homebrew posts (Subscribe to this feed)
Quickdev16 cart opens up wonderful world of SNES homebrew
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Oct 26th 2009 at 7:30PM } 
We're assuming that if you possess the technical know-how to craft custom SNES games, then you probably know what all that stuff means. We're also assuming that you'd be more inclined to pony up for the cart's $120 price tag than we are. That's just a tad too steep for an SNES cart -- or rather, an SNES cart that isn't a sealed, mint condition copy of Chrono Trigger.
[Via Engadget]
Modders create DS Bluetooth adapter
by JC Fletcher { Oct 20th 2009 at 7:15PM }
Using the API provided by the team, homebrew users should be able to write custom software to interface with any device that uses Bluetooth, from phones to GPS to ... PS3 controllers? The device sells for €59, but the open-source-friendly team released full schematics so you can build your own.
[Via OhGizmo]
Looks like DSi firmware 1.4 is defeated already
by JC Fletcher { Aug 6th 2009 at 6:14PM }
If 1.4 has truly been defeated, homebrew users will be able to upload photos to Facebook and play Magnetic Shaving Derby! Magical.
[YouTube video via GBATemp]
DSi Facebook update available in Europe, also blocks homebrew
by JC Fletcher { Jul 30th 2009 at 3:10PM }
The good news: DSi firmware 1.4 is now available in Europe, bringing the Facebook photo uploading capability along with it, according to an announcement by Nintendo. If you want to snap pics from your DSi and upload them to Facebook (after altering them with the DSi's image manipulation stuff, if you like), awesome!The bad news: DSi firmware 1.4 blocks flash carts. If you've been using an Acekard2i or a DSTTi to run homebrew on your DSi, you should probably not download it. If, on the other hand, you've been using a DSi flash cart to play retail games, we encourage you to update immediately. Gotta have Facebook, right?
Fan gets Sonic CD running on iPhone
by JC Fletcher { Jul 30th 2009 at 3:00AM } 
Using a custom engine called the "Retro Software Development Kit," Christian Whitehead put together a demo of Sonic CD running on the iPhone. It looks pretty much like Sonic CD, which is impressive considering that he rebuilt the game from scratch rather than porting the original source (except, presumably, for graphics). In fact, just about the only problem we can see from the demo is outside of Whitehead's control -- the fact that the iPhone doesn't have any buttons.
A note was posted yesterday to the Sega Twitter account indicating that the company had been made sufficiently aware of the demo, with the PR rep promising to "bring it up at our brainstorming meeting." Hopefully the ideas brought up at this brainstorming meeting don't include suing this guy.
[Thanks, cuteSAVAGE!]
Sony's Net Yaroze homebrew PS1 development community shutting down
by JC Fletcher { Jun 29th 2009 at 8:00PM } 
The Net Yaroze is a special black PlayStation console that allowed homebrew developers to run their own code on the system, interfacing with a computer via a serial connection. The mail-order-only system also included development software. Sony's servers allowed Yaroze users to discuss PlayStation development and even share their creations.
"We plan to make a copy of the site available for our original members," said SCEE's Paul Holman, who also said that some kind of get-together would be held for the Yaroze development community, all of whom are now left with nothing but extremely rare PlayStations.
Homebrew: This is what Patapon on DS looks like
by Majed Athab { Jun 2nd 2009 at 4:30PM }
Apparently, someone called E-eragon is working on a DS version of Patapon, looking to upgrade the original title to include stylus controls. Tiny Cartridge discovered a clip of E-eragon's work (posted after the break), and though it doesn't look as smooth as the original, it is by far a rather good-looking copy. Check out the game before Sony slams the law book on this one.
Guy runs Windows 95 on Wii, wonders why
by Randy Nelson { May 26th 2009 at 8:15PM }
Using a Wii version of the open source DOS emulator DOSbox, a Wii homebrew devotee has managed to get Windows 95 running on the console -- if your definition of "running" is "working, but just barely." In fact, the boot process spans most of two YouTube videos, which the author admits have been edited for brevity. (It takes upwards of 13 minutes just to see the taskbar.)
You're probably asking yourself, "What's the point?" and "Why even try?" Well, to prove it can be done, of course. But even the one who did it -- while providing instructions on how to replicate the process -- advises against following in his footsteps, saying, "I did it and now I can move on to more productive things." But, hey, you could be doing worse things with the system. Waste your time with videos of Wiindows 95 in sort-of action after the break!
You're probably asking yourself, "What's the point?" and "Why even try?" Well, to prove it can be done, of course. But even the one who did it -- while providing instructions on how to replicate the process -- advises against following in his footsteps, saying, "I did it and now I can move on to more productive things." But, hey, you could be doing worse things with the system. Waste your time with videos of Wiindows 95 in sort-of action after the break!
