It's that time of year again, and it's looking like it's going to be a busy time for the happy little elves at ConsoleBUZZ. We recently decided that we'd discontinue our old range of flashcarts to concentrate on those that are compatible with the latest DSi firmware 1.4 update (don't worry - they also work with the original DS and DS Lite!). The reason we took this decision was to reduce potential compatibility issues and potential disappointment for our customers - there's nothing worse than opening your new flash cart on Christmas morning only to discover that it doesn't work with your shiny new DSi.
So, here are a few tips for DSi owners out there, old and new, looking to buy a new flash cartridge in the coming months:
Buy a well-known brand
The R4 is arguably the best-known name in Nintendo DS flash cartridges, with TopToy's DSTT a very close second. Some of the lesser-known flash cartridge manufacturers out there can fade into obscurity, leaving their users stranded without software updates.
Avoid cheap clones
It helps to spend the right money for these cards, and make sure they're from a reputable source - there are plenty of cheap clones of these cards around, and they're plagued with reliability problems, not to mention compatibility issues with the "official" firmware.
Buy from UK stock
All of our flash carts are shipped from stock from our very own UK warehouse (for free!). There are plenty of disreputable sellers out there who hide the fact that they drop ship from China, potentially leaving the customer with the bill for customs charges and extortionate airmail shipping fees. It also means that they can't personally test and update every cartridge, which is what we do to ensure that your experience is as painless as possible.
Don't buy old stock
Due to some of the "shadier" uses of these carts, Nintendo blocked them with a recent firmware update. The now-notorious DSi 1.4 firmware rendered most R4 cartridges useless. Only the very latest R4i Gold supports DSi firmware 1.4, and some retailers are selling off old stock without mentioning compatibility. Don't fall into the trap - when it comes to flash cartridges, you get what you pay for!
A flash cartridge should give years of enjoyment, and can really help to enhance and expand your new handheld investment. If you follow the simple hints above, you can avoid many of the pitfalls which can be involved in buying one of these cards.
If you have any more questions at all about flash carts, please do contact us via our contact form or by email. You can get hold of a DSTTi flashcart here or an R4i flashcart here. As an added bonus, all of our flash carts come with a 2GB MicroSD card and USB reader - everything you need to get you started!
