Makin' it at home

Hello everyone! I'm Luna Saisho, and thanks for reading my first article for Digital Stardust! As a bit of an introduction, here's a little bit about myself... I'm an early 30-something Japanese/American woman who's been into gaming almost all her life. Starting with a hand-me-down Commodore 64, where you could easily make your own software, I was hooked. The hook really sunk in deep for me with the Sega Genesis and what is still my favorite game, Lunar: The Silver Star. I own more consoles then any person should, including a Virtual Boy! I also have a good gaming class PC that doesn't get used as much because erm, well, I don't get any Gamerpoints on there. heehee You can look me up on XBL as Luna Saisho, if you'd like, and I have a few friend codes for some DS games that you can always ask for. I'm very glad to be part of DiS, as I always have something to say, and this format fits me well.

I'm also a big fan of Japanese music star, Ayumi Hamasaki and run a web site about her. There's just something about that voice that pulls me in...

So let's get into this, shall we? Oh, wait a second... Before I really do get into this, I should mention that Digital Stardust does not condone piracy of video games, and this article is all about getting homebrew software that you can run on your DS with the right hardware. We are also unable to assist you in setting up the programs mentioned in this article, or to act as an information resource in obtaining this software. Sorry readers, you're on your own with that. Remember, Google is your friend, and these flashcards can be used for good, and not evil.

And on we go....

There is an area of console development whose waters are only starting to be tread. This would be homemade software development for consoles. Small developers are starting to get their fantastic new projects on Xbox Live Arcade, the PlayStation Network, and WiiWare. XBLA will even have games made through their XNA home development in the future. But what about the lone person sitting in front of their PC making software that takes advantage of a security hole to make an emulator on a PSP, or that same person who makes a great game to run on the Nintendo DS? They're out there, and they're making software that the console makers would never dream of having on their systems.

So why would I write about this when there's so many illegal things that can be done with a flashcard? Freedom of programing, innovation and simply making that one app that you always wanted on your handheld. For this article, I'm concentrating on the Nintendo DS, my area of expertise. Keeping in mind, I'm only a user of these applications, and not a programmer (the programmer of me is still back with that C64). I only fall into the trap that is human creativity unleashed.

First, I mentioned how illegal things can be done. In order to run homebrew software on your DS, you need what is called a flash cartridge, or flashcard for short. These are marvelous devices, I tell you. Simply put a MicroSD card up to 2/4gb (depending on the card) into a DS shaped game card, and you've opened up a world in gray space. A few of the more popular ones are the R4DS and M3 Simply, and both of these work almost identically. Like I said above, we won't help you find one, but if you're familiar with the Internet, you might have a way to find it.

Let's get the bad out of the way, the part Nintendo wishes you didn't know. A flash card will allow you to run any DS software. Yes, any. How about a game of Mario Kart DS? Yep, if you can find it, you can put it on there and play as if that card was actually in your DS. Even more into the gray, you can also watch video. It comes with a converter to make many movie file formats into .DPG, which plays with very decent quality on your DS through a homemade app called Moonshell. No, it's not PSP or iPod quality, but you'll still find it easy to view. How about a handheld picture viewer with a better screen then an iPod (pretend the iPod Touch and iPhone don't exist for this part) and built in stereo speakers to play your MP3s?

All this is part of the homemade software scene.

Let me give you an example of why this interests me so much. While I am a gamer, there are certain devices I think work well in one. For instance, the Nintendo DS is ideal for showing pictures, video on the go, and the touch screen makes contact management a breeze. Even a well programmed MP3 player can make you happy! Let me tell you about just a few of what's made the homemade software scene so interesting for me...

DSOrganize - This is the premiere contact management system for your DS. Just like a Palm or other handheld "computer", you can put any aspect of a contact in here. It doesn't stop here, though, with a very good quality picture viewer, the ability to run your games from inside so you don't have to go to your card's main menu to do so. Combine this with the ability to edit text files, and work with the files on your card, and you have a winner. It also has a mostly text based web browser that works, but let's just say that web browsing is not the DS' strong point. Since this will run without the official browser's memory expansion, if there are many inline images, they won't all display. This software is a must have for every flashcard owner.

Moonshell - They give you a version of this with the R4 software, and is easy to install with most any flashcard. This, simply put, is your main media player. MP3s, DPG format video, and an MP3 player are all part of this simple app.

iPod DS - Moonshell does a good job, but you've always wanted an iPod, right? Well, here's the best of both worlds! Sorta. Kinda. ^_^ Your top screen is a replica of an iPod's screen, and the bottom is your touch wheel, which oddly works just like an iPod.

Pocket Physics - Simple, and entertaining. Draw anything, and tap play to let physics take over. A while of use will cause it to crash, but it's a lot of fun to get that set of dominoes to fall just right, or to fill a little bowl of shapes that are acting as if real gravity is affecting them.

