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Help for DS Game Maker

DS Game Maker Book

Looking for help?

Start by taking a look at the Manual, 1 click away below. The topics covered therein include installation, creating your first game and troubleshooting errors.

Download Software Manual
PDF, 1.1MB | Revision 1.6

If you are still having trouble, there is nothing like asking our community of people already using DS Game Maker! Click here to browse our online forum. We fully support users of both the Free and Pro Editions of the software.

For archival purposes, the following help pages are still available for reference, though the imagery is outdated and the content irrelevant in some places:

If you are still unsure of what to do, send us a message. We'll get back to you in no time.

Some Questions Answered

How do I play my games on the DS?

You just need a MicroSD card and a Flashcart - See here. Don't forget to hit the Forum if you have any questions.

Help! I've got an error.. what do I do?

Don't panic, and don't give up. Often the solution is simple and you can get right on with making games after following some simple steps.

The best way to work out what to do is to read the manual. Not only does it walk you through making your first game and installing the software, it also has a troubleshooting guide, detailing what to do for a variety of problems.

Of course, you can always check out the forum, where someone has likely already experienced your problem and asked about it.

If I buy the Pro Edition, do I have to pay again for updates?

No. As clearly stated on the Pro Edition page, you are paying for a lifetime license. You do not have to pay to download updates to the program and use them. Even if in a new version the benefits of using the Pro Edition are greater, you still do not need to buy the software. We are proud to say that you must only ever pay once to use the software, forever.

What do I if I have entered my Serial code too many times?

There is an initial limit of 5 entries per serial to avoid piracy of the program. When you buy the Pro Edition however, you are paying for a lifetime license, and the amount of entries can be reduced if the circumstances dictate that for a genuine reason you require more than 5 entries of your serial code. Is this you? Just get in touch with us.

Can I sell my games? If so, How?

There are no hidden license conditions on produced games, you are free to sell them, give them away or distribute them in any way you like, including the source code. You do not need to credit us in any way, so yes, you are free to sell your games!

You could even try submitting your game to a games company like Electronic Arts, but it is unlikely that it will be accepted, as games created with DS Game Maker are not created with the official development software from Nintendo.

Another distribution option which is gaining in popularity is Shareware. With Shareware you place a demo of the game with some levels on the internet and charge money for the rest of the game.

Bear in mind, that with Shareware, you need your own way of allowing customers to pay for the extra material, which may include an online payment gateway and a website.

I have just paid for the Pro Edition but have not got the email. What now?

Before you question the authenticity of this website and comment on our business practices, we ensure you that this is a rarity. If you have paid by PayPal, you should have got an email containing the serial code immediately. Please check your Spam/Junk folders in your email software. If you paid by Google Checkout, there is a 24 hour delay between paying and receiving the serial code. Naturally if you pay by mail, you have to wait for the letter to arrive.

With the above in mind, if you are still having trouble locating your serial code (and also if you forgot it), just tell us about it. We'll sort it out for you in no time.

Tech Troubles

'Security Policy' or 'Access to the registry key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/.xds' problems

Registry Error screenshot

DS Game Maker requires permission to do the following:

  • Add to and edit values in the Microsoft Windows Registry
  • Access the file system, specifically root access to the C:/ hard drive
  • Install other programs and development libraries
  • Modify system settings, add, edit and delete environment variables

We recommend that you log on to the computer as an Administrator (not a Guest or Limited user account). You should then run the program as an Administrator, by right clicking the DS Game Maker shortcut/program icon and selecting 'Run as Administrator'. If you are using Microsoft Windows Vista or later, you should also disable 'User Account Control': Click here to see a guide (it's easy). Also, add DS Game Maker to any white lists available in your Anti virus software. Otherwise refer to your system administrator who may be able to control further security policies.

Microsoft .NET Framework Missing

Microsoft .NET Framework missing error message screen shot

If you get this error it means that your computer does not have the Microsoft .NET Framework installed or you have an outdated version. To correct this, you must download and install the framework from the Microsoft website. Click here to visit the Download page:

Install .NET 3.5 SP1 (Microsoft website screen shot)

When I compile Windows says 'PAgfx has encountered an error and needs to close'

This error occurs when Windows is low on Virtual Memory. Please try the following steps:

  • Firstly, restart your computer - this will remove any temporary files and free up temporary memory
  • Empty your Windows Recycle Bin and close any other programs that you are not using, for example instant messengers
  • Scan your computer for viruses and Spyware, with software such as AVG Free
  • Download, install and use CCleaner, a free temporary files and registry cleaner, that can be downloaded here
By James Garner

© 2008-2010 James Garner. 'DS Game Maker', the 'DS Game Maker logo' & 'Invisionsoft' are pending trademarks of James Garner.

'Nintendo', 'DS', 'DSi' and 'DSi XL' are registered trademarks of Nintendo Co., Ltd.

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