mk1, mk2 or mk3 ?

[Vito]

Excuse me if there are already  questions like this in the forum, i read many topic but i need help.

I already have a SD ( for my digital camera ) and a Gba FlashCard
( Flash Advance Extreme + Flash Advance Linker ( Usb ) )

1) I want to develop homebrew games for NDS, I want to know if the is a problem with the SD card ( some people tell about problem of velocity, ... ) ?

2) Can i use a Mk2 with my FlashCard and insert the menu and the games on the FlashCard ? ( without the SD card )

3) Can i play Gba games and Ds games ?

4) The difference beetween a mk2 and a mk3 is in the Internal memory
  of the mk3 ? can i use instead my FlashCard ?

5) With my FlashCard, can i use just a mk1 ? or the mk2 is better ?

Thank you for All
Domenico

[angelfly]

1) I've only had a few problems with my programs not running when running from sd card. The problems I had were with the sound and and nothing else but thats specific to me and the way I coded the app (however it worked fine flashed to the cart by itself)

2) Yes, the menu allows you to flash a rom to the cart. The current version allows only one at a time and the next is said to have multi-rom support. This works fine for commercial roms but I've never got it working for homebrew.

3) There is no gba support yet and when it does happen it will be just burning it to the flashcart.

4) Yes

5) Yes, but a MK2 or MK3 will serve you better.

[Kushan]

If I were you, I'd get an MK3 2006 when they come out by themselves.

However, while you're waiting you should try to make some NDS stuff with the help of various emulators.
Once you get the hang of it, you can apply for a free MK2.

[Vito]

Thank you angelfly and kushan
I have another questions

If i have a new firmware DS can i use a passkey2 to run homebrew games ?
I must flash an old firmware to the DS or I can use it with my original firmware ?

I must buy a DS; to find a DS with a old firmware ( compatible with mk2/3 ) i must buy it as soon as possible or the new firmware is only for some version ( es. red or blu version ) ?

Thanks
Domenico

[angelfly]

A Passkey2 will allow homebrew on newer firmware. You don't have to change your firmware at all but if you want to remove the need for the passkey2 then you should. As for buying a DS, if you can find an older one it would be better. The blue ones should have the old firmware IIRC. The red and newer has the new firmware. Your best bet would probably be to buy one used at EB or something.

[boblen]

i thaught it was all new DS with the new film ware (red, blue, pink, silver)

when you do get your DS to find out what film ware you do have.
(need a gamepack for this)

turn on the DS, go PictoChat Room A
as soon as your in eject the NDS game cart

- FW1: DS will freeze, when you remove the cart.
- FW2: Grayish Blue
- FW3: Dark Green (Note! A silver DS bought in MK:DS bundle is most probably NOT installed with FW4!)
- FW4: Yellow
- FW5: Magenta
- iQue FW: Dark Green
- FlashME: Dark Green

- If you have FW1,2, or 3, you can use PassMe1. If you have FW4 or 5, you need PassMe2

[angelfly]

i thaught it was all new DS with the new film ware (red, blue, pink, silver)

All the japanese colored DS consoles have old firmware along with the blue DS that was released with Mario Kart.

[boblen]

o ok ... because all the new DS in australia (red, blue, pink, silver)
have the new filmware.

[bruceg]

1) I've only had a few problems with my programs not running when running from sd card. The problems I had were with the sound and and nothing else but thats specific to me and the way I coded the app (however it worked fine flashed to the cart by itself)

2) Yes, the menu allows you to flash a rom to the cart. The current version allows only one at a time and the next is said to have multi-rom support. This works fine for commercial roms but I've never got it working for homebrew.

Yeah, they're aware that the homebrew applications aren't working well currently.  Hopefully, they will fix those issues relatively soon

BruceG

[Vito]

Someone have info on the DS versions ( old and new firmware ) sold in Italy ?

There is a place ( on the web ) that sell DS with old firmware on it ( tested before buy ) ?

The grey version boundled with MarioKarts ( Nintendo DS + Mario Kart DS (EUR) ) sold in Italy work fine ? ( MarioKarts is good for mk1/2/3 ? )

kushan: i start with a mk1 and when i start to make something good I can buy a MK32006 or NEOMAX ( the free mk2 can be a good surprise )

Domenico

[bruceg]

There's not a whole lot of information on the old and new firmware units out there, if you are checking based on the serial number of the ds.  This is the list people used before to check by serial numbers, but it's outdated for the newer models.

http://www.dspassme.com/dstrackerlist.shtml

That's why the firmware test Boblen pasted above is the best way to tell if it's old or new firmware (though I don't know of any online place that will run it before you buy). 

I don't know about the grey versions sold in Italy with Mario Kart (that game should work fine, though, with the magic key).  In the USA, I believe that Mario Kart packs include a red ds, which have the new ds firmware (not totally sure)

I bought mine at a local store where I could return it if it didn't have the old firmware

BruceG

[boblen]

Na no shop down here would let you open it up and test it and put a DS cart in it and take it out when its on.

They would be like "No No NO" 

you could always try ebay and try and buy one with the Metroid demo Box, Its second hand but you know for sure that it would work.

[angelfly]

In the USA, I believe that Mario Kart packs include a red ds, which have the new ds firmware (not totally sure)

Oops I keep forgetting the Red ones included Mario Kart and the Blue ones had Mario 64

[Vito]

Thanks at all

I search a shop were I can Power ON the DS so I can use the method of the screen color

One question :

> turn on the DS, go PictoChat Room A
> as soon as your in eject the NDS game cart

I have not used a DS and so I don not know how to enter in PichoChat Room A ( Excuse me if this is a stupid question )

[angelfly]

when you turn on your DS it goes to a menu and in the middle is a button that says "Pictochat" and after you click on that you get a selection of rooms A-D.