Sudoky - A very recent app I've learned about not only lets you play Sudoku, but will also solve Sudoku puzzles, presenting you with the best solution if there is more then one.

Starlite - This is more of a proof of concept then anything else, especially since Blizzard asked them to cease development, and it's almost impossible to find now. Starlite is a DS version of Starcraft, and while very early in development, and hoping to get Blizzard's blessing, was impressive. You could make buildings and troops, and send them out to slaughter the enemy, which looked just like you, but red instead of blue. ^_^ Sound, graphics, perfect touch control, wow. I wish this one continued. The developer's intentions was to get this to be an official StarCraft for the DS, but alas, it won't happen.

Emulation is strong on the DS. Since, in the US and many countries, backups of console/handheld games is illegal, this runs into the grayest of areas. Own the original game of what you emulate, don't distribute it, you probably won't be bothered. But as most of this article is concerned, we're not responsible for what you run on your system. Emulators themselves are not illegal, but watch yourself with ROMs. We can't be held responsible, and would rather you buy your games. It's the only way more will come out. So, back to the subject... Some are still early in development, like the Genesis/MegaDrive emu with no sound yet. But what else is there? How about Super Nintendo and Original NES? I always wanted a portable version of those when I was a kid! Ki-ko-ken! ^_~

What I talked about here only touches the surface of what you can do, or what's in development in some parent's basements. I present these as a show to console makers that they don't have to make money off of everything on a given console, and should release a certain amount of control that will allow people to make their own software. Put homebrew into a protected area of a handheld, let people make this software, and you'll see your DS do things that will make your life happier and more fun! ^_^ The DS may not be a powerhouse under the hood compared to some, but it can hold its own very well. I would love to see the DS, and even PSP, have a part open to developers at home, wanting to make the next great concept an actual application.

Stop Challenging Everything!

"I've been around this here internet a few times" and have definitely played witness to more than a few instances of anti-Electronic Arts sentiment. Common criticisms are cookie cutter games made for cheap profit, bastardization of smaller studios upon acquisition, and inferior product being pushed out due to deadline priorities. Sounds like your typical corporate America company. EA breaks the mold and not in a good way necessarily.

Gamers have been relatively spolied by a good abundance of titles that generally sport solid back end coding. A lot of this rests with the 1980s Nintendo limiting releases from third party publishers to no more than a few per year and setting a quality bar. Not every game for the NES was deemed a critical success - but the back end code was good, as opposed to the wildly varying subject matter. Generally your character would not spontaneously fall through the floor, explode, fly into oblivion, or randomly die in any manner. With EA taking more of the market since the late 1990s, however, the term "Getting EA-ed" has been coined on Xbox Live, to indicate when some spontaneous error has occured that should not have.

It is not uncommon now to purchase an EA-published game or game by its second party developers on release day only to find that an update has been released through Xbox Live or the Playstation Network the second you pop in the disc. For $60+ a pop gamers deserve better than this. Perhaps this is where the Wii wins - Nintendo does not allow for game patches on WiiConnect24 and so developers must more ruggedly test their code.

Another common criticism of EA is their forcing of gamers to upgrade to newer editions of franchise games by limiting or completely shutting down online play once a new edition has come out. Recently this was done for some of the older Burnout games and is regularly done with EA Sports-brand titles. This is no new strategy either - EA planned this years ago when they wrested control of their titles' online components from the primary Xbox Live servers. EA again screws gamers - for $50 a year games deserve to have access to online functionality in their games as advertised. On the flipside some speculation does exist as to if Xbox 360-based EA titles can be so easily fettered with due to Microsoft's strict Live-Experience requirements and underlying console dashboard in all games. This theory is further supported by the restoration of Burnout 3's online capabilities due to the recent re-release of the game in the Live Marketplace. Only time will tell.

I'm getting so very tired of this BS coming out of the biggest American publisher. This isn't good for the industry, good for gamers, or good for other publishers. EA is setting precedents that only contribute to the lowering of game standards and the value per dollar that I dish out for games and online service.

EA, get with the program. You're starting to lose your market share from a combination of bad ideas and practices and you missed the Wii entirely. Bring back the days of Nerf Wars and get back to the industry's roots - unfettered creativity. After all, a cookie cutter is a cookie cutter and you're far better than that if you want to be.

DiS On Vacation

I've been trying to make at least one post per week and so far it seems like this is a success. I will not be posting between now and January 30th, however, as I take a personal vacation. When I get back look forward to DiS's first full length feature and the start of Luna's commentaries. See you then!

Super Smash Bros. Brawl - A Prayer

Oh wise Nintendo Gods, we the followers of Wii, come before you today to beg your mercy. We present a sacrifice to you as a sign of our devotion and plead that you do not announce that Smash Bros Brawl is being delayed to March. 

