Hacking a DSi?

[Jeikobu]

Ok, firstly, I see no rules about not posting threads like this, so I assume this is ok. Secondly, I see no other posts or thread about this even with searching, so I'll ask here.

I have a friend who has an American DSi but wants the Japanese version of Black or White, and as I understand it, a Japanese Black or White will not play on an American DSi because of the stupid region lock. So here's my question: how does one go about hacking a DSi to make it region-free, and is there any risk of damaging the system?

I tried searching on Google but wasn't finding answers and thought it'd be a lot easier to just have someone tell me directly.

 

[Palkia]

I believe it is absolutely impossible. If you want to play imports I recommend getting a DS Phat/DS Lite second-hand.

 

[Jeikobu]

How could it be impossible? There are sites talking like it can be done and someone talked about the idea of doing it once before on this board in another thread...

 

[The 100 Mega Shock]

It's not been done before. The only way to play BW on a DSi is to either own a copy that corresponds to the region of your DSi or to run a BW ROM on a DSi-compatiable flashcart (In which case it would not have that one DSi enhancment because flashcarts still run in DS compatability mode)

Nobody's really made any headway (or particularly cared, probably) into hacking the DSi-mode of the system because of the small library of DSi-enhanced software and miniscule library of DSi-exclusive software.

e: oh wait, turns out Team Cyclops just announced the first proper DSi-mode flashcart last week

 

[Jeikobu]

What is a flashcart, how does it work, and where could one acquire it?

EDIT: This is frustrating. I don't think my friend will want to do a ROM and flashcard. Guess that means she'll have to get the American version, or sell her DSi and buy a Japanese one. No good options.

Thanks for your help though, I appreciate it.

 

[Geoff_P1]

To play roms etc you're alot better off getting an older ds, like the 1st generation to prevent any risk to the dsi.

 

[vinylscratchp0n3]

You could just buy an action replay DSi and plug B/W in through the ARDSi to play it.

 

[Wings Don't Cry]

You can just get the non DSi exclusive version the only thing you'll miss out is the video chat.