Homebrew [DS(i)/3DS] TWiLight Menu++ - GUI for DS(i) games, and DS(i) Menu replacement

[DSoryu]

As I've asked previously: on a 3ds, is there any way to get it to run in 3ds mode or otherwise be able to use 3ds-based emulators? (Mostly I just want to replace GBArunner2 and SNEmulDS with gpSP and SNES9x.)
If so, how would I go about replacing said emulators?

Also, more importantly, how do I get the 3ds to NOT scale up DS-based emulation? For jenesisDS, the 3ds screen is more than large enough to display Genesis games, but because it scales it up to be the same as on a DS, I have to deal with huge screen cropping. How do I get it to... just not do that?

1. No.
2. The DS homebrew takes into account the actual DS resolution (256 × 192), increased internal resoultions are theorically not possible.

For both cases, the reason is because the 3DS runs everything as it where a real DS when entering into DS mode, blocking access to all the 3DS stuff and enhancements. Buuut, recently, when Gericom was researching how 3DS did RTC for DS software (as it was different compared to the DSi)it was discovered by accident that DS mode and 3DS hardware can somewhat comunicate through a similar mean, something that Gericom and Sono called "rtcom", so it can enhance some DS mode functionallities in some ways, such as supporting circle pad analog input for games that has analog touch controls (i.e. Super Mario 64 DS), real-time screen upscalling, gyro sensor for GBA games (ran in GBARunner2) and DS Games(?) but is still in development and may take some time to be finished.

 

[Plasmaster09]

1. No.
2. The DS homebrew takes into account the actual DS resolution (256 × 192), increased internal resoultions are theorically not possible.

For both cases, the reason is because the 3DS runs everything as it where a real DS when entering into DS mode, blocking access to all the 3DS stuff and enhancements. Buuut, recently, when Gericom was researching how 3DS did RTC for DS software (as it was different compared to the DSi)it was discovered by accident that DS mode and 3DS hardware can somewhat comunicate through a similar mean, something that Gericom and Sono called "rtcom", so it can enhance some DS mode functionallities in some ways, such as supporting circle pad analog input for games that has analog touch controls (i.e. Super Mario 64 DS), real-time screen upscalling, gyro sensor for GBA games (ran in GBARunner2) and DS Games(?) but is still in development and may take some time to be finished.

Well, that's annoying. Wonder if a 3ds version of TWLmenu could be a thing at some point.

 

[DSoryu]

It is funny you mention it since that is how it started, initially it was a 3DS homebrew, but as it evolved the devs switched it to a DSi homebrew to simplify and speed up many processes and things. what could be done however is a similar but separate frontend to launch forwarders at ease or a simple frontend for retroarch, I would really like to have mGBA set up to load GBA games through a menu similar to TwilightMenu++

 

[Plasmaster09]

It is funny you mention it since that is how it started, initially it was a 3DS homebrew, but as it evolved the devs switched it to a DSi homebrew to simplify and speed up many processes and things. what could be done however is a similar but separate frontend to launch forwarders at ease or a simple frontend for retroarch, I would really like to have mGBA set up to load GBA games through a menu similar to TwilightMenu++

Yeah, I could use something like that. Launch a gba game, instead of gbarunner2 it kicks out of TWL and straight into gpSP running that game. Launch a genesis game, it kicks into retroarch picodrive (this one is more important because jenesisDS's screen cropping sucks so much). And most importantly, launch a SNES game and it kicks into SNES9x 3ds instead of the hilariously-bad-compatibility-but-for-ds-it's-the-best-there-is SNEmulDS.

 

[banjo2]

It is funny you mention it since that is how it started, initially it was a 3DS homebrew, but as it evolved the devs switched it to a DSi homebrew to simplify and speed up many processes and things. what could be done however is a similar but separate frontend to launch forwarders at ease or a simple frontend for retroarch, I would really like to have mGBA set up to load GBA games through a menu similar to TwilightMenu++

I thought it was separate (TWLoader for 3DS family and SRLoader for everything below it), then TWLoader was discontinued and DSiMenu++/TWLMenu++ was built off of SRLoader for all DS systems?

 

[DSoryu]

I thought it was separate (TWLoader for 3DS family and SRLoader for everything below it), then TWLoader was discontinued and DSiMenu++/TWLMenu++ was built off of SRLoader for all DS systems?

Mmm I wasn't watching the 3ds scene in between late 2016 and late 2018 (where most of the exiting stuff happened ironically) so I don't know many exact details from the evolution of this wonderful project.

 

[RocketRobz]

@Robz8

More info for you. I have been taking a look at why the following 3 games aren't working (nightly c3fe86a).
1101-AMLE isn't working because nds-bootstrap isn't detecting findCardIdEndOffsetThumb so therefore findCardIdStartOffsetThumb isn't also found.

findCardIdEndOffsetThumb : The address is @ 02109A84
findCardIdStartOffsetThumb : The address is @ 02109A44

5877-B5BE isn't working because nds-bootstrap isn't detecting findCardIdEndOffsetThumb so therefore findCardIdStartOffsetThumb isn't also found.

findCardIdEndOffsetThumb : The address is @ 02140248
findCardIdStartOffsetThumb : The address is @ 02140210

3954-C58P now boots but a softreset loop occurs after selecting the first stage.

