Nintendo DS
I'm probably going to buy a Nintendo DS this month, can anyone help me out or point me to any good websites explaining exactly what I need to do and get to play spectrum games on it?
I've never used a DS before, so I don't know anything about running anything other than shop-bought DS games on it.
Thanks
I've never used a DS before, so I don't know anything about running anything other than shop-bought DS games on it.
Thanks
Post edited by Neil^P on
Comments
http://nintendo-ds.dcemu.co.uk/
i bought an R4 revolution card, they are quite popular ones.
if you do a search in google for - .nds roms - you will see all the sites where you can download nintendo games, then you can avoid them as downloading them is illegal. ;)
once you get you card, and a micro sd card, its basically drag and drop for most things. (like putting files on a memory stick) nice and simple (for an R4)
i was suprised at the ease of it.
Here is how it works: The microSD fits neatly inside the R4 and the R4 fits into the slot1 of your DS (the same slot used by your original NDS games as well). When you turn on the DS, the R4 boots up and presents you with an interface that displays all the files on your microSD. Select the game you wish to play and you're off!
To transfer stuff on to the microSD (mSD):
Remove the mSD from the R4; insert it into the USB adapter (which comes with the R4); connect the USB adapter to your computer, winXP (assuming you're using it) will automatically detect the device and allow you to browse the mSD's contents like any other disk drive. You can drag and drop files (usually with the .nsd extension) on the mSD now. When you're done, disconnect the USB and re-insert the mSD into the R4. That's it!
To play speccy games:
Download either SpeccyDS or ZXDS from their respective website. Drag and drop the .nsd files onto the mSD. You will also need some games in either the .z80, .sna, .tap, .tzx or .pzx (the latter three are not supported by SpeccyDS) files, so drag and drop them into a folder of their own (preferably) on the mSD. When you boot up the R4, find and open the emulator and thereon follow the instruction for that emulator. Simple!
I suppose the method will be similar for other slot1 based flash card devices. I thoroughly recommend the R4 though.
Look for a deal which bundles the R4 with a microSD (1GB or 2GB would be best). There are many out there!
Bytes:Chuntey - Spectrum tech blog.
LMAO
or if your like me you can stupidly download them all by accident and convert em and put em on your sd cards, oops
Thanks.
some emulators need patching for it though.
With slot 2 devices (like the Supercard lite) the PC-based conversion software comes with the device. Remember, slot 2 devices allow you to play both NDS and GBA ROMS.
mines an older slot 2 one (supercard)
slot 1s you dont need to convert
http://gbatemp.net/
Their reviews are really good and apparently unbiased.
I got myself a G6real, excellent cart, basically you just insert it into the slot 1 of your DS and it works just like a real game, no need to modify your DS firmware or to patch any game or home brew, you just drag and drop files into it via an usb connector, and it's really fast too, the fastest I've seen so far actually, and I own quite a few.
It's a bit more expensive then the R4, but I like the fact that you don't have to by a microSD card, because it has built in memory (8Gb or 16 Gb), and you don't have to haunt down for the perfectly compatible microSD card and maybe risk to loose it.
And you should definitely check ZXDS, it's shaping up really good.
Everything seems to be in place now, there is no file limit when you browse the game directory and you can place your files anywhere on the card.
The only big thing missing is a nice UI, but Patrick said it's pratically already being worked on.
If you like a nice UI you can check Speccy DS or Dspec (Dspec being my favorite of them all but unfortunately hasn't being update in a long time and now it's not even compatible with some flashcarts, and save was never implemented ).
But as I said with ZXDS you can do pretty much everything, with 128K compatibility plus support for TZX, PZX, TAP, Z80 and SNA you can run just about every Spectrum game on earth.
And with 10 convenient save slots operating at a simple touch , you might just rediscover and enjoy you beloved classics in a way that was never thought before.
I said it many times before, I think the DS it's the perfect handled for Spectrum emulation, without the touch screen other portable consoles are just useless when they attempt to emulate a computer, the benefit of a virtual touch keyboard on your handled is priceless, expecially when we deal with software meant to be played on a rubber keyboard !
EDIT:
SpeccyDS got updated today !!!
Version 0.3 now, looks really good, nobody saw it coming !!
***Run to the download button....
theyre not on my usual site www.cheapmod.net, i was gonna get an r4 card for the kids ds for xmas
I got my G6real, from divineo.cn.
They are based in China, but they ship worldwide and real fast, I got mines in 3 days with standard shipping (about $5 ).
I shopped many times from them, and they are really reliable.
I love the G6real, it's easy to use and should be perfect for the kids.
But now there is a new product out there called CycloDS Evolution, and some say it's even better than the G6 real(and cheaper), at least until they release the new firmware that is.
