DS Ultimate homebrew guide

[Bex]

Thanks go to DSfanboy for this guide.

Where there's a system, there's a community of hobbyist programmers willing to tear it down, build it back up, and make it better, and they've been doing it to the DS from nearly the moment the handheld hit shelves. As the necessary hardware has grown cheaper, easier to use, and more widely available (when not sold out), the DS homebrew community in turn has grown stronger, producing some applications that are so good, they rival (or better!) similar commercial products.

But with all of the homebrew solutions available, how does someone new to the scene know where to start? A quick search for guides returns information that can seem complicated and confusing, and many DS owners are wary of spending money on hardware that may not work with their particular system or with the applications and homebrew games they're interested in trying out. The reality is that homebrew on the DS is much easier than it seems, thanks to breakthroughs in the scene, and DS Fanboy is dedicated to helping you navigate the ocean of user-generated content available. From searching out Slot-1 solutions to taking you through them, we've got all the information you need to get started, no matter how little you know about DS homebrew. If you're really lost, check out our handy homebrew glossary (post 5) for help.

It's worth mentioning that we're focusing solely on the newer flash carts for DS homebrew here. With the advent of the all-in-one Slot-1 flash cart, there's little reason for anyone to go with the more complicated Slot-2 devices. While we cover some of that terminology in our glossary, we do so only to help provide a guide for those DS owners just getting started, who may encounter such terms as PassMe and wonder just what it might be.

Post 1: CycloDS Evolution
Post 2: M3 Real
Post 3: R4DS
Post 4: Other homebrew solutions
Post 5: Homebrew Glossary

[Bex]

Homebrew solution: CycloDS Evolution





CycloDS Evolution
Slot-1 (All-in-one)
Also needed: MicroSD card
Price: $53
Find it: [Only registered users can see links. ]

Though it's well regarded by many for its high compatibility with commercial ROMs, the CycloDS Evolution is also gaining popularity for the ease with which one can install and load homebrew games and applications using the slot-1 cart. Its capabilities and dead-simple features come at a premium, and you will need to buy a microSD memory card to use with the cart (we suggest 1GB+), but you'll find very few people who're unhappy with the Team Cyclops product.

So you bought the CycloDS Evolution -- what now?

As with the R4, the CycloDS Evolution kit includes a USB microSD card reader/writer which you can plug into your computer. Both the slot-1 cart and the card reader/writer lack spring mechanisms for popping out the microSD cards, so you'll need to pull them out with a fingernail. This isn't as awkward as it sounds!

The first two things you'll want to do is make sure you have the latest firmware and the MoonShell media player. The official [Only registered users can see links. ] has links to the latest versions for you to download. Unpackage the files and drag everything into the root of your microSD card (do not rename the "moonshl" folder).

The next time you run the CycloDS cart on your DS, you'll receive a prompt asking if you'd like to update the firmware. Make sure your battery light is green -- you might even want to hook the system up to its charger -- and press A to start the process. It's imperative that you do not turn off your system during the update. After the firmware update is complete, you'll need to restart your DS. The firmware upgrade file will be automatically deleted.

That's easy enough, but how do I set it up for homebrew?

Running homebrew off this cart couldn't be any easier. With the CycloDS' automatic [Only registered users can see links. ], you should be able to run most games and applications without having to patch the software. Just drag and drop the NDS files you've downloaded, and you're good to go. It's suggested that you organize your files into folders if you plan to keep a lot on your cart, as the cart's file browser will only list 128 ROMs in a single directory. As the folder named "/CycloDS" is a system folder, make sure not to drag any homebrew files that you plan to play into there.

Once you've started up your Nintendo DS, tapped past the Health and Safety screen, and selected "CycloDS Evolution" from the initial menu screen, you'll be greeted with the simple user interface pictured above. In case it's not obvious, the DS icon will bring you to a file browser that will load the software you've copied onto the microSD card. The headphones icon will open the [Only registered users can see links. ] media player for any compatible photos/music/text/video files you have. The third icon, a briefcase, will let you configure different settings, including your DS's current LCD brightness.

How do I customize the CycloDS's main menu?

