NeoGAF

$h@d0w · 03:52 AM

Update

Gateway 3DS has released version 1.1 of it's software allowing region free and bypassing firmware requirements on newer games.

Update

Originally Posted by Lesiroth

Update
Long term homebrew plan announced:

As a development team we are especially excited to announce the start of our long term dream to enable 3DS home-brew. We have long awaited the time to be able to start working on opening up your 3DS to the amazing home-brew talent. This is not a trivial feat to accomplish and it will take time ! In the meanwhile we will of course continue to enhance the GW3DS with rich features.

Update
New video released, firmware update bypass and region free demonstrated.

Originally Posted by GaussTek

So... apparently, they are now working on region-free?!

http://youtu.be/dPFO0ZDzBfA

(^ They show a Jap game running on an European 3DS XL at 0:49)

Update
Gateway 3DS documentation has been released. Among the files is a quick start guide which shows their exploit vector:

It seems their grey cartridge is actually a standard DS flash cartridge available elsewhere as they have referred to it in the files as an R4i. This means that anyone with a DS flash cartridge similar to this can likely run the initial exploit.

Also revealed is a required step that has to be run on every boot. Gateway has pledged to support firmwares below 6.2 but warns that anything above is likely to be blocked by Nintendo.

Original Post
Retailers have received their Gateway 3DS units and have started shipping. Within the following days, an official user guide and instructional video will be released.

Originally Posted by an unnamed retailer

The Gateway 3DS solution is a set of two cartridges that is supported on 3DS systems running firmware versions 4.1 to 4.5. First, the user runs the standard DS cartridge (pictured in grey) to run an exploit on their 3DS system, this installer makes a permanent firmware change to the 3DS. The user can then load 3DS games from the other 3DS cartridge (pictured here in white).

It is hoped that the grey exploit cartridge can be used to gain region free operation on a 3DS system in the future as it can currently be run on all firmware versions (the status of today's update is unknown). The 3DS cartridge however, can only be used on firmware 4.1 to 4.5 for now as it depends on the exploit.

Previous announcement thread
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=571825

Nibel · (08-06-2013, 01:45 PM)

And why should this work with future releases which can be patched just like the OS/firmware itself

I think the age of modchips and flashcarts and bla is about to end very soon

ShinKagato · (08-06-2013, 01:45 PM)

Waste of money really, all it takes is for Nintendo to update their firmware again and it no longer works. I guess you could turn off updates but that eliminates some of the 3DS's more unique features.

Kandrick · (08-06-2013, 01:45 PM)

Is it that one that only runs/hold one game at a time ? And without any form of homebrew ?

So it also make changes to your firmware uh ? Pretty useless device all things considered.

Kouriozan · 01:48 PM

This is the one that can only contains one rom, and if you want to switch game you lose your saves, right? And it's still not region free.
Not worth it IMO.
EDIT : just saw that it won't work with Animal Crossing. Seems to be easy for Nintendo to block it already.

SuperSah · (08-06-2013, 01:48 PM)

QUICK. Get one whilst you can!

Nintendo'll block it fairly easily.

Mr-Joker · (08-06-2013, 01:48 PM)

Hardly Nintendo's nightmare as one firmware update will disable it.

ShinUltramanJ · (08-06-2013, 01:48 PM)

Which retailers are carrying this? Shady online vendors?

Robin64 · (08-06-2013, 01:48 PM)

They already *have* blocked it. 4.5 is old, we're on 6.x now.

Shahadan · (08-06-2013, 01:49 PM)

So after the daily Nintendo threads we know have daily "Nintendo's Nightmare" threads. Can't wait for the next upgrade!

This thing is almost useless, and they won't Gateway with it. Won't buy.

qq more · (08-06-2013, 01:49 PM)

Originally Posted by ShinKagato

Waste of money really, all it takes is for Nintendo to update their firmware again and it no longer works. I guess you could turn off updates but that eliminates some of the 3DS's more unique features.

Also prevents you from getting anything on eShop.

vareon · (08-06-2013, 01:49 PM)

Nintendo's constant updates might not stop this entirely, but it sure provided a major nuisance. Isn't this the one that didn't have any use other than simply putting a single game?

rjc571 · (08-06-2013, 01:49 PM)

The fact that they managed to find an exploit and install new firmware is encouraging, at least. Maybe it'll lead to region free some day.

$h@d0w · (08-06-2013, 01:49 PM)

Originally Posted by Kandrick

Is it that one that only runs/hold one game at a time ? And without any form of homebrew ?

