How to Get ScummVM DS Onto Your DS - Using a CF/SD/Mini SD/Micro SD card reader and a DLDI driver
ScummVM DS needs something called a DLDI driver to run on each make
and model of card reader. Many modern card readers (R4DS, M3 DS Real)
handle this autmatically and for those, you don't have to do anything.
Just running ScummVM on the card will handle this step for you.
For others, you will need to follow the steps in this section before
ScummVM DS will work.
All DS card readers are different in the way that they work. In order to support many different card readers, ScummVM DS uses a DLDI driver installed into the ScummVM DS code. This is done using a program called DLDITool which you can download and run on your computer. Each DLDI driver is designed to tell ScummVM DS how to use a specific type of card reader. These drivers can be used with any homebrew program which supports the DLDI interface.
While each card reader should work with these instructions, there are some exceptions. Please read the card reader notes section to see if there is any specific information about your card reader.
Here is what you need to do:
- Visit the DLDI page and download the
executable for DLDITool for your operating system (versions are
available for Windows, Linux, and MacOS)
- Download the DLDI for your card reader. This is the big table
at the top of the page. The first column marked DLDI is the
one you want. You should get a single file with a .dldi
extension.
- Extract DLDITool into a folder, and put the DLDI of your choice
in the same folder.
- If you're using the command line version of DLDITool enter the
following at a command prompt:
dlditool <dldiname> <scummvm nds name>
If you're using the Windows GUI version, double click on
dlditool32.exe, select your card reader from the box, drag
your ScummVM binaries (either the .nds, or the .ds.gba version
depending on your card reader. I think only Supercards use the
.ds.gba files) into the lower box, then click patch.
Either way, you should see 'Patched Successfully'. If you
don't, you're doing something wrong.
You need to patch one of the builds labeled A - H depending on
which game you want to run. See the table on the ScummVM DS
website to see which games are supported by which build.
- Put the patched .nds or .ds.gba files on your flash card. If
you're using the Supercard, you will need to use the .ds.gba
files, but rename them to .nds.
- Put your game data in any folder on the card. Do NOT use a zip
file.
- Boot up your DS and run ScummVM.
- Click 'Add Game', browse to the folder with your game data,
click 'Choose', then 'OK'. Click 'Start' to run the game.
If your copy of ScummVM DS has been successfully patched, you will
get a message on the top screen that looks like this:
DLDI Device:
GBA Movie Player (Compact Flash)
The message should show the name of your card reader. If it is
wrong, you have used the wrong DLDI file.
If you haven't patched your .nds file, you will get the following
message
DLDI Driver not patched!
DLDI Initialise failed.
In this case, you've made a mistake following the above instructions,
or have patched the wrong file.
You may also see the following message:
DLDI Device:
GBA Movie Player (Compact Flash)
DLDI Initialise failed.
In this case, the driver did not start up correctly. The driver is
probably broken, or you've used the wrong one for your card reader.
In the case of the Supercard, M3 Lite and DS Link, there are several drivers available. You might want to try one of the others.
This version of ScummVM DS will run on any card reader that has a
DLDI driver available. If yours doesn't, you need to pressure your
card reader manufacturer to release one.
DO NOT EMAIL ME TO ASK ME TO CREATE A DRIVER FOR YOUR CARD READER,
I CANNOT DO THIS.
How to Get ScummVM DS Onto Your DS - Instructions for specific card readers
- GBAMP CF: You need to upload replacement firmware to your card reader before it will work. You can download the firmware program here. Name your .nds file _BOOT_MP.nds.
- M3 CF/SD: Copy the .nds file to your card with the M3 Game Manager in order to avoid an annoying message when you boot your M3. Use the default options to copy the file. Be sure to press 'A' in the M3 browser to start the .nds file, and not 'Start', or it won't work.
- M3 CF/SD: Copy the .nds file to your card with the M3 Game Manager in order to avoid an annoying message when you boot your M3. Use the default options to copy the file. Be sure to press 'A' in the M3 browser to start the .nds file, and not 'Start', or it won't work.
- Supercard CF/SD (slot-2): Use the .ds.gba files to run ScummVM on the Supercard. Other than that, just follow the instructions as normal.
- Supercard Lite (slot-2): It has been reported that only the standard Supercard driver and the Moonshell version work with ScummVM DS.
- Datel Max Media Dock: If you haven't already, upgrade your firmware to the latest version. The firmware that came with my Max Media Dock was
unable to run ScummVM DS at all. Click here to visit Datel's support page and download the latest firmware
- NinjaDS: There are firmware upgrades for this device, but for me, ScummVM DS ran straight out of the box. Visit this page to download the latest firmware if you want. If you have installed FlashMe on your DS, it will make your DS crash on boot when the NinjaDS is inserted. You can hold the 'select' button during boot to disable FlashMe, which will allow the NinjaDS to work. Due to this, it is not recommended to install FlashMe if you use a NinjaDS.
- EZ-Flash: This card reader uses .ds.gba files from the ScummVM archive. Rename them to .nds before patching them with the DLDI patcher.
- R4DS: If you upgrade the firmware for your R4DS to version 1.10 or later, the card will autmatically DLDI patch the game, meaning you don't have to use dlditool to patch the .NDS file. This makes things a lot easier!
- M3DS Real: This card autmatically DLDI patches the game, meaning that you do not need to do this yourself.
Which games are compatible with ScummVM DS?
I'm glad you asked. Here is a list of the compatible games in version
1.1.0. Demo versions of the games listed should work too.
Flight of the Amazon Queen, Beneath a Steel Sky, and Lure of the
Temptress have generously been released as freeware by the original
authors, Revolution Software. This is a
great thing and we should support Revolution for being so kind to us.
You can download the game data from the ScummVM download page.
The other games on this list are commercial, and still under copyright, which means downloading them without paying for it is illegal. You can probably find a second-hand copy on eBay. Please don't email me to ask for a copy, as I am unable to send it to you.