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DS development > What I need to develop for the NDS

#136303 - Renaud - Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:59 am

Hi
I want to start programming for the NDS and order a dev kit. What exactly do I need to order to get started?

Thanks for the help.

#136304 - calcprogrammer1 - Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:07 am

You don't have to order a dev kit. Homebrew developers use devkitpro www.devkitpro.org and if you want to make it easy on yourself, get PAlib www.palib.info which requires an installation of devkitpro.
_________________
DS Firmware 1, Datel Games n' Music card / Chism's FW hacked GBA MP v2 CF

There's no place like 127.0.0.1.

#136307 - tepples - Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:16 am

In order to run your programs on the DS, you'll need to order some sort of flash card. A lot of people like the R4 adapter, which takes microSD memory cards.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

#136329 - Renaud - Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:13 pm

thanks guys

#136335 - calcprogrammer1 - Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:24 pm

If you want a flashcart that you can get in stores, I got a Games n' Music at Best Buy, but you can get it at almost anywhere.
_________________
DS Firmware 1, Datel Games n' Music card / Chism's FW hacked GBA MP v2 CF

There's no place like 127.0.0.1.

#136527 - Renaud - Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:15 pm

Hey guys, I told my boss we didn't need to order a dev kit, and that we could just use devkitpro. But he argues with me that we do need a dev kit. Why would developers order a dev kit when they can do it for free with devkitpro??? Oh and we applied to be an Authorized Developper, where just waiting on acceptance (if that matters?). Can anybody shed some light on this matter?

#136529 - calcprogrammer1 - Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:19 pm

If you're going to be authorized, you'll probably get the official Nintendo devkit, which is only for authorized Nintendo licensed programmers. If you aren't licensed, anyone can get the free devkitPro and use libnds. Note that the official SDK probably won't support 3rd party things like DLDI or flashcarts, because it is designed to work with official cartridges and 1st party Nintendo products only.
_________________
DS Firmware 1, Datel Games n' Music card / Chism's FW hacked GBA MP v2 CF

There's no place like 127.0.0.1.

#136542 - Lynx - Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:29 pm

And Nintendo requries you to use their official Devkit to create commercial games.
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NDS Homebrew Roms & Reviews

#136546 - Renaud - Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:38 pm

I started familiarinzing my self a little using devkitpro, but what is best to use? devkitpro? or the kit that we have to buy? Is it possible we won't be able to publish our games or run into problems if we use devkitpro? We plan on having our games published on cartridge.

Sorry for all the questions, Im very new at console development.

#136548 - Renaud - Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:42 pm

Thanks Lynx...just what I needed to know....

#136549 - jerbob92 - Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:43 pm

if you want to develop games you need to know something about it, if you want to publish one just take the official one just to be sure!

#136551 - Renaud - Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:49 pm

We've been developing games for years for the PC, but this is the first time we attempt to get into console stuff. So If I start developing with devkitpro (until we actually get an official kit in house), how hard would it be to move my projects over to the Official dev kit environment?

#136552 - jerbob92 - Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:04 pm

i don't know, i think none of us here worked with the official pack, i don't think it is to hard ;) coding on ds isn't easy

#136553 - Renaud - Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:20 pm

Ok... Yeah I didnt imagine it being easy hehe. I'm looking foward to getting my hands durty though.

#136554 - jerbob92 - Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:38 pm

but still, how big is that company, has it an office and so on? like to know some more about it :D just interested :P maybe i can help with some graphics

#136570 - Renaud - Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:01 pm

Were Gogii games, we've done some retail stuff. But most of our inhouse dev is downloadable casual games, you can see most of our games on online publishers like BigFishGames and Real...Yeah we have an office, were located in NB Canada. What kind of experience do you have doing art? I don't think were in need of an artist right away though...

#136596 - chishm - Fri Aug 03, 2007 2:15 am

You'll have to use the official SDK for commercial games (as already said). Using it, you won't have direct control of the ARM7, so all things controlled by the ARM7 (sound, touchscreen, wifi) have to be accessed through the libraries supplied with the SDK.
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#136621 - jerbob92 - Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:26 am

Renaud wrote:
Were Gogii games, we've done some retail stuff. But most of our inhouse dev is downloadable casual games, you can see most of our games on online publishers like BigFishGames and Real...Yeah we have an office, were located in NB Canada. What kind of experience do you have doing art? I don't think were in need of an artist right away though...


well my computer crashed like 3 weeks ago and i had to reinstall xp so all my things are gone, but since that i made this little preview:

[Images not permitted - Click here to view it] it's in gif so not high quality