Entries from September 2009 ↓

People often email and ask what exactly they gain when they Buy and R4 DS Card.  While the answers, in our eyes, is rather easy, the truth it we all use our favorite game console in different ways.   When you Buy R4 DS cards, you’re not just buying an ordinary accessory for your Nintendo DS.  In fact, along with your R4 DS Card you’re getting about 500 FREE games…  in the form of Homebrew Games for the Nintendo DS and DSi.

What are homebrew games?  Wikipedia sums it up best, so we’ll just quote it…  “Homebrew is a term frequently applied to video games or other software produced by consumers to target proprietary hardware platforms not typically user-programmable or that use proprietary storage methods. This might include games developed with official development kits, such as Net Yaroze or Linux for PlayStation 2. Some more frequently used labels, such as freeware, are often applied as well. A popular type of homebrew game is the fangame. In Japan, these games are usually called “D?jin soft” ”

The fact is that the R4 DS really “busts” your Nintendo DS or DSi wide open… Allowing you to download and play hundreds and hundreds of FREE hombrew games.   And when we say 500 homebrew games, we’re reall UNDER exaggerating it.

While we’d love to list every single homebrew game you can use with the R4 DS Cards we simply can’t do it in one post.  But we DO have 3 favorite games you’ve probably NEVER even heard of – and you CAN have them absolutely FREE!  All you have to do is Buy an R4 DS card and you’ll be gaming in no time.

1. FlashBack DS

We’ve been gaming for a long time.  Right back to the days of the old TRS-80 and our favorite – The Commodore 64.  After our precious C64 bit the dust, we upgraded to the Commodore Amiga computers.  One our of the BEST games (if not THE best game) on the Amiga was a sci-fi inspired game called FLASHBACK. A truly unique and engaging Sci-Fi Adventure / Sytrategy game that withstood the test of time, and is now available (officially from the original creator) as a Nintendo DS Homebrew game.  The R4 DS is a purchase you can’t miss just for this game alone.  Strategy and action packed.

2. Video Games Hero

If we weren’t such huge fans of Flashback, we would have picked this game as our number one – considering that guitar and music games are all the rage.  And we’re okay with confirming – we love guitar hero and other music games.  Video Games Hero is an open source / homebrew take on Guitar Freax (original Japanese game – one of our best sellers for the PS2) and Guitar Hero.

VideoGamesHero brings you homebrew action at it’s best – offering lasting fun and challenging action with over 65 Songs, 5 Game modes, Motion Card and Guitar Grip support, there is something for everyone!  And we don’t mean to repeat ourselves – but you can only play this game if you have an R4 DS for your Nintendo DS or DSi

3. MARBLE

And finally… Our Third pick for the homebrew game we’re checking out is a game that is still in development, called MARBLE – While it is a work in progress, memories of Marble Madness come flooding in and we’re truly drooling at the graphics and the quality of what we’ve seen so far.  And did we mention that you CAN have this game absolutely FREE when it is completed?

Homebrew gaming is truly the only reason to buy an R4 DS Card.  While not EVERY SINGLE game is commercial quality, we dare say that at least 50% of the games we play on a regular basis are just as good as, if not better than, commercial quality Nintendo DS games.

And in closing, the only thing YOU have to watch out for – if you’re going to buy an r4 ds is which model of the Nintendo DS console you have.  If you have a check out our quick chart below to know which version of the R4 DS is right for you!

If you have a Nintendo DS (and it looks like the picture to the right – without the camera lens – then you need to buy R4 DS instead of the R4i SDHC (though the R4i SDHC can and DOES work in the Nintendo DS because it is 100% backwards compatible)

Buy R4 DS

If you have a Nintendo DSi console – this console has the Camera Lens showing on the bottom right side of the top of the console – when closed – you need the R4i SDHC version.  The R4 DS simply will not work in this unit at all, because it is not upgradeable for DSi use and will not be recognized.

R4i SDHC

When it comes to the R4i Advance, we do receive a lot of emails from customers wondering exactly which model of the R4 DS they need.  With several different R4 DS units on the market, it can get confusion.  But in reality, it is actually quite simple.

There are really only 2 things to consider when you’re looking to buy the r4i advance.  The first consideration in making your decision is probably the very easiest.  Do you own a Nintendo DS or Nintendo DS Lite?  If so, then you need the original R4 DS Card.  If you own a Nintendo DSi, well, the original R4 DS Card simply won’t work for you.  You’ll need to go with the R4i Advance in order to use the features and functions of the R4 Card.  The original R4 DS Cards were made / developed long before the Nintendo DSi was even a drawing on paper.  For this reason, they did not have it built into their design.

