twilight hack exploit for wii + neo geo emulator for ds + anime.

Completely irrelevant, but this is my second vector ever (though it’s unfinished for now):

A very bland and self-explanatory topic because I’m lazy, and also because I put the least amount of effort into thinking of a creative headline. Though it’s a relatively short post, it can be divided into three sections because of the difference in content covered.

- Wii exploit
- Homebrew Neo Geo emulator for the Nintendo DS
- Anime season’s impressions

Apparently, a Twilight Princess exploit permits the execution of unsigned code without any prior hardware modifications to the Wii by circumventing the security measures using a fairly unconventional method (a “corrupted” save file); additionally, the added ability to play VC and Wiiware games free of charge is packed into this after utilising the procedure. Numerous sources have cited that the problem rests solely in TP alone (or something to that extent), so what exactly does that entail?

I suppose “remedial action” out of consequence (yet hopelessly unrealistic) would require Nintendo to recall their discs (thankfully discs are fairly expendable as opposed to cartridges) and issue out some new ones; though conversely, the problem is that many would be very unlikely to take them up on this offer unless they started a quasi-religious campaign against humanity, because really: why would you? Perhaps for some, this may be the only reason to purchase nearly the worst Zelda game I have ever had the misfortune of playing (and an SD card), and to top it off: I hate the Wii as it is.

Source: http://wiibrew.org/index.php?title=Twilight_Hack

In other news, my NDS’s MicroSD card totally bit the dust a couple of days back as a result of running a piece of homebrew which was still in its development infancy; unfortunately it harbours a fatal bug which can cause the card to corrupt itself. The developer has stated that the source of the problem is related to the File Allocation Table drivers being hammered repeatedly to constantly stream and swap data into the system’s minuscule 4mb of RAM — which makes a lot of sense if you think about it — because it’s such a restrictive margin to operate with. On a related note though, it’s an incredible proof of concept that should promptly be given a whirl once these issues have been ironed out, being a true testament to making use of the DS’s inferior hardware. It is unfortunate that some may feel that they are entitled to impose their opinions on the developer by openly disparaging the supposed lack of sense in regards to protocol; it is an initial release, and many should already be prepared for the inherent risks involved with executing homebrew programs in the first place. Be proactive and back your data up first; it’s nobody’s fault except your own.

Emulating fourth-generation consoles on the Nintendo DS can be a real pain because unlike the raw computing strength present in conventional PCs, you have to work around with a much more limited amount of processing power. Though the DS possesses two CPUs, they both only run at a meager 67MHz and 33MHz respectively; emulating a console requires numerous times the power on the host’s side for comfortable performance — some speculate up to 10x — though many tweaks can be utilised to minimise what’s necessary. Interesting details were unveiled a couple of days back during my daily visit to DS Scene. Surprisingly, as while it was precedented by SNES and Genesis emulators which have witnessed a minimal amount of progress during the last few months, an astounding Neo Geo emulator pops out from nowhere. Conversely and unsurprisingly, there are some who would very much doubt the integrity of such a claim, but it’s true, and it works.

Topic: http://www.ds-scene.net/?s=viewtopic&nid=5477
Developer’s page: http://groups.google.com/group/neods

For an initial release, this went overboard and beyond my expectations; the opposing speculative theories which agreed upon the fact that Neo Geo emulation on the DS would be bordering on the edges of impossibility is indicative of this product’s greatness. Even though I was only able to boot Metal Slug X out of the three games I tried (Metal Slug X, The Last Blade 2 and King of Fighters 2000), I was very much astonished at the smoothness of its performance, and being the first release of this emulator, it shouts out “POTENTIAL” in all caps. From my experience with Metal Slug X, the sound is brimming with crystal-clear fidelity and can also be disabled for increased performance. Frame rates do indeed take a hit during the more intense encounters, but it’s to be expected when dealing with the difficulty in emulating the hardware, especially for a first release. Additionally, the Neo Geo’s CPU speed can be underclocked to provide better frame rates (therefore, less strain on the host CPU) by taking an additional load off the Nintendo DS’s hardware, as many Neo Geo games do not utilise every ounce of the console’s power.

Included in the download package is the emulator, which may need to be DLDI patched for specific PassMe cards, and a tool designated for the purpose of converting Neo Geo ROMs into a specific format for use with the program. The BIOS is also required (duh).

And uh, finally for the esoteric anime fans, I shall bequeath my current insight on a few more of the titles I’ve given the liberty of viewing this season, though it may feel slightly incongruous because I’m suddenly switching the subject, and slightly superfluous (it really is) because I’m forcing myself to write about the subject.

Vampire Knight is enjoyable. As to not diverge from the plot with annoying fillers, so far the anime has kept a consistent focus on the story from the first episode; from what I understand, it’s great how the manga apparently works as we’re unlikely to see any episodes appointed for the sole purpose of wasting time. It’s been a while since I’ve seen something that themes itself on the basis of such supernatural aspects, and even more so that it targets the shoujo demographic — which I’ve skipped out on for a while, though arguably it’s because I haven’t taken the initiative to watch anything — but it works wonderfully well. Colour themes are also utilised well, though that’s just a minor piece of insight courtesy of my aesthetics; in fact it’s so trivial I don’t even know why I mentioned it. Very good watch nonetheless, and definitely worth my time.

Itazura na Kiss is yet another anime I’m enjoying this season, if only for the fairly ditsy yet energetic female lead which has a crush on a prodigal genius, who initially seems completely out of reach because of the difference in intellectual qualities. It’s a strangely appealing slice-of-life romance comedy which ultimately amounts to nothing overly complicated; easy to watch, enjoy and appreciate. I’ll be keeping up with this as another “light watch” this season.

Kanokon sparks a considerable amount of aversion because of its immodest nature and annoying protagonist. Honestly, any explanations I could possibly offer would be tentative at best, so let’s just settle with the universally acknowledged fact that it sucks. Perhaps I just have a habit of having to finish any series I begin, which could be the only reason why I have yet to drop this. What have I gotten myself into!?

To Love-Ru is your generic romance comedy filled with an abundance of fanservice, though its appeal is drawn from an interesting cast of characters. I’m currently reading the manga and Yami is a delicious loli.

That’s basically it. I had previously gone over the other titles in an earlier post (Code Geass, Nabari no Ou), and my opinion on them has yet to change so far. Perhaps it’s still a tad too early to tell? In either case, despite the initial impressions that the season would be lacking in propitious qualities, I am enjoying it quite a bit more than I had anticipated.

I also wrote this in the dark corner of my room — shivering because of the cold at 6am in the morning — so I went and elaborated a little more to do it justice. Did I mention that this entry feels so awkward every time I read it? This is annoying, and I’d hate it if it weren’t for the vector of Sakura.

Oh, if you ever read my entries just think of it like I’m mumbling to myself the entire time, because that’s how it feels.

~ by Espydon on 4 May, 2008.