R4 DS Slot 1 - Homebrew Game Player For Nintendo DS And Nintendo DS Lite

There are numerous Nintendo DS Slot 1 Solutions on the market today. With two of the most noteable ones being the R4 DS slot 1 solution and the M3 DS Simply. The favorite of the two it would seem is the M3 DS Simply. Often out of stock at many online retailers. A little known fact however could have you up and playing without worrying about the item being out of stock. I say this because my reasearch has shown me (and confirmed by the manufacturers themselves) that the R4 DS and the M3 DS Simply are virtually identical to each other in both features and functions.

Both the M3 DS and the R4 DS Slot 1 solution are manufactured by the same people - or at the very least - the same factory. What this means for gamers and homebrew enthusiasts is that they can get their hands on the R4 DS and know that they're getting the exact same product they'd be getting if they bought the M3 DS Simply at another shop.

You see, the R4 DS and M3 DS Simply are EXACTLY the same. The only difference between the two units is the packaging and the logo that is displayed on the main screen when you boot up your Nintendo DS or DS Lite. Functionality, features, even firmware upgrades and updates are released at the same time, and it seems all of the features and functions in each update are identical to the other. Whether you get the M3 DS Simply, or the R4 DS Slot 1 Solution, you're going to essentially get exactly the same things - everything you need to load games, homebrew and applications is included in the box.

The R4 DS Slot 1 Solution Package

It's almost a dead giveaway here, except for the fact that the R4 DS comes in it's own R4 DS Box. But you'll notice that once you open the box, the contents of the box are identical to the M3 DS Simply, you even get the same light blue colored keychain / carry case that comes with the M3 DS simply. You get everything you need, right out of the box. This includes the R4 DS slot 1 cartridge, a USB microSD Reader / writer (and this actually allows you to use your microSD as a USB Drive) as well as the keychain carrying case and the software CD.

Setting up the R4 DS is easy

Setup is as simple as can be. The included instruction manual (which is located on the CD itself) details exactly what you need to do in order to get your R4 DS working. The first thing you'll have to do, is insert the microSD Card (not included - but you can buy this anywhere) into the micrSD reader / writer and plug it into any free USB port on your computer. It will instantly come up as a portable drive / flash drive. Here, you can do one of two things. You can either copy the software from the CD, as stated in the manual to the microSD card to put all of the system files on it. I would recommend though that you go to the R4 DS firmware page, and download the latest drivers, as they are often updated there.

Once you've copied your system files to the micro SD Card, it's time to load the games and homebrew applications you'd like to play. Again, this works the exact same way with the M3 DS simply, no difference between the two units at all. Simply copy and paste the files from your PC that you want on the microSD card. A simply drag and drop is all that is needed. The games and homebrew applications work without any patching or fixing or compression. They work as they are, right out of the box so to speak.

Now that you've copied your system files, and the files you'd like to use and play, it's time to put your microSD card into the slot on the top of the R4 DS cartridge. The R4 DS Cartidge is the same size as any standard Nintendo DS or DS Lite game cartirge, so there's no bulging or sticking out once it's inserted into the cartridge slot on your NDS. The micro SD slot is located on the top of the R4 DS and it is actually spring loaded. The microSD card inserts into the slot with the SD label on the opposite side of the actual R4 DS Cartidge label. You'll hear a CLICK sound once you've inserted the microSD Card into the slot, this is to let you know that it is in place, and you're set to turn on your Nintendo DS console. The microSD card fits perfectly flush against the R4 casing.

Once you've turned on your Nintendo DS or Nintendo DS lite, the system files will load from the R4 DS cartridge, exactly the same way they do when using the M3 DS Simply. It takes about 2 seconds for the main menu to appear, with the R4 DS logo on the top screen, and the menu on the bottom. On the bottom screen you can select one of 3 options.

1. GAME MENU - When you select this menu, you'll be instantly taken to a list of all of the game files, homebrew applications, etc.. that you've stored on your microSD card. You can use the controller pad on the NDS to select the file you want to load. If you're loading a game for the first time, you'll be prompted, after selecting the game, to confirm that you want to create a save file for the game. This is needed if you want to save you game. Your game saves are stored on the same microSD card as the game files themselves - this is fantastic if you want to delete those games later, to replace with other files, as you can copy your save game files back to your PC, for future use when you're ready to continue playing that game again.

2. MULTIMEDIA MENU - When you select this second option, you'll launch the multi media player / moonshell. Within this menu, you're able to look at digital photos stored on the microSD Card, listen to your favorite MP3 Songs, watch movies that you've converted from DVD with the included software, as well as read ebooks in TXT format. This essentially turns your Nintendo DS or DS Lite into a full blown multi media entertainment unit.

