+v1.4d.rar 1.4d]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20111130005614/http://ideasemu.biz/ iDeaS]
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux}}
|[http://www.emulator-zone.com/files/emulators/nds/ideas/ideas1040.7z 1.0.4.0]
|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS NooDS]
|Windows, Linux|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS Git]|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-!colspanalign="9"|Console|-|[[Virtual Console]]|Wii U|left|{{✗}} Icon|Windows|{{✓}} |Linux|{{✗macOS}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[melonDS]]|Switch|[https://gbatemp.net/download/melonds-for-switch.35201/ 0.7.4-2]|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS NooDS]|Switch
|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS Git]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
|-
!colspan="9"|Mobile/ ARM
|-
|[[DraStic]]
|[[align=left|{{Icon|Android emulators|Android]], Pandora,<br />Linux <small>(Raspberry Pi)</small>}}
|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsemu.drastic {{DraSticVer}}]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[https://inds.nerd.net/ iNDS]<br/><small>(nds4ios derived)</small><br/><small>(DeSmuME based)</small>
|[[iOS emulatorsalign=left|{{Icon|iOS]]}}
|[https://github.com/iNDS-Team/iNDS/releases Git]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|nds4ios
|[[iOS emulatorsalign=left|{{Icon|iOS]]}}
|[http://nds4ios.angelxwind.net/i/?page/downloads SVN]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|Dsoid
|[[Android emulatorsalign=left|{{Icon|Android]]}}
|[http://www.emucr.com/search/label/Dsoid?&max-results=12 SVN]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|[http://jeffq.com/blog/nds4droid/ nds4droid]<br/><small>(DeSmuME based)</small>
|[[Android emulatorsalign=left|{{Icon|Android]]}}
|[https://github.com/jquesnelle/nds4droid Git]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
!colspan="9"|Console
|-
|[[Virtual Console]]
|align=left|{{Icon|WiiU}}
|
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[[melonDS]]
|align=left|{{Icon|Switch}}
|[https://gbatemp.net/download/melonds-for-switch.35201/ 0.8.3]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
|-
|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS NooDS]
|align=left|{{Icon|Switch}}
|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS Git]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
|}
===Comparisons===
;[[DeSmuME]]: One of the most developed emulators for regular DS games. DeSmuME has had significant improvements since 2018, including lower CPU/GPU Usage, updated to use VS2015, and potentially reopen wi-fi/multiplayer capabilities. Unfortunately, these though new features are still in development and are only available through either nightly/dev builds. It now uses less CPU/GPU resources, meaning thereand Wi-Fi is also underway. If you's a <i>slight</i> chance of problemsre worried about stability, then stick to the latest stable release. This emulator aims for accuracy over speedOtherwise, the latest dev builds will have more to offer. (see See [[Common Problems and Solutions]] for tips.);[[DraStic]]: A payware, closed-source emulator for [[Android emulators|Android]] devices that can run games at a decent speed even on potato phones. It's on par with (or in some cases better than) DeSmuME, and emulating it through BlueStacks on PC may actually be a viable and fast alternative aside from a slight input delay. Some unsubstantiated rumours rumors have spread around that the developers deliberately put in issues to mess with pirated copies, though at this is considered unsubstantiated. At the very least, donyou shouldn't expect any support from exophase Exophase and company if you get your hands on use a pirated copy, though it is available for free on the Raspberry Pi and Odroid via RetroPie. It;[[melonDS]]: Arisotura's goal is to make an emulator that's on par better optimized and includes features that others lack, either intentionally or better than DeSmuMEnot. While the developers of No$GBA had documented the Wi-Fi capabilities first, melonDS is the first and emulating only emulator that's gotten as far as it through BlueStacks on PC may actually be a viable has and fast alternative aside from it has been found to work reasonably well with a slight input delayhandful of games. There's also been progress made in emulating the DSi<ref name="melonDSi">http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments. Available for free php?id=94</ref><ref name="progress on Raspberry Pi DSi">http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=99&p</ref>, so far it's been able to boot into the firmware and Odroid via RetroPieis being developed in a separate branch of the main project. It could surpass DeSmuME when it covers more features.
