Hacking Gateway support for Firmware 9.0 – 9.2 Coming

[Danjal]

Except for those of us in China. I can literally walk 5 minutes down the block and pick up a Gateway for 350 RMB ($57) at a bunch of nearby electronic and game stores. I think if they finish in early December that might be cutting it close but would be able to get to many houses before Christmas day for those in the West.

Haha, fair enough.

 

[LucaSmash]

Because Sky3ds is an ODE and does not have any access to an exploit that would allow homebrew.

I'm not sure what an ODE is, but I think I see what you're saying. Which is that Sky3DS has special hardware to emulate a retail cart while Gateway doesn't so the only way they could work on 9.2 is via a kernel exploit???? If not please clarify

 

[PokeChampion]

What if there was an extra code hacking process with the Gateway 3DS Cart.

 

[guitarheroknight]

I'm not sure what an ODE is, but I think I see what you're saying. Which is that Sky3DS has special hardware to emulate a retail cart while Gateway doesn't so the only way they could work on 9.2 is via a kernel exploit???? If not please clarify

An ODE si an Optical Drive Emulator and it does exactly what you said. It tricks the 3ds into thinking an original card is inserted. I mean GW could have programed their FPGA to behave the same as Sky3ds does and that was my initial theory. but then I started thinking if they did that why did they tell us to stick on 9.x and dont update beyond that? Because its a kernel exploit, thats only possible on 9.x

 

[LucaSmash]

An ODE si an Optical Drive Emulator and it does exactly what you said. It tricks the 3ds into thinking an original card is inserted. I mean GW could have programed their FPGA to behave the same as Sky3ds does and that was my initial theory. but then I started thinking if they did that why did they tell us to stick on 9.x and dont update beyond that? Because its a kernel exploit, thats only possible on 9.x

Yeah I don't think Nintendo could patch something that emulates a real cart, at least not if it's very accurate. And if it did do that, why would it only work on 9.0-9.2 and not all version at least below 9.2? Doesn't really make sense. I wish they would make another statement already.

 

[guitarheroknight]

Yeah I don't think Nintendo could patch something that emulates a real cart, at least not if it's very accurate. And if it did do that, why would it only work on 9.0-9.2 and not all version at least below 9.2? Doesn't really make sense. I wish they would make another statement already.

Well I told you - they most likely found a kernel exploit.

 

[Danjal]

An ODE si an Optical Drive Emulator and it does exactly what you said. It tricks the 3ds into thinking an original card is inserted. I mean GW could have programed their FPGA to behave the same as Sky3ds does and that was my initial theory. but then I started thinking if they did that why did they tell us to stick on 9.x and dont update beyond that? Because its a kernel exploit, thats only possible on 9.x

The better question is, why would they tell people to update TO 9.x - Saying don't go beyond that is just product assurance, they want to verify before giving the greenlight so people can't go "But you said it'd be okay!"
I mean, Nintendo just has to implement some sort of unique key or online verification into their upcoming games and the jig would be up.

Though, to be fair, they said update to 9.x, they didn't say it wouldn't work on any version below. So they may have had other reasons. (Just keeping options open untill proven otherwise.)
It does seem most likely that its a 9.x specific exploit - but who knows. We'll just have to wait and see to find out.

 

[LucaSmash]

Well I told you - they most likely found a kernel exploit.

Yes that is called a rhetorical question my friend

 

[LucaSmash]

The better question is, why would they tell people to update TO 9.x - Saying don't go beyond that is just product assurance, they want to verify before giving the greenlight so people can't go "But you said it'd be okay!"
I mean, Nintendo just has to implement some sort of unique key or online verification into their upcoming games and the jig would be up.

Though, to be fair, they said update to 9.x, they didn't say it wouldn't work on any version below. So they may have had other reasons. (Just keeping options open untill proven otherwise.)
It does seem most likely that its a 9.x specific exploit - but who knows. We'll just have to wait and see to find out.

How could they go about online verification? Some 3DS systems aren't always connected to the internet so would they not be able to play games? And couldn't you just pirate games for offline use, which is what I intend to do anyway?

 

[Danjal]

How could they go about online verification? Some 3DS systems aren't always connected to the internet so would they not be able to play games? And couldn't you just pirate games for offline use, which is what I intend to do anyway?

The same way they do it on PC games... Its not a perfect solution, but if they REALLY want to knock down piracy a peg getting a "first-use" online verification binding unique keys per game to your device or nintendo ID is a potential path they can take if these emulated cards truely are otherwise indistinguishable.

