Hacking Do I absolutely have to have this?

[Bubbysaur]

Do I absolutely have to have a flashcart of some kind in order to play 3ds game roms? Or is there a way to play them without a flashcart on a super early firmware?

I'm asking because I am about to buy both a 4.5 firmware xl and gateway and wanted to know if I need the gateway cart at all.

 

[MassExplosion213]

Nope. You can just use CFW like rxTools.

 

[Sonansune]

no needs for flashcard

 

[Bidoofguy]

You don't need a gateway at all, and you don't need 4.5 firmware, either. As long as your 3DS is firmware 9.2 or lower, you're good.

 

[zhdarkstar]

The flashcard primarily provides one key advantage over CFW: convenience. CIA installs can take a while depending on the size of the game, whereas a flashcard can load up a .3DS file in seconds.

EDIT: Having a flashcard can also effectively double your storage space. I have all of the games that I play frequently installed as CIAs, whereas games that I might not play more than a single playthrough of are put on the microSD of the Gateway.

 

[Bubbysaur]

And utilizing rxTools or any other firmware will (for the moment, potentially always) help me circumvent the whole Sky3ds flashcart being blocked fiasco currently going on, right?

 

[henn64]

Nope. You can just use CFW like rxTools.

CFW is always the more complicated method, but +1 anyway for lack of a price tag.
Unless you brick it

 

[Bubbysaur]

CFW is always the more complicated method, but +1 anyway for lack of a price tag.
Unless you brick it

I used to run CFW on my PSP back in the day. Hopefully it's not anymore confusing then that! :3

 

[MassExplosion213]

I used to run CFW on my PSP back in the day. Hopefully it's not anymore confusing then that! :3

It's a run every time thing. Doesn't start at cold boot.

 

[zhdarkstar]

And utilizing rxTools or any other firmware will (for the moment, potentially always) help me circumvent the whole Sky3ds flashcart being blocked fiasco currently going on, right?

GW 3.4 just came out which circumvented it as well.

 

[Bubbysaur]

It's a run every time thing. Doesn't start at cold boot.

So basically, everytime I want to run the CFW, I need to constantly boot up my Cubic Ninja Rom or Card(I have both ._.) and then do what I want every single time I want to do something?

I kind of do that now with a Japanese game I have on my current N3ds with Ninjahax 2.0 and the rxTools set up thread doesn't look even remotely confusing. It's well written!

 

[MassExplosion213]

So basically, everytime I want to run the CFW, I need to constantly boot up my Cubic Ninja Rom or Card(I have both ._.) and then do what I want every single time I want to do something?

I kind of do that now with a Japanese game I have on my current N3ds with Ninjahax 2.0 and the rxTools set up thread doesn't look even remotely confusing. It's well written!

Is it an o3ds or a n3ds?

EDIT: Nvm. 4.5. Duh.

 

[Deleted member 333767]

As someone who owns a gateway and uses rxTools, i posted this in another thread and didn't get a bite from the free-games-anti-DRM-CFW brigade. Any biters in this thread?

I have rxTools and Gateway on one 3DS XL so I'll give you my assessment of the situation.

3DS roms are scene released as .3DS files and are relatively easy to find on the interwebs. Gateway can run .3DS files, just unzip, copy to microSD and play. Minimum firmware requirements and region locking are not an issue. And generally Gateway team is very good with updates to allow access to eshop (O3DS only)

rxTools can not play .3DS files. A conversion to .CIA format is needed, which used to be a lengthy and difficult process, now it's not so bad providing you're pretty handy with a PC. rxTools once setup will allow you to install .CIA games.

But if the CIA files are out of region, they won't show up in your home menu and you must use FBi homebrew app to launch them (don't ever press the home button with games launched this way, your 3DS will freeze and you'll lose your progress)

It's possible to find games already constructed as .CIA files with region locking removed and decrypted to work on lower firmwares etc. from a place you will see people refer to as "that ISO site" but that will require you sign up to a forum.