3. BOOT SLOT 2 - This menu option allows the R4 DS, just like the M3 DS, to boot the GBA Slot, or Slot 2, in your Nintendo DS / DS Lite console. This is for those of us that also want to get our hands on a GBA Flash card, and want to run GBA Homebrew games and applications as well as Nintendo DS. It also adds extra storage for NDS Homebrew, because you can actually use a GBA Flash card to boot NDS files, as long as you use the R4 DS as a PASSME / PASSCARD solution.

All in all, no matter which one you get, both the R4 DS Slot 1 Solution as well as the M3 DS Simply are excellent accessories for the Nintendo DS / DS Lite. Which one you get should only depend on which model is in stock. As stated earlier in this article, the two units are identical in every way. The only difference being the box packaging and the logo that appears when you first boot up your Nintendo DS console.

There are literally hundreds of FREE homebrew Nintendo DS games available online. Many of them rivaling commercial games in both gameplay and graphics / music. In order to play these free homebrew games you'll have to either purchase an R4 DS or and M3 DS simply. Find out more about both of these homebrew game players at http://www.ps2cover.com/nintendo-ds.shtml

AP - Republican governors, down and out after the party's devastating Election Day losses, said Wednesday that the future of the GOP rests with their ranks and not Washington politicians.

Resident Evil 4 - Wii Edition Review

Resident Evil 4 is a horror FPS game that does things differently compared to the other Resident Evil games.

You play as Leon Kennedy, a survivor of the Raccoon City incident that occurred during the events of Resident Evil 2 and 3. He now works for that government and is sent on a mission of find and rescue the President's daughter who has been kidnapped by a mysterious cult. There's a sighting of the President's daughter in an isolated village in Europe and Leon investigates. While he is there the villagers start attacking him for an unknown reason so Leon has to find the President's daughter and find out the secret of the village.

There are no zombies this time around. I know what you're probably thinking. 'But its a Resident Evil game, the only thing you do is shoot zombies'. Yes, that is true but they have been replaced by something so original (/sarcasm) that it will make you think, 'Wow, why didn't I think of that.' Possessed humans, fully equipped with pitchforks, axes, knifes, other whatnot that has a sharp end and dynamite sticks.

Gone are the absolutely horrible (and somehow awesome) 'frozen' camera angles. Instead of the camera pointing at you in some awkward position, the camera is in an over-the-shoulder position which is alright but it seems like its been done, which it has, many times before.

Almost the entire game is an escort mission. I hate escort missions especially if they make the NPC who's following you a complete idiot. Unfortunately sometimes in this game, your partner does something so stupid that it makes you not want to care about her and just push her into a mob of charging bloodthirsty villagers.

The guns in this game range from pathetic to freaking' awesome. You start off with a handgun and, if you are like me and chose the easy mode (which I'm pretty sure is Wii exclusive), a shotgun. You eventually get a sniper rifle that is hopeless in a close-up situation, a rocket launcher and a few different types of grenades like the hand and flash grenade.

The enemies are good and bad at the same time. The case for the game says that the enemies work together but I've never seen them once perform this feat. The enemies react differently to where you shoot them. Shoot them in the feet and they stumble to the ground. Shoot them in the arm and they drop their weapon. Shoot them in the head and they die, sometimes.

Ammo is everywhere in this game. They are in boxes, the enemies drop it but you can't buy them from the salesman who looks like one of 'them' and will turn on you at any moment. When you run out of ammo, you are screwed. This time you have a knife if you run out of ammo so you aren't as screwed as you would be if you ran out of ammo in any other Resident Evil game.

The whole game takes some advantage to the Wii's motion sensing capabilities. You aim using the wiimote, slice the knife by shaking the wiimote and that's actually it but I don't blame the lack of motion sensing abilities because that's really all you can do with it.

In short, this is another Resident Evil game, just revamped with a whole new way to play. I highly suggest buying it and keeping it.

- Shaun McGarry - Shaun832

http://shaun832.wordpress.com/

AP - The Air Force general who runs the Pentagon's missile defense projects said Wednesday that American interests would be "severely hurt" if President-elect Obama decided to halt plans developed by the Bush administration to install missile interceptors in Eastern Europe.

Answering the Call of Duty, For the 4th Time

I've never been a huge fan of World War 2 first person shooters. Sure I've rented Medal of Honor Airborne and previous Call of Duty games and enjoyed for a few hours; but I never had the inclination to buy one. That is of course until Call of Duty 4 came along. I played the game at a friend's house over the holidays and was very impressed by the graphics, game play and overall feeling of submersion like I was actually standing alongside fellow soldiers ready to storm a building. I hadn't had this feeling like I was actually a part of an actually gun battle since I stormed the beaches of Normandy Medal of Honor Frontline for the PS2.

