Datel MAX Media Launcher DS Review

[Zeus]

Product: Datel Max Media Launcher for DS
Reviewer: Taylor Harte
Buy Now: <a href="http://www.cheapmod.net/item--Datel-MediaMax-Launcher--datelmmlauncher" tatget="_blank">Cheapmod.net</a> (UK in stock) and <A href="http://www.divineo.net/index.php?affcode=66623" target="_blank">Divineo Network</a> (Available Soon)

The History of the DS PassMe Devices

When the DS was first released, Nintendo placed hardware protection within the DS to prevent DS images being booted from the GBA slot. They then protected the DS slot using RSA encryption (the same encryption used by banks). Along came a hacker called Dark Fader who designed a device that manipulated the communications to the DS slot tricking the DS into booting from the GBA slot, the Passkey was born.

The original Passkey was a homebrew device, supplied as a bare PCB. After a period of time, the Chinese manufacturers packaged the PassKey into a plastic shell and sold them in there thousands. A short time later, Nintendo altered the firmware within the DS to defeat the technique used by the PassMe, rendering the Passkeys's useless. In the age old tradition of cat and mouse bewteen hardware manufacturer and hacker, the passKey 2 was developed. Unfortunately the technique of using a passkey 2 was a little more involved, the user having to load a file onto the DS, then powering off and on the DS in order for the passkey 2 to work correctly. This technique was a pain to use......until Datel arrived on the scene.

Package Contents of Datel's Max Media Launcher

The MAX Media launcher comes in a sturdy cardboard box, inside the box is the cartridge, and a single small instruction sheet. Very few instructions are supplied with the cartridge, but little can be said, plug it in and off you go It's that easy.

<Center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/datel_m_media_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/datel_m_media_1.jpg" height="179" width="188"> <a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/datel_m_media_2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/datel_m_media_2.jpg" height="179" width="187"></center></a>

It's Soooooooo Small!

Datel's MaxMedia Launcher is the size of a standard DS cartridge and looks just like any standard DS game.

<Center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/datel_m_media_3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/datel_m_media_3.jpg" height="200" width="269"></center></a>

To quote Datels instructions ''This product allows you to run any DS program stored on a GBA flash storage device (such as M3 Movie Player or SuperCard) without the need for a cumbersome or complicated 'Pass-Me' type device. Just insert the MAX Media Launcher, connect your GBA flash storage device and boot your console!''

A Job Well Done By Datel

I'm pleased to say it does exactly that (as per above), with 100% reliability. With a SuperCard or M3 inserted into the GBA slot, along with the MAX Media Launcher in the DS slot. It completely fits inside the DS cartridge slot and sits flush with the top of the console, as any original cartridge does.

<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/datel_m_media_4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/datel_m_media_4.jpg" height="100" width="300"></center></a>
<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/datel_m_media_5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/datel_m_media_5.jpg" height="100" width="203"></center></a>
<Center><i>The first picture shows a comparison between a superpass in the DS and the Max Media Launcher (MML) on a DS Lite, the second shows the same on an original DS (You see the MML is barely visible).</i></center></a>

I powered on the DS, within a second the Datel splash graphics appear on the top screen, then a few moments later the familiar flash cartridge menu system appears, be it SuperCard or M3. This happens directly from powering on the DS. I didn't have to use an original cartridge, nor did I have to preload any files. This thing just boots up without any hassle.

<Center><A href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/datel_m_media_6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/datel_m_media_6.jpg" height="200" width="299"></center></a>

It's as Cheap as Chips

The DS looks so much neater without a bulky passkey sticking out the top. No complicated preloading of files and power cycling, so simple a young child could use it. Would I recommend it...you bet.

The other really nice feature of the Media Launcher is the price. This is the cheapest passkey device on the market, with an R.R.P. of £12.99/$19.99.

Say Bye Bye to that Ugly PassKey, Datel's Device - It's a knock out!

A number of people have been reporting that the latest DS Lites are having issues when trying to use flashme on them (Flashme is a software version of a passme, the process involves modifying the DS firmware to boot DS images from the GBA slot). Problems when trying to flash the firmware can cause the Lite to become 'bricked', making it a rather expensive paperweight. The MediaMax Launcher eliminates the need to even attempt this risky procedure. If you don't want an ugly passkey / superpass sticking out the top of your sleek console, then the MediaMax Launcher is the product you are looking for.

In fact, even if you have a passme\SuperPass, the MediaMax Launcher is THE ideal replacment. Have you got the picture yet... Get one of these

Manufacturers of passme type devices should throw in the towel right now. This little device cannot be beaten on price or performance. Datel have made the perfect device for DS users wanting to run software from the GBA slot.

Positives

+ Same size as a standard DS cartridge.
+ No programming required.
+ No original DS cartridge required.
+ No power cycling required.
+ Extended battery life due to low power consumption.
+ Works in ALL DS versions, including the latest DS Lite.
+ Can boot flashme.nds directly (But why would you bother).
+ No way of damaging your DS cartridge slot.
+ High build quality (It is Datel).

Negatives

- You haven't got one yet ?

