Zeus
09-04-2005, 08:52 PM
SuperCard recently brought out an SD version of their adapter for use with the Nintendo DS. We have taken a good look at this device and what it can do for your Nintendo DS. We have nothing to compare it with yet but when the M3 and MK3 adapters are release we'll truly know just how good the Super Card is. Here is the fairly standard no-frills packaging this device comes in...
<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/superbox.jpg"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/superbox.jpg" height="200" width="191"></center></a>
Introduction
I've been following the progress of the SuperCard for some time now. I believed it was a fantastic idea to use cheap interchangeable Compact Flash or SD media in an adaptor that could plug into a GBA cartridge adaptor. Usually GBA cartridges sizes are specified in the megabit format, whereas, Compact Flash and SD cards are specified in megabyte's. (1 megabyte = 8 megabits). A quick search of Ebay found 1 gigabyte SD cards from around £20 ($35), that's the equivalent of an 8 gigabit cartridge.
SuperCard recently brought out an SD version of their adaptor. This is both faster and neater than their older Compact Flash adaptor. As can be seen from the following photo's, the SD card fits completely inside the GBA cartridge.
<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/cardSC.jpg"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/cardSC.jpg" height="150" width="225"><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/card_sd_inserted.jpg"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/card_sd_inserted.jpg" height="150" width="225"></center></a>
<Center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/superpass.jpg"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/superpass.jpg" height="150" width="225"></center></a>
For this review I'm purely going to concentrate on the DS uses for this cartridge, you can read elsewhere the SuperCard's use with a GBA. It should be noted that a lot of reviews are for the Compact Flash version of the Supercard, which is slower in operation.
In order to boot DS game backups and homebrew, you will also require a Superpass (Passme), the Superpass came with the package. The SuperPass is a high quality, plastic encased item, with good contacts for you DS cartridge.
Once you plug the kit completely into the Nintendo DS, you will note that the Supercard sticks out of the bottom of the DS by about 5mm. This really isn't noticeable when you are playing the game.
The SuperPass sticks out from the DS cartridge slot. When the screen is flipped open, you do not see it. You will need a suitable original DS cartridge plugged into the Superpass.
You can, of course, use the FlashMe software to reprogram the firmware on your DS. The SuperPass would no longer be required once the FlashMe software has upgraded the firmware on your DS.
I haven't gotten around to flashing my DS yet, but it would make the appearance much neater.
<Center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/backSC.jpg"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/backSC.jpg" height="150" width="225"></center></a>
<center><i>The SuperPass cannot be seen when screen is opened.</i></center></a>
<Center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/sideSC.jpg"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/sideSC.jpg" height="150" width="225"></center></a>
<center><i>This is the side view of the Super Pass.</i></center></a>
Using The Super Card
In order for games to run on the SuperCard, they need to be patched using the SuperCard patching software. This is very simple to use. Load the clean original game images into the software, hit the GO button and a few seconds later the patched file is created. You can then copy these files onto the SD card using a pc with an SD writer.
The patcher software, in it's first release, has a few issues with larger games, it does not like some 512 megabit games. Supercard are aware of this issue and are working on a solution for it. In reality this is not really a problem, of the 80+ DS games released so far, only a small handful are 512megabit.
I loaded my 1 gig SD card with 40 DS games and started testing....
On turning on the DS with everything inserted, you are presented with a menu listing all the games that have been found on the SD card. In my case, this spanned over 5 pages. You navigate the list using the joypad (as you would expect) and select a game from the list using the A button. Upon selecting the game, the loading screen appears showing the game loading off the SD card and into the SuperCard memory.
Loading...I hear you say.....well, this is one of the differences you will have to get used to, you didn't really expect to use cheap mass storage, and for it to be instantaneous did you ;). I've done some timing tests with a 1gig Panasonic SD card, it takes 12 seconds to load an 8 megabyte game and 24 seconds to load a 16 megabyte game, so this seems to be a fairly consistent 1.5 seconds per megabyte. The other brand cards I tried also seem to have similar timing.
Currently the games will save to the standard DS cartridge plugged into the PassMe (or the DS slot if you've used FlashMe), which is currently a bit awkward. The software does not automatically back this save data up to the SD card. If you start one game, save the game, then start another game, the save data from the first game will be overwritten by the second game. There is a 3rd party solution to this problem, which is detailed on the SuperCard forums at www.supercard.cn, it's not ideal, but I'm guessing a firmware patch will sort this niggle out.
The DS cartridge you plug into the SuperPass is fairly important, you need one with the biggest possible save area, currently the biggest save area on a cartridge is 2meg, The Splinter Cell, Nintendogs and Madden 2005 cartridges use this size save data.
Summary
I've been playing with this for a few days now, and I've got to say I'm very impressed. I've had no issues with it at all, the games I've tried have worked flawlessly. There are no slowdowns that I noticed. FMV is smooth, as is music.
Pro's
- Very cheap
- Works with 99% of DS games
- Simple patch procedure for commercial roms
- Firmware updated regularly with new features
Con's
- Save game management a bit fiddly
- Some 512meg roms don't work
Supplier: <a href="http://www.cheapmod.com" target="_blank">www.cheapmod.com</a>
Cost: £45
Reviewer: Mark Withers Of MaxConsole
This device certainly impressed me and does what it sets out to do, however we really don't have anything to judge it against yet until the M3 and MK3 adapters come out.