;[[No$|No$GBA]]: Focuses on speed, and has major compatibility issues and glitches as a result. But because it was originally a GBA emulator, the DS's 3D features are still very poorly handled. However, it might be an option for a very low-end machine but don't expect a lot of games to run perfectly, or at all. A fan program, No$Zoomer, was released for version 2.6 which increases compatibility and options, as well as the titular zooming abilities. The biggest addition is noise cancellation which clears up static that No$GBA makes with its 3D rendering. No$Zoomer hasn't rebased yet but does add options for window resizing. There haven't been any noticeable changes with regards to accuracy, however. As of v2.8, No$GBA supports DSi games and is currently the first and only emulator that does. Only use No$GBA in the cases of DSi games, debugging (if you've taken up romhacking for DS games), if you value speed above everything, or just as a last resort.
;[[melonDS]]: Arisotura's goal is to make an emulator that's better optimized and includes features that others lack, either intentionally or not. While the developers of No$GBA had documented the Wi-Fi capabilities first, melonDS is the first and only emulator that's gotten as far as it has and it has been found to work reasonably well with a handful of games. There's also hope that melonDS will implement DSi emulation in the future<ref name="next direction for melonDS">http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=47&b=15</ref>, though not much has been mentioned since and probably won't be added in until much later in development if ever. It could surpass DeSmuME when it covers more features.
;[[mGBA#medusa|medusa]]: [[mGBA]] developer endrift is also creating a DS emulator, but it's very much a work-in-progress and isn't nearly as far as melonDS in terms of the capabilities it's covered. As of March 2018, medusa's development is "suspended until further notice".<ref name="medusa suspended">https://mgba.io/2018/03/09/holy-grail-bugs-revisited/#postscript-a-several-month-late-explanation</ref>
;iDeaS: An abandoned and experimental DS emulator that uses a plug-in system, it's very slow and buggy but has partially gotten some features working like the camera and slide accessories.
;[[Ensata]]: Nintendo's official DS emulator that was leaked to the public. It's not very usable or compatible but it can run a few games.
 
'''Comparisons of several Nintendo DS emulators:'''
* [https://emucross.com/the-next-generation-of-ds-emulators/ Looking Toward the Next Generation of DS Emulators] (By [[Dolphin]] tester, [https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/authors/JMC47/ JMC47], AKA Justin M. Chadwick. 5 June 2017. Tested emulators: melonDS (0.2 and 0.3), medusa (Alpha 2) & GBE+ (1.1) compared to the mature DeSmuME.)
===High Resolution===
;melonDS: Has added support for OpenGL renderer and upscaling as of version 0.8.<ref name="melondsopengl">http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=90</ref> The renderer is much faster than DeSmuME's and supports increasing the internal resolution up to 8x native resolution. More features such as texture filtering are planned.
;DeSmuME X432R:A fork of DeSmuME, that has many more graphical enhancement such as an option to increase internal resolution and use MSAA, the . The devs of DeSmuME have now included an option for increased internal resolution and (see below), making X432R is outdated. See the [[DeSmuME]] page for more details.
;DeSmuME <small>([[libretro]])</small>:Also has an option to increase internal resolution since [https://github.com/libretro/desmume/commit/5e430dfbc22f9d54c77f291304a38352ee1e5a63 August 8, 2015 git commit]. It requires a very high-end CPU to run at a reasonable framerate.
;DraStic:Has released a beta version supporting double the original resolution.
==Connectivity==
===Local Multiplayer, Wi-Fi Connection, and Wii/DS Connection===
* MelonDS supports wireless communication with several games, including New Super Mario Bros. and Pokemon. No$GBA can emulate it but the connection fails somewhere during establishing the actual connection (despite the names from the other DS showing just fine).
* Download Play isn't supported by any emulator so far, though NDS-bootstrap homebrew on the Nintendo 3DS can boot some of them. MelonDS fails during the download process though some actually go as far as booting, but never to the actual "game".
* Nintendo WFC (Online Multiplayer) was successfully emulated with third-party DeSmuME forks but has quite a bit of requirement (Ethernet cable, though this can be circumvented with external software). After service shutdown, there was a version compatible with the fan servers (restoring all DLC data but sadly most multiplayer games had their content lost forever).
