with this Dev 3ds u and flashcart u can read 3ds roms!
After doing some digging, for info and photos on 3DS dev hardware, I noticed there was not much info in one place, and not everything was correct. So I thought, why not put it all together here and crush most of the rumors surrounding 3DS Dev Units. And unless otherwise stated, none of the photos are mine. A page documenting 3DS Development Software can be found here.
Pricing
Awhile ago an incomplete list of 3DS Development Kit Parts was leaked with prices:
Its quite funny to see that Panda units go for USD$1000+ on Ebay. But if you are a developer, you can buy them from Nintendo for USD$325
Software Specifics
They cannot run unsigned code. All games/applications (NCCH format) made for panda dev units must be signed, this is done by signing (with the private key from a RSA-2048 keypair*) a SHA-256 hash which was generated over the NCCH header. Then the NCCH files are then packaged into a NCSDcontainer (this is the format for game cartridge images, usually .CCI is the file extention) or a CIA(installable title). Developer NCCH files can be (and are usually) encrypted. The encryption key can be either:
1/ Zeros Key
2/ System Fixed Key
3/ Dynamically Generated Key (Unique per NCCH)
*Technical Note: All RSA keypairs which developers are given to use, come with a pre-generated AccessDesc. The AccessDesc contains the public key used to verify the NCCH signature, as well as a mirror of the permissions in the Extended header. The AccessDesc is signed with the AccessDesc RSA-2048 private key. This prevents developers from creating applications with special permissions. But essentially, this provides the chain of trust. The 3DS holds the AccessDesc public key, which is used to verify the NCCH RSA pubk, which is used to verify the header which contains hashes for all of the NCCH components.
NOTE: When the CXI packaged into a CIA it is encrypted again with a title key(Using AES-CBC). The title key itself is encrypted in the ticket of the CIA. When installing a CIA, the encrypted title key is decrypted by the 3DS, with the common key. In the case of the CCI/CSU the CXI is not encrypted, but the the NCSD header is signed in a similar fashion to the NCCH header, except there is no need for an AccessDesc because the 3DS holds the public key to verify the NCSD header.
Unlike Retail 3DS', Development 3DS' have two GUIs which can be used.
1/ The 'Home Menu' - this is the same as the Home Menu on a retail 3DS except, it can display CPU/GPU usage as well as the Home Menu's revision, by pressing 'X' and 'Y' together.
2/ The 'Test Menu' - A very basic GUI, see 3DS Development Unit GUI for more details.
Developer 3DSs are subject to region lockout for developer titles (region lock extends to DSi titles aswell) in the same way retail units are. So the European developer Home Menu will refuse to show Japanese developer titles. But region lockout code only exists in the home menu, and any out of region titles can be launched from the Dev Menu or Test Menu. Additionally developer titles can be (and most are) created "Region Free" see ICN Flags.
To put it out first, developer units cannot run retail 3DS games and vice versa. This is because the two types hold different keys in the boot ROM. So a developer 3DS cannot decrypt or verify retail content. To a developer 3DS, retail applications are corrupt garbage. The same also applies to "3DS<->3DS" communications, as they are encrypted. Retail and developer 3DS units will not recognise each other's existence. Therefore features like Download Play and transferring Miis will not work between retail and developer 3DS units. However DS(i) mode is an exception, DS(i) mode is compatible with retail carts(this is dependent on the TWL firmware version). All DS(i) mode communication works the same as on a retail 3DS.
PARTNER-CTR DEBUGGER/WRITER
The PARTNER-CTR DEBUGGER and the PARTNER-CTR WRITER (There are no public photos of the latter), are the development hardware which 3DS software is supposed to be created with. They are thick cream coloured boxes, that somewhat resemble the IS-NITRO devices for the original DS.
PARTNER-CTR DEBUGGER/WRITER Specifications:
1/ Can output video signal to external screens via a Wii AV Cord, DVI or computer screen capture though a USB connection.
2/ Can be used in conjunction with PC using CTR SDK software (connection is probably through the same USB port used for screen capture)
3/ They have 2GB (this is standard) of emulated memory and 128MB of main memory. They can also perform real-time memory edits.
4/ They have WLAN protection from radio disturbances
5/ CTR Debuggers can flash cartridge images to CTR-008/CTR-005(-01) cards with a max 1 card at a time. While CTR Writers can flash up to eight CTR-008/CTR-005(-01) cards at a time.
6/ The two cords connecting a CTR Debugger to a dummy 3DS unit are both 100cm (1m) long.
7/ The actual SD Card slot used is located on the CTR-Debugger/Writer, NOT the dummy 3DS unit.
After doing some digging, for info and photos on 3DS dev hardware, I noticed there was not much info in one place, and not everything was correct. So I thought, why not put it all together here and crush most of the rumors surrounding 3DS Dev Units. And unless otherwise stated, none of the photos are mine. A page documenting 3DS Development Software can be found here.