So it also make changes to your firmware uh ? Pretty useless device all things considered.

Yes, it's pretty limited and useless I agree.

However, by mass producing these devices I think Gateway hope to spark interest in the homebrew/region hacking scene or make a quick buck off pirates wanting free games.

axisofweevils · (08-06-2013, 01:50 PM)

I wouldn't be surprised if yesterday's update already blocked it lol.

Somnid · (08-06-2013, 01:50 PM)

Only works on 4.1-4.5? We're on 6.2 and there have been some big features.

Jazzy Network · (08-06-2013, 01:51 PM)

I can see it being useful if you have to play an out of region game. Outside of that nope.

MikeE21286 · (08-06-2013, 01:51 PM)

Originally Posted by ShinKagato

Waste of money really, all it takes is for Nintendo to update their firmware again and it no longer works. I guess you could turn off updates but that eliminates some of the 3DS's more unique features.

If some games require higher firmware that will also kill it.

Seems like a short lived product here...

Alistair Roo · (08-06-2013, 01:51 PM)

Sensationalist thread title? Sensationalist thread title.

tsab · (08-06-2013, 01:51 PM)

nintendo is doomed64.

they'll block it 9001milliseconds though

Robin64 · (08-06-2013, 01:51 PM)

Originally Posted by axisofweevils

I wouldn't be surprised if yesterday's update already blocked it lol.

This was blocked already with March 25th's 5.0.0-11 firmware.

AlphaTwo00 · (08-06-2013, 01:52 PM)

Originally Posted by Robin64

They already *have* blocked it. 4.5 is old, we're on 6.x now.

Seems like it should be in the OP. I wonder if you can even get a 4.1 - 4.5 system at this point in retail.

Kandrick · (08-06-2013, 01:52 PM)

Originally Posted by Robin64

This was blocked already with March 25th's 5.0.0-11 firmware.

So it only works with firmwares that are older than that March update haha? It will be funny seeing people buy them to play "free" games only to have it not even work on their updated 3DS.

$h@d0w · (08-06-2013, 01:53 PM)

Originally Posted by rjc571

The fact that they managed to find an exploit and install new firmware is encouraging, at least. Maybe it'll lead to region free some day.

Totally possible, I believe both cartridges have micro SD slots and are upgradable.

CheesecakeRecipe · (08-06-2013, 01:53 PM)

This card's already dead in the water, wonder if they just want to scrape some cash from it.

SuperSah · (08-06-2013, 01:53 PM)

I just want region-free.

Nintendo, why?

Alpha_eX · (08-06-2013, 01:55 PM)

I'd only want this for region free gaming. If only Nintendo flipped the region lock variable, most people getting this wouldn't have need for it.

ShinKagato · (08-06-2013, 01:56 PM)

Originally Posted by qq more

Also prevents you from getting anything on eShop.

I guess if you are going to the extreme of turning off updates you are probably the kind of user that has a way of downloading the eshop games too lol. I like my fully functional 3DS too much to compromise.

Salih · (08-06-2013, 01:56 PM)

Originally Posted by ShinKagato

Waste of money really, all it takes is for Nintendo to update their firmware again and it no longer works.

nah. right now there are hundreds of 3DS games already available and with that flash cart also playable. just don't go online with your 3DS anymore and pirate all available 3DS games.
If a new update blocks the flash cart, you just buy another newer version of that flash cart in like a year or two and you have again a pool of games to pirate from.

also a lot of people can do without online and eshop and such.

$h@d0w · 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by Alistair Roo

Sensationalist thread title? Sensationalist thread title.

I could have made another post called Sony's nightmare, but it just became totally redundant as the game required to exploit the Vita was removed from PSN. It's impossible to replicate now.

This 3DS exploit is in the wild now and preorders are shipping, hence the reason for the title.

It would be a nightmare for Nintendo if this proliferates with cheap Chinese clones working on the latest firmware. They need to stop it - now.

Erethian · (08-06-2013, 01:57 PM)

Originally Posted by rjc571

The fact that they managed to find an exploit and install new firmware is encouraging, at least. Maybe it'll lead to region free some day.

Unless something has changed between the release of the product and the original announcement, there didn't seem to be any actual firmware hack. Rather they found a way to reverse engineer a legitimate cart, albeit with some serious limitations. Especially around the way it handles save files.