* DS/Wii connection isn't emulated in any capacity. ''Pokémon Battle Revolution'' playability is very limited this way.
These features are not supported by the mainline DeSmuME project in particular due to timing inaccuracies and The DS offers five types of connections:* ''creative differences'Local Wireless Communications''' - ''(Multiple Cartridges)''* '''DS Download Play''' - ''(Single Cartridge)''* ', and it's highly unlikely they will ever be included in the future. If you're interested in these features, follow other projects and refrain from contacting the developers about them as per their wishes in their "official stance" on Wi-Fi features in general.Connection''' - ''(Online Multiplayer)''* '''DS/Wii Connectivity'''* '''GBA/DS Connectivity'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"|-! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Platform(s)! scope=GBA/DS Connectivity"col"|Latest Version! scope="col"|Local! scope="col"|Download Play! scope="col"|Wi-FiInserting ! scope="col"|GBA cartridges in Slot/DS|-2 of the Nintendo DS while a game is running can unlock various gameplay features in some DS games. It's unknown if NO$GBA supports this, but it can be done in DeSmuME by going to Config |[[melonDS|melonDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|{{MelonDSVer}}|{{~}} ||{{~}} ||{{~}} ||{{✓}}<small> Slot 2 (GBA SlotGit) and selecting GBA Cartridge. Select the GBA ROM file, and make sure its <code>.sav</codesmall> file is in the same folder. You may need to reset the game for it to take effect. However, |-|[[DeSmuME does not support features like the solar sensor from ]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|{{DeSmuMEVer}}|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[No$|No$GBA Boktai cartridges used in Boktai DS (Lunar Knight)]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|DOS}}|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm {{No$GBAVer}}]|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|}
==DSi==Nintendo released the DSi on April 5, 2009, doing away The major challenge with Slot-2 (used by GBA cartridges and Guitar Hero games) but also adding new lighting effectsemulating multiplayer functionalities is timing inaccuracies, a camerawhich have made many projects, more RAMsuch as DeSmuME, and downloadable titles called DSiWare though those were capped not want to 16MB because they were installed to the very small internal NAND memoryimplement them. DSiWare releases were also region locked So far, and the system language couldn't be changed. The Nintendo 3DS only emulator to actually make any progress is melonDS, but even that is also compatible with those games and offers a way to back them up to an SD cardstill under development.
===Game FormatsLocal Wireless Communication===There are three types Players who have a copy of games the same game can link together using DSi hardware enhancements:the DS' wireless signals (given that the game offers this feature).
;DSi-enhanced retail cartridges: Regular DS retail cartridges compatible melonDS supports wireless communication with the older DS modelsseveral games, but unlocking more RAM including ''New Super Mario Bros.'' and features when used on the DSi''Pokemon'', similar to some late GBC games on the GBA. A couple of dozen games from Japan and US/EUR relied on this method. Those games will still boot on DS emulators but without the DSi enhancements.;DSi-exclusive retail cartridges: Retail cartridges relying heavily on the DSi hardware features. A boot-up error screen will show when attempting you need to load those on regular DS models (and by extensionhave either multiple instances opened, emulators for those). Only five games were released this waywhich can slow down overall performance, either launch games or because they were too big connect multiple computers via LAN. No$GBA is able to fit in 16MB.;DSiWare: Downloadable titles downloaded only through the DSi eShop (discontinued)connect, or the Nintendo 3DS eShop (though it uses a different file packaging format). They have a 16MB size limitation and there are lots of interesting exclusives for but fails before the system released that wayactual connection is finished.
All three formats ===DS Download Play===Players who both have a DS but only one copy of a game can be converted use "Download Play" to *play together without everyone needing a copy of the game.nds format The player with the physical cartridge will host the game while the other players connects using a "downloaded" version received from the host. Compared to regular DS Normally they are either simple mini-gamesor stripped down versions of the main game, DSi games had some additional header information that wasn't even correctly dumped so in the earlier broken dumpsmost cases it is better to use connect using multiple cartridges instead. The 2017 set has updated many of those However, there are some games, though itlike ''Mario Party DS''s still severely lacking in DSiWare exclusives. DSiWare dumps exist , that requires Download Play in both NDS format or CIA format (for the ones who want order to boot it on their 3DS)use its multiplayer.
