NeoDS - A Guide to Using One of the Greatest DS Emulators

NeoDS is a NeoGeo emulator for the DS(i) system. This is arguably one of the greatest emulators to ever emerge onto the DS homebrew scene. One question always comes up though; how do I make this work?

This guide will get you from downloading the emulator to playing your first game. Be aware, there will be at least one file that I can't link you to that is needed to convert files that you will have to locate on your own. It isn't difficult to find, but being a BIOS file, I can't give it to you here without breaking the rules. I hope you understand.

Downloading NeoDS


Step 1: Make sure to download the NeoDS emulator from the Filetrip link below. The latest version is v0.2.0.
NeoDS v0.2.0

Step 2: Unzip the file labeled [2684]NeoDs020. Open the folder, then open the single folder with in. This should take you to a directory with the 10 items pictured below included.

[thumb]http://gbatemp.net/p...0Screen%201.png[/thumb]

Step 3: Open the folder labeled NeoDsConvert.



Now's the tricky portion. There are two things that should be known prior to trying to convert. NeoDS uses the MAME ROM set. Any game that works with MAME will work with NeoDS after conversion. A quick Google should find you a large repository of these games. I will not link to any MAME ROM's here.

Note: There are two ways to convert. One way uses an easy to use executable. The other way requires the use of the command line though. That method is outlined in the readme included with the download, and I will not be explaining it here.

Step 1: Obtain the neogeo BIOS files. The zip file will be labeled neogeo, and the BIOS files will be a list of items that will be of no use to you in an unzipped format. Without this file, you can not begin the converting process. I can also not link to the BIOS file here. Once again, a quick Google should yield positive results.

Step 2: Obtain a MAME ROM file. For the sake of this tutorial, I will be using a Metal Slug file to demonstrate. Leave the ROM file in a zipped format. The below picture is what your file list should resemble before a conversion. Note that the neogeo file is still compressed, as is the ROM file.

[thumb]http://pix.gbatemp.n...0Screen%202.png[/thumb]

Step 3: Double click NeoDsConvert. Don't confuse this with the .sln file. Make sure you double click the executable. Upon double clicking it, you should see the Command window pop open going through tons of little processes. You should get two .neo files out of it. Below is what should be received. Of course, the ROM file will vary by name. Below is an example of what you should see. The two new files are highlighted.

[thumb]http://pix.gbatemp.n...0Screen%203.png[/thumb]





At this point, you have two new files. One will be your converted ROM that shares the name of the ROM file's zip archive, the other will be a side file made through the conversion. At this present time, I can't find a use for the side file. The Metal Slug game used for testing worked well with and without the file being present on the MicroSD card.

Note: For testing, I am using my Original R4 with the Wood v1.27 firmware. As a piece of homebrew, the emulator may or may not work on your firmware. For any non-game conversion or loading related issues, please make a new topic inquiring about help within the proper section of GBAtemp. I will not be covering flash cart compatibility with this emulator here.

Step 1: Plug your MicroSD card into the computer and open to the root of the MicroSD card. At this point, no NeoGeo related items should be present.

[thumb]http://pix.gbatemp.n...0Screen%204.png[/thumb]

Step 2: Create a folder on your MicroSD card's root with the name "NeoGeo" for easy recognition of what is in there.

Step 3: Copy all of the contents of NeoDS folder into the NeoGeo folder on your MicroSD card with the exception of the readme, the converted ROM file(s), and the NeoDsConvert folder. The below is what your MicroSD card should resemble, from NeoGeo folder creation, to placement of the emulator files.

Creation of the NeoGeo folder:
[thumb]http://pix.gbatemp.n...0Screen%205.png[/thumb]

What files to transfer from the computer to the MicroSD card:
[thumb]http://pix.gbatemp.n...0Screen%206.png[/thumb]

What the NeoGeo folder on your MicroSD card should look like:
[thumb]http://pix.gbatemp.n...0Screen%207.png[/thumb]

Step 4: Now you need to place your converted ROM file(s) onto the MicroSD card. Do not place these files into the NeoGeo folder anywhere. This emulator searches the root of the MicroSD card for ROM files. Placement anywhere else will render them undetectable.

Step 5: Boot up your DS and access the NeoGeo folder. The emulator itself may only show as a DS Program File, but will be the only one in the NeoGeo folder. Boot up the emulator and it will show the list of games if you have followed every step up to this point.

Press Start to boot up your game and enjoy!

If you have any questions regarding this guide, feel free to post below. I will make sure to answer them to the best of my ability.

Updated May 26th, 2011 at 9:37AM PST
Reason for edit: Had to add a single word :3

Edited by Nathan Drake, 26 May 2011 - 05:37 PM.

Updated to a point that I feel is basically complete. I will make improvements here or there as time goes by. Please let me know if you think there are any improvements that could be made.

Don't ask for a video for set up from start to finish, as it isn't going to happen. I can provide more screen caps if anybody feels they are necessary. Feel free to post if this made you soil your trousers and reconsider your entry too. I mean, a little confidence can go a long way.

Edited by Nathan Drake, 04 May 2011 - 05:14 AM.

After the giant flop, this is fixed and ready for final submission.

Hope it can help somebody at some point.

I`ve miss NeoGeo at all - any recomendation on good gemes ?

I personally lack experience with these games in general, but the Metal Slug games are always good ones to try out. If you look up a MAME set, there are tons and tons of games to check out though.

tried Killer Instinkt 1.4. do not work. where I can see compartibility info ?

I just looked at it, and judging by the size of 1.4, it seems more like a patch, less like the full game. When you unzip Killer Instinct v1.4, what's inside of it?
I only ask, as v1.4 is only about 300KB, while v1.0 is what seems like the proper size about about 4.5MB, a fairly substantial difference.

Edit: I went ahead and checked it out, and v1.4 appears to be an update file of some kind. Not sure how one would go about using it personally. For the actual game though, you want v1.0.

Edited by Nathan Drake, 05 June 2011 - 11:21 AM.

the different soccer games and street hoops are rather fun and emulate pretty well on neoDS.

i'd recommend using the universe bios (google is your friend) because it has a button combo to turn on soft dip switches.

this info might also help you: http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=102177

you can find more info about each supported game (including screen shots) here: http://maws.mameworld.info/maws/

-another world