Error Code 002-0102 makes 3DS flashcart owners fear a Nintendo ban wave
Lately there are several reports that people with flashcarts have been unable to go online with their 3DS getting error code 002-0102. Even though the error code says it is an internet connectivity problem, when people contact Nintendo customer service, they are told that it is a software ban.
Once in this situation, it is still possible to visit e-shop, buy games but it is impossible to go online with that 3DS anymore either with legal or illegal games. So far there is no way to unban a banned console, except waiting for Nintendo to unban it. It isn’t certain on what conditions Nintendo does these bans, but using public headers on flashcards is the main suspect so far (note: people are reporting the ban was lifted for them, with no explanation from Nintendo. See below).
Headers are the unique IDs on cartridges. They are needed for online play. So far the theory is, if lots of people go online with the same header, Nintendo triggers the ban. Even though this isn’t confirmed yet, most people who got banned confirm they are using public headers.
So, what to do if you don’t want to be banned? Until it is clear on what condition Nintendo triggers the bans, if you are using a flashcart, I would advise staying offline or going online only with retail cartridges/eshop bought games. If you need your online fix badly, be sure to use a unique header dumped from a cartridge of your own.
- If you have a Gateway card, you can dump your own cartridge and use its header for all your games or you can install your games as .cia files since they might be considered headerless (they use console ID as header).
- If you have a sky3ds or one of its clones, the process is complicated though. If you normally copy your game to the sd card via the template file on the official site, you will be sharing the same public header with probably thousands of people and have a high chance of a ban. So you should dump a header from a retail cartridge with another method (if you are <=9.2 you can use the web exploit of gateway even without gateway flashcart for dumping purposes), inject the header to the template file manually or by a third party application and write your game to your SD card after that.
Although the above sounds like good advice in any case, it is worth mentioning that people have been reporting the ban was lifted after a couple days.
What do you think about this ban wave? Was it just a temporary fluke for these users, or is Nintendo becoming serious with 3DS flashcarts? If so, will flashcart companies have an easy workaround or will Nintendo ultimately force flashcart users to offline play?
If you pirate and play online its at your own risk. Same as always.
Yeah, you shouldn’t be paying online with a pirated game on a legit system, that is setting yourself up for console/account ban…
You shouldn’t pirate in the first place.
ARRGHHH!!! ye matey plundering is fun =D
Pirates are ruthless funny just like Vikings =P
companies shouldnt overcharge you for terrible games eaither.
it’s simple, you shouldn’t play/buy terrible games anyway. so stf u
How are you supposed to know a game is buggy without trying it?
READ A REVIEW? DUH?
You got that right! Support the developers! Or I don’t get paid!…it takes a lot of time and money to develops this stuff™
Yeah well when licenses start preventing me from getting cool games like Crashbandicoot 1,2 and 3 or Spyro Colllection over in North America then i have problem with that.
Sky3DS user here. Haven’t run into any issues yet, although I don’t use my 3DS online often either. No matter what, if you aren’t willing to accept a ban, don’t modify your console or use flashcarts. Personally I’ve kept all of my dumps as .3ds and haven’t converted them to .3dz to keep them offline until I can learn the process to inject my own header. Any games I do use online often I grab a copy from the eshop for.
If they’re only banning people using public headers, no problem. Should have seen it coming really.
They said installing games as CIA files will do away with the headers, so flashcart companies really don’t have much to do….just advise people to use CIA files…thats my preferred method anyway
Yes but it’s still dangerous because then Nintendo can put in a check to see if the game was even purchased by your account and if not then ban.
This is under the assumption that Nintendo thinks that everyone is playing games purchased from the e-store.
I can’t agree more. Noone can say using cia files is safe. You take a risk by going online with a flashcart or cfw.
Too late Wololo, since yesterday all banned guys can connect again and no error anymore 😉
Source and proof or else this is considered a lie.
Check the GBA temp thread, people are actually confirmed being unbanned.
Too bad there is a NEW WAVE of banned people. You failed.
And of course if you pirate once you are not banned forever. Just 15 days. but the 2nd time…its the same like going with the bus with no licence or ticket. Will get you banned – once you are catched you just have to pay a certain amound of money…but oh lord if you get twice or even 3 times…you will get SEROIUS trouble with the POLICE.
And thats exactly what will happen if you will be banned more than 1 time. There is a counter which checks each time you are being banned. I guess if you are banned more than 2 times you will be banned FOREVER.
There are updates on this situation that people who were banned are no longer banned.
Yup, it is in the article too. Though you never know, they might be given a second chance, or this may just be a pre-warning.
Don’t know how I missed it on my first read… I only play online with emunand 9.5 and a retail copy of a game in the slot. Hoping I’m safe. Just don’t want to update my sysnand and miss out on all the gateway fun.
All banned people are now unbanned, check forums 😉
Check forums again…there is a NEW wave of banned people.
I never owned a console before and had no idea how cartridges worked until i bought one recently. the vendor sold me sky3ds. which i never thought to be illegal. later i found out and unannounced my 3ds is banned. i saved for over a year to buy that. :'(