3ds PROTIPs

[DZComposer]

This thread is a collection of tips for the 3DS system software (software that comes with the system) and 3DS hardware.

DS Game Resolution:

Playing DS games by just touching the card slot icon will result in distorted images caused by the 3DS having a higher screen res than the game. You can force the 3DS to down-res to the DS resolution by holding down Start and Select at the same time. The cartridge icon will spin fast. While still holding the buttons, tap the DS game icon. You will then be playing the DS game in a letterboxed window at the correct resolution. No distortion.

[FoxMcCloud]

Just got my 3DS, and Starfox 64 has been preordered ^^

[Zzz]

Wait...when is starfox gonna be out now?

[Deploy]

I got my 3DS! Love it!

[Star Fox Runner]

I have it now, and I love it! So is Star Fox already available for pre-order?

Also got this awesome pic from it.

[DZComposer]

PROTIP:

Miis can be saved as QR codes for easy sharing. QR Codes have been used by mobile phones to share data for a while now, so it is now possible Miis via the internet! And also Android/iPhone Mii apps in the future (assuming Nitnendo doesn't sue them).

[Deploy]

I'd love a pro tip on how to update the 3DS properly... it won't work for me. :(

[LoneWolf]

Android/iPhone Mii apps in the future (assuming Nitnendo doesn't sue them).

Jailbreak.

Nuff said.

[Dublinthefox]

Jailbreak.

Nuff said.

Actually there is a feature that has been added to the 3DS. I'm not sure if its true, but since the 3DS has updates sometimes, people will get in trouble for having their 3DS hacked. I don't know the full story. I heard it from Screwattack.

[Fureox]

I'd love a pro tip on how to update the 3DS properly... it won't work for me.

Take a look at some of these topics.

Maybe they can help.

[Sabre]

Actually there is a feature that has been added to the 3DS. I'm not sure if its true, but since the 3DS has updates sometimes, people will get in trouble for having their 3DS hacked. I don't know the full story. I heard it from Screwattack.

So there's a good chance that it's utter crap then.

I read that the 3DS is bad for playing DS games on.

[DZComposer]

To manually update, go to System Settings > Other Settings > System Update (on Pg. 4)

Keep in mind that the 3DS just launched yesterday (US/CAN), so I imagine NOA's update servers are getting slammed.

Keep trying, at non-peak times (IE 6AM or something). You'll get through eventually. If not, then you may need to contact Nintendo's customer service.

As far as the 3DS being bad for DS games, I don't think so. My DS games look fine, so long as I do the resolution trick that I opened the thread with. Similar form factor, so the controls aren't weird. You can use the control pad or the D-pad for DS D-Pad function.

SF643D is still listed as "TBA 2011." My guess is Q4 2011. I'm sure we'll know by E3 at the latest.

The 3DS has significant DRM features. You can bet heavily on that. The DS was considered by the industry to be the most pirated system once flash memory got cheap enough that the world+dog could get their hands on flashcarts. You can bet your ass that Nintendo doesn't want that to happen again and put some serious crypto in there somewhere. There are rumors floating around of lockout chips (with similar function to these) and system memory checksums that will brick the unit if the checksums fail, but as far as what the DRM features are, Nintendo is not telling anyone, and likely never will. Why tell the hackers what to look for? I'm almost certain the design would mean that flashcarts will have to break a copy-protection encryption, which will allow Nintendo to shut down flashcart importers under the DMCA.

I think the "dongle" idea is more feasable, though. Put a Dongle chip in each 3DS cart, and load it with crypto. To put ROM dumps onto a flashcart would be useless, as the dump would fail the check. To circumvent would require modifying the ROM dump to strip-out the check, which, while not impossible, would drive-down the number of ROM dumps available to be put on flash carts as only the most serious pirates would take the time and effort do that kind of crack. There is a history of publishers toying with this kind of thing on the DS.

[Deploy]

I've played some of my DS games in my 3DS and they look and play fine to me. Having the use of circle pad is great. Also, the update finally worked! :D

[Sabre]

To manually update, go to System Settings > Other Settings > System Update (on Pg. 4)

Keep in mind that the 3DS just launched yesterday (US/CAN), so I imagine NOA's update servers are getting slammed.

Keep trying, at non-peak times (IE 6AM or something). You'll get through eventually. If not, then you may need to contact Nintendo's customer service.

As far as the 3DS being bad for DS games, I don't think so. My DS games look fine, so long as I do the resolution trick that I opened the thread with. Similar form factor, so the controls aren't weird. You can use the control pad or the D-pad for DS D-Pad function.

SF643D is still listed as "TBA 2011." My guess is Q4 2011. I'm sure we'll know by E3 at the latest.

The 3DS has significant DRM features. You can bet heavily on that. The DS was considered by the industry to be the most pirated system once flash memory got cheap enough that the world+dog could get their hands on flashcarts. You can bet your ass that Nintendo doesn't want that to happen again and put some serious crypto in there somewhere. There are rumors floating around of lockout chips (with similar function to these) and system memory checksums that will brick the unit if the checksums fail, but as far as what the DRM features are, Nintendo is not telling anyone, and likely never will. Why tell the hackers what to look for? I'm almost certain the design would mean that flashcarts will have to break a copy-protection encryption, which will allow Nintendo to shut down flashcart importers under the DMCA.

I think the "dongle" idea is more feasable, though. Put a Dongle chip in each 3DS cart, and load it with crypto. To put ROM dumps onto a flashcart would be useless, as the dump would fail the check. To circumvent would require modifying the ROM dump to strip-out the check, which, while not impossible, would drive-down the number of ROM dumps available to be put on flash carts as only the most serious pirates would take the time and effort do that kind of crack. There is a history of publishers toying with this kind of thing on the DS.

