Homebrew [Release] (A newer) Sonic CD (2011) 3DS Port

[Bilocation]

Could anyone help me build it? I don't understand how to use devkitARM and 3ds-dev.

 

[bluebeery]

hey! i tried using both the qr code and actually downloading the cia to the sd card, but every time i try to open the game it goes to homebrew for a second, then crashes. if theres any way i could solve this, i'd love to know, thank you!

 

[raxadian]

hey! i tried using both the qr code and actually downloading the cia to the sd card, but every time i try to open the game it goes to homebrew for a second, then crashes. if theres any way i could solve this, i'd love to know, thank you!

Did you put the Sonic CD 2011 game data files in the right folder?

 

[Majro]

Well, by randomly browsing the RSDK Decomp Github, I stumbled upon an important discovery.

The initial Android Sonic CD version does not have a key bound to the pause function.
However, the later Sega Forever versions do have it bound to the B button.


So all in all if you plan on using this port, don't use the initial phone release of Sonic CD and get yourself the one that's on the Play Store today.

 

[UnfoundedRevengw]

Hey - So I initially had an earlier version of this installed. Not sure which in particular, but it was before the FMVs were available to be put on. Just last night, I installed the most recent version. Happy to have the FMVs! (I should totally downgrade them so I can see them, but still!)

Now, I essentially wound up deleting my original files and just installing all new ones, so all of my original save data is gone. That's okay, though.

So I'm playing the game again. This is one of my most favourite 3DS homebrews. Sonic CD looks genuinely amazing on 3DS, especially with stereoscope. The game seems to run fine for the most part -- with two notable exceptions so far. The first, and the smaller issue of the two, is that during the special stages, the textures of the ground won't load unless they're immediately under Sonic or directly in front of him. This was not an issue when I had the earlier version of the game. Mind you, this one isn't a big deal. I can still play the special stages, and I suck at them anyways!

The second issue is worse. The game runs totally fine from Palmtree Panic to Collision Chaos, special stages aside, but Tidal Tempest doesn't show any graphics whatsoever unless the game is paused. The game is still running; you can hear the music, you can move Sonic around, etc. It's just that the screen is completely black. If you pause the game though, you can see Sonic and his surroundings, somehow. (I'll attach a picture.)

I've tried exiting and re-entering the level, I've closed the game itself and reloaded it, and I even shut the 3DS off and back on. One time it even crashed after a reset. And I even started a second file, played through the first two levels, and once again was met with a version of Tidal Tempest where somebody forgot to pay the power bills.

Again, this was never an issue before I installed the most recent version. I'm not sure if any levels passed Tidal Tempest would be similar; the only way I could complete the level is by pausing and unpausing constantly to see where Sonic is. I ain't doing that lol.

I was wondering if anybody might know what could be going on here, and if there's a simple way I could fix it. Thank you.

edit: Oh, I should clarify a bit; the screen isn't just black. If you move around, it rapidly switches from black, to red, to white. Maybe a little neon green and purple -- it's an epileptic nightmare!

edit №2: So, it would seem the problem with Tidal Tempest is isolated to just Tidal Tempest, and also that it's all versions of all acts of the stage, as either Sonic or Tails. I used the dev menu to use stage select, and I tried out all versions of TT aside from act 3, and then I tried out the present-version first acts of Quartz Quadrant, Wacky Workbench, and Stardust Speedway. I haven't yet tried out Metallic Madness, but I assume it works fine. If it doesn't, I'll edit this post again to say so.

Side question about the game itself: Is there a way to exit debug mode after using the dev menu? Like, can I select a stage and then turn off debug so I won't be tempted to cheat?

 

[Devon_Zor7]

I had been trying to play this game in my new 3ds xl but when i open, my 3ds make a boot screen and got back to home menu, i dont know what i need to do cuz i do everything to play it and i cant

Post automatically merged: Apr 29, 2025

Yeah, I noticed that as well
It happens with the 3dsx version too (for me at least). And turning off the system while the game was running also gets it stuck...
I couldn't pinpoint what exactly causes it yet, but I'll try to look properly when I get some more free time.

