Hacking News: New Stargate 3DS flashcart

[Quantumcat]

"why would you pay $100 to save space when you could buy a larger SD for like $20"
Not all places sell it for $100, some places sell it for $80-$87. There is more than one trusted vendor in this world you know lol.
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"Then why pay extra for a cart that allows you to install it? Why not just get a Sky3DS?"
People could change their mind later on and want to install CFW, the point is NTRboothax is there for you to use anytime. Try making that decision when you have a Sky3DS/Sky3DS+, you willing to buy ANOTHER flashcart just to install CFW (buying both flashcarts will be up to $100 or more total). Why have two flashcarts like that when NTRboothax and 3DS game compatibility are all in one and then some.

So they may not want to install it. Alright can a Sky3DS/Sky3DS+ play DS games, no. You can't even use homebrew applications on it, it is strictly used for 3DS games. Sky3DS is about $70, Sky3DS+ is about $95-$100. $95-$100 (from all the vendors I have looked through they are either $95-$100) just for 3DS games versus a card that does that and then some, hmmmm I wonder. Even if the Stargate 3DS was strictly $100 it is a better deal even then since again it does more than the Sky3DS/Sky3DS+.
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"Are you sure? If it is cheaper and someone wanted a Sky3DS anyway (not that anyone would recommend it but it is their choice) then it could be ok to buy - getting extra stuff for less price. I really didn't think it would be cheaper but it would be nice to be wrong about that!!"
Sky3DS/Sky3DS+ only plays 3DS games, that's it. You can find one between $70-$80 (Sky3DS) $95-$100 (Sky3DS+).
Stargate 3DS plays 3DS games, DS games, and other various games for various emulators (like the DSTWO, hopefully better). That ranges from $80-$100 (depends on the vendor). Not all the features are useless to every consumer. Everyone benefits somehow with all the features it has.

1. Change it to, "why would you pay $87 to save space when you could buy a larger SD for $20" then.
2. I am betting that a Sky3DS plus DS flashcart will cost less than the Stargate
3. I don't think it is going to play emulators - see my comment about fitting 3 flashcarts in the case of 1. You could buy a Sky3DS for $70 (so you say, but second hand ones are like $40 at most) and a DS flashcart for like $5 (getting the cheapest one not needing ntrboot capability - or make it $10 to reserve the right to use ntrboot in future). Still cheaper to avoid the Stargate. Unless it is only $70 when new as well

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

1. Change it to, "why would you pay $87 to save space when you could buy a larger SD for $20" then.
2. I am betting that a Sky3DS plus DS flashcart will cost less than the Stargate
3. I don't think it is going to play emulators - see my comment about fitting 3 flashcarts in the case of 1. You could buy a Sky3DS for $70 (so you say, but second hand ones are like $40 at most) and a DS flashcart for like $5 (getting the cheapest one not needing ntrboot capability - or make it $10 to reserve the right to use ntrboot in future). Still cheaper to avoid the Stargate. Unless it is only $70 when new as well

Reload the page, I just fixed that top question.

 

[Quantumcat]

Reload the page, I just fixed that top question.

If you have a 64GB card you don't really care about a few games that might be 2-4GB, and anyway, they are larger when in 3ds form so you're wasting more space that way. And, it is cheaper to buy a 64GB card than two 32GB cards (or a 32 instead of two 16s). With the flashcart you'll always need two SDs.

If you happen to already own one or got one for free I can see the use in using it, but the usefulness is not worth the asking price. Different people will value it different amounts but I doubt anyone would value it at $80 or more. I would probably value it at around $20 (slightly more than I paid for my ntrboot cart). I'd replace the cart that is sitting in my console (to stop me from losing it) with it, and use it very occasionally. I wouldn't pay a lot for that ability though.

 

[aos10]

If you have a 64GB card you don't really care about a few games that might be 2-4GB, and anyway, they are larger when in 3ds form so you're wasting more space that way. And, it is cheaper to buy a 64GB card than two 32GB cards (or a 32 instead of two 16s). With the flashcart you'll always need two SDs.

If you happen to already own one or got one for free I can see the use in using it, but the usefulness is not worth the asking price. Different people will value it different amounts but I doubt anyone would value it at $80 or more. I would probably value it at $20. I'd replace the ntrboot cart that is sitting in my console (to stop me from losing it) with it, and use it very occasionally. I wouldn't pay for that ability though

also, selecting 3DS games by pressing a button on a card is not ideal for many games, if you want to add 100 game on that card so you can exceed the 300 game limits, you going to have hard time switching between them, and those buttons can be broken easily.

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

If you have a 64GB card you don't really care about a few games that might be 2-4GB, and anyway, they are larger when in 3ds form so you're wasting more space that way. And, it is cheaper to buy a 64GB card than two 32GB cards (or a 32 instead of two 16s). With the flashcart you'll always need two SDs.

