Coder Preps 3DS Browser Homebrew Game Library

An anonymous reader writes "Nintendo's recent update for the 3DS brought some interesting new features, including something the company may not have intended: the capacity for homebrew coders to create their own software on the platform."

It's Javascript stuff

[Dwedit]

It's Javascript stuff. Move along, nothing to see here.

Re:

[Graham J - XVI]

Odd, I can see Javascript just fine.

Re:It's Javascript stuff

[Anonymous Coward]

To be precise; he's opening a webpage with a javascript game in the newly added browser. No hardware access whatsoever, except key events for five of the buttons.

How much fucking trouble would it be to mention that in the summary? It's like they went out of their way to make it misleading and worthless.

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

misleading and worthless.

That's our Slashdot!

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

How much fucking trouble would it be to mention that in the summary? It's like they went out of their way to make it misleading and worthless.

Welcome to Slashdot. You must be new here.

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

No, it's because the editors are lazy, dumb, fat asses.

JS Web games, not homebrew

[yincrash]

I would not consider a JS library for 3DS web games to be considered homebrew.

Re:

[Mr. McGibby]

No one cares what you think.

Cut the guy some slack

[Pawnn]

This isn't a bad start, discovering how to utilize the d-pad and the A button. Every project has to start somewhere right? If he had mapped every button would it have made a difference? What about when he discovers sound?

Maybe this guy won't figure those things out, but the article will inspire someone else to get interested and figure the rest out.

My criteria: Super Mario completeness

[tepples]

If he had mapped every button would it have made a difference? What about when he discovers sound?

In my opinion, JavaScript homebrew will have arrived once it's "Super Mario complete". This means when its capability is on par with what was possible in 1985 when Super Mario Bros. came out:

• Events for presses and releases of Up, Down, Left, Right, A, and B, and combinations thereof
• Sound
• Scrolling
• Ability to run while away from a connection to the Internet

Re:

[Toonol]

Nah, you're crippled by your misplaced arrogance. Javascript is not a bad language at all, and obviously better than C++ in certain domains.

Now, regarding this story, there's nothing really notable here. The only interesting part is that you can access most of the DS' buttons from Javascript... which is nice, but not unexpected nor revolutionary. Accessing 3d functionality, or using a JS exploit to hook into the 3DS' hardware, would be notable.

Javascript games != Homebrew

[PwnzerDragoon]

Wow, I've been doing 3DS hacking for years!

Call me back when someone roots the thing.

Comparable to PassMe

[tepples]

"For years" probably means as long as DHTML has been around. "Rooted" probably means an exploit comparable to PassMe on the original DS, which was an adapter that allowed loading DS code from SLOT-2 (the Game Boy Advance slot).

Opera?

[Yvan256]

From what I've heard, Nintendo didn't go with Opera for their 3DS browser. Anyone has any details, now that it's available?

Re:

[dreemernj]

There was a story [siliconera.com] a couple months ago saying the browser would be based on NetFront [wikipedia.org]. That's what the PS3 and PSP browsers are based on.

3d

[Aladrin]

If you could tap into the 3d with this, it would be -awesome-.

As just a small screen with javascript and no sound, it's merely meh. On the level of 'weekend project'.

Re:

[Pawnn]

Not a bad start, though no doubt either he or someone else will end up taking it a step further. I'm guessing nobody will use the 3D with just javascript, but sound shouldn't be THAT hard...

Re:

[Yvan256]

I guess you've never tried to play audio in a browser without Flash and HTML 5.

Javascript is the Lingua Franca of app devolpment

[bigsexyjoe]

Just write your stuff in Javascript and it runs anywhere. It is perhaps one of the most important languages now. Does this make you happy?

Run != I/O

[tepples]

Just write your stuff in Javascript and it runs anywhere.

True, but it can't necessarily input and output anywhere. Say I write a game that uses the HTML5 audio playback API for its sound effects and music. On a platform that does not implement the HTML5 audio playback API, the game will be silent, and the player will have no idea when to send keypress events so that they'll arrive in time with the music.

Re:

[squall14716]

Indeed. Sorry, JavaScript games in a browser does not count as 3DS Homebrew, you fucking retards.