On the old DS or DS Lite modelsDownload Play isn't supported by any emulator so far, as well as most though [[Emulators on 3DS#Nintendo DS emulators, |NDS-bootstrap]] homebrew on the first type will load in regular DS mode without any DSi enhancements, Nintendo 3DS can boot some of them. melonDS fails during the second will show an error messagedownload process though some actually go as far as booting, and but never to the third will crash on boot-up due to missing encryption abilities and DSi hardware supportactual "game".
On the DSi/3DS family of handhelds, the first two formats can be played on some select DSi===Nintendo Wi-compatible flashcarts like the (discontinued and now expensive) CycloDS iEvolution flashcard (which won't work on a stock 3DS not with custom firmware to whitelist it). As for the third type, itFi Connection=== Nintendo's online service that was available for digital purchase at their respective stores (DSi Shop for DSi, eShop for the 3DS) Wii and DS and installed as apps was free to the limited TWL NANDuse. In It was shutdown on May 20, 2014 due to the 3DS' casecompany GameSpy, they can also be installed as custom titles in .cia format (like all 3DS applicationsthe ones who were managing these servers, but here it's also a container for a <code>shutting down its multiplayer services after being bought out.nds</code> rom in A popular game that used this case, and converting back and forth is possible)feature was ''Mario Kart DS''.
===Emulation==={| class="wikitable" style="textThere was a third-align:center;"|-! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Operating Systemparty DeSmuME forks that successfully emulated WFC but has quite a bit of requirement (sEthernet cable, though this can be circumvented with external software)! scope="col"|Latest Version! scope="col"|DSi . After the service shutdown, there was a version compatible with the fan servers (enhancedrestoring all DLC data but sadly most multiplayer games had their content lost forever)! scope="col"|DSi (exclusive)! scope="col"|DSi (digital)! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|. melonDS is one of the only emulators to offer Wi-|[[No$|No$GBA]]|Windows, [[Intel CPUs|DOS]]|[http://problemkaputtFi capabilities.de/gba.htm 2.9b]|{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|It's still a work-in-|[[melonDS|melonDS]]|Windowsprogress, Linux|alpha|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}} <small>([http://melondsbut it works relatively well.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=94 WIP])</small>|}
No$===DS/Wii Connectivity===Uses the wireless communication on the DS to connect to the Wii. The idea is parallel to the GBA added support Link Cable for DSi the GameCube, and just like the Link Cable, only a handful of games actually have this feature. Some notable examples are ''Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of all three formats starting Time'' which is essentially the same as the DS port but can connect with other DS' with version 2.8the game, although some games won't boot and others have graphical glitches. You'll need Pokemon Battle Revolution'' in which players could transfer their Pokemon to enable "16MB DSi/retail" under the settings. Emulation is very iffy due to a so-so DS emulation foundation in No$GBA, game and use the camera is just spoofed DS as a static image but just causes an emulator crash whenever usedcontroller, meaning games that use it may boot but it won't 'Animal Crossing: City Folk'' in which data could be very playabletransferred between the DS version ''Animal Crossing: Wild World'', and the ''Nintendo Channel'' on the Wii where players could download demos of DS games to their console using Download Play (basically the same idea as the Download Station kiosk).
DSi used an encryption system for So far, no emulator has been able to emulate this feature, nor have attempted to, and considering that the game dumps that went GBA/GCN connectivity on Dolphin has yet to be enhanced achieve full functionality (and used for the 3DS. This encryption is checked at start-upa lack of interesting titles that uses it), hence why Nintendo DS emulators donhints that this feature won't even manage to boot DSiWare dumpsbe emulated for a while. It's very unlikely DSi-mode emulation is If this was ever going to be implemented in DeSmuME in particular due to various ''creative differences'' unique to that projectemulated, it would require work on both ends.
