DSLink

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
There are very few or no other articles that link to this one.
Please help introduce links in articles on related topics. After links have been created, remove this message.
This article has been tagged since October 2006.

The DSLink is a 1st generation storage device used to run Nintendo DS homebrew. It allows the running Nintendo DS games and programs created by unofficial developers. It also allows the running of Nintendo DS game ROMs.

It is inserted into Slot 1 (the DS card slot) instead of Slot 2 of the DS, making it one of the first entries in the market to do this. This frees up the GBA slot allowing devices such as the Rumble Pak and the Memory Pak.

Contents

[edit] Considerations

As with all flash carts, there are many considerations that a user will need to be aware of before purchasing.

[edit] 'Time To Play' Speed Concerns

This device has a fairly long "time to play" time, meaning the time from "power on" until you're engaged in a selected program running on it is considerably longer than similar devices. On a "twitch" gaming type device intended for quick "pick up and play" gaming, this may prove inconvenient.

Formatting your microSD card in larger cluster sizes (64k, for example) markedly decreases this time.

[edit] Customizable Interface

The product can be "skinned" with user-created artwork and sound effects; no editor of any kind is provided for this task.

[edit] Flash media pricing and availability

The DSLink uses MicroSD, which as of 2-18-07, runs as cheap as $9/GB.[citation needed]

[edit] libfat Support

Many homebrew developers use a library called libfat to create Nintendo DS programs that read/write to the FAT file system used for the SD flash memory. It was released at the end of November 2006 and is not yet widely used.

[edit] Battery Issues

As with all devices such as the DSLink, there is impact on Nintendo DS battery life. Real world tests (running a Nintendo DS Lite on full brightness, running Mario Kart DS in demo mode) show the battery life to be approximately 4 hours and 43 minutes.

[edit] Working with SAVs to/from real carts

Because it uses Slot 1, it isn't possible to backup or restore EEPROM save information to or from real Nintendo DS carts. Slot 2 devices allow this.

[edit] Known Issues

There are several known issues with this product, all of which can presumably be solved with firmware/software upgrades.

[edit] Non-Working ROMs

There are many titles that function incorrectly or not at all with the DSLink.

  • The New Super Mario Bros. (mini-games do not run)
  • The Chronicles of Narnia saver files from other products do not appear to convert to DSLink format
  • Animal Crossing Wild World (slowdown during game)
  • Ultimate Spiderman (cannot get past intro scene - product website has a saver file fix)
  • Spyro - A New Beginning (glitchy graphics)
  • Tony Hawk American Sk8land (game lock up)

[edit] Working Homebrew Software

  • beUP
  • WifiVoiceChat
  • MoonShell (DSLink patcher software installs it for you, if wanted)

[edit] Software Used With The Hardware

The product comes with a Windows-based program, known as a 'patcher', that will patch game images and other software to make it compatible with the DSLink. The software also generates and copies over support files the DSLink needs to generate the menus, saver files, etc. It will also convert saver files from other similar devices and makes them compatible with the DSLink.

[edit] Specifications

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Nintendo DS homebrew
Storage devices GBA flash cartridge · GBA Movie Player · DSLink
Booting tools FlashMe · NoPass · PassMe · WiFiMe
Homebrew programming Moonshell · DSLinux · libnds · PAlib
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../d/s/l/DSLink_9be2.html"