Hacking Is it risky to buy a SKY3DS flashcard before knowing the firmware of the N3DS (Europe release)?

[Miles54321]

It's possible that there's responses from normal carts which just aren't documented or even used. If Nintendo checks for one of these responses and it fails, then you can easily just block the cart. I believe this was the issue which neimod found with the sky3DS, just improper responses to certain queries.

*Inb4 Nintendo Execs work out how to patch SKY3ds thanks to shiny and everyone points the finger*

Only playing, jokes aside are QQ3DS and Regionthreeloader as easy to block?

 

[mrolive]

*Inb4 Nintendo Execs work out how to patch SKY3ds thanks to shiny and everyone points the finger*

Only playing, jokes aside are QQ3DS and Regionthreeloader as easy to block?

QQ3DS is the same thing as the Sky3DS and Regionthreeloader will 100% be blocked in the next update.

 

[Foxi4]

Not necessarily. With Gateway, you can always "emulate" the newest firmware (emuNAND) and go online, etc. Gateway is the more feature-rich flash cartridge solution, and I would echo others' recommendations to wait for their update. Even if you have to play the waiting game for it to get to you, it's very much worthwhile, and you'll thank yourself.

That's not true. EmuNAND as a whole could be neutralized with a simple patch that only allows the Home Menu to be loaded from NAND, GW can be patched just as easily as Sky3DS can.

 

[Miles54321]

That's not true. EmuNAND as a whole could be neutralized with a simple patch that only allows the Home Menu to be loaded from NAND, GW can be patched just as easily as Sky3DS can.

Then the question remains, why has that never happened?

 

[Ralph1611]

Hey guys since the N3DS will be released on 13th of february (in Europe) I was wondering if it would be too risky to order the SKY3DS card before purchasing the handheld. Is it possible that Nintendo could patch the firmware until release in order to make the flashcard useless? I am asking because shipping of the SKY3DS takes about 2 to 3 weeks (according to the reseller) and I'd probably die waiting for it.
PS: Maybe I should just freeze myself. (butters help me)

Dont let them sway you away from SKY3DS.

I too thought that SKY3DS was patchable when I unsuccessfully tried regionthree in the wee hours of its release.

Truth is, its behaves too much like a retail card. Smealum HIMSELF said taht regionthree is only for retail carts and SKY3ds passed the test.

Its unpatchable..... Sky3ds will die in 2017 when a new handheld that surpasses the 3ds..

Get Sky3ds

 

[hydro91]

Then the question remains, why has that never happened?

Plot twist: GW and SKY3DS are products of Nintendo in order to control the flashcard market aswell

 

[Foxi4]

Then the question remains, why has that never happened?

Nintendo doesn't have the habit of being competent with their own hardware, it took them a whole generation (release of the DSi till 3DS 4.2) to restrict something as obvious as a fake save IC (this rendered most flashcarts inoperable). Even delaying SD mounting until the Home Menu is fully loaded royally screws EmuNAND in the butt since it has to be loaded prior, it really doesn't take much.

 

[Hashtastrophe]

Even delaying SD mounting until the Home Menu is fully loaded royally screws EmuNAND in the butt since it has to be loaded prior, it really doesn't take much.

That would break theme support though. HomeMenu needs access to the theme's data on the SD card before it's done loading. Otherwise it reverts back to stock theme.

 

[Miles54321]

Plot twist: GW and SKY3DS are products of Nintendo in order to control the flashcard market aswell

*Time Skip to E3 2015*

Reggie: "We are pleased to announce our new flashcard for all 3DS/3DSXL and N3ds/xl users, the Gateway, it will allow you to play all of our games absolutely free"

Crowd: *Applause*

Reggie: "This software will be available to all of those who did not update their firmware to 9.4 last year"

Crowd: ....

P.S: Also currently, I feel it doesn't seem to dangerous to purchase a SKY3DS card currently as the likelihood is that it will be v9.0 as these are made months before...
If anything I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo is watching what Gateway rather is doing as they are #1 flash card retailers currently

 

[guitarheroknight]

Dont let them sway you away from SKY3DS.

I too thought that SKY3DS was patchable when I unsuccessfully tried regionthree in the wee hours of its release.

Truth is, its behaves too much like a retail card. Smealum HIMSELF said taht regionthree is only for retail carts and SKY3ds passed the test.

Its unpatchable..... Sky3ds will die in 2017 when a new handheld that surpasses the 3ds..

Get Sky3ds

LOL!