Ever wanted to see your true love, [Only registered users can see links. ], as soon as you turned on your DS? Or maybe you'd just like a [Only registered users can see links. ] to match your iPhone? Here's your chance to make your system's graphical user interface really feel like yours!

[Only registered users can see links. ]

1. Find and download a skin you like -- try [Only registered users can see links. ] or the [Only registered users can see links. ] of the Team Cyclops' forum
2. Unzip the skin folder from the file you've downloaded (e.g. LePetitPrince.zip -> "/LePetitPrince")
3. Open the "/CycloDS" directory in your microSD card
4. Create a "/Skins" folder in "/CycloDS"
5. Drag the skin folder you downloaded into the "/Skins" folder (e.g. "/CycloDS/Skins/LePetitPrince")
6. Slap the microSD card and CycloDS cart into your DS
7. Load the CycloDS Evolution cart from the DS's initial menu screen
8. Head into "Settings/Misc" from the CycloDS menu
9. Select the "Skin" line and hit the A button or use the directional pad to pick your skin
10. Voila! You've added and enabled a new CycloDS skin!

What about this "Enhanced Mode" I've been hearing about?

The CycloDS has a unique "Enhanced Mode" menu which users can access at any time, even while playing a game, by hitting A + B + X + Y + L + R buttons simultaneously. The menu offers some really slick options, some of which we'd love to see implemented by Nintendo for future versions of the DS -- LCD brightness adjustments, an in-game reset for returning to the CycloDS main menu without restarting the DS, real-time saving for saving/restoring game states at any time, cheat code toggling, variable slow motion, and a display for the current time.

Unfortunately, at the time of this guide's posting, this Enhanced Mode is only available for commercial games and not for homebrew software. If you're the type to crank up Aerosmith and live on the edge, Team Cyclops currently has a public beta for its new firmware (v1.4 Beta 2) adding an in-game reset for homebrew games and applications, allowing you to return to the CycloDS main menu without restarting the DS. It's not as impressive as the full Enhanced Mode, but the soft reset is still very useful!

Why are some people choosing the CycloDS Evolution over the cheaper R4?

While it's onboard firmware, microSDHC support, and Enhanced Mode offerings are all significant advantages for the CycloDS Evolution, the biggest reason why many are happy to pay $10-20 extra for this cart is its excellent, English-speaking (this is a huge deal!) support staff. In addition to providing great technical support and firmware upgrades with new fixes/features, Team Cyclops keeps an active presence in its own forums. You would expect these points to be standard with most flashcart teams, but it's rare to see a group support its cart this well.

Where can I go to for more in-depth information on the CycloDS Evolution?

Try Team Cyclops' [Only registered users can see links. ] or [Only registered users can see links. ]!

Features: Automatic DLDI-patching with excellent homebrew compatability, media player (Moonshell), user-friendly and skinnable interface, OS built into onboard flash memory, Enhanced Mode, auto-boot and auto-execute options, and microSDHC support
Accessories: [Only registered users can see links. ]
Language support: English, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Latin American Spanish,
Korean, Dutch, Greek, Indonesian, Malaysian, Russian, and Tagalog

[Bex]

Homebrew solution: M3 Real

[Only registered users can see links. ]


M3DS Real
Slot-1 (All-in-one)
Also needed: MicroSD card
Price: $39 - $60
Find it: [Only registered users can see links. ], [Only registered users can see links. ], [Only registered users can see links. ]

With the M3 Real, it's easy for even the noobiest of noobs to get a grip on DS homebrew. If you know how to a) manipulate files on a computer and b) insert a cart into your DS, then you too can master the world of DS homebrew. It really is just that easy.

So you bought the M3 Real -- what now?

Once you've got the M3, with or without accessories (other than the necessary MicroSD card), setting it up is extremely simple. Before you do anything else, you'll need to:

• format your MicroSD card (PC users, see [Only registered users can see links. ] and [Only registered users can see links. ]; Mac users, check [Only registered users can see links. ])
• get the latest [Only registered users can see links. ]
• copy the M3 firmware System folder to the MicroSD card
• insert the MicroSD into your M3 cart (like [Only registered users can see links. ], not like [Only registered users can see links. ])
• insert the M3 adapter cart in your DS and power it up

[Only registered users can see links. ] The first time you boot up your M3, you'll be prompted to select your language. If you happen to choose the wrong one, or decide to shift later, you can adjust this in the Setting menu from the main screen (see list of menu options to the right). After that, you're ready to go, and you've already become a part of the homebrew community. The M3 firmware comes complete with a built-in PDA app, so you've already got a program you can use. You've also got MoonShell packed in with your card, which allows you to access media files from your DS, just in case you want to, say, watch [Only registered users can see links. ]. But in order to get that film, other media, or any other programs, you're going to have to plug that MicroSD back in to your computer and go hunting for software.