http===GBA/DS Connectivity===Inserting a GBA cartridge in the Slot-2 of the Nintendo DS while a game is running can unlock various gameplay features for [https://melondsnintendo.kuribo64fandom.netcom/wiki/commentsList_of_Nintendo_DS_games_with_GBA_connectivity several DS games].php?id=94
===BIOS Files===DSi emulation requires a copy of the lower 32K-halves of the ARM7/ARM9 BIOSes It's unknown if No$GBA supports this, but it can be done in DeSmuME by going to Config > Slot 2 (BIOSDSI7.ROM GBA Slot) and BIOSDSI9selecting GBA Cartridge.Select the GBA ROM)file, which are different from make sure its <code>.sav</code> file is in the regular DS BIOS files same folder. You may need to reset the game for it to take effect. The latest git of melonDS added support for GBA connectivity and needed even added support for the decryption. All the needed files are bios7i.binsolar sensor on GBA Boktai cartridges used in Boktai DS (Lunar Knight), bios9isomething DeSmuME has yet to support.bin, BIOSDSI7.ROM, BIOSDSI9.ROM, BIOSNDS7.ROM, Either drag-and BIOSNDS9.-drop the GBA ROM. These unicorns can be found [http://archive.org/details/DSiFirmwareFiles here]onto the program before starting or open the file before loading the NDS file.
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 "==Nintendo DSi-1.mmc" (should be about 250MB). Change "Reset/Startup Entrypoint to "GBA/NDS BIOS" to now boot the emulator and games in =={{Main|Nintendo 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.emulators}}
==Special Hardware==
;Pokémon Keyboard: Bundled with the Pokémon Typing game (JP/UK/FR). The game refuses to boot without a keyboard, but it can be run on emulators with an anti-piracy fix and another DeSmuME-specific save bug fix. There is also [http://pokemonlog.com/pokemon-fuligin-download-rom/ a pre-patched ROM.] While it's playable using the on-screen keyboard on the lower screen, the keyboard isn't actually emulated. There is [https://github.com/AnimeCommander/Learn.With.Pokemon-Typing-Adventure.lua/blob/master/Pok%C3%A9mon%20Typing%20DS%20Keyboard%20Script.lua a Lua script] that permits using the actual keyboard by mapping presses of the actual keyboard to taps of the virtual Touch Screen. However, you are going to need to blank out all the control/hotkey bindings of DeSmuME if you are going to play this game because some of the keyboard keys also activate some controls; otherwise, pressing the Q key would also pause the game, given one example. A recommendation would be to have a separate copy of 32-bit DeSMuMe which purpose is playing *only* the Pokémon typing games. In that copy, place the patched ROM, the Lua script, and a 32-bit version of [https://sourceforge.net/projects/luabinaries/files/5.1.5/Windows%20Libraries/Dynamic/ lua51.dll.] (The platform used in building the <code>.dll</code> should not matter.) Even then, not only is the emulated workaround a little slow, but saving is still broken. Use savestates, instead.
;DS Camera: Accessory bundled with the Japan-only Face Training (a European localization for Christmas 2007 was canceled, and it was released as a retail DSi game in 2010 using the internal camera rather than the original accessory). Not to be confused with the built-in DSi camera. No emulators exist for it at all.
;Bayer DIDGIT: A glucose meter for diabetic children with a game entitled called ''Knock 'Em Downs: World's Fair'' that rewards them for checking their blood sugar levels regularly. The game has been dumped but no support for the glucose meter peripheral exists as of the time of this writing; it may, however, be possible to add reward points through Action Replay codes, not to mention that the game will still function without the glucose meter attachment anyway (albeit with reduced functionality, of course).
===iQue DS Region Lock===
iQue is Nintendo's Chinese subsidiary (previously a partnership between them and Wei Yen until 2013), so when they released the DS with a few localized games, their ROMs had special flags set in them to check if the hardware that ran the cartridge was iQue's or Nintendo's as a sort of region lock. Nintendo's own hardware would fail this check, throwing an "Only for iQue DS" error in white text on a black background. No other DS games have this mechanism; not even for Korean releases. This region lock is bypassed by the 3DS for these DS games, even though 3DS games have their own region lock. It's weird.
Emulators differ in their behavior to this region lock. No$GBA crashes. DeSmuME & MelonDS is accurate to non-iQue hardware and will replicate the failure.
The only way the ROM will accept other hardware (and thus emulators) is with a hack, involving a simple byte change. Use a hex editor to change the byte located at <code>0x1D</code> from value <code>80</code> to <code>00</code>.
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