I was pleasantly surprised when, after seeing me play the copy of Call of Duty 4 I rented from Blockbuster, my uncle bought me a copy of my own. Of course I played the whole game through a couple of times during Christmas break and I appreciated it well enough; but I wondered, what's next? If most of you are thinking: "What about playing it online?" I didn't even realize there was online play until I got back to school for the next semester. If you go to a school similar to mine, you pretty much get all the bandwidth you want so internet connections aren't a problem.

Call of Duty trumps any game created so far when it comes to online play. Nothing is easier to play, nor more fun or exciting. Call of Duty 4 is like a no BS version of Counter Strike and a lot more fun. The large number of maps have kept players hooked to this game since it came out last November.

My only gripe with Call of Duty 4 online is that it is so fast paced; people who prefer to be snipers are at a serious disadvantage, unless of course you have extremely good reflexes and can run and jump while looking down a rifle scope.

If you haven't played Call of Duty 4 yet, pick it up and enjoy the best online play for both the XBOX 360 and PS3.

My name is Brendan and I grew up playing video games, so whether I like it or not, they are a part of my life and many other people's as well. It is very fun for me to discuss the topic of video games so check out my webpage to see more articles that talk about the gaming industry and other stuff at http://brendanigan.com

AP - A bomb exploded in a parked car in a bustling section of downtown Baghdad early Wednesday, killing four people and wounding 15 others, police said, the third consecutive day of morning rush hour blasts in the Iraqi capital.

Soul Calibur IV - A Look at the Latest in the Gaming Phenomenon

The Soul Calibur series has always been at the forefront of the beat 'em up market. Since the original version of the game erupted onto the scene in the late nineties (named Soul Blade), the franchise has grown in renown and popularity. Introducing a varied range of fighters and dynamic weapon-play, the Soul series of games have always prided themselves on delivering a rich gaming experience, taking the static nature of the beat 'em up genre and crafting it into a more rounded gaming experience.

Soul Calibur IV is the first of the Soul series to reach next gen platforms, appearing on both the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360. One of the most eagerly anticipated titles of 2008, Soul Calibur IV had the weight of expectation of its back, especially with Playstation 3 fans, as it is the first real beat 'em up to be released for the console. Soul Calibur III, whilst maintaining a rich and detailed gaming ethos, was viewed by most as a miss-step in the series, overcomplicating game play and deviating from a much-loved combat engine.

Thankfully, and as promised, Soul Cailbur IV rectifies this mistake and pushes its way triumphantly to the head of beat 'em ups one again. Whilst technically the game offers little in originality, this is really the point. Fans demanded a return to the classic style of the franchise and that's what they got. Of course, being a next-gen title does bring massive advantages with it. Game play is fluid and more natural than ever before, with character models moving and reacting with a realism that borders on astonishing at times.

Soul Calibur's crux has always been the motley band of fighters that appear to wrestle for control of the soul swords, and in next-gen presentation the characters are truly gorgeous. From intricate facial expressions and motion capture, to dizzying attention to detail (polished armour will change each bout to reflect the relating background); Soul Calibur IV is truly a delight to behold.

Gameplay returns with the usual plethora of additional content. Tower of Lost Souls will test your skill and endurance as you take on constant combatants without a health replenish, and for the first time ever Soul Calibur goes online, allowing players to combat each other across the world and earn respect on a global scale! A few new in-game functions have also been added, most notably the Soul Gauges and Critical Finishes, which act as instant winners you can punish an enemy with if they block too often.

Special mention must go to the Character Creation mode, which returns from Soul Calibur III with a massive revamp. Whilst the range of different styles has been scrapped, this makes way for a function so in depth it is addictive enough to lose hours of your day to. The smallest details are accounted for; you can even alter the pitch of your character's voice. With a gargantuan range of equipment available and even more to unlock, players can create truly unique characters. The most impressive thing is that, whilst on past games character creation was fun, the end result would never gel with the characters proper and appeared almost as superimposed sprites on the screen. With Soul Calibur IV, the characters you create are so detailed and well developed that they could have been made by the games designers themselves, and appear no less impressive than the real characters of the game.

There are few downsides to report, but a few niggling factors emerge in the game. The Story mode seems less rich than in previous instalments, and there is less of an overall narrative to the proceedings which used to give the story distance, you felt you really were travelling the world in search of your goal. Also, using the in-game graphics for the character endings is adequate; however with next-gen consoles surely the ability to give us full CGI endings isn't too much to ask?

Overall however, Soul Calibur IV is a raging success, doing exactly what it says on the tin, and then some. A beat 'em up has never looked so attractive, and the game offers enough challenge to keep players hooked way past the usual parameters for a game of this genre.

Rich

Rich writes for the pop culture/memorabilia site starstore.com and its blogs, covering the latest and greatest in film, TV, music and comics merchandise and collectibles.

AP - North Korea ratcheted up its threats to sever ties with South Korea by announcing Wednesday that it will halt cross-border traffic next month over what it calls Seoul's confrontational stance against Pyongyang.