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Hacking Regular DS menu with the Simply

[WIP/Release] ds_mangaman - Turning the Nintendo DS into the Ultimate Vertical Book-Style Manga Reader!

Hwongfish · 2026-06-09T00:33:11+00:00

Hi everyone! I’ve always felt that the Nintendo DS is criminally underrated when it comes to being a dedicated manga-reader. Think about it: it has two screens built right into the form factor, one of them has a precise (not quite most of the time though) touchscreen, and when you rotate the console 90 degrees counter-clockwise, it perfectly mimics the ergonomics of holding a real physical tankobon (manga volume). When held vertically, the D-pad sits perfectly on the bottom, and the shoulder keys (L/R) are in the ideal position for switching chapters. Plus, the touchscreen can be used to magnify for reading the text or inspecting details. Such interactions are the ultimate form factors that modern smartphones just can't match. To prove this, I built ds_mangaman — an open-source, highly optimized homebrew manga viewer for the NDS/NDSL. Download and learn how to build in Github release: :teach::teach::teach: GitHub Repository: https://github.com/hwfish-error408/ds-mangaman :grog::grog::grog: Looking for Contributors! The compiler engine and core state machine are now fully functional and running smoothly on real hardware and emulators (like melonDS). However, I want to take this project further and could really use the community's help! I’m looking for developers, testers, and retro-enthusiasts to help with: A, Implementing a cleaner UI/Main Menu. B, Adding Bookmark support (saving states to SRAM/FAT .sav). C, Further optimizing the DMA memory copy speeds during page and chapter transitions. Feel free to download the source, check out the build pipeline, test it on your flashcarts, and open Issues or Pull Requests on the GitHub repo! Let's make the NDS the ultimate retro manga machine.

Thread starter Remy
Start date Jan 25, 2007
Views 1,389
Replies 7

Remy

Well-Known Member

Member

Level 2

Jan 25, 2007

hi there

I'm using an M3 Simply and wanna know if it's possible to boot up the DS into the regular menu instead of the M3 menu...

Thanks!

Katalyst

Johnald Everyperson

Member

Level 3

Jan 25, 2007

Yup. Take the M3 Simply out of the slot and turn on the DS.

iamwhoiam

Honorary R4 Fanboy

Member

Level 4

Jan 25, 2007

And that's the only way

Remy

Well-Known Member

Member

Level 2

Jan 25, 2007

Oh...

Well poop to that I say, poop!

sneekysneeky

Member

Newcomer

Level 1

Jan 25, 2007

It's a bitch aint it.

Wuschmaster

Well-Known Member

Member

Level 2

Jan 25, 2007

That's one of the main reasons I don't want it.

Suphix

Member

Newcomer

Level 1

Jan 26, 2007

why do you want to go the the official DS menu anyway?... the only thing you really have there is settings and picto-chat... if i need either of those its a tiny movement away.

Katalyst

Johnald Everyperson

Member

Level 3

Jan 26, 2007

The few times I've needed to get to the main DS menu (usually just trying download stations) I just push the R4 so it triggers the spring mechanism and pops out. Then I just let it sit in the DS. The R4's thick enough to where it won't just fall out of the slot.