Pricing
Awhile ago an incomplete list of 3DS Development Kit Parts was leaked with prices:
Software Specifics
They cannot run unsigned code. All games/applications (NCCH format) made for panda dev units must be signed, this is done by signing (with the private key from a RSA-2048 keypair*) a SHA-256 hash which was generated over the NCCH header. Then the NCCH files are then packaged into a NCSDcontainer (this is the format for game cartridge images, usually .CCI is the file extention) or a CIA(installable title). Developer NCCH files can be (and are usually) encrypted. The encryption key can be either:
1/ Zeros Key
2/ System Fixed Key
3/ Dynamically Generated Key (Unique per NCCH)
*Technical Note: All RSA keypairs which developers are given to use, come with a pre-generated AccessDesc. The AccessDesc contains the public key used to verify the NCCH signature, as well as a mirror of the permissions in the Extended header. The AccessDesc is signed with the AccessDesc RSA-2048 private key. This prevents developers from creating applications with special permissions. But essentially, this provides the chain of trust. The 3DS holds the AccessDesc public key, which is used to verify the NCCH RSA pubk, which is used to verify the header which contains hashes for all of the NCCH components.
NOTE: When the CXI packaged into a CIA it is encrypted again with a title key(Using AES-CBC). The title key itself is encrypted in the ticket of the CIA. When installing a CIA, the encrypted title key is decrypted by the 3DS, with the common key. In the case of the CCI/CSU the CXI is not encrypted, but the the NCSD header is signed in a similar fashion to the NCCH header, except there is no need for an AccessDesc because the 3DS holds the public key to verify the NCSD header.
Unlike Retail 3DS', Development 3DS' have two GUIs which can be used.
1/ The 'Home Menu' - this is the same as the Home Menu on a retail 3DS except, it can display CPU/GPU usage as well as the Home Menu's revision, by pressing 'X' and 'Y' together.
2/ The 'Test Menu' - A very basic GUI, see 3DS Development Unit GUI for more details.
Developer 3DSs are subject to region lockout for developer titles (region lock extends to DSi titles aswell) in the same way retail units are. So the European developer Home Menu will refuse to show Japanese developer titles. But region lockout code only exists in the home menu, and any out of region titles can be launched from the Dev Menu or Test Menu. Additionally developer titles can be (and most are) created "Region Free" see ICN Flags.
To put it out first, developer units cannot run retail 3DS games and vice versa. This is because the two types hold different keys in the boot ROM. So a developer 3DS cannot decrypt or verify retail content. To a developer 3DS, retail applications are corrupt garbage. The same also applies to "3DS<->3DS" communications, as they are encrypted. Retail and developer 3DS units will not recognise each other's existence. Therefore features like Download Play and transferring Miis will not work between retail and developer 3DS units. However DS(i) mode is an exception, DS(i) mode is compatible with retail carts(this is dependent on the TWL firmware version). All DS(i) mode communication works the same as on a retail 3DS.
PARTNER-CTR DEBUGGER/WRITER
The PARTNER-CTR DEBUGGER and the PARTNER-CTR WRITER (There are no public photos of the latter), are the development hardware which 3DS software is supposed to be created with. They are thick cream coloured boxes, that somewhat resemble the IS-NITRO devices for the original DS.
PARTNER-CTR DEBUGGER/WRITER Specifications:
1/ Can output video signal to external screens via a Wii AV Cord, DVI or computer screen capture though a USB connection.
2/ Can be used in conjunction with PC using CTR SDK software (connection is probably through the same USB port used for screen capture)
3/ They have 2GB (this is standard) of emulated memory and 128MB of main memory. They can also perform real-time memory edits.
4/ They have WLAN protection from radio disturbances
5/ CTR Debuggers can flash cartridge images to CTR-008/CTR-005(-01) cards with a max 1 card at a time. While CTR Writers can flash up to eight CTR-008/CTR-005(-01) cards at a time.
6/ The two cords connecting a CTR Debugger to a dummy 3DS unit are both 100cm (1m) long.
7/ The actual SD Card slot used is located on the CTR-Debugger/Writer, NOT the dummy 3DS unit.
With full 3D and graphics honed to perfection by Nintendo’s finest visual geniuses, Mario Kart 7 shines on the XL screen. Crank up the Depth Slider and everything’s still as pristine as you remember it, but now much more tactile. The plumes of dust behind karts’ wheels in Kalimari Desert never looked so good, and that train’s so solid now you can almost feel it smacking you in the face for failing to brake.
It’s also more jagged than you remember, magnified to such a size, but then you get moving, and that XL screen is just guiding you home. Plug in some decent headphones, let that enormous top screen swallow you with stereoscopic seduction, and you may as well be in Hyrule. We’ve never felt so fully immersed in Link’s world before.
The cinematic hijinks of McCloud and his pals lend themselves beautifully to the XL screen. We made sure to head for that dogfight with Team Star Wolf on Fichina, and it didn’t disappoint. Shooting down Pigma Dengar for his treachery to Fox’s father in a shimmering stereoscopic snowscape should always be done with grandeur.