Kandrick · (08-06-2013, 01:57 PM)

Originally Posted by Salih

nah. right now there are hundreds of 3DS games already available and with that flash cart also playable. just don't go online with your 3DS anymore and pirate all available 3DS games.
If a new update blocks the flash cart, you just buy another newer version of that flash cart in like a year or two and you have again a pool of games to pirate from.

also a lot of people can do without online and eshop and such.

But it looks like it doesn't even work with already old firmwares. Says that it works with version 4.1 to 4.5, but it seems we are way past that since months.

Tenki · (08-06-2013, 01:58 PM)

So they're shipping a cart which is already blocked? lol

Man God · (08-06-2013, 01:58 PM)

Originally Posted by Salih

nah. right now there are hundreds of 3DS games already available and with that flash cart also playable. just don't go online with your 3DS anymore and pirate all available 3DS games.
If a new update blocks the flash cart, you just buy another newer version of that flash cart in like a year or two and you have again a pool of games to pirate from.

also a lot of people can do without online and eshop and such.

you don't get it; each card can only hold one game and one save for a game. No one is going to use this thing for piracy.

Chairmanchuck · (08-06-2013, 01:58 PM)

I just want one that will allow me to get rid of the regionlock. I will be in China for the next few years and I would still wanna play Games I can buy there...

nofi · (08-06-2013, 01:59 PM)

Originally Posted by $h@d0w

I could have made another post called Sony's nightmare, but it just became totally redundant as the game required to exploit the Vita was removed from PSN. It's impossible to replicate now.

This 3DS exploit is in the wild now, hence the reason for the title.

It would be a nightmare for Nintendo if this proliferates with cheap Chinese clones working on the latest firmware. They need to stop it - now.

that's entirely the point. hardly a 'nightmare'.

axisofweevils · 02:03 PM

The FAQ also says that

Mario (released last week) is forcing 5.1 update.

nerdstick · (08-06-2013, 02:00 PM)

Originally Posted by Tenki

So they're shipping a cart which is already blocked? lol

It was already blocked by the time they /announced/ it months ago, when 5.1 was the current firmware...

Jaded Alyx · (08-06-2013, 02:01 PM)

Originally Posted by Salih

nah. right now there are hundreds of 3DS games already available and with that flash cart also playable. just don't go online with your 3DS anymore and pirate all available 3DS games.
If a new update blocks the flash cart, you just buy another newer version of that flash cart in like a year or two and you have again a pool of games to pirate from.

also a lot of people can do without online and eshop and such.

So yeh, a waste of money.

K' Dash · (08-06-2013, 02:02 PM)

stability patch incoming.

VOOK · (08-06-2013, 02:02 PM)

Oh well gotta get that pirate scum money while you can.

Tenki · (08-06-2013, 02:02 PM)

Originally Posted by nerdstick

It was already blocked by the time they /announced/ it months ago, when 5.1 was the current firmware...

lol

mclem · (08-06-2013, 02:03 PM)

Nintendo's Nightmare: "Now all they need to do is invent a time machine, and we're fucked".

H3xum · (08-06-2013, 02:03 PM)

Is this the jank system where saves are sketchy and you have to buy a unique flash card per game?

Erethian · (08-06-2013, 02:05 PM)

Originally Posted by H3xum

Is this the jank system where saves are sketchy and you have to buy a unique flash card per game?

You can switch out games, but when you do your save file is erased. And the cart can only hold one game at a time.

LavaLevel · (08-06-2013, 02:05 PM)

check out this old BUNG commercial. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FASdP1icY2w

They have been around for ages on every Nintendo handheld in some form or another.

$h@d0w · 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Erethian

You can switch out games, but when you do your save file is erased. And the cart can only hold one game at a time.

The save file is automatically saved and restored between switches: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGVk4a6SPlM

Midou · (08-06-2013, 02:11 PM)

Originally Posted by Erethian

You can switch out games, but when you do your save file is erased. And the cart can only hold one game at a time.

Yeah this is one of those things where the inconvenience is so high, I would not have used it anyways.

Erethian · (08-06-2013, 02:13 PM)

Originally Posted by Midou

Yeah this is one of those things where the inconvenience is so high, I would not have used it anyways.

Well it seems they provided a remedy for the save file issue. But you also have to have a micro SD card per game. I suppose you could use one and keep switching files in and out of it through a PC or the like, though.

cacildo · (08-06-2013, 02:14 PM)

Dont think this one will "catch". Its too hard.

The DS flashcarts caught on because it was easy as hell. You only needed to put the games on the mini SD card and that´s it.

But with the 3ds more online oriented aproach, it will be a lot harder to boot up the latest releases....