Using the EZ-Flash 3in1 With Slot-1 Cards

Now that you have brought a Slot-1 Card, maybe you want to have a cheap rumble pack? Or more RAM for the Opera Browser or other homebrew? Or play your own GBA homebrew/backups of owned games?

Well this is the guide for you.

(Note, you WILL need a compatible slot-1 card to continue, most current day slot-1 cards are supported)

First, you will need to obtain the Ez-Flash 3in1 Expansion Card. There are two versions, the DS Lite, and the DS Phat (first DS). The DS Lite one is a lot easier to obtain, and one will not work in the other i’m pretty sure. Just look around for a trusted online store with them in stock.

Now that you have it, you will need to download a program called Rudolph’s 3in1 Tools, which will allow other cards besides the Ez-Flash V to use the 3in1.

Download from ds-scene.net

Or just do a google search for ‘GBA ExpLoader’ or Rudolph’s 3in1 Tools.

Or if you want, the Japanese site: http://kotei.blog.so-net.ne.jp/

Then, transfer the NDS file to the root of your card, or anwhere you want. Make A ‘GBA’ folder in the root directory of your card and put all your GBA roms (.gba) in there.

Now any commerical roms you want to play, will have to be SRAM patched. Have a look for the program ‘GBAATA’

Once you have patched your roms, put them into the GBA folder you created earlier.

Then load the Loader file on your NDS, and locate the rom you wish to play. If its small enough, you will be able to load it into PSRAM, the fastest method. Simply press A to load it in and play.

If the rom is bigger than 16MB, press R to enter NOR mode. NOR acts like a re-writable GBA cartridge. Meaning games (such as Diamond and Pearl) will recognize it as the official game. PSRAM simply loads the game, and plays it. Also, in NOR mode, the option ‘Start GBA Game’ in the DS menu will be enabled.

Also, after you load the the loader back up again (with newer versions) it will ask you what slot to use. Just pick any

The Loader handles all SRAM saves and puts them into either GBA_SAVE or GBA\Save.

To use either the rumble pack, or Expansion ram, press R again when in the NOR menu.

Make sure you don’t turn off your DS after the Loader soft resets. Otherwise it won’t work.

A good place for GBA Public Domain roms is: pdroms.de

Again, any comments, questions, queries, need clarifications just post a comment

Recommended DS Games

OK, what i have here is a list of games that i own/borrowed/played that I can recommend:

Advance Wars – Days Of Ruin/Dark Conflict:

This new Advance Wars is set in a post-apocalyptic world, were most of humanity has been wiped out.

You have to fight for survival in this new world.

This is bar-none the best Advance Wars. The new graphical theme takes a little to get used to, but it certainly grows on you. The zoom function also looks great.

Animal Crossing – Wild World:

This is fairly identical to the GCN version, so if you already have the GCN version, it may not be worth getting. But if your new to the series, you will probably love this. Its a lot of hard work, but it is worth it in the end.

Dragon Ball Z – Supersonic Warriors 2

If you are a fan of DBZ, then this is great. If you want to learn about the storyline of DBZ, this is also great.

The fighting is just so damn addictive. The whole cast of characters is also there. A little bit short, but still good.

Elite Beat Agents

This is one of the best games on DS. Certainly for the music-minded. It consists of tapping the screen when certain rings go around them, and is all in tune to the music. So once you get good, this game is such a blast! And multiplayer is certainly not to be overlooked, as it is much fun.

Lifesigns – Surgical Unit

This game is quite unique. Your a new intern at a hospital. You have to perform tests, diagnosis, operations and many in between sections. This game plays like a cross of Trauma Center and Phoenix Wright. Its good fun for a playthrough.

Mario And Luigi – Partners In Time

This sequel to Mario And Luigi – Superstar Saga plays a lot like its predecessor. Its a Mario-style RPG. That about explains it. And one thing that really makes this game enjoyable, is the easily accessible humour throughout the game. Its great. Probably the best RPG out for DS.

