Hacking The M3 Sakura FAQ

[kobykaan]

Has anyone manged to translate the Check disk for NDS Ver0.4 into english yet??

or found an english version/hack?

 

[Eggman32]

Does M3 Sakura have the ability to use inbuilt emulators like the other firmware? I don't see the .bin files in the system directory...

 

[thedicemaster]

Does M3 Sakura have the ability to use inbuilt emulators like the other firmware? I don't see the .bin files in the system directory...

nope, but you can always use nesDS and lameboy as defaultX/Y

 

[HoTsHoT89]

Just found a small bug in the image viewer.

Load an image (preferably high resolution) and view it at 100%. Hold the L button down, and use the stylus to hold down the viewfinder. Release the L button without letting go of your stylus hold, and drag it around. You will now find that at the bottom screen, it is in a combination of both modes, where instead of how much you drag is basically how much you move (aka 'pinning' down the picture), your movements of your stylus now moves the image relative to the screen. This means that if you do this trick on the highest point of a portrait, dragging down your stylus to the bottom of the screen will move the image view of the same point. I don't really know the terms, but you should know what I mean. To restore to normal, just lift the stylus and the drag should return to the first mode again.

Some might find this bug an added feature as you don't need to look at two screens to know where the viewfinder is (it still shows at the above screen anyway), and holding the L button down can be pretty tiring for some people, especially when I want a better grip or I'm laying it flat.

 

[Densetsu]

NOTE: The first post of this thread has been updated with all of the information from this post. Check here for the updated information.
Changes to M3 Sakura v1.12+1:
I just fired up the new Sakura "1.12+1" firmware that was silently released today, and I can say that it's a vast improvement.

Soft-Reset: CONFIRMED WORKING

Reboot after entering NDS ROM config menu: NO LONGER REQUIRED

Whether you save or cancel your settings, it automatically goes back to Sakura's main GUI. This only works for NDS ROMs; you still need to turn off the DS after going into the GBA ROM config menu.

Long cheat descriptions in the cheat select menu: FULLY DISPLAY ON TOP SCREEN

In the original firmware, when cheat descriptions were too long, they just got cut off at the end of the screen and there was no way of knowing what the rest said. Now when you highlight a cheat with a long cheat description in the lower screen, you can see the entire cheat description displayed on the top screen.

NDS-GBA linkage: INTEGRATED & WORKING

In the NDS ROM config menu, there's a new icon

[GBA??] (GBA Load) that lets you load a GBA ROM into memory. I entered the NDS config menu for Advance Wars: Dual Strike, loaded the Advance Wars GBA ROM and the NDS ROM loaded automatically. This unlocked some secret maps that are only available if you have the Advance Wars GBA cartridge inserted.
How to Enable NDS-GBA Linkage:
1. Slide the NDS ROM to the left (or highlight the ROM and press Y) to access the NDS config menu.
2. Tap the

[GBA??] icon, then browse to the folder containing the GBA ROM you want to load onto your Slot-2 memory expansion pack.
3. Highlight the GBA ROM and press A. You will see "SELECT FILE: \ROMpath\ROMname.gba" on the top screen. Press A again to return to the NDS ROM config menu.
4. Tap the

[???] icon to save, and the NDS ROM will automatically load with the GBA ROM you designated loaded onto the Slot-2 memory.

Real-time save for NDS ROMs: NON-EXISTENT

In fact, the icon has been removed from the NDS config menu. It's not even an option anymore.

Homebrew compatibility: STILL CRAPPY

I tried to look for a changelog but not even the M3 Sakura official website has updated with the new firmware yet.

 

[Leon2457]

I take it the New Sakura Firmware doesn't work on European or NTSC DS' yet?

 

[Densetsu]

iamanobody is working on it. Keep checking here for status updates.

 

[Leon2457]

Ok, thank you, also I apologize, I just noticed I WASN'T Meant to post on the thread, >_< sorry about that.