I had been trying to play the game and it doesnt work, I open the game and my new 3ds xl go back to hme menu , I've been trying many things and nothing works, what I need to do?

 

[Voxel]

I had been trying to play the game and it doesnt work, I open the game and my new 3ds xl go back to hme menu , I've been trying many things and nothing works, what I need to do?

This usually happens if data.rsdk is missing or in an incorrect/misspelt location. It should be on the SD card at /3ds/SonicCD/data.rsdk. I'd advise double-checking the setup instructions here.

 

[ABC1234]

Hello, how do I build the CIA so that it supports the Plus DLC?

 

[DarthBra]

Hey ya I have the game setup just fine, all is working but if I allow the game to idle and it comes to the third gameplay clip it is all flashing lights and no footage ? Is this an issue with the rsdk copy I have or a known issue ? Or something else ? Thanks guys.

Edit : Ok so I have corrected my issue. I believe I had the wrong version installed.

Is there anyone that has extracted the video files for pasting into the correct folders ? I’m not lazy I genuinely have no idea how to use the GitHub ? It makes my head hurt.

Edit 2 : I also want to say thank you so much for making this port, I’m 46 and I remember back in the day my best friend played Sonic CD all the time, I fell in love with the game and watching him play it, it’s one of the reasons I ended up buying my own Sega CD.
He died of kidney disease two years ago, and honestly I just enjoy opening the game and watching it scroll.
Watching the menu and cut scenes, listening to the music, is such a blast form the past and playing it is fantastic.
I’m so please even though I have no idea what I’m doing, that I managed to get this port working so I could enjoy the game again.
It was annoying playing it on mobile without physical controls.

Edit 3 : I have managed to download FFmpeg and I have tested it and it’s working. I plan on trying to convert the video files later and will report back on how I get on.
It’s only thanks to all those who have tried to inform those of us less knowledgeable about such things, that I have managed to get thus far. It’s been a real trip and it has educated me and surprised me of my own capability.
It’s been a crazy ride of almost crying sat at my computer because I simply have no idea what I’m doing, to pushing through and persevering and really enjoying what I’m doing.

If I can convert and correctly place the files later, then I shall try my best to lay some mods down and then I think I will be happy with my progress

 

[DarthBra]

Hey ya I have the game setup just fine, all is working but if I allow the game to idle and it comes to the third gameplay clip it is all flashing lights and no footage ? Is this an issue with the rsdk copy I have or a known issue ? Or something else ? Thanks guys.

Edit : Ok so I have corrected my issue. I believe I had the wrong version installed.

Is there anyone that has extracted the video files for pasting into the correct folders ? I’m not lazy I genuinely have no idea how to use the GitHub ? It makes my head hurt.

Edit 2 : I also want to say thank you so much for making this port, I’m 46 and I remember back in the day my best friend played Sonic CD all the time, I fell in love with the game and watching him play it, it’s one of the reasons I ended up buying my own Sega CD.
He died of kidney disease two years ago, and honestly I just enjoy opening the game and watching it scroll.
Watching the menu and cut scenes, listening to the music, is such a blast form the past and playing it is fantastic.
I’m so please even though I have no idea what I’m doing, that I managed to get this port working so I could enjoy the game again.
It was annoying playing it on mobile without physical controls.

Edit 3 : I have managed to download FFmpeg and I have tested it and it’s working. I plan on trying to convert the video files later and will report back on how I get on.
It’s only thanks to all those who have tried to inform those of us less knowledgeable about such things, that I have managed to get thus far. It’s been a real trip and it has educated me and surprised me of my own capability.
It’s been a crazy ride of almost crying sat at my computer because I simply have no idea what I’m doing, to pushing through and persevering and really enjoying what I’m doing.

If I can convert and correctly place the files later, then I shall try my best to lay some mods down and then I think I will be happy with my progress

Ok guys very quick update, all is working well, thank you so much.
I have compressed the videos to 400x240 and they work perfectly, the only issue is a bit of pixelation during the faster moments of the film, I can live with it, but if I can get better then I would. Is this to be expected since it’s playing on a New 3DS XL ? Or is it possible because after converting I didn’t compress the videos again ? Not sure if that could be the issue ? Or if the N3DSXL can even play compressed video ? Any advise would be great.