Mario Kart DS

This is just the N64 version, except better. It includes tracks from all previous games, for that nostalgic effect. Its as fun as it was on the N64 as well. And Nintendo WFC and local multiplayer is some of the best multi player action you can have on the DS

Mario Party DS

This, suprisingly is actually a pretty decent attempt of bringing Mario Party to the DS. Local wireless play is where this game really stands out though. Worth it if you have friends with DS’es. It also supports Single Pak play, meaning only one player has to have the game.

Meteos

An incredibly fun, but challenging puzzle game. Try before you buy though, it may not be everyones cup of tea.

New Super Mario Brothers.

When I first heard about this, I thought, would this work? It fortunately, does. And it certainly brings back good memories of the old SNES Mario’s. If your a fan of the platform Mario games, i recommend this

Phoenix Wright Series

Some people love this, some don’t Its not a fully interactive game, meaning its like a storybook, which you progress the story forward. But the stories are compelling, and its great fun to play. They are very short, but thats why there are 4 of thse games (Phoenix Wright, Justice For All, Trials and Tribulations, Apollo Justice) You will have to play them to understand.

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl

OK, some of you might read this, and go *groan*, But its impossible to deny, that these games are in fact good. I for one, don’t look at the cutesy graphics and monsters. I look at the RPG elements (Pokemon levels, stats, Multiplayer battles, collecting all of them). There is a whole new 3D engine and many new features.

Super Mario 64 DS

If you have played and completed this game on the N64, read no further. But if you haven’t, now is the perfect time to do so. It is a great game, and its praise is for a good reason. One of the best 3D adventure games available for DS.

The Legend Of Zelda – Phantom Hourglass

Once again, Nintendo bring another classic Zelda to the DS. It plays a lot like a 2D Wind Waker, considering the mass of ocean to explore. A little bet tedious at times, but its better qualities shine through. Once again, a great Zelda game.

Trauma Center – Under The Knife

An addictive surgery sim. Slice open patients and remove tumours, clot and many other real medical conditions, and then experience (easy to look forward to) drama scenes between operations.

So any of these games are great.

There is heaps of other games, but haven’t played them all enough to be reasonable in a review

Stereograms – a fun time waster

Just a short post, but its fitting. Im posting about the simple, but fun application draw-stereo.

You hold your ds on the side, and draw on the touch screen. Once you have finished drawing it, you then look at it cross eyed. Move your eyes till the images join. Then you have a steriogram. Try it out below:

Click here to download

World Of Sand DS

Ok, so this is one of those quirky ports. I like it, but i wonder if anyone else does. I’m talking about World Of Sand. The objective: well there is none. Streams of sand come from the top of the screen. You have numerous tools, such as brick walls, rainclouds so on. You could build a brick enclosure, and let the sand pour in.

See a video of the computer version in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQZLGfP7tXw&feature=related

Give it a go. See if you get as hooked as i did

Click here to download World Of Sand DS

(Thanks to Dev-Scene, a great DS homebrew site)

(PC Version Shown)

There is also another version, called Sandscape. It is also very great, but its very early in its dev stages, so be warned, it has a few bugs.

Click here to download

Introduction

What is this blog about, you may wonder? Well I’ll list the things i may cover:

Games:
PS2
Nintendo DS/L (With most focus on ‘Homebrew’)
Phones (Nokia’s)
Alternative music.

So lets get on with it

Guide To Getting Homebrew On DS

OK, i know there is probably a million other guides for this, but i wanted to do my own.

First things first, get a DS. Trust me, DS Lite is much better. So never get a DS Phat as they are now affectionately called. But I don’t think they sell them anymore anyways

Now for the flash cart. I currently only own an R4. And 5 other mates of mine. So you know your safe with them.

My recommendations are: R4DS, or M3 simply. (The same product, just different firmware and branding
Although I would get the R4, because there is more frequent updates for the R4)

Also, had i known about the CycloDS, I would of purchased that instead. I have heard many good things about it, and it has two (that i know of) advantages over the R4: Connection to the Wii, and improved game compatibility.
And also SDHC, meaning the storage can go up to 8GB, instead of the R4′s 2GB. It hasn’t really bothered me though, you can just swap games whenever you feel like it.

