JimmyL's Wi-Fi game for the DS, Explosive Gas, is back with a new version. Version 0.4 comes in with some "reasonable severe bugs" fixed in the source code since the originally released version (0.2). However, according to him, he has "also made a mess of it to a point that it barely runs, and don't have the time to fix it at the moment, so this old code will have to do.

That was in reference to the source code, obviously, which you can download from the Via link below. We would have hosted it ourselves, but it was his request not to re-distribute it yet as he hasn't packaged it up properly for now.

Anyway, in case you're new and you have no idea how to host a game, you'd need to have a router forward port 9999 to your DS. The IP address of your handheld can be found on the Wi-Fi menu screen in the game. An alternative for you, if in case you don't have the said port, would be to host a LAN game. Just make sure that the others joining in use the "Join LAN game" option, instead of the "Join Game" option in the menus.

So, there you go. V0.4 is downloadable right here, so just fire away!

Download: [Explosive Gas v0.4]

Remember the NDSHB competition around a month ago? Explosive Gas got the top prize, right? And we all had fun because the game was such a riot with the WiFi fun and all. Ah. Well. Listen up then.

Homebrew developer JimmyL has been kind enough to release the source code of his award-winning game. Uh-huh. He says that he's always wanted to fix it up, but he's been quite busy, so he hasn't had much time to work on the game. He hopes that by releasing it, some DS homebrewer might either take it up and develop it to higher versions, or maybe use parts of the code for other games. Wow. For someone who developed a fired-up, "burn everyone else" sort of game, he's actually a very kind soul!

Anyways, the source code is of the originally released version (v0.2) and is available in his website. As of now, he doesn't want other websites redistributing it, so, we'll respect him for his decision. As soon as he gives a go signal, we'll have it here for you - though he says he needs to "package it up properly."

But, before you get all clickety-click-click with the links, please be advised of JimmyL's own words:

"The art contained in the package is owned by Louis Dozois, and cannot be used without his permission. The music and sound effects are owned by Mike Keogh, and cannot be used without his permission. And lastly, the code is owned by me, and can be used however you like, but if you plan on using it for any commercial purpose, you should really find a new day job."

Two things going up in the world today: gas prices and average air temperatures. And the one thing that connects them both? Frozen natural gas under the seafloor. That's considered a depth shallower than expected, mind you.

To be more accurate, the frozen natural gas is called natural gas hydrates. They form when a gas stream is cooled below its hydrate formation temperature - a.k.a. the dew point of natural gas - in the presence of water. Gas turns to liquid droplets at a temperature lower than water freezes: the results are "dirty ice" containing trapped natural gas.

This thing can occur a lot in gas pipelines if people aren't careful. Ice in gas pipes are like ice in water pipes: not a pretty sight when they occur, not a pretty sight when disasters occur because of them (and natural gas is decidedly a lot more dangerous than water). But we're not concerned about those deposits here. Hydrates occur in the wild too (usually as methane clathrate or "methane ice") in conditions of high gas pressure and low temperature. Scientists normally would expect them to form underground, usually below the seabed, and in what's known as the Gas Hydrate Stability Zone, where the conditions for gas to ice up can be found. Below this, the gas remains dissolved in water; above the GHSZ, they fizz like opened soda pop and escape the water into the atmosphere.

"Scientists would normally expect..." Which means that they found something they DIDN'T expect. What did they find? And why are methane-flavored popsicles connected to temperatures and pump prices going up? Read more at the full article!

We're guessing you're pretty much familiar with Explosive Gas, a Wi-Fi game for DS created by JimmyL. Basically, you just have to release the inner arsonist in you by setting your opponents on fire. Pretty hot game, eh?

With this updated version, the creator has made a few modifications in the game as per suggested by y'all. According to JimmyL, you can now hit 'X' at any time to display names over the players. And as a server, between rounds, you can turn the 5 second auto round start on or off using the 'B' button. I also tightened up some of the network stuff, so servers should now appear in the list instantly.

Itching to get your hands on it? Wait no more as we have this interesting game here.


Download: [Explosive Gas v0.3c]

NDSHB WiFi contest winner Explosive Gas has been updated to v0.3b in order to fix another crash bug.

Explosive Gas, as the name suggests, is all about setting fire to your opponents until you are the last man left standing. The game is Wi-Fi enabled. Players use the d-pad to move around and any other button can be pressed to drop a bottle. Two powerups can also be collected: one that increases the range of your flames and another that allows you to drop more bottles at once.

Here are a few instructions from the Explosive Gas creator JimmyL on setting up a multiplayer game:

In order to host a game, you'll need to have your router forward port 9999 to your ds. You can find the ip address of your ds on the wifi menu screen in the game. If you don't have port 9999 being forwarded to your ds, you can still host a LAN game, just be sure that the other ds's that try to join use the 'Join LAN game' option rather than the 'Join Game' option in the menus.

Download: [Explosive Gas v0.3b]

JimmyL is not only good at making homebrew DS games (remember A Touch of War and the NDSHB-winning entry, Explosive Gas?), he also makes tools that proves to be useful to DS owners. One of those tools is ima2raw.

JimmyL's ima2raw removes the header and index blocks from a 4bit mono ima-adpcm wav file turning the file into the right format that can be put directly to the Ninty handheld's sound hardware. This tool, the code of which was heavily based on the DS ScummVM source code, will work adpcm's created with Windows SoundRecorder and with cdex but will not work with adcpm made with sox (JimmyL has not yet looked into this problem).

Seems like JimmyL has been immersing himself into improving his 'brews, just a while ago we posted on the newest version to the game Explosive Gas. Now, he also presents us with an updated ima2raw. The update fixed a bug where files converted came out 1k larger than the originals. JimmyL says it best when he wrote, "So if you're using this tool, go grab the update, your games will be slightly smaller."

As always, don't forget to share any constructive criticisms via the comments.

Download: [ima2raw 072306 Update]

Ever since Explosive Gas won the NDSHB WiFi contest, JimmyL has not made any updates on the game. Well since the game is pretty promising, I bet most of those who tried it out will want to see improvements on it. Don't despair, because JimmyL has not forgotten Explosive Gas yet.

Just today, he updated Explosive Gas to version 0.3. It will still have the same gameplay (of course) - be the last man standing in a "battle" to eliminate opponents with the use of bombs. This WiFi-enabled game is controlled via the d-pad (for moving around) and any other button (for dropping the bomb).

What's new in v0.3 are a few fixes regarding network issues and a client side crash bug. In hosting Explosive Gas, JimmyL leaves note, "you'll need to have your router forward port 9999 to your ds. You can find the ip address of your ds on the wifi menu screen in the game. If you don't have port 9999 being forwarded to your ds, you can still host a LAN game, just be sure that the other ds's that try to join use the 'Join LAN game' option rather than the 'Join Game' option in the menus."

Go ahead and download the game. If you have any suggestions and constructive criticisms on the game, don't forget to leave your comments below. Have fun!

Download: [Explosive Gas v0.3]

Recently NDSHB held a WiFi game competition. The host of the competition said that it did not go well, but I would say that it went well. Although there were not many entries, those that did enter did an outstanding job.

JimmyL, who has made the famous NDS homebrew game A Touch of War entered the competition with a totally new game, Explosive Gas. The object of this game is to kill your opponents using bombs. The last man standing is declared the winner, and since this was entered into a WiFi game competition, it has online play! This is one place that PSP homebrew lacks, but NDS homebrew seems to succeed flawlessly. You can play in a match of up to 8 players at once!

Download: [Explosive Gas]