Homebrew DS(i) Mode hacking progress thread

[Billy Acuña]

This thread is for talking about advanges of the DS(i) gaming on the 3DS, suggestions and telling what is possible with this are very welcome

@TuxSH just made a Tool to read/write saves from DS cartridges, and this is pretty amazing, because there wasn't a method to at least touch the TWL_FIRM and this is just the first step of DS(i) mode hacking.

3DS Mode tools:

1. Manage saves from DS cartridges using TWLSaveTool.
2. Dump .nds roms using GodMode9.
3. Install DSiWare save data exploits using 3ds_dsiwarehax_installer.

Please fill out this list.
nds-bootstrap compatibility list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M7MxYQzVhb4604esdvo57a7crSvbGzFIdotLW0bm0Co/edit?usp=sharing

What is possible to do with DS(i) Mode at the moment?

1.- Run SRL unsigned code and run all DSi compatible Flashcards (Use Luma3DS):

2.- Run old R4s (not all) thanks to @Apache Thunder 's TWL Slot-1 Launcher.

3.- Run some "Download Play" DS demos. You can search for them on the Internet.

4.- Use Stage 2 Launchers to run directly a .nds/.dat from a flashcard bypassing cartridge checks, thanks to @Apache Thunder, and this inspired @Robz8 to create game forwarders that install directly into TWLNAND and load the game that's in the flashcard, modifing the .ini file to autoboot the game that you want to run, or load the game that's in the 3DS SD Card:

- Stage 2 Launchers: https://gbatemp.net/threads/r4-stage2-twl-flashcart-launcher-and-perhaps-other-cards-soon™.416434/
- NTR Launcher (run games/flashcards with DS/DSi boot screen): https://gbatemp.net/threads/ntr-lau...ssic-ds-boot-screen-for-your-ds-games.440110/
- NTR Launcher 3D (same as above, but the boot screen is in 3D and 240p): https://gbatemp.net/threads/ntr-lau...s-boot-screen-for-your-ds-games-in-3d.474979/
- NDS Forwarders (works with homebrew & DLP games too): https://gbatemp.net/threads/nds-forwarder-cias-for-your-home-menu.426174/

5.- DSi HBL, no need for Sudokuhax anymore:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/dsi-homebrew-menu-directly-on-your-home-menu.416791/

6.- Unlock SD access into the NTR mode (DS).

7.- Run old DS homebrew (that use DLDI) from the SD card.

8.- Loading commercial/retail ROMs from SD Card, including save redirection.

• nds-bootstrap (by @ahezard)

9.- 48kHz sound in DS games.

Frontends for nds-bootstrap:

• https://github.com/ahezard/nds-hb-menu (outdated, and not recommended)
• TWiLight Menu++: A recreation/replacement of the original DSi Menu, and works on DSi, 3DS/2DS, and flashcards.
• RocketRobz (aka @Robz8)'s DS forwarders.

And a lot of interesting things that you could find on @Apache Thunder's YT Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/MagnumForce51/videos

Not WIP, but what has been found out?

• DS injection on DSiWare titles (this is being possible by patching the game's header and other things, but we are limited to TWLNAND's poor size, however, @Robz8 found a way to trim roms to fit more-or-less into TWLNAND, see here: https://gbatemp.net/threads/ds-i-mode-hacking-progress-thread.413015/page-67#post-6302143 ).

What is in WIP?

• DSi mode support for nds-bootstrap.

A lot of users says "get a pesky cheap flashcard", but a lot of those flashcards lacks of features like: IR, Wii Connection (Pokemon Battle Revolution), WPA Wi-Fi and DSi Enhanced enable. The possibilities to get a full control of the DS(i) Mode are a lot, just think about getting a enhanced DS(i) Mode experience.

 

[SANNIC789]

wow interesting

 

[Technicmaster0]

You can still get a CycloDS iEvolution and downgrade TWL_FIRM and DS Card Whitelist for DSi mode.

 

[MsMidnight]

pls dont threaten me

 

[genericmelancholy]

Wow, all aboard the hype train!

 

[Billy Acuña]

Wow, all aboard the hype train!

Not hype at all, there is some work to do, this is just an initiative and hope to take atention of some devs.

 

[genericmelancholy]

Not hype at all, there is some work to do, this is just an initiative and hope to take atention of some devs.

All aboard the potential train!

 

[zoogie]

Yellows8 has begun research on injecting DSiware saves without arm9 hax. This could be very useful someday.

It currently doesn't work (almost does) but with some fiddling, maybe it can.

 

[ihaveahax]

Yellows8 has begun research on injecting DSiware saves without arm9 hax. This could be very useful someday.

It currently doesn't work (almost does) but with some fiddling, maybe it can.

README states "This is intended as a .3dsx which requires access to svcBackdoor." I thought svcBackdoor was something only ARM9 could access normally? or did I just miss something?

 

[zoogie]

README states "This is intended as a .3dsx which requires access to svcBackdoor." I thought svcBackdoor was something only ARM9 could access normally? or did I just miss something?

No, arm11 kernel can call that. It executes a function pointer as an argument with arm11 privileges.

 

[daxtsu]

README states "This is intended as a .3dsx which requires access to svcBackdoor." I thought svcBackdoor was something only ARM9 could access normally? or did I just miss something?

You can use it with ARM11 too, but it requires kernel access to begin with.

 

[MatiAravena]

Awesome

 

[Deleted User]

Well I'm happy this exists, also does anyone know a way to subscribe to this thread so, I can see when new posts come out?

 

[Billy Acuña]

Well I'm happy this exists, also does anyone know a way to subscribe to this thread so, I can see when new posts come out?

You actually are watching this thread until you replied it

 

[MAXLEMPIRA]

what if... modifying an OLD DSi Firmware NAND to inject in TWL_FIRM... or maybe creating an EmuNAND of TWL_FIRM (Obviously using some patchs)

 

[ihaveahax]

Well I'm happy this exists, also does anyone know a way to subscribe to this thread so, I can see when new posts come out?

by posting you've pretty much subscribed. in the future, though, you can click "Watch Thread" at the top left.

 

[Billy Acuña]

Yellows8 has begun research on injecting DSiware saves without arm9 hax. This could be very useful someday.

It currently doesn't work (almost does) but with some fiddling, maybe it can.

Just updated the OP. Thanks for the info.

 

[Aurora Wright]

What is possible to do with TWL_FIRM at the moment?
1.- Manage saves from DS cartridges:

This doesn't use the TWL FIRM at all

 

[Billy Acuña]

This doesn't use the TWL FIRM at all

This:

Spoiler

On 3DS "TWL" (DSi) and "NTR" (DS) are synonyms (and TWL is the term used in the official SDK/makerom so...).

 

[Aurora Wright]

This:

It's called "twlsavetool" because it's a savegame extraction/injection tool for DS/DSi (twl) carts, but it doesn't use twl firm.
The only thing you can do right now under twl firm is running pirated DSiWare, and that's because it's native firm which checks that the ticket is properly signed for your console (if signature checks are patched out, twl firm happily accepts a pirated, but otherwise untouched, DSiWare).