This guide has been compiled for the sake of all you new users out there. For the sake of the time spent on compiling it, please do give it some time and read it.
If there's any mistakes or misconception, please correct me. To all, try to help me touch up on the guide too. I hope it'll save us a lot or troubles in the future.
Credits goes to
Wikipedia,
GBAtemp Reviews, and lastly all the people who have been helping out the newbies on
SGClub - NDSL
I've also posted the text version here in the thread itself. Do give me your comments. (:
Nintendo Dual Screen Lite (NDSL) General Information
Nintendo DSL is a Dual-Screen handheld gaming console. It consists of two screens – a touch-sensitive display screen on the bottom and a display screen on the top. It features over 1000+ games of different genres (RPGs, Puzzle, Racing, FPS, Arcade, etc.) NDSL also has the WIFI connectivity which allows users to connect up with their friends easily for game-sharing or multiplayer games.
Other than games, NDSL also has its own chatroom software (Pictochat) for WIFI chatting with other users in range.
Internet Surfing through WIFI
For Internet surfing, Opera has developed a browser for the NDSL. The Internet browser cartridge is available on sale for use of internet through WIFI. This package will include the browser ROM cartridge and also a SLOT-2 RAM-expansion.
Available Colours
Initially, NDSL was offered with
White only due to manufacturing problems. Later on,
Black was also produced followed by
Pink and
Ice Blue. Then, the
Crimson/Black and the
Cobalt/Black NDSL was also introduced. In June 2008, three more colours were released –
Red,
Green and
Turquoise.
Limited Editions (LE)
Limited Edition NDSLs have been released along with many games. Currently there are quite a number of these NDSL seen here in Singapore. One of the first few LE seen is the
Zelda Triforce Golden Edition with the Zelda Triforce Emblem on the bottom-right of the outside. The
Metallic Pink Nintendogs Edition was also released, bundled together with the Nintendogs: Best Friends game cartridge. It had pink paw prints also on the bottom-right of the outside. Recently, there has also been the
Guitar Hero Silver/Black Edition bundled with the Guitar Hero: On Tour game cartridge, including the SLOT-2 Guitar Grip peripheral.
Export Set VS. Local Set
Export sets are otherwise known as parallel imports and they have the exact same hardware specifications. Singapore Local sets are from Nintendo’s local distributor, Maxsoft. Export sets are perfectly legal here in Singapore.
Being Export sets, they are slightly cheaper than the local sets by about $20.
Local sets have a 3-month warranty from
Maxsoft where as the Export sets have no warranty or warranty from the shops. For exclusive shops like Qisahn.com, refer to their site for the warranty.
Local sets come with the original Nintendo charger for use in Singapore whereas those from the Export sets are usually not suitable for use in Singapore. However, many shops nowadays usually trade in your original unsuitable charger for a 3rd party compatible charger. This may also vary with some shops as some like Qisahn.com have been bundling the original Nintendo charger for their Export sets.
Lastly, Export sets do not have the hand strap as found in those of the Local sets.
Use of NDSL for Homebrews
Homebrews are games/freeware developed by the public and are not for sale. They are shared freely on the Net and their main purpose is to enhance the users’ experience with the NDSL. One of the more popular homebrew is Moonshell as it has the ability to play mp3s/videos and even view text files/pictures on your NDSL. It is otherwise known as a NDSL multimedia player. Other widely used homebrews are DSOrganizer and BEUP Live(Msn Messenger).
Other than Homebrews, many people nowadays are also dumping the game’s ROM file for backup purposes. In order to use these homebrews/ROMs, SLOT-1 or SLOT-2 flashcarts are required.
SLOT-1 Flashcarts
SLOT-1 Flashcarts are meant to be placed in the NDSL game cartridge slot, otherwise known as SLOT-1.
SLOT-1 Flashcarts are a form of adapter for use with the NDSL. Currently, there is a wide range of SLOT-1 flashcard in the market. The best and more proclaimed flashcard in the market now is the CycloDS Evolution, boasting a wide range of features and still developing. There are also the AceKard2 & AceKard RPG, NDSTT (more known as DSTT), and M3DS Real. R4 is also another well know flashcard but its development team has already stopped work on it and it has also changed to a different manufacturer.
The above mentioned SLOT-1 flashcarts are all using
MicroSD card for memory purposes except for the AceKard RPG which uses MicroSD and also a 1GB onboard memory. All of these flashcarts are also capable of supporting the
MicroSDHC cards which has a capacity of up to
8GB.
SLOT-2 Flashcarts/Solutions
SLOT-2 Flashcarts are meant to be placed in the GBA game cartridge slot, otherwise known as SLOT-2.
SLOT-2 Flashcarts are usually for use of GBA homebrews/ROMs or as a Rumble Pak for some games and even the RAM-Expansion for the NDSL Browser or the DSLinux homebrew.
Nowadays, many SLOT-2 Flashcarts/Solutions are a combination of the RAM-Expansion and the Rumble Pak. Some also has its own memory slot for storage of GBA Homebrews/ROMs.
There are also quite a number of SLOT-2 Solutions available in the market. However, the more well known ones are the EZ-Flash 3-in-1 Expansion Pack or the EWIN Expansion Pak which doesn’t have the Rumble Pak.
