3DS Glossary

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3DMoo

An emulator that emulates a 3DS console. Currently limited to certain 3DS homebrew apps.

3DS

See Nintendo 3DS

.3ds file

Standard file format for 3DS ROMs.

.3dz file

Modified 3DS ROM with an injected header to allow for online play.

A

Alpha

A term given to software very early in development, before it becomes a beta form (See Beta).

B

Backup

A loose term used to describe a ROM/ISO that has been extracted from the original cartridge/disc into a single data file on a personal computer for personal use or archival, or the method for doing so. This can be done using various methods depending on what system the cartridge/disc is for. Also known as "dumping/ripping".

Beta

A software that is incomplete, in development or not in its final form. Beta software may contain many known bugs (See Bug).

Bug

An accidental mistake made in the programming of a piece of software (i.e. a video game), that may cause undesired operation or produce errors or worse. A bug can often be fixed or resolved by applying a patch (see Patch).

Bad ROM/dump

A ROM (See ROM) that has been dumped (See Dump) incorrectly, which may cause it to produce errors during execution or may stop it from working as it should. 'Bad Dumps' almost always require the original cartridge to be dumped again properly to produce a good ROM (See Good ROM).

C

.cia file

Internal format used for eShop download content, like eShop games and DLC. Needs to be installed on the 3DS, though it is protected so it can only be installed on 1 specific console.

Citra

An emulator that emulates a 3DS console. Mostly used for 3DS homebrew for now. The first emulator to get a 3DS game (Ocarina of Time 3D) working.

Clean Dump

A ROM dump (commonly referring to NDS ROMs), that has not been modified from its original form on the cartridge.

Crash

A unexpected fault (bug) in a software that will cause it to halt immediately. A crashed piece of software can not be recovered and must be re-started.

Cartridge

A plastic casing containing variable content, for example, a PCB containing a game held on ROM including a backup EEPROM/battery to hold the game save. Here, this term is commonly used to describe a 3DS game card or any other device used to slot into the expansion slots of a handheld, even flash kit adapters.

Crack

An unofficial patch released by an individual or group which is meant to be applied to a piece of software to remove certain restrictions, features, or anti-piracy techniques. For example, a time restriction on an official demo piece of software.

D

Demo

A trial version of a software or game usually released by the developers of the software for promotional purposes. Demo software almost always has restrictions such as a time limit, lack of features or the inability to perform certain functions.

Download Play

Allows two DS users to play multiplayer together. Some games require only one game between the two (hence Download Play), or it may require both players to have the game.

Dump

Synonym of ROM (See ROM). The term "dumping" is a method of backing up an original cartridge to a PC. (See Backup).

E

Emulator

A program for the computer that allows ROMs to be played on the computer. It "emulates" a system.

EmuNAND

Emulated NAND. A fake NAND that can be used to simulate the actual NAND (SysNAND) of the console. The advantage is that the EmuNAND can be updated to the latest system menu version while still keeping the console on an old version. Also more resistant to bricks since the EmuNAND can be replaced.

eShop

An online store for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U where digital games, demos, and other things can be downloaded.

F

Firmware

The code that a device runs from. A device which allows for firmware upgrades means that a new version of the device doesn't need to be bought to get new features.

Flash Memory

Storage space that is stored on a chip instead of a disk that must be read like a harddrive. Contains no moving parts. Can be used either as internal memory like the DS, or can be used as a portable storage device like thumb drives or SD cards.

G

Gateway 3DS

A 3DS flash cart, notable for being the first to support 3DS ROMs. Comes with a blue cart (an R4 clone) which is used to run an exploit which enables the primary red cart. The red cart is then used to run EmuNAND and play 3DS ROMs.

Good ROM/dump

this term was originally used for ROMs that were validated by the GoodTools. But we sometimes also use this term for ROMs that are in the scene release lists if their CRC match.

GUI

Acronym for "Graphical User Interface". Basically means there is more than text on the screen.