Question. Early DS pirates needed a GBA slot for some reason, so could pirates not do a similar trick? Also, if history is anything to go by this will be cracked at some point in the near future, esp with the regional lockout. That how the PS1 piracy scene started out.

On a unrelated note. How is the online play? The new resident evil is going to be very co-op focused.

[GameMasterGuy]

Let's see...

-Mii Plaza has an RPG and a puzzle piece game (which works like trading baseball cards)

-Magic is fairly useless in said RPG

-Both puzzle pieces and heros may be obtained by either streetpass, or for suburbians like me (or if you're from a rural area), you can buy one of either for two exercise coin things

-Updating your system before the first real updates gives you a free temporary music video

-Don't bother looking for the shop channel, it's coming in May (pretty obvious but just putting it out there)

-Face Raiders gives you more butterflies depending on what surroundings you're in

-Use Face Raider's "Show a Friend" feature on yourself, it's needed for a couple levels.

-So far, there's 5 places to spend the exercise coins:

1) AR Shop (unlock by beating the fishing, pool, and shooting dragons and trying out all 3 AR camera minigames)

2) Find Mii (in Mii Plaza)

3) The puzzle game in Mii Plaza

4) Lego Star Wars 3

5) Super Street Fighter 4 3D Edition

The only upcoming game known to use them is SSF43DE's keepable demo that includes the entire figurine mode, which is the only part that uses said coins.

[Sabre]

Oh dear, hardware issues.

http://www.giantbomb.com/news/nintendo-responds-to-3ds-black-error-screen-woes/3007/

Also eurogamer has an article on the uk price hike, but there is nothing or worth in it. It can be summed up as "Why does the 3DS cost more in the UK?" "I dunno, but I own a shop and think you should buy it."

[DZComposer]

No, software issues. It's relating to the suspend feature, meaning that the save images are likely getting corrupted when the OS writes them to the system storage. Especially since this is mostly effecting people who haven't run the system updater yet.

This doesn't brick the thing like the 360's RROD does.

[Deploy]

Oh dear, hardware issues.

http://www.giantbomb.com/news/nintendo-responds-to-3ds-black-error-screen-woes/3007/

Also eurogamer has an article on the uk price hike, but there is nothing or worth in it. It can be summed up as "Why does the 3DS cost more in the UK?" "I dunno, but I own a shop and think you should buy it."

I'm hoping Nintedo will address that issue ASAP

[DZComposer]

The early DS flashcarts needed a retail game to bypass the lockout chip. That's why the used the GBA slot.

You can be assured, though, that the 3DS's lockout is much more sophisticated. Nothing is hack-proof, but I imagine Nintendo had tons of incentive to ensure that 3DS piracy would not be as rampant as DS piracy.

I wouldn't be suprised if the 3DS's OS contained some anti-piracy features that can be changed on-the-fly like with the Wii.

[Sabre]

No, software issues. It's relating to the suspend feature, meaning that the save images are likely getting corrupted when the OS writes them to the system storage. Especially since this is mostly effecting people who haven't run the system updater yet.

This doesn't brick the thing like the 360's RROD does.

That depends. Some people can't even get to the firmware updates, and some got black screen AFTER the updates. While it might not be a hardware issue per say, the effect of bricking the system can be functionally the same, even if is a software issue. Also, it could be a hardware issue causing software issues like the WWF No Mercy on N64 where it would delete saves due to a cartridge defect. But you are right, not technically a hardware issue, still bricks systems for some though.

The early DS flashcarts needed a retail game to bypass the lockout chip. That's why the used the GBA slot.

You can be assured, though, that the 3DS's lockout is much more sophisticated. Nothing is hack-proof, but I imagine Nintendo had tons of incentive to ensure that 3DS piracy would not be as rampant as DS piracy.

I wouldn't be suprised if the 3DS's OS contained some anti-piracy features that can be changed on-the-fly like with the Wii.

The PSP and PS3 had similar systems iirc, they still got hacked. Also piracy is common on the wii. It's a lose lose situation though. Open systems are more easy to pirate, closed systems make people want to pirate. Once the DS has died I'd imagine the DS complete rom sets will become very popular.

[Guest Mr. Nintendo]

Tip: There are some features in AR games that are useless and shouldn't be bought unless you're not going to mess with them. They are Clock and Globe. (If you spun the earth fast enough, it will explode and a message will say "Protect over our planet." and basically, you lose the feature and you have to buy it again. What's the message supposed to mean anyway? What "2012" will look like?)

[DZComposer]

PRO TIP:

Transfer Miis from your Wii to your 3DS!

On Wii:

1. Mii Channel -> Traansfer to DS* (may not appear)

1b. If Transfer to DS does not appear, on the Wiimote press A, then B, then 1, then hold 2 for a couple of seconds. Press them one at a time, not together.

3. select Mii and drag it into the green square, it will be sent to your 3DS.

On 3DS:

2. Mii Maker -> Send/Recieve -> Mii Channel (Wii)

This is a great way to generate QR codes for Wii-created Miis!

[Sideways]

Thanks for the information. Very handy!

[Vy'drach]

Sure this is rather obvious, but how do you get your 3DS photos to your PC? I know it has to do with the SD card, but do I need something particular to do that, or can I just jury rig it through my digital camera?

[Sabre]

Sure this is rather obvious, but how do you get your 3DS photos to your PC? I know it has to do with the SD card, but do I need something particular to do that, or can I just jury rig it through my digital camera?

I'm guessing it's just a card reader, maybe some software.