Avito and Future Plans
One thing I really like about Avito is that unusual and interesting listings keep popping up there — especially when they line up perfectly with what you're planning. In my last video I said I wanted to make an overview of 3DS flashcarts. I thought I already had everything I needed, because these carts are so rare and sold in such small numbers that I didn't expect to find much else.
Then I found a rare Gateway clone in China called 3DS Link.
After that, while browsing Avito, I found an even rarer clone — Orange 3DS. And it cost just 500 rubles.
So the video is postponed for now (until the packages arrive), but at least I'll have more to show and talk about.
Something else happened through Avito too. A few days ago I ordered a Pokémon Alpha Sapphire cartridge, and it turned out to have a hidden defect. There was no visible damage, but the game kept crashing. Later I learned that this is a fairly common problem — people say there was a bad batch of cartridges straight from the factory. Who knows whether the seller hid the issue or it genuinely worked for them, but they refused to take the cartridge back. Avito, however, reimbursed me for the full cost of the cartridge, which was a pleasant surprise.
That's a real weak point of Avito Delivery. If an item has a hidden defect, it's not very clear what you're supposed to do. Well, I know what to do, but it's a long and tedious process.
I also really dislike how the material is presented in the video Nintendo DS: Viruses, Firmware, and the History of Flashcarts. So I plan to remake it eventually. But I could never find an original PassMe — the first version, the one that was basically cobbled together by hand.
Then I thought: why not try building one myself? All the materials, including the Gerber files, are online. Yes, it's complicated and a pain in places, but I think I can find someone skilled at SMD soldering. I even had to order the PCB itself through that same Avito :)
I ordered 10 PCBs for 950 rubles and a bunch of chips and connectors (~2,500 rubles) from AliExpress. Let's see how it turns out.
