Just curious if anyone out there has messed around with programming games for the Nintendo DS. I've been into it for a bit now, using the PAlib library in tandem with Visual Studio for C++. If any of you are interested in making something for the DS and have some experience with it let me know, I would love to collaborate with somebody who has worked with this before.

That being said, looking for any C++ coders who would like to develop some games on the DS. I am open to just about any genre, currently working on a basic vertical scrolling shoot em up as well as an Earthbound-esque RPG. Any interest in contributing to this project let me know.

Also could certainly use people who are more artistically inclined than myself, my art skills are on par with that of a blind 3rd grader in a coma, so artistic abilities are much obliged as well.

i'm willing to help you

I'm trained in c++.

Iwould like to create a game for the ds.
I dont care about the type or any thing just experience

Sounds good to me I would be more than happy to include you in what we have thus far. How much experience do you have? Are you familiar with the C++ library PAlib for programming the DS? If you have a Nintendo DS emulator I can give you the rom of what we have this far so you can check out the functionality of everything. If you want I can tag you on our Google code project hosting site, just pm me your email and I'll add ya.

Gabe & I started a project to make Yahtzee for the Game Boy Advance, using gcc here. However I have not crossed over to DS development yet. I'm still trying to master audio before beginning to work with the touchscreen.

You can find all sorts of information regarding DS & GBA development at GBADev.org.

I've done programming for both platforms, and I actually prefer programming for the DS (probably because I've had a bit more experience with it). The touch screen capabilities of the DS aren't as daunting as they might seem, however being a fan of the oldschool I tend to not make use of it much anyhow.

If you and Gabe feel like making the plunge into DS dev, let me know and I would be more than happy to bring you both up to speed.

I wonder if I could take on another project...

As long as you understand that I don't know audio, & I don't have to make graphics, than count me in...

Count me in.

It'll be (another) steep learning curve, but I can force my brain to pick up stuff really quickly.

::Note~ I don't do graphics either.

Haha don't wanna overwhelm you with too many projects at one time Gabe! This will be a fairly lax project for "funzies" if you will. Graphics should not be a problem, actually my friend has already created quite a few graphics for this game already and they look pretty spot on:

(Example; Planet Zero)



As for the audio, I have composed a number of tracks, all MOD files which in theory should be able to play on the DS, but I have run in to a snag or two with the song audio, for sound effects it is no problem however, which I plan on creating myself.

If you are both in I'll add you onto our project hosting on Google Code, and perhaps start a specific topic on DIC for this project. Just pm me your email addresses so that I can add you.

The only things I can think you'll need are the following:

Download a DS emulator

Check out the PAlib library for DS development (Site gives a full example on how to sync with Visual Studio which I recommend, if you need help let me know)

One final thing, we are creating a vertically scrolling shoot em up, however I know that Gabe has an affinity for the FF series, as do I. Nothing is carved in stone, if you and no2pencil want to focus on RPG development instead that could be a possibility as well. For now, we have a pretty good start on this game so far as far as graphics and programming goes. Let me know what you guys think.

The link you provided links to a GBA emulator. As well there are none for Linux. I tried to get one working once before, but the only one I could find required Gnome.

NO$GBA is a GBA emulator as well as a DS emulator, it's actually what I use to run my programs once I compile so if you have that it'll work just fine. As far as Linux compatibility goes if NO$GBA is not, I know that DeSmuME is. Let me know if that helps ya out at all.

Again, that requires that I run gnome... look rather than be the party pooper, I'll just use another machine w/ Windows on it. There is bound to be one around here... somewhere... right?

Sorry no2, I hope you can find something with Windows! Certainly would love to have you on board if you are still up for trying with Windows.

For those still interested in programming some stuff for the Nintendo DS I will be frequently updating my blog on the progress of such endeavors. If you wish to follow or contribute let me know and follow the blog for further elaboration on this project.

I will dedicate some time to this over the next two weeks.

Things got out of hand ... & I'm swamped for time.

Visual Boy Advance does not require Gnome. The GUI frontend does, but who needs that?

@no2
Awesome, thanks no.2, also as Tom has said Visual Boy Advance doesn't require gnome and that should also be sufficient in running DS games.

@Tom
Tom, you are more than welcome as well if you would like to partake in creating something for the DS, keep me posted.

I would be more open to working on a project for the GBA. Emulators are great but I would like to be able to test what I'm working on with real hardware. I don't own a DS and I don't really plan on getting one, but GBAs cost literally 10-20$ now.

This post has been edited by Tom9729: 25 Oct, 2008 - 01:22 AM

Fine by me, what libraries do you tend to use to develop for GBA?

When I work with GBA, I just use gcc that comes with Linux.