Edit 1 : Ok so fixed the issue there is only one part in the video now where it just starts to drop frames, it’s not a major issue and I can live with it.
It runs perfectly and I’m actually super happy I got it ported over ok.
Now I watch the video on my iOS version and I can’t stand the fact it has no lyrics.
Nice one to everyone involved in getting that to work.
I will continue to watch this page for updates and progress on possibly the US version of the videos.
Great work to you all and one last thank you.

 

[HNKMaster]

I wonder why ffmpeg keeps corrupting the resized videos, it looks so bad

As I'm using the old 3DS I'm resizing them at 200x120, but even at 400x240 kept corrupting it. I'm using the restored music mod videos in this case by the way.

 

[DarthBra]

I wonder why ffmpeg keeps corrupting the resized videos, it looks so bad
View attachment 505877
As I'm using the old 3DS I'm resizing them at 200x120, but even at 400x240 kept corrupting it. I'm using the restored music mod videos in this case by the way.

I used : (See attached pic)


I found this much easier and the files after looked top notch. No serious pixelation during the faster parts of the film.
IF this doesn’t work then I’m afraid it’s purely because you are on a 3DS and not a New 3DS and is hardware related.
Make sure you convert OGV to OGV and change the aspect and the program will do the rest.

Let me know if this helps you ?.

 

[HNKMaster]

I used : (See attached pic)


I found this much easier and the files after looked top notch. No serious pixelation during the faster parts of the film.
IF this doesn’t work then I’m afraid it’s purely because you are on a 3DS and not a New 3DS and is hardware related.
Make sure you convert OGV to OGV and change the aspect and the program will do the rest.

Let me know if this helps you ?.

I'll try it and edit this soon, but the issue is unrelated to the 3DS since that's how the videos look after outputting them through ffmpeg.

EDIT: I tried and worked, but it was limited in terms of quality options and came very compressed, also it removed the USA audio track since I couldn't set both. In the end I found out that 64bit versions of ffmpeg broke the theora codec, so I found and old 32bit version and that worked great. No more corrupted encoding.

 

[DarthBra]

I'll try it and edit this soon, but the issue is unrelated to the 3DS since that's how the videos look after outputting them through ffmpeg.

EDIT: I tried and worked, but it was limited in terms of quality options and came very compressed, also it removed the USA audio track since I couldn't set both. In the end I found out that 64bit versions of ffmpeg broke the theora codec, so I found and old 32bit version and that worked great. No more corrupted encoding.

No worries glad you got it fixed it works perfectly on my New 3DS XL.
But if you found a better way for you, then I’m glad you were able to vocalise it here as it may help others that are in the same situation, I may even take a look myself.

 

[feiight]

hi @Voxel , finally got this to launch (O2DS), but its just glitchy graphics with no sound and i cant interact with it at all, i've been trying to get this for hours and its getting frustrating, if you're still on here would you be able to help with this if you can? thanks

 

[raxadian]

hi @Voxel , finally got this to launch (O2DS), but its just glitchy graphics with no sound and i cant interact with it at all, i've been trying to get this for hours and its getting frustrating, if you're still on here would you be able to help with this if you can? thanks

This game port is port the New 3DS/2DS not the old 3DS cause hardware requirements.

 

[CrashMidnick]

This game port is port the New 3DS/2DS not the old 3DS cause hardware requirements.

No, it works full speed on O3DS.

 

[raxadian]

No, it works full speed on O3DS.

Don't people keep having problems with it in the O3DS?

 

[CrashMidnick]

Don't people keep having problems with it in the O3DS?

AFAIK, no. If you get the right files, everything works as it should.

 

[ABC1234]

For some reason on my n3DS, Collision Chaos Present always lags the game to a few frames per second. I am using the Origins Plus Data Folder, and my modlist is as shown:
[mods]
Special Stage Fast Tilt=true
Classic CD Tweaks=true
MegAmisAdditions=true
South America OST=true
Missing Music Restoration=true
Separated U.S. Past Themes=true
Bonus Missing Music=true
Is there any way I can fix this issue?