Supercard for Nintendo DS and GBA How to Use And Where To Get One

The Nintendo DS (sometimes abbreviated to DS or NDS) is a dual-screen handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in 2004 in Canada, the United States, and Japan. The console features a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP, with two LCD screens inside - with the bottom one being a touchscreen. The Nintendo DS also features a built-in microphone and supports wireless IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standards, allowing players to interact with each other within short range (10-30 m, depending on conditions) or online with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service, which launched later in the console's lifespan. 



What is a supercard ?
Basically, it's a device that plugs into the external port and allows a person to access content from an SD micro-card and, in some cases a CF card. Since you can load one of these flash cards (the same type found in cameras, phones, etc.) with just about anything from a computer this opens the door to all sorts of potential applications for your DS. This could be music, pictures or a bunch of nintendo games.

At this moment there are several different supercard products available, for both the Nintendo DS , lite (NDS) and Nintendo Gameboy Advance SP (GBA).
Now how do you know which one is right for you, at our review site we will show you in detail, where to get this supercard, which one and how to use the software.

Now this opens up endless possibilities does it not ?

First of all we need to know this: "What version NDS do you have?”
This is necessary to know so that you purchase the right equipment for your NDS.
Simply, do the following :
Check the manufacturing date of your DS. Most likely, if you have a DS that is purchased in the summer of 2005 to present, you'll require the "2nd gen" version of a particular device. If it's before that, then you'll need the "1st gen" version of the device.

What is NDS homebrew ?
Anything made homebrew for the NDS will require "authentication" by the NDS. It's similar to trying to play some custom made application or games in your XBOX and realizing it won't work without a modchip. Anything not made or authenticated by the manfucturer will normally require "authentication". This is where all these media carts and PASS ME devices come into play.

What is a PASS ME device and why are there so many of them ?
A passme device is a device that has certain programmed code on it that will allow it to authenticate NDS homebrew. These carts have a variety of names, normally based on their manufacturers... i.e. EZ PASS (ezflash company), SUPER PASS (super card company), PASSCARD (m3 company), etc. All in all, they all do the same thing in the long run, authenticate NDS homebrew. Well, this is where it counts. Older (1st gen) DS will require the 1st gen of the PASSME devices. Each company has a 1st gen pass me device. If you have a 2nd gen NDS or an NDS lite, you will require the 2nd or 3rd gen PASSME device from the appropriate company. How they do it and how advanced they are, varies.
These devices are merely authenticators.. they don't carry any media on them, that is what the media carts are for.. which leads us to our next question...

What is a media cart and what do they do ?
Media carts, movie players, etc, all various names for essentially the same concept. You'll notice a variety of names. Supercard, M3, G6, DS-X, Movie Players, etc. What these carts/adapters do is plug into your GBA slot of your NDS and allow you to .. via either a flash-memory or insertable flash memory (i.e. SD card, CF card, Micro/Mini SD, etc)... play media (movies, music, games, e-books, pictures). Amazing, isn't it?

What do they do? Like I've said, they play media off your flashrom or your insertable memory. It's a great concept if you think about the wonderful things you can now do with your NDS. You can play your music on it, watch movies, watch pictures, read e-books, and run NDS homebrew (if you have your PASS ME device, remember?)

What to do next ?

To help you get started visit console-games-download.com to find out which supercard will most fit your needs.