What kind of homebrew programs do you want to get? Frankly, that's up to you, and we'll provide some resources later that should help you choose. For now, however, we're just going to tell you how to work with your new homebrew cart.

How do I manage files so that my homebrew software will run correctly?

You'll need to place all of the loader files (.nds files) in the root directory (unless directed otherwise in the instructions for various programs) on the MicroSD card. This allows for automatic DLDI patching, which some applications require in order to run correctly. If your files are not in the right place, your programs may not work. If you're having any trouble, make sure the files are in the right place!

Your media files, however, can be organized as you see fit. Only .nds loader files for your homebrew programs need to be in the root directory. [Only registered users can see links. ] has its own file browser, and supports several audio formats, including MP3, most basic image formats, and DPG video files.

As an aside, we recommend fiddling with your new M3's menus. You can't really mess anything up, after all, and you'll learn more about it. The firmware comes with several skins already installed (accessible through the 'Setting' menu), and you can cycle through those and familiarize yourself with the menus before digging too deeply into various programs.

To the right, you can see the basic menu options. You'll spend most of your time in "[Only registered users can see links. ]," which is a file browser that lists all your homebrew programs. Open My Card, and from there, you can select the executable files.

[Only registered users can see links. ]

For example, on the above screenshot, lj.nds is selected, which loads LOCKJAW, an excellent Tetris clone. Chat Noir is also shown. To get here, select My Card from the main menu, and scroll down to the files you want. Tap the desired file once with your stylus (or alternate pointing device), and again to load it. Or, if you prefer to use the buttons, A selects, and B will move back to previous menus.

Sound simple? It is. The interface is easily navigable, and the beauty of the all-in-one Slot-1 carts is that running homebrew apps is nearly as easy as booting a commercial cartridge. So many steps that were necessary with earlier Slot-2 homebrew solutions are automated here. Now anyone can get in on the homebrew experience.

Where can I go to for more in-depth information on the M3 Real?

Check out the official [Only registered users can see links. ] or the [Only registered users can see links. ], as well as great community sites like [Only registered users can see links. ].

Features: Built-in media player and PDA functionality, HDSC compatible, skinnable interface, automatic DLDI patching, supports Slot-2 expansions
Possible problems: Official site difficult to navigate if you're looking for firmware updates; some people don't like the necessity of keeping things in the root directory
Accessories: GBA expansion, rumble pak
Language support: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Korean, Thai

[Bex]

Homebrew Solution: R4DS


[Only registered users can see links. ]

R4DS
Slot-1 (All-in-one)
Also needed: MicroSD card
Price: $35-$50
Find it: [Only registered users can see links. ], [Only registered users can see links. ], [Only registered users can see links. ]Probably the most popular storage device cart (or at least the most well-known), the R4 is a safe choice for people new to the homebrew community. It's essentially the same as the M3, and just as easy to set up. Also, it's unlikely that you'll ever have to deal with DLDI patching with an R4.

Just follow our directions below or check out our [Only registered users can see links. ], and you'll be experiencing homebrew in no time.

So you bought the R4DS -- what now?

The R4DS storage device comes with a USB MicroSD card reader/writer and a protective case to hold your cart. As stated above, though, you'll need a MicroSD card. (Note: The R4 is only compatible with MicroSD cards that are 2GB or less.)

Once you have your card, insert it into the USB MicroSD card reader (be careful!). Then, pop the USB reader into your computer's USB port. When prompted by "AutoPlay," click on "Open folder to view files." (Note: If you're not prompted, make sure that your computer is reading your USB drive properly. If it is, just open the drive manually through your "My Computer" folder. If not, there may be a problem with your USB drive or MicroSD card.)