Buy Now: <a href="http://www.cheapmod.net/item--Datel-MediaMax-Launcher--datelmmlauncher" tatget="_blank">Cheapmod.net</a> (UK in stock) and <A href="http://www.divineo.net/index.php?affcode=66623" target="_blank">Divineo Network</a> (Available Soon)

[Khar00f]

but how do you save a game that requires a DS card to save to? (say Supercard and running Tetris DS on it [which requires a DS cart to save to?])

[BigGanja]

If only max had got news of this a week ago, .... nevermind i have a superpass 2 coming, but i think i may well get one of these datel devices too..

I'm kinda shitting myself when it comes to flashing my DS as its a version4 firmware and i have played Nintendo Wifi Connection games B4, im hoping i can erase the wifi settings in the firmware before the flash, Dont wanna brick my DS.

Can anyone confirm if this works or not?, and if/how i can use flashme on a fw4 thats been played online with wifi ?

Well done Datel, the presentation is very nice, and i think if it performs to standard, the fact no game needed and also no programming it etc etc, its extra effort, effectivly means you have the best passme on the market, pricewise its much cheaper than those passKey devices that do the same job as this.

Hope it performs as well as you are hyping it Zeus

One quick question tho' does it drain the ds battery like the passme2 devices?

New NDS solution, MAX Media Launcher+SuperCard MiniSD+MiniSD=Homebrew Ready DS

[Perkele]

but how do you save a game that requires a DS card to save to? (say Supercard and running Tetris DS on it [which requires a DS cart to save to?])

According to a review I saw on another website 2 weeks ago, it has an EEPROM onboard, so you can save to it should you need to.
But the Supercard saves Tetris DS straight to the CF/SD card, I even run it without a DS card inserted.

I'm kinda shitting myself when it comes to flashing my DS as its a version4 firmware and i have played Nintendo Wifi Connection games B4, im hoping i can erase the wifi settings in the firmware before the flash, Dont wanna brick my DS.
Can anyone confirm if this works or not?, and if/how i can use flashme on a fw4 thats been played online with wifi ?

You're confusing with FlashMe V4 I think, that one had problems when you played a Wifi game, not the original V4 flash.
You can just run the latest Flashme.nds (V7 atm) using the Superpass2 device you are going to get, you'll have to short SL1 too ofcourse.
Your wifi settings might get overwritten, though I doubt it, I updated Flashme V5 to V7 and it kept my wifi settings.
Afterwards you can better try to sell that Superpass2 as you won't need it anymore, unless you want to put FlashMe on other DS's and earn some of your money back.

[RottenFox]

yeh once again..datel are slow off the blocks.
unneeded,unnecesarry,and a few other choice words.
simply use flashmev.7,and you dont even need a ds cart to save to,like the above poster says,it saves to the SD/CF card in the supercard/m3 etc.
in fact,you dont even need a ds cart at all after flashing.

[djkatarat]

makes me very interested.

btw, i found this on codejunkies..

http://us.codejunkies.com/news_reviews.asp?c=US&cr=USD&cs=$&r=0&l=1&p=17&i=8 997&s=8

that shocked me...shocked me alot...
..maybe nintendo agreed to the homebrew and emulation world as plot to eliminate psp...i think its working..lol

[galaxykidgamma]

c'mon divineo!!! i want it now!

also, divineo says that the m3 mini ships in 7 days, is this fairly accurate, i mean, will it really ship w/in seven days?

thx
-tim

[Perkele]

c'mon divineo!!! i want it now!

Get it from the official codejunkies shop who have it in stock.

[muggsy]

just ordered mine from divineo (UK) with the 4GB HDD, will be here tomorrow.... so I'm gonna have a good play..... only problem is that I have a DS Lite... but I don't think the HDD will cause me too much bother

[razuraw]

just ordered mine from divineo (UK) with the 4GB HDD, will be here tomorrow.... so I'm gonna have a good play..... only problem is that I have a DS Lite... but I don't think the HDD will cause me too much bother

dude u do know that you cant play any backup games on that 4bg hdd

[muggsy]

Where has it ben stated that it will not play backups? I think you will find this has just not been mentioned one wya or the other. On another review I read it specified backups played fine when you Max Media Launcher so if that is the case i will use my GBA Flash cart for NDS backups

[Cyclone57]

Looks pretty cool but does anyone know if it works with G6?

[Zeus]

The MAX MEDIA Player and Launcher are TWO different products. The Launcher is a PassMe device and think of the Media Player is more of a flash cart, with right now has LIMITED functionality.

Datel's media player will play homebrew images and coincedentally ROMS EVENTUALLY, but this will be reliant on 'third party' software as well as updates from them which we 'hear' will come in a 'couple of weeks'.

I think though the best combination in terms of media/homebrew/images and whatever else you want to throw at it is the M3 Mini and Datel Max Media Launcher.

[Souzar]

yeh once again..datel are slow off the blocks.
unneeded,unnecesarry,and a few other choice words.
simply use flashmev.7,and you dont even need a ds cart to save to,like the above poster says,it saves to the SD/CF card in the supercard/m3 etc.
in fact,you dont even need a ds cart at all after flashing.

Does that mean with the v7 flashme, they have solved the problem of keeping a ds cart inserted for suspend/sleep mode?


If so then that is good news.

[shahneshah]

hi
say i bought a max media launcher how do i play ds roms what else do i need
thanks in advance

do i need a flashcard if yes which one and how big and is that all i need?