 

[lilkerv90210]

Im not rushing you at all but im just woondering do you have a set release date for this

 

[Densetsu]

Im not rushing you at all but im just woondering do you have a set release date for thisFrom iamanobody's M3 Sakura hacking thread:

OK, i'm back

this thread is for REVERSE ENGINEERING/HACKING of m3 sakura 1.12 (not for discussion/questions/etc.) i'll try to post information when possible. if you have something related to REVERSE ENGINEERING, please post it here. please leave questions/comments out of this thread to avoid clutter. i've just downloaded the new version and i need to look at it. it may take longer this time because i have school/lifeThe first time he hacked version 1.11X, it took him a couple days:
First post in which he took a look at the firmware the day it was released: May 29 2008, 05:31 PM
Final post in which he released a region-free 1.11X: May 31 2008, 07:13 PM

So we may have to wait a few days because he's busy with school and other obligations. Once he releases it, it will be quick and easy to skin and translate (if there's even anything new to be translated). Again, check HERE for direct updates by iamanobody. As per his request, don't post in his thread unless you have something to contribute to the hacking work. Please post all comments and questions in this thread.

*EDIT*
It looks like he's already done hacking it only a few hours after I PMed him asking him to take a look at it

QUOTE(iamanobody @ Oct 13 2008, 05:38 PM)

EDIT: main thing hacked, working on loaders

at first glance, the gba loader protection looks the same

EDIT: after checking, it does look the same, testing

EDIT2: GBA working, but will be busy for a while so i'll crack the NDS loader later

EDIT3: NDS and GBA working

i need to do something now so i'll package/release it later

*EDIT*
Looks like we'll be seeing another unofficial release very soon.
He's released it. Go to town on it, everyone!

 

[Toni Plutonij]

Thanks Densetsu3000 for keeping us updated.....And thanks to iamnobody for hacking it so we can all use it..
Now, with this update, newer games work, right?
I like how they fixed soft reset and that, turn off-turn on problem with NDS config. menu..

But that stuff from other carts that are included into this release leads me to think that this might be unofficial update, or even a hack for other carts.....It probably isn't the case, but it came into mind, because it is very weird!!

 

[Densetsu]

Thanks Densetsu3000 for keeping us updated.....And thanks to iamnobody for hacking it so we can all use it..
Now, with this update, newer games work, right?
I like how they fixed soft reset and that, turn off-turn on problem with NDS config. menu..

But that stuff from other carts that are included into this release leads me to think that this might be unofficial update, or even a hack for other carts.....It probably isn't the case, but it came into mind, because it is very weird!!

No problem!

Really, iamanobody did all the hard stuff. I just happen to own a Japanese M3 Real so I was able to check it out before everyone else and see whether this 1.12+1 update was worth hacking.

So far it works with all the new games I've tried, but I don't know which games people have been having problems with. Since everyone can use it now, it looks we'll find out the answer to your question soon enough.

I like the improvements with the NDS config menu, but you still have to turn off the DS after going into the GBA config menu

I wish I knew what those sneaky M3 guys were up to with the stuff from the other carts.

 

[TheWingless]

About the cheats, did they improve anything to the cheat engine, like that one specific problem about what the cheat couldn't have in it? I can't quite remember what it was. and does it still take forever to browse cheats or can you finally hold down and speed through the list?

 

[AXYPB]

Translated setupnds.ext and setupgba.ext

Let me know if anything's out of place.

 

[Maikel Steneker]

Translated setupnds.ext and setupgba.ext

Let me know if anything's out of place.

Works fine for me, thanks a lot

One problem I noticed is that you can't get back from the GBA settings menu if you cancel, but that might be a problem with the original files as well.

 

[AXYPB]

Reboot after entering NDS ROM config menu: NO LONGER REQUIRED

Whether you save or cancel your settings, it automatically goes back to Sakura's main GUI. This only works for NDS ROMs; you still need to turn off the DS after going into the GBA ROM config menu.

I know; I was confused at first too. Maybe they'll come up with an SP that fixes this and the inability to unset the GBA linkage.

 

[Zerrix]

Awesome improvement with the NDS-GBA linkage! ^^

 

[AXYPB]

My apologies; I overlooked one of the strings in setupnds.ext. Please download it again. (If you downloaded SYSTEM.zip after this post was made, you do not need to download this file; I already updated the archive. I love having a personal upload space.)

 

[Toni Plutonij]

Thanks for that AXYPB, it is highly appreciated!!

 

[illithid]

My question still remains: How to disable NDS-GBA linkage to a game once you have selected it? Tried any button configuration and it didn't work.