R4 Revolution Majicon May Provide Homebrew Educational Games Solution for the DS

Here’s an intriguing story about the R4 Revolution, nicknamed the Majicon in Japan. The device provides an interface for micro SD cards to be read by the Nintendo DS. Consequently, they provide an avenue for piracy since game cartridges could be copied and shared without paying. In light of that, Nintendo has sued manufacturers, and retailers in Japan have become reticent about current inventories.

However, from an altruistic, educational gaming viewpoint, such devices may make it easier for aspiring programmers to share their creations with others. Previous efforts to create educational cartridges outside of traditional game companies were possible but rather difficult, requiring emulators and the purchase of dedicated hardware and cartridges if one wished to actually play the games on the devices.

With the R4, no fancy hardware is necessary. Programmers can save their code on micro SD cards and easily distribute and play the games. That would be a revolution indeed.