Exclusive GBAtemp.net DS-Xtreme Update

[Kyoji]

forcing users to endure significant downsides (namely no GBA support).

Screw that, I've been waiting for something as elegant as this. If I want GBA, I've got my EZFA which still does GBA just fine (and heck, some DS too!)
If you don't like it, don't buy it. Simple as that.

 

[XmemphistoX]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: these slot 1 solutions won't be useful until Nintendo starts making more use of the slot 2 port for hardware expansions.

Until that time, slot 1 solutions provide no significant benefit over slot 2 solutions while forcing users to endure significant downsides (namely no GBA support).

Well its not just a Slot 1 advantage. It's much more than that. It's not having to flash the firmware to get your games working. It's not having to patch a rom everytime a new game comes out. It's the battery life thats spared and prolonged. Since many of you already have a Slot 2 card for GBA games, I guess the main reason any of you would think to buy this cart is for the No flashing, No patching, and battery life pros that it carries.

I have an old F2A cart for my GBA. Ill play my GBA games on that and leave the NDS for NDS games.

 

[SlyGuy]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: these slot 1 solutions won't be useful until Nintendo starts making more use of the slot 2 port for hardware expansions.

Until that time, slot 1 solutions provide no significant benefit over slot 2 solutions while forcing users to endure significant downsides (namely no GBA support).



Well its not just a Slot 1 advantage. It's much more than that. It's not having to flash the firmware to get your games working. It's not having to patch a rom everytime a new game comes out. It's the battery life thats spared and prolonged. Since many of you already have a Slot 2 card for GBA games, I guess the main reason any of you would think to buy this cart is for the No flashing, No patching, and battery life pros that it carries.

I have an old F2A cart for my GBA. Ill play my GBA games on that and leave the NDS for NDS games.

Technically you don't have to flash the firmware if you use a Passcard while playing. That's already an option for those who choose not to FlashMe. I've already flashed my DSlite so no going back for me, even if I wanted to. Besides, I prefer the added security of FlashMe.

No patching? I don't have a problem with patching. It works seemlessly for my G6lite. Makes me nice little .sav files too! I realise that sometimes it takes a while to get new games patched up to work right. Okay. Score one point for DSXtreme if all games are 100% compatible immediately after release. However, I find the vast majority of games work immediatly upon release with my G6lite, anyways.

Battery power? More would be nice. Period. Score another point for DSXtreme.

So here is the break-down of the DSXtreme (vs. GBA slot flashcarts).

Pros:
1. No patching required means instant playing of newly released ROMs
2. Prolonged battery life of DS
3. Built-in USB
4. Use of slot 2 peripherals in conjunction with DS games

Cons:
1. Higher cost
2. No GBA

Is incompatibility with thousands of GBA games a worthwhile tradeoff for the above pros? Perhaps if you already own a Slot 2 flashcart and don't need this function. But if you are in this boat then the question becomes, do the above pros make it worthwhile to drop CAD$140(+ship) on a second flash cart? For me, the value just isn't there yet. The bottom line is it just doesn't enchance play experience by a significant amount. Does it add a few nice features to NDS-only gaming? Yes. But is it overall more useful than a Slot 2 flashcart? I highly doubt it.

Will it ever become more useful? Well, that depends on several factors:

1. The quality/quanity of homebrew support and development
2. Future hardware applications of the Slot 2 in conjunction with NDS games/applications
3. If someone can make a GBA emulator run off this cart

Really, significant advancement in factor 2 is the only thing that would push this cart above and beyond the current Slot 2 competition since factors 1 and 3 are likely to be "equal to Slot 2 solution" at best.

 

[Athlon-pv]

is it just me, or do the posts on this site about the ds-xtreme seem more like adverts than objective news posts? not that i'd suggest gbatemp was receiving any kind of incentive from ds-x, like free flash kits, money or just the right to have an exclusive news post... nope, not suggesting that. not at all.

Atleast it isnt a scam like neoflash was

 

[Dirtie]

Just remember that there were many of us with GBA flash carts before the DS came along, before a lot of you people even joined up and found out about playing free games on your DS's - count yourselves lucky. What if the DS didn't have a GBA slot at all? (it would have been easy for Nintendo to drop GBA support altogether in their new handheld). Being able to run GBA games from your DS flash kits are just a quirk of the method used up until now. I didn't hear too many people get angst about GB/GBC not working on their GBA flash kits back in the day. At the end of the day, if you already have something you're happy with, don't buy it, it's as simple as that - but also don't bash on it just because you don't want a 2nd device.

