Hacking DSTWO Skins

[coattails]

Only problem with precompiling the DSGAME.nds file is that once EOS 1.03 comes out, we have to do it again -.-

 

[CannonFoddr]

why doesn't everyone precompile the dsgame.nds file before they uplod it now?QUOTE(coattails @ Jun 9 2010, 12:19 PM) Only problem with precompiling the DSGAME.nds file is that once EOS 1.03 comes out, we have to do it again -.-

Because of this - may I make a request (Don't bother if you've already done it),
But for any NEW 'loading' screens - can you just supply the picture/screenshot of it and not bother with 'embedding' it into the 'DSGame.nds' file

- That way I can place the picture on first post for people to download
(if you do a 'skin pack, it's up to you if you supply a picture &/or DSGame.nds file)
- Then I can supply the address for each EOS version as-&-when they come out
- People can then do-it-themselves & if they have trouble - ask here

Otherwise we could end up having people downloading a 1.02 'DSGame' & installing onto a '1.03' installation - & who knows what type of problems may come about, we MAY be lucky that later versions will have the same start address - but then again.........

Thanx

 

[R4Liam]

okay i see your point btw i have created another theme! it is a Zelda one! check it here:

http://filetrip.net/f11766-DSTWO-Zelda-Theme-Skin-1-0.html

 

[VatoLoco]

good point cannonfoddr, people can be daft. i thought about that for a moment before adding the loading screen to my DL.

just to point out, the dsgame.nds i added is labeled with the version (1.02). that should be sufficient for foolproofing. but sadly prolly isnt.

 

[R4Liam]

what we need is an update to that loding screen modifier program so that we can type in the offset that is needed so that only one person needs to dicover it then we can share the offset and just whack it in!

 

[Stormwave]

Just a thought, it should be pretty easy to do. Would you like me to incorporate a loading screen modifier into my DS Skin Maker?
I'm not sure whether I would hardcode the offset (Would mean I would need to update every time), or create a INI file per firmware for extra information (probably the method I'll use, for future proofing).

 

[R4Liam]

that would be brilliant! did you make the skin maker? its really good!

 

[CannonFoddr]

that would be brilliant! did you make the skin maker? its really good!

'Stormwave' didn't make the skin maker on the first post of this thread (unless he's known as 'blastar' on the Supercard Forums)

- 'Stormwave' is in fact the developer of this DS Skin maker - which is in fact an 'all-rounder' flashcard skin maker (Hmm

- I think I should add this one to the first post as well - give people a choice)

It's one of the reasons I haven't been making many DSTwo skins

 

[R4Liam]

cannon, could you add my skin to the first post, the zelda one? (see above)

 

[CannonFoddr]

cannon, could you add my skin to the first post, the zelda one? (see above)Have done - I'll add a picture when I get home (unless you have a link to one which I can use)

EDIT: NVM - I managed to figure a way to grab it off of the filetrip preview

QUOTEJust a thought, it should be pretty easy to do. Would you like me to incorporate a loading screen modifier into my DS Skin Maker?

@ Stormwave: Haven't you got enough on your plate already ???? - don't forget there's still a few more plugins to sort out

(Any volunteers !?!?

)

 

[Stormwave]

Okay, I've added the ability to insert a new image into the DSGAME.nds file using the latest version of my DS Skin Maker which I'll release later today. It reads the Offset from a settings file (DSTwo.xml, located in a Settings folder). This offset, obviously, will need to be updated for every version that comes out. I was hoping to have the program do an MD5 checksum to check the version of DSGAME.nds given, and then choose the offset acordingly, but of course that won't work since we're modifying the file. If I think of something better, I'll add it in.

 

[spinal_cord]

this is a weird idea, but how about making a copy of the top line in the default image and searching for that? Then, when copying the new image, make the top line black, then, when searching next time, search for the default top line OR a line full of 0's. Nobody will notice the top line of the image missing.

- Just a [random] thought.

 

[Stormwave]

Thats a good idea, I might implement that. You're right, I don't think anyone would notice the top line missing. And since the image has an alpha bit permanently set, I could ensure that the first line of 0s could never be replicated accidently (by having a black image).

P.s. If anyone has any other DSTwo specific requests for me to add into my DS Skin Maker, please let me know.

 

[R4Liam]

CannonFoddr:- "don't forget there's still a few more plugins to sort out laugh.gif (Any volunteers !?!? huh.gif )"

what needs to be done? ive done one for the game 5nake but i think i need to do more to upload it theres no point on its own...

 

[Stormwave]

Okay, I've updated my DS Skin Maker, it now includes the ability to change the Loading Screen image within the DSGAME.nds file.

I found a pretty good method for finding the offset. It searches for a unique 512 byte pattern in the file that preceeds the image. Hopefully those 512 bytes won't change in the near future, and even if they do I can just update the program to allow that. No more offset hunting!

DS Skin Maker

 

[viz]

sounds nice, thanks

 

[CannonFoddr]

CannonFoddr:- "don't forget there's still a few more plugins to sort out laugh.gif (Any volunteers !?!? huh.gif )"

what needs to be done? ive done one for the game 5nake but i think i need to do more to upload it theres no point on its own...

Erm - I think you're mistaking something

- I wasn't talking about DSTwo 'Plugins'.

The comment was directed @ Stormwave - & it was about the 'plugins' for his skin maker

His skin maker is compatible with 14 (Yes that's right - 14!!) different flashcarts OS's & Homebrews, & it uses XML file to define how the graphics are displayed in the preview screens. Currently only 9 of the XML files have had any work done on them (AKAIO/CycloDS/DSTT/DSTwo/M3 Kaura/M3 Sakura/M3 Touchpod/Moonshell and R4) - I was suggesting in my earlier comment - "Any Volunteers to help with the others !!!"

 

[R4Liam]

wow really 14! when i looked at it, it seemed too complicated for me :/

 

[solarpolitiks]

Anybody up to making a matching plugin and loading screen for the Windows Seven theme? I'd love to use it but my perfectionist ways are telling me only to use it when all of the other parts of the UI match. :/

 

[viz]

you could ask the original author, although i think he might be busy, that guy has made tons of skins