That's easy enough, but how do I set it up for homebrew?

[Only registered users can see links. ]

Just [Only registered users can see links. ] to download the most recent kernel and the extract the files onto your computer. In the "English" folder there will be four files to copy/paste onto your MicroSD card:

• _system_ folder
• moonshl folder
• _DS_MENU.DAT
• _DS_MSHL.NDS

So now that your homebrew is set up, how do you actually do stuff?

Congratulations! You've set up your R4, complete with MoonShell. The rest of what you do simply depends on your own needs and wants. If you want homebrew games, make a "Games" folder and put it in the root directory. If you want music, make a "Music" folder; if you want applications (like iPod DS or PictoDrive), make an "Applications" folder, and so on.

Now, get to the downloading

It's nice that you have all these nifty folders, but it's no fun if they're empty -- so go on and add some programs and multimedia! If you have no idea where to start, check out some of our past recommendations by scanning through our [Only registered users can see links. ].

Be careful to check if what you're downloading has special instructions. Some programs (like [Only registered users can see links. ], for example) might need to be installed into the root directory. Otherwise, just put your homebrew games into your "Games" folder, music files into your "Music" folder, etc.

So you have the programs you want -- now what?

Remove your USB reader from your computer, take out the MicroSD card carefully, put the MicroSD card into the R4 storage cart, and put the R4 storage cart into your DS. Then, turn on your DS. Once it loads, you'll notice a menu that's split into three different sections: Game, Multimedia, and Boot Slot-2.

[Only registered users can see links. ]

"Game" (left icon) is where you go to open all .nds files, such as DSOrganize, iPod DS, emulators, and any homebrew games that you've downloaded. Only folders and .nds files will show up here, so don't worry if everything else appears to be missing. "Multimedia" (middle icon) takes you to MoonShell, where you open multimedia files. "Boot Slot-2" (right icon) is what you'd use if you had a GBA expansion pack or other slot-2 device inserted into your DS.

Where can I go to for more in-depth information on the R4DS?

Still confused? Use our [Only registered users can see links. ] to make setting up your R4DS even easier. If you have other questions, though, your best bet would be to visit community sites like [Only registered users can see links. ] or the (unofficial) [Only registered users can see links. ].

Features: Built-in media player (MoonShell), skinnable interface, automatic DLDI patching, Slot-2 expansion support, Wi-Fi compatibility, operable with both the touchscreen and buttons/d-pad, constantly updated firmware (available on the R4DS website)
Possible problems: Not as power efficient as a normal DS cart, some programs must go in the root directory, not compatible with MicroSD cards over 2GB (MicroSDHC cards)
Accessories: USB MicroSD card reader/writer, protective case to store the R4 cart
Language support: English, French, and Korean

[Bex]

Other homebrew solutions

[Only registered users can see links. ]
The following Slot-1 cards aren't as well-known or popular as the others, but they all run homebrew. Getting a less popular card may put you in danger of infrequent firmware updates, but for the most part if you just want to run homebrew programs, they'll do the trick. Of course, the prices speak in their favor as well.

Acekard 2
Slot-1 (All-in-one)
Also needed: MicroSD card
Price: $25
Find it: [Only registered users can see links. ]

The Acekard has excellent compatibility, and software in constant development by the group at the [Only registered users can see links. ]. It doesn't have any of the fancy extra features of the Cyclo DS, but it has the feature of being quite cheap.

Edge
Slot-1 (All-in-one)
Also needed: MicroSD card
Price: $31
Find it: [Only registered users can see links. ]

The Edge card has a quick, easy-to-use menu interface, which can cycle instantly between three display modes. It also comes in a really cool triangular box. Not that that matters.

DS Top Toy
Slot-1 (All-in-one)
Also needed: MicroSD card
Price: $20
Find it: [Only registered users can see links. ]

The DSTT doesn't allow users to swap skins without removing and renaming files, and it has a slightly annoying menu (lacking alphabetical listing). It's been known to lag or freeze when loading a long list of files. But it works, runs homebrew, and is twenty dollars. Thirty with a bundled 2GB MicroSD card.
N5 RevolutionSlot-1 (All-in-one)
Also needed: MicroSD card
Price: $27
Find it: [Only registered users can see links. ]

It's an R4, but from an even more no-name company, and cheaper. Also, according to [Only registered users can see links. ], it has a nasty habit of killing people's MicroSD cards.

