Hacking What are cia and 3dz files?

[NutellaSwirl]

Also, what advantages and disadvantages are there for each? Thanks

 

[sj33]

In layman's terms, .cia files can be installed straight to the 3DS system menu. This means they don't have to be run using Ninjhax (in the case of homebrew) or Gateway (in the case of retail games). They just run straight from the system menu.
In reality, you still need to use Gateway (or a CFW) to boot up EmuNAND and thus be able to use Devmenu to install the .cia files anyway. In my opinion, .cia files are most useful for using homebrew without having to load up Ninjhax.

.3dz files are the same as .3ds files but with a modified header to allow the rom to be used online.

 

[Glisern]

In layman's terms, .cia files can be installed straight to the 3DS system menu. This means they don't have to be run using Ninjhax (in the case of homebrew) or Gateway (in the case of retail games). They just run straight from the system menu.
In reality, you still need to use Gateway (or a CFW) to boot up EmuNAND and thus be able to use Devmenu to install the .cia files anyway. In my opinion, .cia files are most useful for using homebrew without having to load up Ninjhax.

.3dz files are the same as .3ds files but with a modified header to allow the rom to be used online.

Also worth noting that a .3dz is not needed, if the online game is installed as a .cia, as it will then use the machines headers.

 

[NutellaSwirl]

I heard Gateway doesn't support .3dz files. Does that mean I cannot play games online?

 

[sj33]

Gateway does support .3dz.

 

[NutellaSwirl]

Thanks. Is there a guide or a video somewhere that can explain all this? I don't want to waste your time

 

[VerseHell]

http://gbatemp.net/threads/scene-roms-online-tutorial-for-dummies.370589/

 

[jimskeet2002]

I was looking for something like this since I am a gw newbie.
Do the cia roms get saved on the sd of the 3ds? And when you want to run one do u need to be in gateway mode or you can run them on sysnand mode too?
Also how do you apply an update for a game that is available on the eshop in order to play online.

Last I read on the link that you modify the header of a rom with a dump of a cartridge done by gateway.
Does this mean that you can dump any cartridge you have and use this one on any rom you want? For example I have a mario kart 7 cartridge. When I get my gw I can dump this one. Export a header and use this header on any rom I want to play online?

 

[dontay0100]

I was looking for something like this since I am a gw newbie.
Do the cia roms get saved on the sd of the 3ds? And when you want to run one do u need to be in gateway mode or you can run them on sysnand mode too?
Also how do you apply an update for a game that is available on the eshop in order to play online.

Last I read on the link that you modify the header of a rom with a dump of a cartridge done by gateway.
Does this mean that you can dump any cartridge you have and use this one on any rom you want? For example I have a mario kart 7 cartridge. When I get my gw I can dump this one. Export a header and use this header on any rom I want to play online?

If you installed the CIA files on Gateway Emunand, or Gateway mode you will always need a Gateway to boot into that mode. But I suppose if you were to somehow install the games using Gateway Launcher 1 using DEVMENU you would no longer need a Gateway but considering Launcher.dat version 1 is very old and is incompatible with Devmenu so thats a no go :/

Also you could install CFW but its very buggy and doesn't load 100% of the time and newer games like Smash aren't compatible.

If you try and load a game via sysnand it will tell you to redownload the software again via eshop... so the best solution as of right now is having EMUNAND, GATEWAY... However if you have a friend or vice versa you could use GATEWAY to boot into emunand and just never power off the device.. you could then say a permanent solution but once its powered off you will need Gateway again lol..

 

[jimskeet2002]

Ok you got me a little confused now
My concern is how will I play games online with gateway once I get my gw and they release 9.2 support. I read about 3dz on the link earlier. Would this be a better way over cia files? Is it easy to convert a 3ds to 3dz and play online with this rom?

 

[jocopoco]

Can I lunch an hb by CFW? and how?

 

[tony_2018]

So using homebrew to install cia which were 3dz roms before they were converted, correct?

 

[ground]

Ok you got me a little confused now
My concern is how will I play games online with gateway once I get my gw and they release 9.2 support. I read about 3dz on the link earlier. Would this be a better way over cia files? Is it easy to convert a 3ds to 3dz and play online with this rom?

Honestly it doesnt matter, it just depends on how you want to start the game. If you want to play it from the red card using the gw multimenu use a .3dz file. If you want to install it on your 3ds and have it show up on your home menu, use a .cia

 

[jimskeet2002]

Ok. The process is the one that I said earlier?
Create a dump from any genuine 3ds cartridge.
Export the bin and use this bin on any rom and then rename to 3dz?

 

[Dothackjhe]

I just came across .3dz files for the first time while I'm downloading 3DS games in this format. The question is, are .3dz files convertible to .cia via the same tool used for .3ds files?

I was actually referring to RikuKH3's 3DS Simple CIA Converter.

Although I could personally know this before asking, I asked anyway since I'm still in the process of downloading the files, which is gonna take some time for one with a slow internet.

 

[daxtsu]

3dz just tells Gateway to try and use the header in the ROM for online play. Just rename it to .3ds and it should convert into a CIA fine.

 

[Arikaido]

Don't mean to hijack a thread, but I didn't wanna clog things up with a noon question: these files; cia, 3dz, 3ds; can they only be run via GW or a CFW? I'd like to alter my system as little as possible and don't have the $$ to drop on a GW.

 

[Dothackjhe]

3dz just tells Gateway to try and use the header in the ROM for online play. Just rename it to .3ds and it should convert into a CIA fine.

Thanks. I'll do just that.

 

[Quantumcat]

Don't mean to hijack a thread, but I didn't wanna clog things up with a noon question: these files; cia, 3dz, 3ds; can they only be run via GW or a CFW? I'd like to alter my system as little as possible and don't have the $$ to drop on a GW.

CFW can only use .cia, you need a gateway for .3ds and .3dz (they are run directly from the gateway cartridge)

Look for the rxTools tutorial thread (for old 3ds) and the ReiNand tutorial thread (for new 3ds).

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I was looking for something like this since I am a gw newbie.
Do the cia roms get saved on the sd of the 3ds? And when you want to run one do u need to be in gateway mode or you can run them on sysnand mode too?
Also how do you apply an update for a game that is available on the eshop in order to play online.

Last I read on the link that you modify the header of a rom with a dump of a cartridge done by gateway.
Does this mean that you can dump any cartridge you have and use this one on any rom you want? For example I have a mario kart 7 cartridge. When I get my gw I can dump this one. Export a header and use this header on any rom I want to play online?

Have a read about "legit" CIAs (there's a sticky). You can install those in gateway mode (or rxMode) and then the games will be available in sysNAND as well (no need to start up a mode).