ROM Hack Is it possible to hack DSiWare ROMs yet?

[Deleted User]

It's been impossible for a while to do any sort of rom hack or translation patch on dsiware because of some kind of protection that causes the game to hang at boot if the nitroFS has been edited in any way. Last time I checked this was the case, but that was before the DSi hacking scene got moving with CFW and the like.

Has there been a solution to this yet?

 

[Alex4U]

I tried just to modify the text of Cave Story DSi via CrystalTile2 and worked. I didn't modified anything than that. Like:

MEME STAR
A useless weapon but cute isn't it?

(I did this lol, sadly, I didn't took screenshot)

I modified, then installed the CIA and worked on a real 3DS.

There aren't still tools to modify DSi games. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Deleted User]

I tried just to modify the text of Cave Story DSi via CrystalTile2 and worked. I didn't modified anything than that. Like:

MEME STAR
A useless weapon but cute isn't it?

(I did this lol, sadly, I didn't took screenshot)

I modified, then installed the CIA and worked on a real 3DS.

There aren't still tools to modify DSi games. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Hmm, maybe it uses an older TWL SDK. As mentioned here
https://gbatemp.net/threads/ds-i-mode-hacking-progress-thread.413015/page-108#post-6674545

The game I'm looking into to potentially make a translation patch for (Dekisugi Tingle Pack) seems to use a newer version, which employs the hash checks.

 

[Alex4U]

Hmm, maybe it uses an older TWL SDK. As mentioned here
https://gbatemp.net/threads/ds-i-mode-hacking-progress-thread.413015/page-108#post-6674545

The game I'm looking into to potentially make a translation patch for (Dekisugi Tingle Pack) seems to use a newer version, which employs the hash checks.

What are you trying to modify? I think you can undecrypt the .app/CIA, then check it out the DSiWare files. I never unpacked a DSiWare title, so, I'm not sure what type of files contains.

 

[Deleted User]

What are you trying to modify? I think you can undecrypt the .app/CIA, then check it out the DSiWare files. I never unpacked a DSiWare title, so, I'm not sure what type of files contains.

I've extracted a .nds file from the CIA (after decrypting it). The .nds is basically the same as a regular NDS rom. CrystalTile2 and DSLazy/DSBuff can view the filesystem and unpack/rebuild the rom.

For a translation I would need to modify the font, various graphics, and the text. I've managed to extract and view these, but upon reinsertion the game hangs at boot, presumably because of the digest sector tables.

 

[Alex4U]

I've extracted a .nds file from the CIA (after decrypting it). The .nds is basically the same as a regular NDS rom. CrystalTile2 and DSLazy/DSBuff can view the filesystem and unpack/rebuild the rom.

For a translation I would need to modify the font, various graphics, and the text. I've managed to extract and view these, but upon reinsertion the game hangs at boot, presumably because of the digest sector tables.

Hey cool, I'm working on a translation too. Sadly, CrystalTile2 corrupts me the rom after I save it.

Wait, you mean NDS files or DSi? DSi can't be .nds at all. They're .srl or .app files.

Anyway, to modify a font or something, I use these tools:

Font: NFTEditor
Graphics: CrystalTile2... lzss compression tool... etc...
Text: I'd recommend CrystalTile2 for japanese or for anything.

 

[Deleted User]

Hey cool, I'm working on a translation too. Sadly, CrystalTile2 corrupts me the rom after I save it.

Wait, you mean NDS files or DSi? DSi can't be .nds at all. They're .srl or .app files.

Anyway, to modify a font or something, I use these tools:

Font: NFTEditor
Graphics: CrystalTile2... lzss compression tool... etc...
Text: I'd recommend CrystalTile2 for japanese or for anything.

Unfortunately the font files in this game are custom a custom format (VFD), so NFTEditor won't work
And I can edit the font fine, I just can't get the game to boot once I insert the edited font


Nope, DSi can be .nds . I believe I read somewhere that .srl files are simply .nds files renamed.

 

[Alex4U]

Unfortunately the font files in this game are custom a custom format (VFD), so NFTEditor won't work
And I can edit the font fine, I just can't get the game to boot once I insert the edited font


Nope, DSi can be .nds . I believe I read somewhere that .srl files are simply .nds files renamed.

.srl are .nds files?! nani?! so DSi titles can be readed on a R4?! NANI?!

eh anyway, try to rename .vfd to .nfte? maybe that will work...

Maybe you broke something on the text, like some command? or even, remember the game must be the same size as the original, if not, it will not work.

 

[Deleted User]

.srl are .nds files?! nani?! so DSi titles can be readed on a R4?! NANI?!

Not sure about that. And no, dsi titles can't be read on an r4 (although there is a flashcart in existence that can, it's name escapes me atm)

Maybe you broke something on the text, like some command? or even, remember the game must be the same size as the original, if not, it will not work.

Even if I edit one byte it refuses to boot, so thats not it

 

[Alex4U]

Even if I edit one byte it refuses to boot, so thats not it

Did you tried with another hex editor or something? make sure there is no other file that would interfiere with some file, like some script (like text is on file.hyb and the text commands are on file.hb) I'd check for that.