Alright did you think about this then? What if you have two 3DS consoles (I know I do), what if you have games on your Old 3DS but want to play them on your New 3DS, you gonna sit here and tell me you would either purchase the games all over again on the New 3DS or use a transfer tool that takes forever to move stuff over OR would you rather just take the flashcart out and stick it in the New 3DS (Only takes a few seconds to do that). With a flashcart or 3DS you don't need two SD's, you could buy one SD card with say 128 gigabytes or more and use a fat32 converter, I already tested this and it works even on flashcarts. You can buy SD cards like that for your console but you could have a huge collection of VC titles on your console, taking up hardly any space with each game you download (You are able to have a literal collection of VC games or other various games (if any) versus 3DS games). You could be using ONE SD card for both consoles rather than both, you avoid long lasting transfers, you also avoid the need to buy multiple 32GB flashcarts (again 64GB+ works on flashcarts, I have had no issues at all with 128GB and higher).

 

[Quantumcat]

also, selecting 3DS games by pressing a button on a card is not ideal for many games, if you want to add 100 game on that card so you can exceed the 300 game limits, you going to have hard time switching between them, and those buttons can be broken easily.

Good point!!! Having more than two or three games on a Sky3DS is a REAL pain. Sky3DS are only really good for quickly trying a game or two, so you only ever have one or two games on the Sky3DS and your main ones installed, so you can play them with a finger tap and a press of the A button.

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

also, selecting 3DS games by pressing a button on a card is not ideal for many games, if you want to add 100 game on that card so you can exceed the 300 game limits, you going to have hard time switching between them, and those buttons can be broken easily.

I can see your point, however it is still better than carrying a bag full of games.

 

[Quantumcat]

Alright did you think about this then? What if you have two 3DS consoles (I know I do), what if you have games on your Old 3DS but want to play them on your New 3DS, you gonna sit here and tell me you would either purchase the games all over again on the New 3DS or use a transfer tool that takes forever to move stuff over OR would you rather just take the flashcart out and stick it in the New 3DS (Only takes a few seconds to do that). With a flashcart or 3DS you don't need two SD's, you could buy one SD card with say 128 gigabytes or more and use a fat32 converter, I already tested this and it works even on flashcarts. You can buy SD cards like that for your console but you could have a huge collection of VC titles on your console, taking up hardly any space with each game you download (You are able to have a literal collection of VC games or other various games (if any) versus 3DS games). You could be using ONE SD card for both consoles rather than both, you avoid long lasting transfers, you also avoid the need to buy multiple 32GB flashcarts (again 64GB+ works on flashcarts, I have had no issues at all with 128GB and higher).

Why would you want to play a game on two different consoles? With a 3DS flashcart it is LESS convenient because you have to copy over the save file from the console SD card as well as move the flashcart over. But with an installed game you can copy over the save file and keep playing without worrying about the flashcart too. In fact if you have kids who are both playing at the same time if you're using a flashcart they can't. They could both play if using installed games though.

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I can see your point, however it is still better than carrying a bag full of games.

We have moved far beyond bags of games though. That's like if you were arguing that a pentium pc is better than a quad core (I don't know much about computers so give me a little break here) and then when challenged saying it is better than an abacus. So is the quad core.

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With a flashcart or 3DS you don't need two SD's

You do though, one internal and one for the flashcart (or else you can't save data for most games)

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

Why would you want to play a game on two different consoles? With a 3DS flashcart it is LESS convenient because you have to copy over the save file from the console SD card as well as move the flashcart over. But with an installed game you can copy over the save file and keep playing without worrying about the flashcart too. In fact if you have kids who are both playing at the same time if you're using a flashcart they can't. They could both play if using installed games though.

Valid point but that wasn't what I was meaning, it was more of example: "My Old 3DS is charging, I will grab my New 3DS to play these games, I will just use my flashcart in this console temporarily". No transfers needed, no redownloading needed (Besides you can't use the same Nintendo ID on two 3DS consoles, I already tried this. You are forced to repurchase the games because of this while using a second console, you really willing to do that?). With a flashcart you avoid having to purchase the same game again on the second console. Another example: "I want to upgrade from my Old 3DS to a New 3DS" You won't have to worry about transfers because all your games are on ONE cartridge that you can stick in a console at any time, best part is your games and saves on the flashcart will be there. You also need to remember that the 3DS will end eventually, so will the eshop, not everyone is able to afford the latest and greatest games in the eshop. By the time some of those people do the shop will be shut down, allowing you to ONLY download stuff you already downloaded in the past before the shutdown. This will definitely be a good alternative even then.

Now if multiple people want to play the same game at the same time, you can't really do anything about that. Here is why, you cannot duplicate the games after you purchase them, it is attached to that account ID ONLY, if your kids wanted to play the same game as you then you would have to buy those games again on their consoles (well see that is already a lot of money down the toilet, that is just one of many games). Say your kids wanted to play a different game each, well you are still paying for each of those games (yet again more money down the toilet, even if you got physical copies you still had to pay for each of those). Say you were using a flashcart and your kids wanted to play a game on the flashcart, well you may not have to pay for the games but you still have to pay for the flashcart(s). 3DS games range from $40-$60 (here in the US anyays depending on where you get them). The Stargate 3DS or even the Sky3DS/Sky3DS+ flashcarts are practically the price of TWO 3DS games combined (and a half if you want to be politically correct even though half a game isn't possible nor a thing). TWO 3DS games $80-$120 (depending on the game) versus a flashcart that is $80-$100 but plays more than two games along with DS games and emulators (if what it says is true). Sky3DS+ can play more than two 3DS games BUT it can't play DS games or use emulators, why settle for least around the same price as something that can do more, go big or go home.

