Okay so, I am about to order an r4 and 4gb sd chip. Now, from my understanding (I've never used anything like this before), you actually load the games onto the sd card, and insert the sd card INTO the r4 card, which you then place into the DS, correct? Seems weird to be able to insert something INTO something as small as a DS game. Do I need anything besides the r4 and sd card? Any sort of cable or anything? How do I get the games from the PC to the sd card? (Again, never used anything like this before... including an sd card, I don't have a digicam or anything). And lastly, will I be able to load GBA games onto the sd card? Or will I have to buy the actual GBA flash cart and linker for that? I'm actually looking forward to the GBA more than the DS, but I'd rather have both if I could.
I couldn't find an edit button anywhere, but I thought that maybe it would help if I linked you to what I would be buying. http://www.consolesource.com/ecomm/catalog/R4DS-SDHC-w-4GB-MicroSD-Card-p-2876.html
All you need is the flashcart and micro SD For GBA games you need a 3 in 1 expansion pack R4 = bad choice, there are 40 different carts all using the R4 name and most now get infrequent updates. Look on this site how many threads there are with people trying to get them to work If GBA is a big + then get an M3 Real perfect pack as the M3 3 in 1 runs directly from the Flashcart and does not need an exploder program to transfer the games Otherwise Acekard, EZ Flash, Cyclo DS, M3 Real.
I have no idea what any of that is or how much it costs. You need to talk to me like I'm 5 years old here. Why would I need updates on the r4? It either plays games, or it doesn't.
1) As new games come out there are new encryption techniques to stop them being played. The original R4 (way ahead of its time) has had no updates for 18 months, since then 39 other cards have called themselves R4 to cash in on the good name. Most are very poor and do not play all the games. Reliable updates and simple to update is the most important features. If you wish to play GBA games - then this pack includes the GBA expansion pack needed to play them http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14165 The interface is very good and easy to use. Just need a micro SD card (8GB Sandisk are the best)
According to the reviews, it's not a very good product unless you actually know what you're doing, which I don't. Also, I'm limited to $50 (CAD), AFTER taxes and shipping, for the entire package. I don't know what micro sd cards are worth but I'm sure I couldn't afford the 8 gb.
All flashcarts are the same. 1) Buy flashcart 2) Buy micro SD card 3) Download required firmware and unzip it - this is very problematic with R4's which is why they are not a good buy 4) Put firmware on the micro SD 5) Create a new folder called NDS, Games or whatever you like 6) Put the roms into this folder. If you are looking for ease of use then AceKard and M3 Real are very simple and cheap - the M3 Real on its own (no GBA Pack) is $16 You need to decide what you want, if you want to play GBA roms then you have to have an Expander, anything other than M3 Real and you need an exploder program to operate it the Deluxe pack is $33 inc shipping, this gives you $17 for a micro SD?!!
Depends, size, where you are - at this point you need to do your own homework, try amazon, ebay etc and find out
Then it's safe to say that microSD cards are universal and that there are no specific types to buy? For example, if I just go to walmart and buy a 4bg microSD card it's guaranteed to be compatible with any and all R4-type NDS cards? I just kinda liked the fact that it was all coming as one package with everything I need. And what about the reader? The one I showed you came with the microSD, the r4, and some kind of reader. Is that something I would have to buy seperately too? The reason I'm not doing my own homework here is because if I pick up facts from here and there about all these different products, I'm going to get mixed results and conflicting information. Everywhere I've looked on the net so far has told me that R4 cards are THE best you can possibly get and that they are the best thing you can get for your nintendo DS. It's all over youtube as well.
Nevermind, the reader was in the package you linked me to, it didn't specify that it would come with a reader, but after looking closely at the screenshots I see that there is a reader included. So just to confirm, I'm buying a 2gb micro SD card at walmart tonight. Once I have that, and the package you sent me, I am COMPLETELY capable of playing every DS game currently released, and that the firmware for this piece of hardware will update so that I can play Pokemon heartgold and soulsilver when it comes out? One problem I'm finding is that the site you linked me to tell me that I should download its firmware in order to use this device, but when I go to the link, there's nowhere to download it, and the mirror site I get linked to is a big mess of crap and I can't tell what to download. Any help there?
Found the firmware. My life for an edit button. And it appears as though this firmware update came out just yesterday and added 30 or 40 new games, so I guess that answers my pokemon question too. Thanks. Sometimes even if I don't get direct answers, I just need to brainstorm about it to figure things out.
I just posted on this I to bought (Four) R4-sdhc from consolesource same set up. They seem to work. Very fine print you will see on the package to visit here for your firmware. Found this after trying the wrong firmware. Here is the post I just put up I'm not sure if I'm going to keep them. I was using a 2G EZ Flash V plus card and loved it. Game Load time seems a bit slow with the R4-SDHC card I have now. I can't create game folders. Although if they keep supporting their hard ware it will auto update the firmware with its built in WiFi connection. And with that looks like you can directly Download software.
