Gateway3DS Hands On Impression

[Devin]

Many of you are aware of the GW3DS, the first 3DS mode flashcart. The release date was pushed back a bit, so suspicion of it not even existing came to arise. However, today I received my review sample in the mail disproving said suspicions.

Here are a few key excerpts from my experience so far with the GW3DS.

• The GW3DS indeed plays 3DS roms. (I've yet to experience any hiccups, or glitches.)
• The GW3DS plays already released scene releases. (Without patching.)
• The GW3DS saves the 3DS game saves on the 3DS' SD card. (In the form of a .sav file.)
• The GW3DS' saves are not interchangeable with those dumped from R4i Save Dongles.
• Games from other regions do not show up at all in the menu.
• In GW3DS mode, retail 3DS games do not work. You need to reboot the 3DS to play retail 3DS games.

So in conclusion. The GW3DS does in fact exist, works as advertised, and word is that they've been shipped to resellers all over the world. You can follow the GW3DS' progress on the GW3SDS' website, or in our very own forums.

Here are a few pictures of the GW3DS. (Boxing, plasic insert, as well as the front/back of the GW3DS red cartridge.)

Spoiler

There was a mix up in my review sample, and the blue GW3DS card was not included. Once I get it, I'll post pictures of it. My review will be done soon enough. Enjoy.

The Gateway 3DS can be purchased from NDS-Card.com

 

[Normmatt]

PCB shots please

 

[pokefloote]

Excellent news, thanks for sharing this information, Devin. I look forward to the full review!

 

[Vengenceonu]

It's Beautiful...

 

[TemplarGR]

Nice. Time for the scene to have a look at it and create a soft mod...

 

[Queno138]

AWESOME!

I'm curious.
Every time you change a game to play on the GW3ds, do you need to change the .sav on the 3DS's SD card, or will the game recognize it?

(eg, the saves are all saved as 00000001.sav, so you need to swap it on your computer whenever you play a different game)

 

[Devin]

PCB shots please

I definately would, but the cartridge seems to be glued shut. (However Another World I believe has opened it, and reported that it has a red PCB. Perhaps he can take, and upload a few pics.) I would but can't in fear of damaging it.

 

[Jiehfeng]

Sweet, waiting for the 6x support.

 

[chris888222]

Wait, if games from other regions do not show up at all...

How can you even program the region in the first place? Or does gateway only work with a particular region 3DS?

 

[Vengenceonu]

Wait, if games from other regions do not show up at all...

How can you even program the region in the first place? Or does gateway only work with a particular region 3DS?

It has nothing to do with Gateway that determines the region. The 3DS itself and the information inside the ROM must be from the same region. (example. USA rom works in a USA 3DS, but a JAP ROM wont work inside the same 3DS.)

 

[Devin]

Wait, if games from other regions do not show up at all...

How can you even program the region in the first place? Or does gateway only work with a particular region 3DS?

It reads whatever rom is on the GW3DS red card. So if it's a Japanese region rom, it'll only work on a Japanese 3DS. (The GW3DS itself is region free in that sense, however the 3DS' aren't.)

 

[sonic2756]

Will nds-card be receiving cards before others since they're located in China?

 

[chris888222]

It reads whatever rom is on the GW3DS red card. So if it's a Japanese region rom, it'll only work on a Japanese 3DS. (The GW3DS itself is region free in that sense, however the 3DS' aren't.)

Oh yes, I totally forgot that GW only plays one game per MSD. My bad. Now I get it.

It has nothing to do with Gateway that determines the region. The 3DS itself and the information inside the ROM must be from the same region. (example. USA rom works in a USA 3DS, but a JAP ROM wont work inside the same 3DS.)

Yeah. Initially I thought the GW can run a couple of 3DS roms at once, so I was kinda confused on how the Gateway can actually select region preferences.

 

[Ericthegreat]

And so it begins.

Will be interesting to see if any group now create a exploit of some sort to stop people from buying carts.

 

[idleft]

​

• In GW3DS mode, retail 3DS games do not work. You need to reboot the 3DS to play retail 3DS games.

The Gateway 3DS can be purchased from NDS-Card.com

It this means that every time you reboot or shut down your 3DS, you have to re-install the GW utilities from the blue DS card?

 

[BenRK]

And so it came to pass that the 3DS was doomed to failure from piracy. People all over the internet became too lazy to purchase games and just loaded up their 3DS's with pirated games. Game developers ceased support for the console, and the 3DS died many years too young.

Rest in peace, 3DS, the world barely knew ye...
2011-2013

 

[Devin]

It this means that every time you reboot or shut down your 3DS, you have to re-install the GW utilities from the blue DS card?

Oh no, no. That's not what I meant. I mean that if you want to play retail 3DS games and you're in GW3DS mode you need to reboot. Rebooting takes away the exploit. However when you want to go back into GW3DS mode you need to go into Settings->Other Settings->Profile->Nintendo DS Profile. The 3DS will reboot, and you'll be fine. No need to use the installer unless you go into DS mode. (Play a DS game, or flashcart.)

 

[Ryukouki]

Great impression, glad that you were able to post this as fast as you did. Guess you're up one on me.

 

[DSoryu]

Wow, it works then... my hopes are up for a SD Card exploit instead of a flashcart

 

[Vengenceonu]

And so it came to pass that the 3DS was doomed to failure from piracy. People all over the internet became too lazy to purchase games and just loaded up their 3DS's with pirated games. Game developers ceased support for the console, and the 3DS died many years too young.

Rest in peace, 3DS, the world barely knew ye...
2011-2013

Yea... I remember how that happened on the DS... oh wait, it went on to be a huge success. My bad.

 

[BenRK]

Yea... I remember how that happened on the DS... oh wait, it went on to be a huge success. My bad.

Because this is TOTALLY 2006 and 7 years haven't passed and the world is EXACTLY the same as 2006. Why, the Wii is coming out. OH! The PS3 is too! Dude bro 360 awesome!