 

[Zaphod77]

Important thing is that i's actually CHEAPER than a sky3ds+. something cheaper with more features? that's a deal.

the argument that no matter what it has features you do not need goes out the window when it's cheaper then the .3ds rom only solution.

if you want to play 3ds roms, its' a good deal. if you are willing to use CIAs instead, its' overpriced.

 

[Quantumcat]

Valid point but that wasn't what I was meaning, it was more of example: "My Old 3DS is charging, I will grab my New 3DS to play these games, I will just use my flashcart in this console temporarily"

If you want to play where you left off, you'll have to move the save file across. If you don't need the save file then if you install the game you don't even need to move a flashcart you just pick up the other console and play.

ith a flashcart you avoid having to purchase the same game again on the second console

I don't think purchasing things is a worry for people in these forums.

Another example: "I want to upgrade from my Old 3DS to a New 3DS" You won't have to worry about transfers because all your games are on ONE cartridge that you can stick in a console at any time, best part is your games and saves on the flashcart will be there

Saves won't transfer with the flashcart (except some games like Pokémon), you'll have to move the sav files. That may save a few seconds over dumping saves with JKSM though. Is it worth paying for the ability to skip 30 seconds when moving to another console though? You never needed to system transfer to move your save files. I think maybe you have some misinformation about using CFW and homebrew. You are talking a lot about having to buy games multiple times. That's never been a concern to anyone here. See https://gbatemp.net/threads/release-pauls-freeshop-fork-open-source-eshop-alternative.483159 If you're against piracy, you'd not be downloading games, and you would need a CFW console to dump your game cartridges anyway, in which case you could just install the dumps and never bother with a 3DS flashcart. The 3DS flashcart never helped you.

Important thing is that i's actually CHEAPER than a sky3ds+. something cheaper with more features? that's a deal.

the argument that no matter what it has features you do not need goes out the window when it's cheaper then the .3ds rom only solution.

if you want to play 3ds roms, its' a good deal. if you are willing to use CIAs instead, its' overpriced.

*IF* it is cheaper than a plain Sky3DS plus $10 (for the ntrboot cart) then I concede there will be some merit for people that would have bought a Sky3DS anyway.

 

[Pleng]

If you want to play where you left off, you'll have to move the save file across

Huh? Don't 3DS games store their saves on cart? In which case presumably a flashcart also would need to store its saves on it's memory card.

 

[Temptress Cerise]

Huh? Don't 3DS games store their saves on cart? In which case presumably a flashcart also would need to store its saves on it's memory card.

Sky stores them on its own SD card. GW stores them on the 3DS’ SD card.

Until this is released we won’t know which method they used.

 

[Pleng]

How does GW get access to the 3DS' SD card?

 

[Quantumcat]

How does GW get access to the 3DS' SD card?

GW uses its own CFW

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Sky stores them on its own SD card. GW stores them on the 3DS’ SD card.

Until this is released we won’t know which method they used.

Don't Sky3DS use sav files on the root of your SD card like GW does? I'll have to test that out

 

[Temptress Cerise]

Don't Sky3DS use sav files on the root of your SD card like GW does? I'll have to test that out

No. I owned a Sky3DS+. But feel free to double check.

 

[aos10]

No. I owned a Sky3DS+. But feel free to double check.

What game did you tried?
Pokemon games save on same SD card, but other games i don't know where in sky3ds+.

 

[Temptress Cerise]

What game did you tried?
Pokemon games save on same SD card, but other games i don't know where in sky3ds+.

Cubic Ninja. FreakyForms Deluxe. Fire Emblem Fates Special Edition. And others.

Not sure why you aren’t finding their .sav files on the SD card inside the Sky+.

Also, Sky+ also uses a different encryption on their .sav files. This is usually tied to the Private header specified and I believe the Chip ID.

 

[Quantumcat]

Cubic Ninja. FreakyForms Deluxe. Fire Emblem Fates Special Edition. And others.

Not sure why you aren’t finding their .sav files on the SD card inside the Sky+.

Also, Sky+ also uses a different encryption on their .sav files. This is usually tied to the Private header specified and I believe the Chip ID.

What about the regular Sky3DS (not +, that you need DiskWriter for)?

 

[Temptress Cerise]

What about the regular Sky3DS (not +, that you need DiskWriter for)?

The encryption used? Probably the same. Since I believe there were guides on how to export save files from Sky to Sky+.

If your talking the save location, the the internal SD card for the Sky, since the DiskWriter software needed to be used to export the save files.