Nintendo DS development

i Ching DS


This is my current project. It’s all working but there are a few things that still need implementing (eg sound, touch screen controls, some graphics improvements). I just wanted to get it released on 8/8/08, as the number 8 is so lucky in many Asian countries.

Download iChingDS v0.51.

Please let me know any bugs, text errors or card incompatibility. Thanks. Oh, and check back here in case I’ve released any updates.

It should be pretty clear how to use iChingDS, but here are some instructions anyway …

  1. Ask your question and press A to toss the coins. Your coin tosses will be displayed (H/T for Heads/Tails) and the first line of your hexagram will be displayed (in red if it is changing, otherwise in black). The hexagram is built from the bottom.
  2. Once you’ve tossed the coins six times, your finished hexagram will display on the top screen, complete with text.
  3. Any changing lines will be displayed on the bottom screen. You should pay special attention to these.
  4. If your hexagram changes, press L or R (shoulder buttons) to switch display between the two hexagrams, so you can read the text.
  5. If you wish to recast the coins for a new reading, press Start.

Want an i Ching for Gameboy? Here’s one (made by Joshua Schrier).

Penguin Football DS

New version released 24/4/08!!! - I just recompiled it with a better font.

This is a kids’ football game I made, coding in C with the help of the indispensible DevKitPro and PALib. You’re a penguin and the ball’s a snowball. It makes use of both screens, with the ball bouncing up to the top screen if you hit it hard enough. Features include:

  • keepy-uppy
  • training ground
  • match v CPU
  • match v another person (on one DS)

It’s D-pad left and right to move, and A to jump. Two player uses the D-pad to move and jump (Player 1) and right-hand buttons to move and jump (Player 2).

To score a goal, hit the ball at your opponent’s ice block. You’ll hear a beep when you score. And your score will go up lol.

If you’re playing keepy uppy, watch out for the ice patch that will form if you’re doing well.

Unfortunately no-one’s managed to crack the encryption to play wireless locally, so I haven’t been able to include PvP on two DSs. I didn’t realise this when I started coding it and am so disappointed!

Anyway, please feel free to download it. It’s been tested and works on Games n Music, DS-X, Supercard Lite, R4, no$gba and Dualis. No reason it shouldn’t work on other cards and emulators as well. Enjoy!

How to Make Games on DS

The way I do it is pretty easy if you know a bit of C or C++, or are willing to learn. The following instructions are accurate for 24/6/08, but if you’re reading this much into the future, things may well have changed. You need a few tools:

  1. Download and install devkitPro. Downloading the installer is the easiest way. Install it to eg C:\devkitPro - it can’t cope with spaces anywhere in the path - so don’t try installing it into eg My Documents
  2. Download and install PAlib. Again, the installer is the easiest way. Install into your devkitPro folder.
  3. As I write this, you need devkitARM version 20 to work with PAlib. So download devkitARM 20 and stick it in your devkitPro folder, named devkitARM (case sensitive).
  4. If you don’t already have it, you’ll need to download and install Microsoft .NET framework v2.0.
  5. Run through the tutorials and you’re good to go.
  6. Get an emulator such as no$gba (scroll down for the free version) so you don’t have to move the ROM to your DS every time you want to test it.
  7. Course, to actually play it on your DS you’re going to need some kind of cart, eg DS-X (I think the DS-X company is going out of business, so maybe avoid the DS-X), M3, R4, Games n Music, NinjaPass and more. Expect to pay £15-£40.