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I just bought 2 Nintendo DS games (after I d/l a DS emulator to run them on a PC) and when the games arrived today I found that they are on a small card that is just a little bigger than a SD memory card for digital cameras, and I've searched on Amazon for an adapter that would let me use these DS cards on a PC, and I can't seem to find this adapter. I believe such an adapter does exist but I don't know exactly what it is called, Queen AlienBZ and I are going out later this week, so I'd like to see if I can either get this adapter at the local Best Buy or buy it online from Amazon, but what exactly is it called so that Amazon will find it when I use the search?

Thanks in advance.

I might be wrong, but from what I understand you must download DS games to play using the emulator on a PC. And there is no such adapter for using DS cards on a PC. I assume downloading DS games to play on an emulator is legal, but I'm not even sure about that.

I think I found one here.

It's called an NDS adapter Plus, and from what I believe, it has a slot for the NDS card and the whole unit plugs into a PC's USB port, I found it on Amazon and it has free S & H.

It says it for backing up game savers, whatever that is, not for playing games. Maybe someone will know more than I do. Something about this just doesn't feel right. Nintendo wants you to buy their hardware and then spend more on their games. I'm having a hard time believing they will let you play their games on your computer. But, like I said, I don't know much about the Nintendo DS.

I ordered it from (the adapter) from Amazon, so when it comes, all I have to do is try it and see if it works. I guess that's how I'll learn about computer tech stuff, by experimenting in this way?

I certainly wouldn't call throwing money at something I'm not sure about a good way to learn about computer tech stuff.

Buy yourself a Nintendo DS if you want to play those games. If the games are for 3DS, be sure you get a 3DS.

These games are Phoenix Wright games, it doesn't say "3DS" on the jewelcases, but just plain "Nintendo DS".

Jenny, are you saying that this adapter is not going to work?

For reference, here is the link... NDS Gamesaver Adapter

Yes, Drac, this is the adapter that I ordered. Before ordering it I checked the drawing underneath the item photo that shows the NDS card, which is inserted into a slot on this adapter, which in turn, is inserted into the USB port of a PC. I realize that the description does say that it is a saved game backup device, but I'm wondering that as such, can it also be used as a means to run the games on a PC in the first place?

I've just contacted all the sellers (for the 2 NDS games and the adapter) about the possibility that I'd have to return these items in the event that, even though I'd have this adapter, I still would not be able to run these games on a PC, and if I cannot run these games on a PC, I will again contact these sellers and let them know that, yes, I'd like to return these items.

Thanks, Draclvr.
Cruise,
The NDS Gamesaver Adapter was designed only to transfer saves. It may have been deliberately crippled to prevent people from using it to transfer ROM's. If you do a Google search for
NDS Gamesaver Adapter homebrew
you can find threads like ***this one*** where homebrew fans looked into tranferring ROM's using the NDS Gamesaver Adapter.

And on the next page is a picture showing most of the connections on the NDS Gamesaver Adapter aren't connected to anything.

There were once products such as the R4DS that would allow you to play homebrew games (as well as Scumm games) on your Nintendo DS. It didn't work the other direction though -- you couldn't copy DS games to a computer hard drive. Apparently that has to be done with "a custom FPGA board and custom CPLD" according to the last person who posted in that thread.

So congratulations on buying a way to back up your saved games on the Nintendo DS you haven't bought yet.

A ***used DS Lite*** will cost you $89.99 and ***the old model DS*** will cost you $69.99, but check what's available at your local EB or Gamestop.

Thanks for clearing this up for me, Drac, and especially you, Jenny. I did not know this, I thought that:

1) DS games were on CD-like discs and may be installed on a PC/played on a PC via an emulator and an optical drive;

2) that adapter that I ordered would do the trick of letting me run DS games on a PC.

But anyway, I've just contacted these sellers again saying yes, definitely, I want to return these items (if their policy allows it).

So Jenny, how did you know all this stuff about NDS (and other console) games?

Like I said earlier, Nintendo is not in the business of making games you can play on the PC. They sell their gaming devices and then you have to buy the games to play on them. It would make no sense for them to make games on CDs that could then be played on a PC. If they did, then why would they even bother to make the Nintendo DS or their other gaming devices?

The device you got at Amazon very clearly says it is meant for "gamesavers." It says nothing about playing games with it. Again, it wouldn't make any sense at all.

Good luck getting your money back and I hope the return postage isn't too much.