H

Hack

modification of a file or a system. For example, a 'ROM hack' means a 'modified ROM'.

Homebrew

A homebrew application is an unofficial application programmed by hobby coders.

L

LAN

Acronym for "Local Area Network". Connects a small, local areas together.

LCD

Acronym for "Liquid Crystal Display". Uses a smaller amount of power making it suitable for battery powered devices.

Li-On

See Lithium-Ion.

Lithium-Ion

A commonly used battery for electronics. It usually comes as a flat rectangle. It does not suffer from the memory effect.

M

Micro SD

An even smaller version of the SD card. About half the size of a mini SD and about a quarter of the size of a normal SD card. Can hold just as much data as a normal SD card.

Mini SD

A smaller version of the SD card. About half the size of a normal SD card. Can hold just as much data as a normal SD card.

MT-Card

A 3DS flashcart. Clone of the Gateway 3DS.

N

NFO

NFO, an abbreviation of "info". "NFO" files are ASCII (See ASCII) text files with the filename extension ".nfo". These are commonly found alongside pirate (See Piracy) software releases by individuals or groups. They contain information about the release and other useful and useless information.

Nintendo 3DS

The latest handheld from Nintendo. The first handheld to display 3D pictures without needing 3D glasses.

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

The Nintendo Wii and DS use Nintendo Wifi connection to connect to the internet. It is mainly used for online multiplayer and web browsing.

O

Opera

A brand of Web Browser. The DS and Wii Web Browsers are powered by Opera.

P

Patch

When a large program is released that has a bug, a patch is usually released instead of having the user download the whole program again. The patch is then applied to the existing data and fixes the bug.

Piracy

The act of illegally acquiring copyrighted materials, by downloading it from the internet without permission of the author.

Pirate

One who engages in piracy.

R

Release Group

A group that releases ROMs on the internet. A group is given credit to a ROM when they release it.

ROM

Acronym of "Read-only memory". A ROM is a piece of flash memory that contains permanently stored data that cannot be added to, modified or removed. The term ROM is also used to describe a ROM from, for example a game cartridge that has been extracted and backed up to a single file on a PC. This method of extraction can also be referred to as "dumping" and the end file is commonly called a "dump".

ROP loader

A piece of software used to load a ROP chain. See Return-oriented programming

S

SD Card

Acronym for Secure Digital cards. It is a flash memory card format used in portable devices, including digital cameras and handheld computers. Read more.

Sky3DS

A 3DS flashcart that works by imitating an actual 3DS game card 1:1. This has the advantage of not needing an exploit, but limits the functionality to that of a regular cart (No EmuNAND etc). Switching between games is done through a physical button on the cart, so people have to cycle through the games one by one. Used to have a 10 games limit, but this was later removed with a patch.

SysNAND

The internal NAND (flash memory) of the 3DS console. Stores things like the System menu and settings.

T

Trim

"Trimming" means to remove "dummy data" from a ROM file in order to decrease the file size. Contrary to how the majority of people think it works. It simply does not compress the ROM in any way. It's just a method of removing dummy (garbage/filler) data from the file which can be anything from a few KB to a few MB.

U

USB

Acronym for "Universal Serial Bus". A connection interface that is now the most common used amongst external computer peripherals, including MP3 players, external hard drives, keyboards and mice. USB is widely used because of its simple connection, easy to use socket, its data transfer speeds and its "plug 'n' play" reliability. Many GBA flash kits use USB.

V

VC

Acronym for "Virtual Console". A service on the Nintendo Wii offering you to download old console games to be played from their own channel in the Wii menu.

W

Wi-Fi

Short for "Wireless fidelity". Wi-Fi is a type of wireless LAN (see LAN). This makes it possible for a Wi-Fi enabled device, such as the Nintendo DS, to access an internet connection shared via a wireless LAN without any additional wires or connections. See also: Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

WFC

See Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.