DS games know their hardware?
by Blake Snow 
{ Jun 12th 2006 at 10:00AM }
Reports are coming in that some DS games might know whether they are being played on a DS Lite as seen in the above video. When starting Mario Kart DS on the original DS, notice Mario's "Yahoo!" as compared with his DS Lite's "Here we go!"
However, another video suggests that this may be a game setting such as percentage of completion, etc. Do any readers or super Nintendo nerds want to shed light on the discrepancy?
However, another video suggests that this may be a game setting such as percentage of completion, etc. Do any readers or super Nintendo nerds want to shed light on the discrepancy?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Devo @ Jun 12th 2006 10:08AM
It wouldn't be the first time that a Nintendo (heck even specifically a Mario Kart) game had a different opening or different music or different Main Menu image depending on completion. Hasn't Mario Kart DS been out for quite awhile as well? Do we really think they started programming so that games would care which system they are being played on?
anonymous @ Jun 12th 2006 10:10AM
Just tried on my old Phat DS, and i just get yahoo, i've complted the game, not stars on all courses though. I've also completed the mission things aswell. all stars i think...
I tried button combinations but they just seemed to make it say nothing at all. Dunno if thats new...
Chris @ Jun 12th 2006 10:11AM
According to the DS SDK and official Nintendo Tech support, there is no way to detect the type of DS used.
I even tested the same copy of Mario Kart on a DS and a DS Lite. No difference.
Pixelbox @ Jun 12th 2006 10:11AM
Reports also seem to confirm that the red Mario Kart phat DS did the "Here we go" thing. So whatever change has happened is likely the most recent DS firmware update, not the DS lite hardware.
JodyAnthony @ Jun 12th 2006 10:13AM
uh, my mario kart ds has said 'here we go' as long as i can remember, on an electric blue ds.
MeeKs @ Jun 12th 2006 10:23AM
i have a red ds and a ds lite. when mario kart is in the red ds mario says yahoo! and when in the ds lite he says here we go. the game has been beaten but not all the stars.
thrillho @ Jun 12th 2006 10:31AM
the old style DS (I wont say Phat or fat DS) looks like it was mkds without all the missions, and the lite one was (notice the start screen on the lite one).
Frexy @ Jun 12th 2006 10:36AM
Beat it, 100%, everything there is to beat, got an original DS...
Still says 'Yahoo' at the beginning...
Guess it's some firmware thingy...
Nushio @ Jun 12th 2006 10:41AM
Here's the deal:
Whenever you play Mario Kart on a "normal" DS you get Yahoo.
However, by using some sort of mod, such as the "secret" track unlocker for NWFC, you get Here we go.
It probably reads the header or something.
Our theory [before Lite was shed into us] was that Nintendo detected modded MKDS, turns out we were waaaaaaaay wrong though.
Stoli @ Jun 12th 2006 10:41AM
Trippy. Must be a firmware thing...I have a DS Phat (got it at launch) and I hear "Yahoo!". But on my DS Lite, Mario says "Here we go!".
Olly @ Jun 12th 2006 10:45AM
Just a long shot, but perhaps it's release dependant? Did the game get tweaked after release, with newer copies having a different sound? Or maybe its random? Mine still says 'yahoo', both before and after I completed everything.
boywundr @ Jun 12th 2006 10:50AM
Just my thoughts but could it have anything to do with whether or not this person transferred the WiFi info or not? Maybe he noticed it because the original booted up with the DS/online info synched and the new one didn't have the info transferred yet.
Then again... why would I care? It's a simple noise that does NOTHING for the gameplay. Oh well, I've spent more than enough time thinking about it...
Jake @ Jun 12th 2006 10:54AM
Could it be a regional thing? I.e. a different region DS brings up a different sound?
sam @ Jun 12th 2006 11:02AM
Mine is different in my ds phat(yahoo) and ds lite(here we go). i bought it the day it came out so the release date theory is wrong. i just transferred wifi settings back to my phat ds but it still says yahoo and my lite still says here we go. so the wifi theory is wrong. It plays diferrent sounds on different systems. its a simple as that.
martin @ Jun 12th 2006 11:03AM
It matters because Mario is watching you. What will he say when you boot up Mario Kart DS on your Pr0n infested web enabled DS OPERA!?
KR @ Jun 12th 2006 11:12AM
HERE IS YOUR DEFINITIVE ANSWER - the first time you play Mario Kart DS, it says "here we go." From then on, it's "yahoo" (although it sounds more like "wh-hoo" to me).
Whether or not you're on a DS Lite is irrelevant.
Can we please stop the specualtion now?
Doomstalk @ Jun 12th 2006 11:19AM
My red DS says "yahoo!"
SuperChuck @ Jun 12th 2006 11:33AM
Could it be based on gamer ID or the machine's serial number? For instance, it may flip-flop based on whether the last digit of the serial number is odd or even...
Brandon Daiker @ Jun 12th 2006 11:52AM
Here is the definitive answer regarding comment #16: he is wrong. My 100% beaten game says "yahoo" every time on the old DS, and "Here we go" every time on the new DS Lite.
Firmware revisions FTW; this explains why electric blue and hot-rod red have the "here we go" too.
Babylonian @ Jun 12th 2006 12:16PM
I never heard 'Here we go' until I put my incomplete copy of Mario Kart into my DS Lite.
Rare Hare @ Jun 12th 2006 12:20PM
k.. i have no idea, but i have a question:
Is it worth it to trade in my old DS and spend a little more money and pick up a DS Lite? i don't play my DS as it is heavily, but i'm planning on picking up Mario Kart DS, Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, and Final Fantasy III for it. i think i would play it more because of its size (easier to carry in a jeans pocket).
orrr.. since i don't play it that heavily, should i just stick with my old DS?
