nds-bootstrap loader released, run commercial DS games off the SD card
Ho-ho-ho everyone! It is Christmas already in this corner of Europe and I am here with an early present for all of you! Well it wasn’t made by me, but I am here to deliver the gifts of others! In a concerted effort between developers ahezard, Robz8, _catacatcat, Shutterbug2000, Gericom and apache, we have the release of nds-bootstrap loader which allows us users to load DS games off the SD card which is something that many people have been wanting for a long time.
The greatest thing about this loader is that you can use it with already existing applications such as Robz8’s TWLoader. The developers also says that while you can expect bugs in this initial release, you can also expect “many, many updates”.
Here is a list of games confirmed to be working by the developers along with a video of the loader in action:
Warioware: Touched
Mario Kart DS (if you have a physical MKDS card for saving)
Bomberman
GoldenEye: Rogue Agent
Space Invaders DS
MegaMan ZX (see video above)
Yoshi Touch & Go
Instructions for nds-bootstrap loader
As I’m writing this, Robz8 has already updated TWLoader to version 1.6.0b created to support this loader. The instructions to get it to work are quite simple:
- Download the most recent version of TWLoader (1.6.0b at the time of this article)
- Download the initial version of nds-bootstrap loader from the release thread
- Install TWLoader as you would normally, like this
- Extract the contents in the “sdroot” folder to the 3DS’ SD Card root.
- (Optional, but recommended) Put .nds ROMs in “sdmc:/nds/”.
- (Required. An error screen will appear if this isn’t installed.) Install “TWLoader – TWLNAND side.cia” that’s in “sdmc:/_nds/twloader/cia/” to SysNAND (also to EmuNAND, if you have EmuNAND).
- Install “TWLoader.cia” to whichever NAND you use (SysNAND or EmuNAND).
- Now extract the nds-bootstrap zip file.
- Copy the extracted bootstrap-dldi.nds over to “sdmc:/_nds/” and overwrite when prompeted.
- There you go, if you did all of this correctly, you should be able to load commercial DS games from your SD card!
There is a second method to get DS games on your 3DS, using the NDS Forwarder tool. However, I have not used NDS Forwarder yet so I can’t vouch for how well it may work. However if you follow the instructions by Robz8 you should have no trouble getting it to work! It will probably be my choice method to load my DS games, since I prefer to have everything neatly organized on my home menu.
Enjoy this Christmas gift 3DS users!
first
His name’s actually shutterbug2000, not shatterbug2000.
Sleepiness. Thanks!
ahezard made this, he is the one working in it
Shutterbug helped a little and made the thread, but ahezard is the true dev
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crx29B_JQek&t=7s
here is a longer video if you want to add it, I just found it on the GBA thred
Hi, I am the main developper of nds-bootstrap and I am very unhappy with this article. This is not shatterbug2000 loader! This is a team work. Please correct it.
The contributor to the projects so far are :
– Ahezard (myself)
– Apache-Thunder
– _catcatcat
– Shutterbug2000 (not shatterbug)
– Gericom
– Robz8
This is all visible on github, next time do some research before posting something like that.
Sure thing. I think you’re just overreacting since everyone is properly credited. But I will change it, no worries 🙂 However I would appreciate if you didn’t attack other people’s work because you don’t like how something is written. I’m easy to find, you can just go talk to me instead of throwing a fit on a comment section.
However I never meant to fool anyone or credit the wrong people. It was rather late as I was writing (on Xmas night too) and I got those bits wrong. So I do apologize for that and the mistake has been fixed. I hope next time this can be kept more… private. 😛
Ok no problem, I understand. I appreciate your correction. I agree I overreacted. I regularly consult this website and appreciate your work. Thanks.
Hey man no problem! I’m just glad we can sort this out so easily 🙂 Next time please consult me first! I’ll be glad to correct myself 🙂 As I said, I really didn’t mean to create this. I will also take more care in the future so this doesn’t happen again! All I want is to spread the work of everyone to as many people as possible 😀
Thanks for being understanding man!
So much for Christmas spirit..we aren’t only human man. I doubt the mistake was made on purpose. To be fair shutterbugs thread really isn’t the most organized thread ever designed..
It will be fixed, I’m sure of it. Although if it were up to me you’re reply wouldn’t still be here. Trust me I know what it’s like to be Miscredited but you don’t need to be a ***. Just makes others hate you and not want to look up to you.
Oh God one simple mistake and *** hits the fan, get a life loser
FAIL!
Cant you just plug in a supercard instead? pretty sure everyone interested in “pirating” or running backups already has one.
You’d be surprised.
Yeah you can use a SuperCard DSTWO for example, which I have, but it’s a real drain on the battery especially on the 3DS. I expect it’s because it has an onboard co-processor/CPU originally built to help emulators (specifically the SNES one) and it’s always in the background drawing a little power in order for the card to work.
The Forwarder works exactly like TWloader except no menu and goes straight into the game.
Imo I prefer it way more than TWLoader as you dont need to open a menu to get into the DS Game.
Somebody… Please elaborate this line
“3. (Required. An error screen will appear if this isn’t installed.) Install “TWLoader – TWLNAND side.cia” that’s in “sdmc:/_nds/twloader/cia/” to SysNAND (also to EmuNAND, if you have EmuNAND).”
i followed everything except that. How to install to Sysnand?
Use FBI, there should be an option to install .cia to SysNAND instead of SD Card. I would give you better instructions but I’m at family’s lunch and no 3DS around.
Be careful though, there should be no issue but I must always advise about installing stuff to SysNAND. Though when I did the same for the GBA emulator I had no issues.
Question does this work with Gatewat
*Gateway sorry
i have fbi 2.4.5 and luma how can I install twloader cia to sysnand,wheres the option in fbi to instal cia into sysnand via emunand?
im having the same problem as the fellow aboved named confused
Would I be able to use this to install A9LH using the NDS games,? Since I do not own any of them and it’s too late to buy them.
This program works in the firmware 11.2.0-35u?
Hmmm. All the games I’d want to play just hang the thing (white screen). Not really compatible enough to be useful at this stage, which is a shame.
does it run in stable fps….?