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DS

Professor Layton Weekly Puzzles Already on Cartridge

by Nick DiMola - March 25, 2008, 1:13 pm EDT
Total comments: 21 Source: DeuFeuFeu Wiki

DS hacker reveals a total of 27 weekly puzzles, unlocked by downloadable key.

Due to the work of some clever DS hacker, it has been revealed that the weekly downloadable Professor Layton puzzles are not really being downloaded. These bonus puzzles are actually already contained on the cartridge. Every Sunday, when the weekly puzzle is released, only a simple key must be downloaded to unlock the weekly puzzle on the cartridge.

It has also been discovered that the cartridge is only holding 162 puzzles. If we subtract the number of puzzles that can be unlocked by playing the single player adventure, 135, and the number of puzzles that have already been downloaded, 6, this leaves us with a total of 21 more puzzles before all of the puzzles on the cartridge have been exhausted. By these calculations, August 17, 2008 will reveal the final weekly puzzle for Professor Layton and the Curious Village.

Readers should be warned that although the linked source is spoiler-free, the link included in that source displays a list of all the puzzles in the game, and their solutions.

Talkback

Honestly, I could care less about the finite "DLC". I mean, as long as we get the two sequels, I'll be fine.

Nick DiMolaNick DiMola, Staff AlumnusMarch 25, 2008

Well, it figures that this really wasn't downloadable content. I just hope that by the time these puzzles run out, Professor Layton 2 is right around the corner.

I care because this is stupid.  It really maeks me wonder about Nintendo sometimes.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMarch 25, 2008

Quote from: Crimm

I care because this is stupid.  It really makes me wonder about Nintendo sometimes.

Just be grateful that Nintendo isn't forcing you to PAY for them. Now that would've made me angry as I would be paying for content that's already there!

TheFleeceMarch 25, 2008

What's the point of giving us the illusion of downloading something when we really aren't? What if they DID make you pay and what if they plan to?

DeguelloJeff Shirley, Staff AlumnusMarch 25, 2008

Man climbing this mountain is easy once you figure out it's a molehill.

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I care because this is stupid.

How so?

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What's the point of giving us the illusion of downloading something when we really aren't? What if they DID make you pay and what if they plan to?

Here's a stunning newsflash just for you.  A lot of times DLC is stuff that's already on the cart/disc.  Even stuff on Xbox Live.  The only way to be really mad about this is if Nintendo was charging for it.  They aren't.  So its no big deal.  Download the key, or don't.  Or hack it.  Whatever.

SvevanEvan Burchfield, Staff AlumnusMarch 25, 2008

It matters because Nintendo is selling this as an online game and is requiring you to have an Internet connection in order to gain content that has already been created and is already on the ds card. The purpose of DLC is to create ongoing content, to keep the game fresh by adding to it after it has been released. The point is that the developer is creating content based on user reaction and desire. For developers like Harmonix, this means adding songs to Rock Band that the fans may want, and a communication line is opened between the installed user base and the developer. By faking that communication, (in this case, pretending that someone is sitting around coming up with new puzzles for Layton), Nintendo is being disingenuous about the games online functionality, and is flat out lying about their commitment to downloadable content.

The purpose of a news story like this is to point out to the world what the developer is doing and let the developer know that we're aware of what they're doing. Just because DLC is frequently abused doesn't mean we should allow it to happen.

UncleBobRichard Cook, Guest ContributorMarch 25, 2008

So... after the 27th download, what are the odds of getting real DLC?

GoldenPhoenixMarch 25, 2008

Quote from: Svevan

It matters because Nintendo is selling this as an online game and is requiring you to have an Internet connection in order to gain content that has already been created and is already on the ds card. The purpose of DLC is to create ongoing content, to keep the game fresh by adding to it after it has been released. The point is that the developer is creating content based on user reaction and desire. For developers like Harmonix, this means adding songs to Rock Band that the fans may want, and a communication line is opened between the installed user base and the developer. By faking that communication, (in this case, pretending that someone is sitting around coming up with new puzzles for Layton), Nintendo is being disingenuous about the games online functionality, and is flat out lying about their commitment to downloadable content.

The purpose of a news story like this is to point out to the world what the developer is doing and let the developer know that we're aware of what they're doing. Just because DLC is frequently abused doesn't mean we should allow it to happen.

Evan is 110% right, it is deceitful, and looks bad.

DeguelloJeff Shirley, Staff AlumnusMarch 25, 2008

Quote:

It matters because Nintendo is selling this as an online game and is requiring you to have an Internet connection

Bzzt.  Wrong.  The DS merely requires you to FIND an internet connection, via an open wireless hub which city dwellers are bombarded with. You actually don't have to have one in your house or anything.

Quote:

in order to gain content that has already been created and is already on the ds card.

As opposed to what?  Items arbitrarily withheld from the final release of the game and then released or... good heavens... sold?  I'm still not seeing the issue here.

Quote:

By faking that communication, (in this case, pretending that someone is sitting around coming up with new puzzles for Layton), Nintendo is being disingenuous about the games online functionality, and is flat out lying about their commitment to downloadable content.

