gbadev.org forum archive

This is a read-only mirror of the content originally found on forum.gbadev.org (now offline), salvaged from Wayback machine copies. A new forum can be found here.

Beginners > New To DS Coding, General Question

#119608 - Pr09aN1g0d - Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:24 pm

I have been coding C/C++ for about 9 years now and have just recently decided I want to make my own NintendoDS game. However, before I start, there are some questions I have and I am not sure where to find the answers.

1. Can I write a game and play it on my physical DS (not an emulator)?
2. What hardware is required to do such?
3. What software is required to do such?
4. Where can I find tutorials on how to program a game for my DS?

Thank you in advance for the help!

#119610 - tepples - Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:30 pm

Pr09aN1g0d wrote:
I have been coding C/C++ for about 9 years now and have just recently decided I want to make my own NintendoDS game.

Have you familiarized yourself with the GBA hardware first? The DS 2D video architecture is a direct descendant of the (slightly less complex) GBA video architecture.

Quote:
However, before I start, there are some questions I have and I am not sure where to find the answers.

1. Can I write a game and play it on my physical DS (not an emulator)?

Yes.

Quote:
2. What hardware is required to do such?

A NoPass card and a SLOT-2 flash card. For details, see the sticky topics in the DS Flash Equipment forum.

Quote:
4. Where can I find tutorials on how to program a game for my DS?

See the stickies in the DS development forum.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

#119611 - Pr09aN1g0d - Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:03 pm

thanks again for the help!

#119622 - Firon - Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:10 pm

A Slot-1 device will also work if you have no interested in GBA mode, or if you want to work within the memory restrictions of the DS (no additional memory).

#119627 - tepples - Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:43 pm

Firon wrote:
A Slot-1 device will also work if you have no interested in GBA mode

Many DS 2D tutorials tend to assume familiarity with GBA mode, and most GBA-native homebrew programs have not been ported to the DS. For these reasons, I would recommend against having no interest in GBA mode and would therefore recommend against owning only a SLOT-1 device. To approximate the memory restrictions of SLOT-1 if you only have a SLOT-2 card and a NoPass, use .nds files and don't use GBFS or similar appended datafile systems.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.