Also you will be forced to download these CIAs from annoying filehosting websites that limit your gigantic 2-4 gigabyte CIA file download to 30kb/s while opening 7 trillion pop up ads. Ugh.

Not scared of the free route yet? Well, just wait until you see how long it takes to actually install these .CIA files! Even with a class 10 SD card inside your 3DS, you better pick up a good book, even better still, go and watch grass grow, it's faster than a CIA install!

I only use rxTools for playing GBA games, when I'm done with that, Gateway MSET gets reinstalled until next time i need to satisfy my GBA cravings.....

 

[zhdarkstar]

Jao Chu, I'm also a GW/rxTools user, but my use actually shifted in the other direction once I realized that rxTools is a far better Classic mode than GW's Classic mode. Then again, I also have 32 GB (micro)SD cards in both the 3DS and GW, so games that I play frequently get installed to the SD card instead of taking up space in my GW's microSD. Add in the fact that keeping the red card out of the 3DS unless I need to play something not installed as a .CIA has extended my battery life by a significant margin. I use Sudokuhax to switch ROPs without having to keep a DS flashcard on hand, which is something that I recommend the OP install regardless of decision, as running DSiWare will result in the MSET exploit resetting. I also like the more intuitive design of the rxTools menu than the GW menu, in terms of options. Instead of having to hold a combination of buttons to boot in a patched sysnand, rxTools has it clearly listed as a menu item.

I think that it's all about what you plan to do with your 3DS. I didn't have a DSi, so having access to DSiWare gives me incentive to use rxTools as my default ROP over GW Mode.

As for the .3DS to .CIA conversion process, a lot of the games can be easily found in .CIA format on "that ISO site." That pretty much makes that a moot point. Although I do agree about the length of time with .CIA installations. That's why I pretty much limit my .CIA installs to games that either will be played frequently (SSB4, Fantasy Life) or 3DSWare/DSiWare/GBA games, the latter of which are typically much smaller than most .3DS files.

 

[Zidapi]

As someone who owns a gateway and uses rxTools, i posted this in another thread and didn't get a bite from the free-games-anti-DRM-CFW brigade. Any biters in this thread?

Because obvious troll is obvious, and t-fucking-l;dr?

Now, piss off back to your bridge please.

 

[loco365]

As someone who owns a gateway and uses rxTools, i posted this in another thread and didn't get a bite from the free-games-anti-DRM-CFW brigade. Any biters in this thread?

Actually, I have to agree with what you said there. That's the one reason I'm using a Gateway is that launching is infinitely faster - Installing CIAs takes ages, whereas using a flashcard is as easy as dropping on the MicroSD, putting it in your system, going into Gateway mode, and launching your game. No need to wait for installation or anything. Sure you toss out a pile of money, but it's in the time savings that you'll make it up. Waiting for a CIA to install is like watching paint dry sometimes.

 

[Deleted member 333767]

Because obvious troll is obvious, and t-fucking-l;dr?

Now, piss off back to your bridge please.

Umm? OK? Make sure you keep sticking it to the man, Zidapi! Show that big corporate DRM machine that you will pay pirated games for free!!!!!

Actually, I have to agree with what you said there.

Thank you

 

[nero99]

So basically, everytime I want to run the CFW, I need to constantly boot up my Cubic Ninja Rom or Card(I have both ._.) and then do what I want every single time I want to do something?

I kind of do that now with a Japanese game I have on my current N3ds with Ninjahax 2.0 and the rxTools set up thread doesn't look even remotely confusing. It's well written!

No. If you use RXTools, you have to launch it from the web browser every time. Much faster than doing the ds profile method.

 

[Bubbysaur]

No. If you use RXTools, you have to launch it from the web browser every time. Much faster than doing the ds profile method.

That is great! I really didn't want to carry cubic ninja everywhere I went. Thanks :3

 

[Ra1d]

Because obvious troll is obvious, and t-fucking-l;dr?

Now, piss off back to your bridge please.

Butthurt confirmed LEL KEK xD XD