Oh Gods, we grow weary of waiting and of the delays. Our Japanese counterparts receive your blessings so much sooner and after so much time we were true believers in your scripture of closely timed releases.

Please Gods, do not withhold your mighty blessings of ass kicking and face bashings. We understood the need for Galaxy but the time has passed.

In the name of Miyamoto, Amen.

Farewell Wavebird, We Knew Ye Well

With the Wii supporting most GameCube hardware it certainly came as a big surprise today to find out Nintendo has changed their Customer Service Center scripts to inform customers they do not intend to restock supplies of the best accessory of the last generation.

If you're anything like me you certainly are not a fan of corded controllers and can fondly remember the revolution brought on by the sudden freedom from worry and cords. No longer would anyone trip over the cord and bring your console rushing to meet the carpet (or worse, hardwood). Gone was the knot of cord formed by switching controllers in many multiplayer games. The Wavebird spelt a huge step forward for peripherals because not only was it sanctioned as a first party item, but it WORKED and damn well.

This only fit in better with the Wii. I popped the white panel off the console the day I bought it and firmly planted my three Wavebird receivers in the control ports. They don't go anywhere. It leaves me scratching my head as to why Nintendo would kill the Wavebird over the corded controller, which they state is still shipping, or at least wait for the Super Smash Bros Brawl rush to end. I'm left with once choice - get a fourth Wavebird while I can. Super Smash Bros Brawl will certainly kill off existing stock.

DiS Expansion

In celebration of the holidays I have looked to try to expand the content on my little blog as it continues its trek to internet infamy. As I close out the year I'm pleased to make the following announcements:

New Writer. Le gasp you say! "Isn't this supposed to be your blog?" To that I say "Yes, dummy. It is." Now that I'm done alienating my last 2 readers I'll get back to being serious. It is very hard to find someone who can understand your vision on projects and when you find one you should run with it. I'm pleased to announce that Luna will be joining DiS as a writer, sharing her unique insights and commentary on the state of the gaming industry. I've had the privilege of writing with Luna in the past during my professional writing days and believe she will bring even more insightful commentary to DiS. 

Luna brings a vast heritage of Sega fangirl-ness to DiS, as well as passion rarely seen these days in the industry. She is also a big fan of J-Pop artist Ayumi Hamasaki and maintains a site dedicated to the artist. Her significant other is her Dreamcast, with whom she loves regularly. Luna says she looks forward to being abused for producing an actual regular content stream for the blog. Look forward to a piece from her soon.

Content. Much to my disappointment I have not managed to update DiS as much as I intended. Thanks to Luna's assistance I've been able to nail down an intended update schedule that should kick in during 2008. It is my goal to produce a new piece of content on a weekly basis and one major analytical feature per month. Now that I've said this I will also say I'm still going to update when I want, but I do have a goal to work towards. Industry content sometimes runs low, you know.

Housekeeping and Reminders. The official abbreviation for this blog is DiS. The "i" is there so I'm not competing with the DS. Now you know.

This blog is not going to transform into IGN. There are plenty of news sites out there for video games. What you can expect going forward are even better analytical pieces on the game industry's trends and decisions and the occasional review of a game from a unique angle. You can also expect in-depth pieces on aspects of the industry that may be overlooked or unseen. There will be some overlap with news and reviews, but they will come from a unique angle you may not have seen.

I like comments and discussion! I just ask it happen on DiS itself instead of an RSS syndicator. Note you can use your OpenID to comment as well (LiveJournal users - you have one).

That's it! Happy Holidays! 

Cruis'n with the Fast and the Furious

And now I shoot my blog's credibility in the foot.

Every gamer has their guilty pleasure - some game that somehow is considered terrible but they love and are a sucker for. Mine? Besides Space Channel 5...I love the Cruis'n franchise. USA was good, World was the best, Exotica sucked. Now comes Cruis'n for Wii.

Cruis'n for Wii is not a great game. The production values are extremely low. The game is a quick Wii port of The Fast and the Furious from the arcade with a Cruis'n label slapped on. It's $29.99 at retail. Don't expect great things.

Is it fun? Oh hell yes. It's classic the Cruis'n cheese that I love. Random objects in the way that explode without reason, mad car tricks, nitros, girls with fake boobs handing you trophies, and the screams of "watch out!" are all here. Even better - the cars are all licensed! Your Firebird is now going to be doing barrell rolls. Sometimes "crappy" is fun, too.

So should you get it? That depends - set your expectations low. This game is like playing a great B-rated movie (any game that has a course called "China Town X" has it going for them). If you're a fan of the series or just enjoy EXTREMELY whacked out arcade physics in your racing games, Cruis'n is your best best.

Feel free to share your thoughts below. (I also now can take OpenID commenters, too.)