The second thing to consider when you’re buying your R4 DS is whether or not you’ll be upgrading to the Nintendo DSi console in the future.  The R4i Advance is fully compatible with the NDSi console – and backwards compatible with the Nintendo DS / DS Lite consoles too.  But the original R4 DS Card however is NOT compatible with the new NDSi consoles – and support wil not be added for it in the future.

Using the selection below, Buy R4 DS Card that is right for your console.

If you own a Nintendo DS or DS Lite The R4 DS Card is the one you should buy.  Click on the image of the R4 DS card you need – depending on your consoles.

If you have a Nintendo DSi then the R4i Advance is the card for you.

Just like the products name, the Swap Magic for PS2 adds a little bit of magic to your gaming.   With the Swap Magic PS2 you can play all of your favorite import and backups games – all without installing any type of a mod chip in your console.  You don’t have to worry about soldering or wires, or getting someone to install a mod chip for you, because the Swap Magic PS2 is the ultimate no mod chip ps2 solution available today.

Within just a few minutes after getting your Swap Magic for the Ps2, you’ll be up and running and playing the latest import games.  How does it work?  Simply put in the Swap Magic PS2 into your Playstation 2 console like you would any game disc.  Once it has loaded, you’ll see a menu telling you to swap your disc, use the included slide tool or slim tools to swap you disc, and take out the Swap Magic PS2 and insert your game and press X – that’s it.  That is really all there is to it.

Some Of The Features Of The Swap Magic For PS2:

• There is no warranty to void
• Works with original import games
• No modchip for the games to detect
• No modification to the internal system
• No extra stress on the laser lens
• No soldering required – plug and play
• Swap Magic 3 CD Version For PS2 CD-R backups Included
• Swap Magic DVD Version For PS2 DVD-R backups Included
• Multi-Language menu: English, Chinese, Spanish, German, Italian, Korea
• Compatable with DVDRips (632mb+ CD-R backups) via TOC Refresh feature*
• Includes built-in PAL/NTSC region selector
• Games start with the single swap method detailed below

Find out more about the Swap Magic PS2 by clicking here

Click the picture to find out more about the Nintendo DS TT Card

Find out more about the Nintendo DS TT Card

There’s more to your Nintendo DS than just playing the latest games.  Sure, we all love a great hand held – and there is practically nothing better than and amazing game to go along with it.  Long bus rides, metro rides, drives to school.  But did you know that the DSTT Moonshell homebrew application actually allows you to do so much more than just train your brain in minutes a day?  With the DSTT Moonshell you

will immediately turn your Nintendo DS or DS Lite into a full blow portable multimedia player.  You’ll be able to listen to your favorite MP3 music, read the next best selling ebook, and even watch videos and entire movies right on your Nintendo DS / DS Lite.  The DSTT Moonshell alone is enough to make you go out an buy ds tt !  Imagine being able to not only play the hottest games, but also watch your favorite TV show that you missed because you were cramming for your next test… And do it all on the way to school or work…  The TT DS together with MoonShell turns your Nintendo DS into so much more – completely powering up your Nintendo DS console!

Just what is the DSTT Moonshell?  To sum it up,

MoonShell is a homebrew multimedia player for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS lite dual-screen handheld videogame systems. It is one of the most well known pieces of Nintendo DS homebrew software, and is currently one of the few and best ways to play video on the DS.

The player supports DPG video files, MP3 / OGG / MOD / SPC / MDX (no PCM) / GBS / HES / NSF / XM / MIDI / WMA / low bit rate AAC audio / non-progressive JPEG / BMP / GIF / PNG images, and text files. MoonShell plays fullscreen videos at 20fps and widescreen videos at 24fps, with joint stereo sound at a samplerate of 32.768 kHz. Both screens on the DS are used, with the bottom screen allowing file selection and control via touchscreen. The integrated plug-in system provides extensibility of program features. To add a feature, the plug-in files are simply copied to the appropriate folder. In order to function as a media player, several plug-in files are distributed with the software.

