#Need help with a question about donating online data for the project

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

azure barn
#

Hi, not exactly a support question in regard to an issue. But I didnt see anywhere relevant to my question.

I come by Wii Us and 3DSs often and have taken an interest in this project after reflecting on neglecting time I wished I put in to play these games online when they were still available.

I played the 3DS way back around its launch and after I traded it in to Gamestop about 10 years ago (or so) I didnt have another 3DS for a long time until around 2020-2021. I never owned a Wii U until around those same years. Despite this, I never indulged a lot in the online until around the final days. Mostly playing Splatoon around the final days before the online shut down for good.

Anyways. Due to my hobby I come across these consoles from time to time. 3DS more than Wii U naturally. And would like to ask if there’s anyone here interested in setting up a potential “ship out” type deal where I send in these consoles so their data can be dumped if its suspected they have online data that can be siphoned for the projected, then receive them back as theyre useless after the fact once dumped.

I understand from browsing the Pretendo site that there is still a need for such data for some games to continue development on fully completing all online aspects they once had. So if this is of any interest from anyone on the team lemme know. I wouldn’t be actively searching for these of course, I just come across them often cause of my hobby as I said and would like to preserve these bits of history from a now abandoned era of Nintendo.

I didn’t appreciate the time I had left to experience a lot of online aspects of the Wii U and 3DS. Only around the start of their life for a year or two and the very end. If this is a worthy contribution to help preserve and bestow a second chance for others to experience it once again, I’d be interested. If not, I can always just donate to the project.

upbeat knoll
#

The network dumps for online games required special homebrew software (Hokaku) to be running on the console while the games were being played - without that, there would've been no online data stored
This is obviously no longer possible, now that the online no longer works

There is spotpass data, this could still be useful as it was downloaded and stored on the console, however there is a time limit on submitting this data - the spotpass servers were only partially shut down, and the data must be submitted before they are fully shut down, which could potentially be very soon (we have no idea how long before nintendo shuts it down)

You can find instructions for submitting the spotpass data at https://spotpassarchive.github.io/ - Wii U does not require anything more than an SD card and internet access, while the 3DS requires going through the homebrew process

SpotPass Archival Project

The SpotPass Archival Project is on a mission to preserve SpotPass data for 3DS and Wii U.

azure barn
azure barn
#

Question, does following any of these routes require me to mod my 3DS? One of the 3DSs I have that I could dump isnt mine so I dont really want to mod their 3ds if they didnt want it modded. I assume all these things are as simple as going to files and removing homebrew and spotpass dumper when this is all said and done right?

azure barn
upbeat knoll
#

The website I linked has guides for both modded and non-modded 3DS systems

If they are not modded, you can do this without installing anything onto the system - so this is what you'll want

The process does involve many of the same steps as you'd use to mod the system, so if this was your own 3DS that you're planning to mod anyways, it's easier to just mod it first, but if it's not yours then just follow the non-modded instructions

#

Essentially instead of running the installer for homebrew, you run the spotpass dumper tool

azure barn
#

One mentions needing homebrew. I assume I can just dump this on a microsd then use a modded new 2ds I have to send the data over?

#

Sorry im not vested in modding idk anything about what is considered modded so I dont wanna add things to my friends 3ds he never asked for

#

Only reason I ask

upbeat knoll
#

The tool will automatically upload the files, no need to manually send anything

If there is no internet or otherwise unable to upload directly, the files are saved to the SD card and can be uploaded directly on the website

azure barn
#

Ok gotcha. Then ill follow the instructions tonight cause his 3ds has a lot of miis from street pass from nintendo and a almost completed puzzle section. Whatever else idk maybe tomodatchi stuff and other things

upbeat knoll
#

Errr actually for the non-modded method I don't know if it auto-uploads, you might need to upload on a computer

#

But yes nothing is actually installed on the 3DS, it all goes away once you remove the SD card and restart

azure barn
#

Fantastic. Thank you for the help, hopefully this contributes to a more complete re-creation of the online services.