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DS development > Do I have to buy a DS to test games I make...?

#45010 - Intrepion - Tue Jun 07, 2005 3:41 am

Do I have to buy a DS to test games I make using PassMe/WifiMe?

I guess another way of asking is...

Are there any good DS emulators out? or is that illegal now?

Cause I remember hearing about Nintendo rounding up patents for emulation.

#45030 - tepples - Tue Jun 07, 2005 4:37 am

The patent everyone talks about covers automatically enabling speed hacks based on a CRC or other hash of a ROM in an emulator targeting a handheld game system. But it won't affect you for two reasons:
  • Generally, the emulators with speed hacks target users of (ahem) "backups", not developers.
  • Most of the claims of the patent are likely to be found invalid given that Game Boy emulators with such speed hacks existed before Nintendo applied for the patent.
Ask your attorney for the full details.

Yes, if you're developing a program for a given computing device, it is best to own hardware on which to test your program. In fact, purists such as Michel Iwaniec of the nesdev.com forum have threatened assault and battery against those who release programs that have been tested exclusively on emulators.
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