SuperCard DSONESlot-1 (All-in-one)
Also needed: MicroSD card
Price: $39
Find it: [Only registered users can see links. ]

Be sure to get the "Version 3" or "SDHC" SuperCard DSONE, because it has been updated to support SDHC cards. The latest SuperCard has built-in emulators, but loads more slowly than other flash cards.

EZFlash VSlot-1 (All-in-one)
Also needed: MicroSD card
Price: $28
Find it: [Only registered users can see links. ]

This is a popular card that, of course, interacts well with the [Only registered users can see links. ]. It's also cheap and includes a stylus, a screen cleaner, and a keychain of some kind for some reason.

[Bex]

Homebrew Glossary

While this is by no means a complete glossary of all homebrew-related terms and phrases, this glossary should make navigating the DS homebrew community a little easier.

adapter Hardware designed to act as a bridge between a device and another piece of hardware. DS homebrew is made possible due to adapters that allow the DS to access and load software on a memory card.
brick A non-functioning DS, likely due to a firmware error.
CycloDS Evolution An all-in-one Slot-1 adapter for DS homebrew.
DLDI Dynamically Linked Device Interface. A software patch that allows programs written for one flash card to operate on others. New flash cards come with DLDI functionality onboard, so you no longer have to manually patch your software to operate it.
DSOrganize A multifunction program that includes organizer, calendar, and notepad functionality as well as a web browser, a sound recorder, media players and many other components. dump See ROM.
emulator A computer program that plays GBA and/or DS software, such as no$gba and DeSmuME.
firmware The base program embedded in a device that controls its operations. flashcart Generic term for a rewritable Slot-1 or Slot-2 cart.
FlashMe Hacked firmware for the DS that replaces the need for PassMe (see definition below). Mostly obsolete since the development of independent Slot-1 cards, but sometimes used to bypass the DS's health and safety warning screen.
GBA expansion pack See Slot-2 accessory.
homebrew Non-retail or licensed applications and games written and supported by unofficial developers
M3 Real An all-in-one Slot-1 adapter for DS homebrew.
MicroSD Very tiny flash memory card (11.0mm x 15.0mm).
MoonShell An audio/video/still image player that is preinstalled on many Slot-1 cards, and is the standard for media playback on the DS.
NoPass The final iteration of the PassMe style of homebrew device before the advent of fully independent Slot-1 cards. A Slot-1 device that runs code from a Slot-2 card without the need for a connected commercial DS card. Obsolete since the development of Slot-1 cards.
PassCard See PassMe.
PassMe Device that directs the DS to boot from the GBA slot in order to access Slot-2 adapters. Obsolete since the development of independent Slot-1 cards.
R4 Revolution for DS/R4DS. An all-in-one Slot-1 adapter for DS homebrew.
ROM Read Only Memory. Used in game cartridges. Also used to describe game backups.
SDHC Secure Digital High Capacity. Larger (over 4GB) SD cards.
Slot-1 The slot used to run DS games. Slot-1 flash cards are extremely easy to use and do not require any complicated boot methods or additional hardware. However, they are incapable of running GBA homebrew without a Slot-2 accessory. Also refers to the actual card that fits into said slot.
Slot-2 The GBA slot, used for 1) GBA games and homebrew, and/or 2) older homebrew solutions employed before Slot-1 flashcarts were available. Also refers to the actual cart that fits into said slot.
Slot-2 accessory A Slot-2 cart that allows Slot-1 cards like the R4 and CycloDS to run GBA homebrew.
SuperCard Well known Slot-2 adapter, in wide use prior to existence of Slot-1 devices. The creators now manufacture Slot-1 devices.

[idunno]

Thanks Bex. Ummm which one is the best?

[thedeathscythe]

huge, half of the stuff I knew but thanks, that mustve taken a lot of time and work (albeit it being a year ago)

i have cyclods evolution and i recommend it to anyone. there's only R4 clones out there since they were shut down 2 or 3 years ago so go with cyclods