<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/superbox.jpg"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/superbox.jpg" height="200" width="191"></center></a>
Introduction
I've been following the progress of the SuperCard for some time now. I believed it was a fantastic idea to use cheap interchangeable Compact Flash or SD media in an adaptor that could plug into a GBA cartridge adaptor. Usually GBA cartridges sizes are specified in the megabit format, whereas, Compact Flash and SD cards are specified in megabyte's. (1 megabyte = 8 megabits). A quick search of Ebay found 1 gigabyte SD cards from around £20 ($35), that's the equivalent of an 8 gigabit cartridge.
SuperCard recently brought out an SD version of their adaptor. This is both faster and neater than their older Compact Flash adaptor. As can be seen from the following photo's, the SD card fits completely inside the GBA cartridge.
<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/cardSC.jpg"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/cardSC.jpg" height="150" width="225"><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/card_sd_inserted.jpg"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/card_sd_inserted.jpg" height="150" width="225"></center></a>
<Center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/superpass.jpg"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/superpass.jpg" height="150" width="225"></center></a>
For this review I'm purely going to concentrate on the DS uses for this cartridge, you can read elsewhere the SuperCard's use with a GBA. It should be noted that a lot of reviews are for the Compact Flash version of the Supercard, which is slower in operation.
In order to boot DS game backups and homebrew, you will also require a Superpass (Passme), the Superpass came with the package. The SuperPass is a high quality, plastic encased item, with good contacts for you DS cartridge.
Once you plug the kit completely into the Nintendo DS, you will note that the Supercard sticks out of the bottom of the DS by about 5mm. This really isn't noticeable when you are playing the game.
The SuperPass sticks out from the DS cartridge slot. When the screen is flipped open, you do not see it. You will need a suitable original DS cartridge plugged into the Superpass.
You can, of course, use the FlashMe software to reprogram the firmware on your DS. The SuperPass would no longer be required once the FlashMe software has upgraded the firmware on your DS.
I haven't gotten around to flashing my DS yet, but it would make the appearance much neater.
<Center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/backSC.jpg"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/backSC.jpg" height="150" width="225"></center></a>
<center><i>The SuperPass cannot be seen when screen is opened.</i></center></a>
<Center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/sideSC.jpg"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/sideSC.jpg" height="150" width="225"></center></a>
<center><i>This is the side view of the Super Pass.</i></center></a>
Using The Super Card
In order for games to run on the SuperCard, they need to be patched using the SuperCard patching software. This is very simple to use. Load the clean original game images into the software, hit the GO button and a few seconds later the patched file is created. You can then copy these files onto the SD card using a pc with an SD writer.
The patcher software, in it's first release, has a few issues with larger games, it does not like some 512 megabit games. Supercard are aware of this issue and are working on a solution for it. In reality this is not really a problem, of the 80+ DS games released so far, only a small handful are 512megabit.
I loaded my 1 gig SD card with 40 DS games and started testing....
On turning on the DS with everything inserted, you are presented with a menu listing all the games that have been found on the SD card. In my case, this spanned over 5 pages. You navigate the list using the joypad (as you would expect) and select a game from the list using the A button. Upon selecting the game, the loading screen appears showing the game loading off the SD card and into the SuperCard memory.
Loading...I hear you say.....well, this is one of the differences you will have to get used to, you didn't really expect to use cheap mass storage, and for it to be instantaneous did you ;). I've done some timing tests with a 1gig Panasonic SD card, it takes 12 seconds to load an 8 megabyte game and 24 seconds to load a 16 megabyte game, so this seems to be a fairly consistent 1.5 seconds per megabyte. The other brand cards I tried also seem to have similar timing.
Currently the games will save to the standard DS cartridge plugged into the PassMe (or the DS slot if you've used FlashMe), which is currently a bit awkward. The software does not automatically back this save data up to the SD card. If you start one game, save the game, then start another game, the save data from the first game will be overwritten by the second game. There is a 3rd party solution to this problem, which is detailed on the SuperCard forums at www.supercard.cn, it's not ideal, but I'm guessing a firmware patch will sort this niggle out.
The DS cartridge you plug into the SuperPass is fairly important, you need one with the biggest possible save area, currently the biggest save area on a cartridge is 2meg, The Splinter Cell, Nintendogs and Madden 2005 cartridges use this size save data.
Summary
I've been playing with this for a few days now, and I've got to say I'm very impressed. I've had no issues with it at all, the games I've tried have worked flawlessly. There are no slowdowns that I noticed. FMV is smooth, as is music.
Pro's
- Very cheap
- Works with 99% of DS games
- Simple patch procedure for commercial roms
- Firmware updated regularly with new features
Con's
- Save game management a bit fiddly
- Some 512meg roms don't work
Supplier: <a href="http://www.cheapmod.com" target="_blank">www.cheapmod.com</a>
Cost: £45
Reviewer: Mark Withers Of MaxConsole
This device certainly impressed me and does what it sets out to do, however we really don't have anything to judge it against yet until the M3 and MK3 adapters come out.