Handheld mega is here! I have a few gaming handheld topics I want to yap about, I’ll try to add one a day.

First thing I want to talk about is new to me, and relatively new in general, the DSpico! The DSpico is a new, fully open source flashcart for the Nintendo DS and DSi. The whole stack from the hardware, software, firmware is all freely available for anyone to modify and use. Built with an RP2040 microcontroller, 2 megabytes of flash memory, micro usb port.

So that’s cool and all, we love open source projects, but what can it actually do? The basic function, for those who don’t know, is to load software off an SD card on old consoles (Homebrew, launchers, and of course games). This lets you keep your entire library on one cartridge, including homebrew games and rom hacks. In addition this is the first flashcart to support DSiWare (downloadable games for the DSi), so you can pop it in a DSi or 3ds and play those games, in addition to the DS library.

Some other cool features. It has one of the lowest power draws of any flashcart, much less then the classic R4 clones. You don’t need to charge it, it just takes power from the DS, but it does have noticeably longer playtimes then other flashcarts. It has a custom, and very pretty launcher with boxart and everything. Themes, right now I’m using one modeled after the Wii menu. It also boots and loads games much faster then other flashcarts or even cfw (custom firmware) on a DSi or 3ds. You can put GBArunner or other emulators on it if you wish.

More of a “toy” feature that I don’t think most people will care about, but you can also force the DS fat and lite to run DSiWare games which was not originally possible. You do need to use TwilightMenu++ for this instead of the default launcher, but you can either switch to TwilightMenu++ for everything or run both. If I remember correctly about a third of DSiWare can run, so no where near everything, but still neat considering the DSi is more powerful.

Another neat aside, Phenommod is releasing a DSpico that has been modified to have IR support. This could be used in future homebrew, but is also used by the Pokewalker from Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver. It will work with original units but they are also releasing their own version, for cheaper and with a backlight screen, if you’re into that. It also has a better CPU that lets you run compressed roms, even lower power usage, and a USB C port!

The kind of, “default” build by the team has micro usb which is a pain. Although you don’t use this port much in normal use so I don’t actually see it as a major flaw, even in current year. You can do some cool homebrew stuff with it though. One interesting example I saw was using a DSi as a webcam. But all you need it for is flashing firmware, you can take the SD card out for managing roms/art/themes/settings/etc.

But yea, finally a fully hackable DS flashcart! None of the BS of other carts.

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