Sockatume @ Jun 12th 2006 12:20PM
I've had both on my original DS, although "Here We Go" has come up more seldom than "YAHOO!" (I think I've only had the former once). It was the Mario Kart Bundle (which in Europe is a plain old silver DS kit plus a copy of the game).
Perhaps it gives "Yahoo" when you auto-boot it, and "Here We Go" when you load from the menu?
Matjaz "MaHe" Hegedic @ Jun 12th 2006 12:33PM
It only depends if something is sitting in the GBA slot, believe me ;)
Vince @ Jun 12th 2006 12:37PM
Heres the definate answer - Newer DS units along with the DS lite have updated firmware, which Mario Kart DS detects. The DS lite in the second video was imported before the firmware was updated. Any DS or DS lite using updated firmware will say "Here we go!!!" while an un-updated firmware such as a long-imported DS Lite or a normal DS will say, "Yahoo".
StRaNgE @ Jun 12th 2006 1:04PM
my son has a blue DS (got it at launch) and I hear "Yahoo!". But on my DS Lite, Mario says "Here we go!" i also got Mario Kart launch day.
Crazylink @ Jun 12th 2006 1:14PM
My red Phat DS says yahoo.
theiloth @ Jun 12th 2006 1:19PM
The 'Here we go' clip is the sounds played when the cartridges is used for the first time in the DS, regardless of version.
Tim Shrimpton @ Jun 12th 2006 1:22PM
My DS Phat and DS Lite have all always said "yahoo"
Dan @ Jun 12th 2006 1:36PM
Number 16, you're right. It's been noted elsewhere that the first time you play Mario Kart, Mario says something different to the rest of the time. When you play the game on a different DS, it will be like playing it for the first time, as each game knows what DS they're being played on. The friend code will have changed as well - new DS, see?
Ron Howard @ Jun 12th 2006 1:42PM
my fat DS has always said "Here we go" when playing Mario Kart. I've had it more than a year so I doubt it has the new firmware.
jpxdude @ Jun 12th 2006 4:28PM
You people have never really invested the time in Mario Kart so it seems...
Ever since I got my copy for the plain old DS Phat grey, I've noticed it say both the 'Ya-hoo' and 'Here we go' It is just completely randomised...Maybe if you catch it at a point in time or something, you may catch the difference (The DS has a in-built clock, folks, play at certain times, and different events can trigger in game)
Although, I am 100% certain, that restarting the DS a few times over, you will eventually hear both at separate intervals. Try it, I guarantee within 20 restarts, you'll get both 'ya-hoo' or 'here we go' on separate occasions.
KR @ Jun 12th 2006 4:41PM
Thanks for backing me up, 29, even if other people in this thread either a) just feel like arguing for some reason or b) are idiots.
DMON @ Jun 12th 2006 8:35PM
tried it both a silver and a lite. restarted it many times each. the lite always said here we go. the silver always said yahoo. both are set to the same time. i say the firmware.
DCFC Fan @ Jun 12th 2006 8:51PM
31, 29, you're right. I don't have a DS lite and have heard it say both. I always was under the impression that it changed with a percentage of completion.
This question of "does the game know?" is ridiculous. If it's written to check for some difference, then yes it could detect you were on a lite. Why is this so amazing?
I can't believe this story was picked up after seeing it on Kotaku and 4cr. There is no truth to the "ds lite makes different mario noise" rumor. Just because someone is unobservant, or doesn't notice nuances like completion of certain circuits unlock things, including different title screens, and sounds.
Slow news day.
...Jan... Medi @ Jun 12th 2006 11:06PM
I'm pretty sure it's firmware. And here's how to check.
Go to PictoChat Room A. Take out your DS game card.
If it freezes, it's version 1 firmware. These are the firmware loaded to the original DS's.
Version 2 firmware are the next batch of DS's before the Electric Blue. I forgot what happens in PictoChat with this version.
Version 3 firmware are loaded on Electric Blues. After going to PictoChat Room A and taking out the game, the screen will turn dark green.
There are 6 firmwares. With teh DS lite having the most recent. Test out your DS to see version yours is. A certain color should happen if yours isn't a launch DS.
As for the Mario Kart sound. A random sound is chosen. And it uses it from that point on. It's just that the Red DS's firmware and lite's firmware are more suseptible to the "Here we go"
Kat @ Jun 12th 2006 11:47PM
Did anyone else notice that the Brain Age start-up screens on the Ars Technica mega-review are slightly different between the lite and old?
Wolfkin @ Jun 13th 2006 8:38AM
I think if there was a game that would detect it would be Metroid Prime. Isn't the screen gap different in the DS Lite? It would be trivial to just test out mPinball and see if the game compensates appropriately.
spudhunter @ Jun 13th 2006 12:39PM
It's "Here We Go!" the first time you play it on that DS.
Every time after that it's "Yahoo".
It has nothing to do with the DS lite/what firmware version/whatever.
Kerri @ Jun 13th 2006 3:03PM
Tried out my son's Mario Kart in his regular DS. It says "yahoo". He has made quite a bit of progress, so he's farther on in the game.
In my ds lite, it says "here we go". Odd and interesting.
Hope some light will be shed upon this. It's quite curious.
TerraPhantm @ Jun 21st 2006 9:18PM
On my DS lite it always says "here we go" even though it's not the first time I played. FWIW, when I check the firmware version, my screens turn magenta.