Nowadays you can't go wrong either way, those slot-1 cart are getting better and cheaper, nothing like the good old GBA days.......;)
Bytes:Chuntey - Spectrum tech blog.
My question is how good is the level of emulation verses to GP2X ?
Also how advanced is the homebrew scene in general ?
Is Lemmings DS as good as it sounds ?
Apart from the nice Spectrum emulation the rest is fairly crap.
Not very. I've got only 2 on my DS as a matter of fact, and neither are used much - Moonshell for video and music playback and the DSOrganizer. I've yet to try the DSBrowser and the wifi connection for surfing the Net so can't comment on them.
Dunno. Haven't played it, but I'm currently addicted to Pokemon Diamond. Surprising 'cos I was never into the whole Pokemon business but now I'm hooked!
Bytes:Chuntey - Spectrum tech blog.
same here, everyone thinks its some kiddy thing with cute animals being lovely to each other, but at its hearts its a really good rpg, where you waste hours searching for rare pokemon and trying to build up a pokemon for a fight.
nothing more satisfying than turning a cute furry pink blob into a death dealing killing machine.
agree with arjun too about the whole emu scene, its all a bit new at the mo. not really played many homebrew games. the snes emu is pretty decent although a lot of the games will probably never work due to the chips in the carts.
if your gonna get a DS look to get one mainly for the DS games, then the rest of the emu/homebrew stuff will be a bonus.
It's pretty good, yeah. The only slight issue with it is that sometimes the little gets don't respond when you first tap them. Other than that it's fine.
[Edit]
The third game of my favourite DS games series is out, Phoenix Wright 3. It's been out for a while, but I've only just realised as it's the Japanese version. It plays fine though, as there's an option for English language on the main menu. Top stuff!
I probably didn't make it clear that I already have a DS as well as the GP2X.
Looks like I'll be hanging on to the GP2X a little while longer until the DS homebrew scene matures.
Surprised by the comments about Pokemon Diamond, I've never played a Pokemon title, thought they were too 'kiddy'.
My recomendations for the DS would be
Animal Crossing
Between my wife and I, we've clocked up some serious time on this.
Advance Wars - Dual Strike
Superb strategy title (clocked up 50+ hours on this and still not finished all the War Room extras)
Mario Kart DS
The best Mario Kart bar none.
A sort of Mario Kart greatest hits with online multiplayer.
Biggest Surpise,
Brothers In Arms DS
A 3D World War 2 shooter that looks and controls really well.
pokemon is colorfull, but only in the same way as mario, a kid could probably bumble through it, but someone my age can really sit down and get loads out of it. (some of the story can get quite dark too)
yeah brother in arms is great, such a great port of something that could have been really pants.
Once you have it cracked getting video onto the DS is quite easy and playback is remarkably good considering the screen size. The sound is tremendous if you use headphones, I had never heard stereo from a DS before.
If you to give it a try without converting your own stuff try http://moonbooks.net (to mods - Its a legal site) where you can get some cracking black and white horror and Si-Fi B movies amongst other stuff.
Music also sounds very good through headphones.
A 2Gig Micro SD will hold about 9 Full length films which should cater for almost any holiday flight your going to be taking.
Given how good these features are I am surprised that they haven't actually been marketed by Nintendo.
ADJB
Actually I'm glad that Nintendo is ignoring these features all together, in fact they may decide to be bad and even try to block home brew in general, like a certain company that sells a portable PS is currently doing (in vain ).
But yeah the DS is great and it's worth to get both for the Spectrum emulation and also for original titles, which are abundant anyway.
I also like Ace Attorney very much, and Zelda PH is coming soon !
According to those who played the Japanese version is the best portable Zelda so far, and I'm really looking forward to it.
And all those Brain games are pure genius, if fact I'm hooking up most of my female co-workers with it ! ;)
ADJB
last time i looked at my puppy he was covered in shit and fleas. i think the rspca are close to taking him away, bastards!!
It works fine on my old Slot2 Supercard.
use moonshell and play the films as a dpg file
the link adjb gave earlier has em all in that format
Converting file to .avi (I am using MediaCoder - Opensource freebie - see sourceforge)
Using BatchDPG convert the .avi to dpg format (http://www.dev-scene.com)
Just drop the resulting .dpg onto your card in the films directory.
I haven't had any fails using this method and these tools but I have had problems using DPG Tools.
Takes about 20mins to do a feature film.
Your mileage may vary.
ADJB
i tried it last night, very simple, just like me :)
shame i can't find a good place to download dpg films, they are all torrent sites.
that moonbooks is a good site though. :) was up last night watching night of the living dead under the covers.