Are you ready to power up your Nintendo DS / DS Lite?  You can Download the DSTT Moonshell by click on the files below

Download DSTT Moonshell v1.71

The Xbox Aladdin Mod Chip has really stood the test of time, and literally thousands and thousands of Xbox consoles.  Being one of the very first Xbox Mod Chips on the market, the Xbox Aladdin Mod Chip continues today to be one of the most popular mod chip for the Xbox.  So popular in fact that above and beyond any other xbox chips, customers continue to select, and ask for, the Aladdin Mod Chip.

Unlike many of the modchips for the Xbox, the Aladdin mod chip has not been discontinued, and continues to have the support of the manufacturer. It is just as easy to install – yet extremely powerful, as it was the day it was released.  Why?  Because of the ability to update the firmware on your own, even once it has been installed into the Xbox.  And the Aladdin has the unique ability to take 2 different firmwares, meaning you can experiment with say the Linux supported firmware, or the aladdin firmware.

What it also offers for Xbox users is the ability to put in any size and any brand hard drive into your Xbox.  A Nice 320Gig HDD would mean a truly amazing entertainment system or media center.  There’s software like the XBMC that will allow you to truly turn the Xbox into so much more than just a game system.

Some of the features of the Aladdin Xbox Mod Chip:

• The Aladdin XT Xbox Mod Chip allows you to play your import and backup copy games!

• Supports all import games

• Supports all Backup games on either CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, etc..

• Compatible with 1.0 – 1.6 Consoles

• Can boot Xbox mod chip On or Off

• 2 Wire Installation

• Plays original imports

• Plays Backups of originals

• Plays unsigned code

• Very Easy to disable mod for “Xbox Live”

• LCD Display Support *NEW*

• No-patch hack 1 & 2

• Eject trick hack

• This Xbox Mod Chip turns Macrovision Off

• DVD Reset

• EvoX HDD Patch

• Auto detect EvoX Dashboard

Find out more about the Xbox Aladdin Mod Chip by following the link. Or simply click on the image below.

Introducing the EZflash V NDSi from one of the older manufacturers in the flash cart business.  The EZFlash team has been responsible for such products as the EZLinker, the EZ Flash ii for GBA / GBA SP and even an EZ Flash for the Game Boy Color systems.  They have been supporting homebrew and game developers with top of the line flash cards.

The EZflash V NDSi is the next generation / update to the very famous EZ Flash linker systems.  It was one of the first units to have full support for the Nintendo DSi console, and it has proven itself yet again by being upgradeable with full support for the newest v1.4 NDSi consoles.  Unlike other cards for the NDSi (mostly clone cards which sadly are very much penetrating the market) the EZFlash Vi unit makes us remember that getting an original card backed by a good manufacturer is the only way to go – and we can’t say this enough to our customers.

Sure, we could sell clone / copy cards for lower prices, but you would be getting a product that just doesn’t work as advertised, and in some cases, even destroys your NDS orNDSi console.  Sticking with trusted and long time manufacturers is the ONLY way to go!

EZ-Flash Vi (SDHC) features an advanced PDA like interface and easy to use software. The EZVi works on all DS systems from the Fat NDS to the new DSi. To this day, across the world, EZ-Flash cards are being chosen over the competition for their reliability, performance, and ease of use.

Some of the features of the EZFlash V NDSi :

• Works on NDS, NDS Lite, and DSi
• NOPASS technology, no need to modify DS console, no harm to the console, keeps console warranty.
• Side plugin, prevent the MicroSD/SDHC suddenly drop, looks like original card
• Support official Slot2 expansion device
• Softreset reduces the damage to the power switch
• RAM expansion, support offcial web browser
• Rumble support, strength adjustable
• Light control adjustable
• Homebrew support, autoDLDI supported
• Support MicroSD/SDHC, high capacity, high speed, no speed drop.
• Direct save to MicroSD/SDHC, no more save loss.

Find out more about the EZFlash V NDSi

This is to let all customers know that as of this writing, the Drivekey Update has not been released.  This is not because the Drivekey team don’t stand behind their product, but because the Drivekey has NOT needed an update.   It continues to work perfectly in all wii consoles world wide, and it is truly a solderless solution, meaning you don’t have to use any wires, do any soldering, or even know what a soldering iron is

The Drivekey Update – like any other chip updates, will only happen when it is required or when there are new software releases that for some reason can not be supported by the current drivekey.  Again, as of this writing, no update for the drivekey has been required at all.

Keep checking back at PS2Cover.com to find out if your DriveKey requires an update.  We always post new updates to our products on this news blog as well as on the actual product page itsel.