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Modojo Special Report: The State of DS Homebrew

We take an in-depth look at what's hot in Nintendo DS emulators, indie games, and custom applications...

...Continued From Page 4 Games aren't the only important aspect of homebrew, and a console like the Nintendo DS proves that almost perfectly. Products like Nintendogs, Brain Age, and the new cooking guides available for the DS are making a statement that gamers are interested in using their DS for more than just a round of Mario Kart. This hasn't been forgotten by the homebrew scene, and most realistically they noticed it long before Nintendo published some of its more creative titles. The many features of the DS make for a system that can perform a staggering number of interesting tasks, and homebrew developers are trying their best to see them all come to life. Out of the many creative applications for the DS, here are just a few:

DS Linux
DS Linux is a port of the Linux operating system to the Nintendo DS. The project hopes to bring the full capability of Linux to the DS, but is still in the developmental stages. The project supports a full keyboard on the touchscreen, and will allow users to send and read email, chat online, and play text-based games.

Nitrotracker

Have the need to mix some beats when you're on the go? Nitrotracker is a music creation tool for the DS that is compatible with many similar programs for the PC. Touchscreen support makes the tool very useable, and samples can be recorded using the DS microphone.

DS Organize
The features of a standard PDA make their way to the DS in the DS Organize application. The program offers a bevy of possible uses including a calendar/day planner, address book, to-do list, scribble pad, file browser, text editor, image viewer, song player, WAV recorder, scientific calculator, and multi-language support. Talk about all-inclusive. This is a DS homebrew must-have.

DS Drum Machine

Making music on the DS seems to be a very popular idea. DS Drum Machine is a program that enables users to mix music using the famous setup from the Roland TR-909 Drum Machine. What's that, never heard of it? Think of early rap and hip-hop. Remember those beats in the background of every song. That's the TR-909. Get ready to beat-box again.

NDS Mail
NDS Mail is the DS' all-in-one e-mail client. Many of the applications available for the DS are working to include email within their programs, but NDS Mail is focused solely on it, making support grow much faster. The program supports WiFi connection allowing the DS to send and receive email anytime, anywhere.

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There are countless other applications available for the DS, and the homebrew development scene is churning out other new and interesting apps everyday. Things like VoIP applications and even programs to make the DS into a robot are being developed. The amount of possible uses for the DS, and the DS' touch screen in particular, are being explored rapidly, and something tells me that the creativity in these homebrew apps won't cease anytime soon.

If you're going to take the time to delve into the homebrew scene, make the effort to explore some of these great applications and how much they can benefit you. I would never purchase a PDA to catalog some things like addresses, or phone numbers, but the idea of doing that on the DS is actually engaging and something I could see myself getting used to. What a world it is when the gaming device turns the gamer on to something other than games.
(Digg This)