If you’re one of the lucky people that have their hands on a new Nintendo DSi and an R4i SDHC card, then we have the latest r4i sdhc firmware for you.  The latest version of the R4i SDHC firmware fixes and corrects some bugs that were present in the earlier r4i firmwares.  It fixes several games to work properly as well as adds support for even more homebrew files.

It has also been updated to now allow the R4i SDHC to work on the newest v1.4 revision of the Nintendo DSi.  Prior to this firmware release everyone was urging their customers NOT to update to the latest 1.4 revision of the NDSi firmware itself.   With this release, you don’t have to worry any more because the R4i SDHC firmware now fully support the newest 1.4 version.

Download the R4i English V1.12b Firmware file

With the latest V1.4 update for the Nintendo DSi system, many of the ndsi flash cards stopped working suddenly.  They were no longer recognized if you updated your NDSi version to 1.4

What this meant is that even if you accidentally updated your system to 1.4, without realizing it, your R4i SDHC would be rendered useless, as it would not even show up in the menu system of the NDSi when you plugged it in and turned it on.

With the newest R4i SDHC firmware update, you can now use your R4i SDHC Card in your NDSi and not have to worry about which firmware you have.

Okay, so I am touching a lot on the use of the R4i card with a Nintendo DSi that has to be updated.  But I guess the bigger point, and bigger picture is that fact that if you went to any store today, and bought an NDSi system, the chances of it being a v1.4 are VERY high.  So prior to this, customers had to search around in hopes of being able to find an NDSi with the older firmware.  That is no longer something anyone has to worry about!

The newest R4i SDHC CARD will work just fine!

Find out more about the R4i SDHC by clicking here

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