Bzzt.  Wrong again.  Last time I checked LEVEL 5 developed this game and Nintendo only published it in America.  This is how it was done in Japan and there would be no reason to waste any money or time to change it, especially considering Layton was sort of a risky title to release here.  Nintendo should not be held accountable for the DLC shenanigans of a third party.  And it's a stretch to use the Online policy of LEVEL 5 (who is separate from Nintendo) to apply it to Nintendo's DLC promises.  First off, AGAIN, Level 5 made the game.  Secondly, one game is not the entire schedule of all future DS or Wii games.

This story is, in fact, quite unimportant, and its intended message of "WE'RE WATCHING YOU, NINTENDO" will only cause Nintendo look confused and Level 5 to laugh at Nintendo taking the heat for something they did (which hopefully leads to a closer relationship).  Seriously, unless you paid for it, there is no reason to be angry and to have a problem is really nuancedly trivial.  Also, Nintendo already released a few games on DS that have not only DLC, but USER-CREATED DLC, in the form of puzzle maps for Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2.

It's just silly, to be honest.

Bill AurionMarch 25, 2008

I find the idea of DLC to be completely pointless in the first place, so at least in this case the material was already done instead of wasting resources that could be better used for making new games...

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Also, Nintendo already released a few games on DS that have not only DLC, but USER-CREATED DLC, in the form of puzzle maps for Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2.

Don't forget Picross, which had user-created DLC and DLC from Nintendo that actually had to be downloaded.

UncleBobRichard Cook, Guest ContributorMarch 25, 2008

Something doesn't seem right about this.

The "source" for this article is a random posting on NeoGAF.

That post links to a page filled with all the puzzles from the game - but that page does not say anything about where the puzzles came from - nothing is said about anyone "hacking" the "downloaded" puzzles.

GSCentral.org has several Professor Layton codes for the Action Replay: http://board.gscentral.org/showthread.php?t=24963
Yet no code for the "Downloaded" Puzzles.

KDR_11kMarch 26, 2008

Quote from: Deguello

Bzzt.  Wrong.  The DS merely requires you to FIND an internet connection, via an open wireless hub which city dwellers are bombarded with. You actually don't have to have one in your house or anything.

Go straight to jail, do not pass Go and do not receive 200$.

mantidorMarch 26, 2008

I just love my post timing. Right after I post asking if the puzzles are available for a limited time I found this thread.

DeguelloJeff Shirley, Staff AlumnusMarch 26, 2008

KDR I am by no means advocating the theft of bandwidth :D.  There's free Wifi all over the place.

Ian SaneMarch 26, 2008

This isn't a big deal since they aren't charging for it or anything.  I'm just a little shocked at how silly it is.

The whole point of downloadable content is that it can be virtually endless.  To offer "downloadable content" in this sort of fashion makes it look like Nintendo or Level 5 or whoever designed the idea completely misses the point.  It's like if you used a optical disc medium for a videogame system but the discs couldn't hold any more than a cartridge.

Online services are finite.  Any company can just disable the service at any time and thus the game you paid for no longer fully works.  In some cases like an MMORPG that would make the game worthless and in other cases it would be just a bummer, but not a game breaker.  In this case one could obtain a copy of this title legally years from now and not be able to unlock the content that is stored on the game itself.  That sucks.  It doesn't ruin the game but that's still lame.

One could argue that if Nintendo "fakes" downloadable content this time, even if in this case it isn't a big deal, they might do it again some other time with something more significant.  Case in point in a Wii game where one can't just wander around until they find free Wifi this would really suck for anyone without internet access.  And if they ever charged for this?  But then if it's just Level 5 doing things in a dumb way we don't have to worry.  If it's an isolated incident it's no big deal.

In general the idea of downloadable KEYS instead of content, regardless of who is doing it, rubs me the wrong way.  Maybe it's my nature as a programmer.  It's effectively an incorrect solution.  If I suggested something like this to my manager he would chew me out for suggesting something so stupid.

King of TwitchMarch 27, 2008

This makes me wonder.. what if all wifi matches are against supercomputer AI? What else are they misrepresenting?

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMarch 27, 2008

Quote from: a

This makes me wonder.. what if all wifi matches are against supercomputer AI? What else are they misrepresenting?

This would be funny if it wasn't for the fact that Brawl already does this!

IceColdMarch 27, 2008

He said all WIFI matches..

MarioMarch 27, 2008

Quote from: Svevan

It matters because Nintendo is selling this as an online game and is requiring you to have an Internet connection in order to gain content that has already been created and is already on the ds card. The purpose of DLC is to create ongoing content, to keep the game fresh by adding to it after it has been released. The point is that the developer is creating content based on user reaction and desire. For developers like Harmonix, this means adding songs to Rock Band that the fans may want, and a communication line is opened between the installed user base and the developer. By faking that communication, (in this case, pretending that someone is sitting around coming up with new puzzles for Layton), Nintendo is being disingenuous about the games online functionality, and is flat out lying about their commitment to downloadable content.

The purpose of a news story like this is to point out to the world what the developer is doing and let the developer know that we're aware of what they're doing. Just because DLC is frequently abused doesn't mean we should allow it to happen.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd199/etburchfield/evavatar3.jpg

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