Hacking Advantages of Using a CIA or a 3DS Rom

[Tank Dempsey]

I know that cia's are stored on the 3ds sd card and that 3ds roms are stored on the gateway card, but is there an advantage of using one or another.

 

[thorasgar]

Most definitely.

 

[Arkansaw]

3ds: region free with respect to dlcs
cia: you need to find the dlcs with the same region as the game cia

3ds: need to use gw launcher to switch game (a few more steps)
cia: just click on home menu, you might not even need the red card when in gateway mode already (so another system can use it)

 

[Tank Dempsey]

3ds: region free with respect to dlcs
cia: you need to find the dlcs with the same region as the game cia

3ds: need to use gw launcher to switch game (a few more steps)
cia: just click on home menu, you might not even need the red card when in gateway mode already (so another system can use it)

You need the gateway card in order to access cia's

 

[Arkansaw]

You need the gateway card in order to access cia's

Yes, it is needed to get into gateway mode. But while in gw mode, I was able to start installed cias without the red card

 

[thorasgar]

3ds/3dz are easier to generate and easier to find online. If is not your own dump, you will likely need to inject a header to online with the game.

Cia does not need a header, harder to find online and create.

You need the gateway card in order to access cia's

You need a gateway card to boot into gateway mode. Once there you can pull the gateway and still launch cia games. Just did it.

 

[ShadowOne333]

So there are no other pros to CIAs beside being able to play them without the red card, huh?

 

[Nemix77]

If I'm not mistaken CIA installs are already trimmed and smaller in size.

 

[weeandykidd]

I'm a CIA fanboy. Not had a problem finding any games I want, they all load, save and quit fast, they are nicer to look at and easier to organize too.
Also means all my games are stored on the one SD which makes backups a doddle (Don't even have an SD in my Red card). I don't go online but from what I've heard that works fine too.

My only regret is I overwrote my legit Zelda: Two Worlds theem with a themepack, so when I leave gateway mode the 3DS resets my theme. Ce la vie.

3DS files are:
+More portable
+Easy to find
+Easy to create
+Handy to hoard for emulation purposes
-Patchy online
-Messy
-Have save bugs
-Cumbersome to launch

 

[ShadowOne333]

If I'm not mistaken CIA installs are already trimmed and smaller in size.

You can trim the 3DS/3DZ ROMs also without losing any feature (online play, DLCs, etc)

 

[Tank Dempsey]

So there are no other pros to CIAs beside being able to play them without the red card, huh?

You need a red card to boot in Gateway Mode for CIA's

 

[weeandykidd]

You need a red card to boot in Gateway Mode for CIA's

But once you're in Gateway mode you're free to remove it. The same cannot be said for 3DS files.

 

[ShadowOne333]

You need a red card to boot in Gateway Mode for CIA's

Yeah I know that, I meant PLAY them without the Red card.
IIRC, it is more difficult to backup saves from CIA files rather than 3DS or 3DZ roms, am I right?

 

[deinonychus71]

Once booted to GW Mode you can remove it and save a lot of the battery that way (if you put it in sleep mode it can last for days VS not even a day with gateway inserted)

 

[thorasgar]

I'm a CIA fanboy. Not had a problem finding any games I want, they all load, save and quit fast, they are nicer to look at and easier to organize too.
Also means all my games are stored on the one SD which makes backups a doddle (Don't even have an SD in my Red card). I don't go online but from what I've heard that works fine too.

My only regret is I overwrote my legit Zelda: Two Worlds theem with a themepack, so when I leave gateway mode the 3DS resets my theme. Ce la vie.

No one does unless they have the Tardis version of the Gateway.

 

[Nemix77]

You can trim the 3DS/3DZ ROMs also without losing any feature (online play, DLCs, etc)

Problem is, currently not all roms can be trimmed correctly: http://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/3DS_flashcarts_game_compatibility

 

[weeandykidd]

No one does unless they have the Tardis version of the Gateway.

MicroSD then, pedantic!
And while not technically *in* the Gateway there's always this...

 

[ShadowOne333]

Problem is, currently not all roms can be trimmed correctly: http://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/3DS_flashcarts_game_compatibility

Well at least all of my games are trimmed and I haven't got an issue so far.
I even trimmed Alpha Sapphire's .3DZ ROM and can still play online.

 

[VerseHell]

And you don't have to press home to save with cias.

 

[Tank Dempsey]

CIA's are nice, but they are a pain the ass to convert them from a 3ds rom.