Nintendo convinces eBay and Amazon to ban DS flashcarts
by JC Fletcher { May 22nd 2009 at 12:30PM }
Nintendo has announced that it has reached an agreement with Amazon and eBay through which the shopping sites will prohibit the sale of the R4 and other DS flashcarts. "Nintendo is pleased with the co-operation it has received from both eBay and Amazon to prevent the sales of game copying devices," Nintendo's global head of anti-piracy, Jodie Daughtery told MCV. eBay has actually pulled auctions for copying devices for years (presumably as an "item encouraging illegal activity), so if there is a policy update, it involves even more vigilant policing of auctions.
Amazon UK games director Chris Poad told MCV that Amazon has a "notice and take down" process for its third-party Marketplace. "So where a third party believes that their IP has been infringed, they can highlight it and we can take it down. This is what happened in the case of the R4."
Now Nintendo just has the rest of the Internet to deal with in its efforts to curtail DS piracy (and, as an extremely unfortunate side effect, homebrew).
New FPS on the way -- for Dreamcast
by JC Fletcher { May 18th 2009 at 8:10PM }
Hypertension is a reimagining of Blood, made in the Doom-based EDGE engine. The use of fairly antiquated technology, and source material, seem appropriate for a game being released on a console that came out in 1999 After the break, you can see some footage of the current alpha version of Hypertension, which is looking very Doomy. TDGMods has yet to specify a release date for the game, but it's not like there's a rush at this point. The Dreamcast will still be old.
[Via Sega Nerds]
'Super Monkey Kong' renders Donkey Kong in LEDs
by JC Fletcher { Apr 16th 2009 at 7:00AM }
The Meggy Jr. is a build-it-yourself handheld console with a striking 8x8 LED display, programmed using the open-source Arduino platform. Somehow, clever game designers have managed to shoehorn playable, fun video games into that astoundingly low-resolution display (which, to use TV terms, would be "8p").Programmer Steven Read has now created "the world's first LED Donkey Kong video game" for the device. The graphics are, naturally, scaled down, and each level now spans multiple screens, but Super Monkey Kong retains the essence of Donkey Kong -- climbing girders and avoiding barrels and fireballs. It even adds a bit of complexity. At the top of the level, you have to jump up and headbutt "Monkey Kong" in the LED beanbag five times to win. Unfortunately, like the NES version, this one lacks the cement factory level.
See Super Monkey Kong for yourself at Read's site.
[Via GameSetWatch]
Bob's (playable) Game: Homebrew demo released
by JC Fletcher { Mar 31st 2009 at 9:40AM }
We're a bit shocked to see that Robert Pelloni has done something in relation to Bob's Game other than release fake news. In fact, the release of a real, playable demo goes a long way in our minds toward faking an alien abduction. Maybe. At the very least, it's finally something we can believe -- who could ever tell if anything Bob (or the character "Bob") said was real?The demo is an NDS file and thus requires either a flash cart or a DS emulator. The Bob's Game website says that the game works in NO$GBA. Now here's the really freaky part: we haven't loaded it up yet, but based on early reports from sites like Infendo, it's ... pretty cool! Bob seems to be delivering on the idea of a game about growing up with Nintendo, combining a real-world RPG about "Bob" with Retro Game Challenge-style, Nintendo-inspired minigames.
[Thanks, Sean!]
Waninkoko's Wii USB loader demoed
by Xav de Matos { Mar 30th 2009 at 9:00PM }
While the software isn't currently available, a pre-release version has ironically been leaked but is said to be unusable for the time being. However, footage of the software in action (found after the break) shows the current release does work. Of course, as our sister site Engadget notes, we are inching up on April Fool's Day so the entire thing could really be too good to be true. But all signs from forum crawlers point to Waninkoko's software as the real deal.
[Via Engadget]
Wii System Menu updated to 3.5 in Korea
by JC Fletcher { Mar 5th 2009 at 4:30PM }
A preview of what's on the way for the rest of the world: four months after 3.4, Nintendo has sent out Wii System Menu version 3.5 in Korea. The specific feature changes are as yet unknown, but in terms of security updates, it includes IOS254 code, which, like IOS9, blocks the use of the PatchMii program (a custom update manager tool). The new menu apparently adds some kind of updates to the Shop Channel, and adds a "Region Select Channel," which the Wiibrew wiki suggests is nowhere near as exciting as it sounds. Until we find out for certain that this somehow blocks new installations of the Homebrew Channel, or removes existing ones, we're going to refrain from panicking. And even in that case, we don't mind waiting a week or so for someone to fix it.
Japan court bans sale of DS homebrew-enabling R4 flash carts
by David Hinkle { Feb 27th 2009 at 10:46AM }
The Tokyo District Court placed an injunction on the Chinese cart manufacturers who make the R4 today, making it illegal to sell the cartridge in Japan. It has already disappeared from shops and Nintendo, Capcom, and Square Enix have all come forward with their support. These companies haven't ceased their efforts yet, however, as they've vowed to continue pursuing those responsible for similar devices.R4 carts, along with other flash carts, allow users to run homebrew (and pirated) material on their DS or DS Lite (no dice on the upcoming DSi, folks). If this is all still over your head, then check out our guide to homebrew on the DS right here.
[Via Eurogamer]