Although I have heard the R4DS is slightly easier to use. Whatever one you decide on, both are great choices.

Where to get the R4:
Well for all you non Australian readers,Im sorry I can’t help you there, Although a quick google search for recommended R4 dealers should return good results.

For the Aussies in our midst, I, and my mates have brought 7 R4′s (And one EZ-Flash, more on that later) from www.gamerswonder.com
Excellent service, very fast delivery (Literally the next day by express post option)
If anyone needs any assistance with this further, contact me or leave a comment. Ill do my best.

(Edit:GamersWonder looks like its out of stock for a while. Try ozmodchips, I have heard good things about them)

Once you have your R4 and basked in its glory for a while (Well, maybe it’s just me) you probably just want to play some homebrew.

***Note***
The R4 can play commercial rom images, or rom backups.
But I will not cover this in my blog. That is what google is for,
although i do not endorse this
***Note***

Using the R4 (Or most other Slot-1 Devices)

Most of the instructions here, could also be used on other slot-1 devices

By the way, you will need a microSD card. These can be brought at any digital camera shop, phone shop, or other shop that sells SD cards. You may also find one in your camera, phone or other portable device.

The R4 comes with a microSD card reader, so just plug the microSD card into the reader, and
the reader into the computer. It should come up as a portable flash drive in My Computer. (Or (Li)(U)nix equal)

Now most flash carts will need some sort of OS files installed onto the microSD. With the R4, it comes with the CD inside the R4 box. But i highly recommend to go to r4ds.com and download the newest one.

(R4 specific instructions below)
Now once you have the firmware, extract _system_,moonshl, _DS_MSHL.NDS and _DS_MENU.DAT to the root of the card. (Just the first folder)
Now the R4 can go into the DS, and work! Try it if you want.

But you will probably want some games. Make some sort of folder structure on the microSD card.(E.g. E:!Homebrew on mine)
Note: An exclamation mark brings the folder or file brings it to the very top of the R4 menu

For this first time, we will install DSOrganize, a program that contains IRC, web browser, note editor, mp3 player and so on. Go to the DSOrganise page and download it. Once its finished downloading, extract the DSOrganise folder to the root of the card, or to Rootdata. Your choice

And then of course, put the nds file wherever you want.
Now safely remove the device from the computer (Right click card reader in My Computer, and click Eject)
And put it into the R4 Card. Now load the DS up, and select the first option by pressing A.
Now use the arrow keys and the A button to locate the DSOrganise.nds file. Open it by pressing A.

It will come up with three options. For homebrew games, the left or right one will do. But if you press ignore, this message will show each time. So i usually press create. Now its running!

Do whatever you want now, i’m not going to go into details with each application I present, way too long.

Now in the future, you know how to install a NDS rom. Except with most games you won’t have to copy a folder. Just the .nds file. Okay i think that about covers it

Any queries, just comment, and ill do my best to help you out.

My Most Played Homebrew Game (At The Moment)

One of my fav homebrew games, is Meteora. Once i started playing this game, i couldn’t put it down. I suffered lack of sleep at school, due to me staying up till 1:30 to play this fiendishly addictive game.

Here is the download site: http://meteora.lo2k.net/

Don’t worry about the non english site, the games english.

To slow or destroy the falling meteors, tap them with the stylish. Hold L or R or Up Or Down to open the select mana ability screen. Its all pretty easy to pick up from there.

One little trick i use is let a massive meteor of the enemy gather in the middle, so no others get past. Then in this time, charge up your mana.

***NOTE***
Something I forgot to include in my homebrew installation guide is that for Slot-1 devices (flash carts that go into the top slot) that is NOT the Supercard file (.sc.nds) , is only use the .nds files. Later on, i will explain how to use the nds.gba files on a slot-2 device
***NOTE***

As with all of the games i post, contact or comment me if you cannot get a copy of the game somehow. I will send you a copy.