Since each game would need to be unique, ROMs wouldn't work untill they got decrypted entirely. Which means that much work and effort needed.

I'm not saying this is what they will or should do - I'm saying this is one of the few possibilities I see to circumvent an otherwise undistinguishable flash card.

 

[LucaSmash]

The same way they do it on PC games... Its not a perfect solution, but if they REALLY want to knock down piracy a peg getting a "first-use" online verification binding unique keys per game to your device or nintendo ID is a potential path they can take if these emulated cards truely are otherwise indistinguishable.

Since each game would need to be unique, ROMs wouldn't work untill they got decrypted entirely. Which means that much work and effort needed.

I'm not saying this is what they will or should do - I'm saying this is one of the few possibilities I see to circumvent an otherwise undistinguishable flash card.

While that definitely would prevent piracy, they won't do that. That would mean you'd have to connect to the internet the first time you use a game, and that would be stupid. Like when I got Smash Bros 3DS, I was playing it before I even got home. And suppose you for whatever reason can't connect your 3DS to the internet or something, then you wouldn't be able to play any games. It seems that Nintendo doesn't think that everyone with a 3DS has internet, since they don't like to use internet features much or require them at all. And some people don't use their 3DS at home but only during travel and such, that would be quite a burden to them if they forget to register their game or something and can't use it.

 

[Danjal]

While that definitely would prevent piracy, they won't do that. That would mean you'd have to connect to the internet the first time you use a game, and that would be stupid. Like when I got Smash Bros 3DS, I was playing it before I even got home. And suppose you for whatever reason can't connect your 3DS to the internet or something, then you wouldn't be able to play any games. It seems that Nintendo doesn't think that everyone with a 3DS has internet, since they don't like to use internet features much or require them at all. And some people don't use their 3DS at home but only during travel and such, that would be quite a burden to them if they forget to register their game or something and can't use it.

Considering Nintendo's heavy *HEAVY* reliance on social features like streetpass and such, and the fact that wifi hotspots are basicly found in every streetcorner nowadays.
It should not be impossible for the majority of their users to get that access.

The question is, is Nintendo willing to alienate the users that live "in the middle of nowhere" or otherwise can't verify.
Though there are other similar verification methods that could be used in a similar fashion.

The point is, Nintendo could implement something that would prevent a feature from working.
Which is why Gateway mentions "don't update beyond 9.2" - even if ODE would mean they would theoretically work on all versions. (And its mere speculation that that may be the method used, alongside the 9.x theme theory.)
As always, update at own risk and all that.

 

[piratesephiroth]

Well, depending on the flaw they exploit, this single game solution could start a new cat and mouse game, with Nintendo adding more authenticity checks and Gateway finding ways to bypass them.

 

[Timburpton]

Me still not understand why gateway no show video demo yet.

 

[piratesephiroth]

An ODE si an Optical Drive Emulator and it does exactly what you said. It tricks the 3ds into thinking an original card is inserted. I mean GW could have programed their FPGA to behave the same as Sky3ds does and that was my initial theory. but then I started thinking if they did that why did they tell us to stick on 9.x and dont update beyond that? Because its a kernel exploit, thats only possible on 9.x

You talk as if drive emulation was unblockable, haha
Nintendo just has to add more checks and bam it stops working.

 

[hhs]

I wonder how much longer. I'm not getting Pokemon on the chance that the Gateway I already have can be put to use for the first time since the system updated out for X/Y.
I have console games to keep me busy enough that the wait won't kill me but I'm curious when I can try this out again.

 

[3DSXLGamer]

Damn you new pc build! It's eating all my money! I need to get a gateway ordered by next paycheck...

Just to clarify once more, the gateway FOR SURE won't need 4.2 3ds to upgrade the firmware?

 

[Oishikatta]

Damn you new pc build! It's eating all my money! I need to get a gateway ordered by next paycheck...

Just to clarify once more, the gateway FOR SURE won't need 4.2 3ds to upgrade the firmware?

Nobody can tell you for sure, only that gateway has responded that it will not require a 4.5 3ds or any other hardware.

 

[3DSXLGamer]

Nobody can tell you for sure, only that gateway has responded that it will not require a 4.5 3ds or any other hardware.

Hmm, but they said it would use the same card so it should be fine?....

 

[Kioku]

Not gonna buy a 4.5 3DS. If this option gives us emunand for the New 3ds the wait will have been worth it.