Regards,
Retro

Try those games again in c53f924

 

[Megadriver94]

I keep running into anti-piracy blocks with this game when patched into English, even with the latest publicly available build of TWiLight Menu++ on my R4 GOLD Pro SDHC flashcart.

Also, how to you get GBA Games to play on TWiLight Menu++ on said flaschcart? Some themes will show the GBA games in the _gba folder, but none of them will let me play them!

 

[Plasmaster09]

I keep running into anti-piracy blocks with this game when patched into English, even with the latest publicly available build of TWiLight Menu++ on my R4 GOLD Pro SDHC flashcart.
View attachment 200270
Also, how to you get GBA Games to play on TWiLight Menu++ on said flaschcart? Some themes will show the GBA games in the _gba folder, but none of them will let me play them!

Patch it yourself with the antipiracy patch and then see if you can find a version of the translation patch meant for the AP version.
Also... don't put GBA roms in the _gba folder. Put them in the gba folder in the roms folder, and if there isn't one there, make one and put them there.

 

[Alexander1970]

I keep running into anti-piracy blocks with this game when patched into English, even with the latest publicly available build of TWiLight Menu++ on my R4 GOLD Pro SDHC flashcart.
View attachment 200270
Also, how to you get GBA Games to play on TWiLight Menu++ on said flaschcart? Some themes will show the GBA games in the _gba folder, but none of them will let me play them!

Hello.

Please use the Link inside this GBAtemp Thread,there is all there you need:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/full-translation-megaman-exe-operate-shooting-star-jap-eng.508218/

It works perfect with TWiLight on the DSi but not on the Flashcard.



Thank you.

 

[RocketRobz]

I keep running into anti-piracy blocks with this game when patched into English, even with the latest publicly available build of TWiLight Menu++ on my R4 GOLD Pro SDHC flashcart.

If nds-bootstrap is enabled, and you're using a DS Memory Expansion Pak, or if you're running from the SD card, the ROM will automatically be AP-patched in the next version.

 

[zenius]

Hello, I'm trying to play Pokemon HeartGold (PAL) widescreen. I'm running the game from a real cartridge.
I've already ran TWPatcher and the game covers the entire upper screen but it is stretched, which leads me to believe that the included widescreen cheat is not working.
Do the widescreen cheats/patches only work for dumped roms? I've read that it should be working but it doesn't seem to be the case...

I'm new to this so apologies in advance.

 

[benzodm]

Hello Robz and all the community here. I have bought a DSi a month ago, installed all the stuff (TWL etc..) and everything works good, except for Korg apps. I like to create music in Korg M01 and Korg DS-10 Plus but I have problem with the sound, it is distorted so much, that you can't hear anything, except screeching and noise, but rarely it is actually normal. My sister has R4 SDHC Gold Pro card and when I try launching these apps from it, everything works perfectly fine, but I can't use this card every time in my DSi.
Any fix or solution to this sound problem? I hope it is not the sound chip damage

 

[RocketRobz]

Hello, I'm trying to play Pokemon HeartGold (PAL) widescreen. I'm running the game from a real cartridge.
I've already ran TWPatcher and the game covers the entire upper screen but it is stretched, which leads me to believe that the included widescreen cheat is not working.
Do the widescreen cheats/patches only work for dumped roms? I've read that it should be working but it doesn't seem to be the case...

I'm new to this so apologies in advance.

Can you show a screenshot?

 

[zenius]

Can you show a screenshot?

Yes, here it is:

 

[RocketRobz]

Yes, here it is:

For comparison, can you show a screenshot with widescreen disabled?

 

[zenius]

For comparison, can you show a screenshot with widescreen disabled?

Here's a before and after

 

[RocketRobz]

Here's a before and after

Hmm, that's weird.
Does it work for your other cartridges, or is that game the only cart you have?
And does widescreen work properly when the ROM is dumped?

 

[zenius]

Hmm, that's weird.
Does it work for your other cartridges, or is that game the only cart you have?
And does widescreen work properly when the ROM is dumped?

Alright, I experimented with the only video games I have around:
Pokemon Platinum - Same problem
Pokemon White 2 - This one doesn't even work for some reason, it just displays a white screen. I don't know if this is a known problem but I thought it was relevant anyway.

Lastly, I did a ROM dump of HeartGold and the widescreen is ok now! (I've attached a picture with the result)
Is this the intended behaviour? Are the physical cartridges not supported at all?

 

[RocketRobz]

Alright, I experimented with the only video games I have around:
Pokemon Platinum - Same problem
Pokemon White 2 - This one doesn't even work for some reason, it just displays a white screen. I don't know if this is a known problem but I thought it was relevant anyway.

The white screen bug will be fixed in the next version, as it'll be able to boot TWL cartridges (only in DS mode).

Lastly, I did a ROM dump of HeartGold and the widescreen is ok now! (I've attached a picture with the result)
Is this the intended behaviour? Are the physical cartridges not supported at all?

No, this is not intended, otherwise, the screen wouldn't be in widescreen at all.

Widescreen actually works fine for me with cartridges.
What theme are you using?