 

[guitarheroknight]

Hey guys since the N3DS will be released on 13th of february (in Europe) I was wondering if it would be too risky to order the SKY3DS card before purchasing the handheld. Is it possible that Nintendo could patch the firmware until release in order to make the flashcard useless? I am asking because shipping of the SKY3DS takes about 2 to 3 weeks (according to the reseller) and I'd probably die waiting for it.
PS: Maybe I should just freeze myself. (butters help me)

Why would you order a Sky3DS over a Gateway? The units will most likely come with 9.0. There's no point on ordering a product fearing that the next update might render it unusable.

 

[Miles54321]

Why would you order a Sky3DS over a Gateway? The units will most likely come with 9.0. There's no point on ordering a product fearing that the next update might render it unusable.

I guess one of the main reasons besides being only 9.3+ or higher is how easy it is the brick the system via Gateway

Does it still feature any bugs making it easy to brick such as going from Emunand --> sysnand without knowing? etc.

 

[guitarheroknight]

That's not true. EmuNAND as a whole could be neutralized with a simple patch that only allows the Home Menu to be loaded from NAND, GW can be patched just as easily as Sky3DS can.

Keeping in mind that emunand is basically a 1:1 copy of the actual nand, there's little to no chance of that happening even though the idea is ingenious. If they by some miracle do end up blocking emunand there's always firmware spoofing and maybe even some form of online patch so there's that.

 

[fuzzdawg11]

I'm curious to see if the new systems ship with a firmware version that blocks Sky3DS as well, as I own a Sky3DS and I traded in my 3DS for the New 3DS XL here in America.

At this point, they will have to develop a new firmware that patches Sky3DS and ship all of the units out in around 3 weeks, which seems unlikely.

 

[tony_2018]

Its risky to buy the sky3ds card now and wait 5 yrs for the 5DSXL w/ version 99.0

 

[guitarheroknight]

I guess one of the main reasons besides being only 9.3+ or higher is how easy it is the brick the system via Gateway

Does it still feature any bugs making it easy to brick such as going from Emunand --> sysnand without knowing? etc.

It is easy to brick it that's true but only if you don't follow the tutorials. As far as I know you can only brick your console by screwing with the sysnand and that's it! Steer away from anything related to nodding the sysnand and you should have 0 worries!

 

[Multiboy2k]

QQ3DS is the same thing as the Sky3DS and Regionthreeloader will 100% be blocked in the next update.

Don't listen to this guy. He doesn't even own a Sky3ds.
Furthermore, every GW person on here has been psychically claiming a "100%!!" block patch since the Sky3ds came out. I am so glad I didn't listen to this drivel. Not only does Sky3ds work, but it's functionality has been increased! It's now regionfree, plays 31 games, and it still and probably always will work on the latest firmware due to the nature of it's design. I actually OWN the card so im speaking from a place of experience vs a place theory/ignorance. Buy the card. And, if you are nervous, now would be the best time to get it as it is working on 9.4.

 

[Miles54321]

Don't listen to this guy. He doesn't even own a Sky3ds.
Furthermore, every GW person on here has been psychically claiming a "100%!!" block patch since the Sky3ds came out. I am so glad I didn't listen to this drivel. Not only does Sky3ds work, but it's functionality has been increased! It's now regionfree, plays 31 games, and it still and probably always will work on the latest firmware due to the nature of it's design. I actually OWN the card so im speaking from a place of experience vs a place theory/ignorance. Buy the card. And, if you are nervous, now would be the best time to get it as it is working on 9.4.

The Multiboy2k has spoken! Nice to hear your opinion

On another note haven't their been other carts that were being used during the early days of Gateway 3DS that are no longer running, any discontinued cards at all?
There must have been a few other groups that tried to immitate Gateway in the past but unfortunately their carts met their fate

 

[NoSmokingBandit]

It is just one line of code to block it, and several more lines of code to fix the many original games that also got blocked by that one line.

To be completely thorough, all of these exploits can be blocked with two characters (assuming the firmware is written in C):

/*

 

[Foxi4]

That would break theme support though. HomeMenu needs access to the theme's data on the SD card before it's done loading. Otherwise it reverts back to stock theme.

You can load the menu prior to displaying it and load the theme last, it doesn't break anything - the theme is just a skin, a GUI over the actual program.

Keeping in mind that emunand is basically a 1:1 copy of the actual nand, there's little to no chance of that happening even though the idea is ingenious. If they by some miracle do end up blocking emunand there's always firmware spoofing and maybe even some form of online patch so there's that.

The contents of the file wouldn't matter if the firmware was designed to look up its own location, think %systemroot% in Windows terms. You could absolutely implement that kind of a solution, although it'd probably be spoofable and delaying SD mounting or changing the boot procedure altogether are probably better ideas. As far as firmware spoofing is concerned, spoof all you want, but if the new firmware has modified or new services or a modified runtime, the games are either not going to work or will work erronously - you only spoof a number and it only works for so long.