 

[shaunj66]

is it just me, or do the posts on this site about the ds-xtreme seem more like adverts than objective news posts? not that i'd suggest gbatemp was receiving any kind of incentive from ds-x, like free flash kits, money or just the right to have an exclusive news post... nope, not suggesting that. not at all.

The hell? I think you'll find we post as much news as we can on all upcoming flash kits and not just the DS-Xtreme.

So we get a few exclusive facts and we posted them for our members to read, what's wrong with that?

 

[x_comp]

Which is correct? Do we need to patch or not?

Well, you could say the developers which means you shouldn't need to patch anything but, I remain skeptical until someone tries one out

is it just me, or do the posts on this site about the ds-xtreme seem more like adverts than objective news posts? not that i'd suggest gbatemp was receiving any kind of incentive from ds-x, like free flash kits, money or just the right to have an exclusive news post... nope, not suggesting that. not at all.

Well, if that happened to be the case then wouldn't all gaming news sites or any product based news site be advertising? They're all talking about a new game or product that's going to be released soon so, it's basically the same thing.

Besides, look at how many people participate in these new flash kit threads. I'm sure they all appreciate hearing about something better than older kits or, pull their hair out for buying one "too early"

 

[Freezard]

If all this is true then it's like a dream come true... it will weight just like a normal DS Lite with a game cart inserted. I have a EZ-Flash for GBA and I might have bought it 4 years ago but those should be cheaper than super cheap today, plus SuperCard/previous devices support GBA too so imo no GBA compability is not a problem.

 

[SlyGuy]

Just remember that there were many of us with GBA flash carts before the DS came along, before a lot of you people even joined up and found out about playing free games on your DS's - count yourselves lucky. What if the DS didn't have a GBA slot at all? (it would have been easy for Nintendo to drop GBA support altogether in their new handheld). Being able to run GBA games from your DS flash kits are just a quirk of the method used up until now. I didn't hear too many people get angst about GB/GBC not working on their GBA flash kits back in the day. At the end of the day, if you already have something you're happy with, don't buy it, it's as simple as that - but also don't bash on it just because you don't want a 2nd device.

You're absolutely right. I applaud the DSXtreme team for their accomplishments, and I do believe they have made a lot of progress in the DS modding scene. I certainly don't intend to "bash" them for anything. The only point I made is that perhaps this product has come to market a bit prematurely. I believe they have developed a solution for a problem that doesn't really exist.

 

[x_comp]

We'll have to wait until someone reviews a sample kit and tests out enough titles to see if they really have accomplished anything

 

[Jesper64]

One benefit that hasn't been mentioned, though depending on who you talk to may be a very small one. That is the issue of aesthetics. The only slot 2 that comes close to matching the glossy finish of the dustcover is the G6Lite. I'd consider getting a Slot 1 solution just because I can use the original dustcover so the DSL looks beautiful from all angles

 

[TheStump]

One benefit that hasn't been mentioned, though depending on who you talk to may be a very small one. That is the issue of aesthetics. The only slot 2 that comes close to matching the glossy finish of the dustcover is the G6Lite. I'd consider getting a Slot 1 solution just because I can use the original dustcover so the DSL looks beautiful from all angles smile.gif

Keep an eye out for the new EZ4lite compact/deluxe. Ive heard the same company that glossed the DS did these carts too.

 

[Kyro]

Maxconsole already have their hands on the DS-Xtreme!

So soon we ll get a preview of it

source : http://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=10004

 

[DeMoN]

It looks kinda gray in the pics, I thought that it'd be white to blend in with the DS Lite. Or is it just because it's a preview sample?

oooo, I can see the circuitboard through the case.

 

[kohkindachi]

Keep an eye out for the new EZ4lite compact/deluxe. Ive heard the same company that glossed the DS did these carts too.

Thx, will keep an eye for it

 

[Skybase]

I see all of this talk about the DS-X not being compatible with GBA games, but it does also act as a passme cart so will still be compatible with GBA flash carts, thus compatible with GBA.

Sure they may not run from the slot 1 but unless you want to hack your DS in the first place then this is quite an optimal solution. . .only downfall I can see really is that it doesn't support MicroSD.

 

[Monkey01]

I see all of this talk about the DS-X not being compatible with GBA games, but it does also act as a passme cart so will still be compatible with GBA flash carts, thus compatible with GBA.Â

Sure they may not run from the slot 1 but unless you want to hack your DS in the first place then this is quite an optimal solution. . .only downfall I can see really is that it doesn't support MicroSD.

A koala bear is compatible with GBA too, cause when you buy a GBA flashcart with it and put the flashcart in the GBA slot and keep the koala in the zoo or something, you can play GBA games on the GBA flashcart anyway.