Topic: Play-Yan Firmware Update Now Available

[WindyMan]

The update allows the GBA media device to playback high-quality MP4 format movies.

Nintendo has just updated the Play-Yan page with a ZIP file download, containing a 544KB firmware patch for the Play-Yan media player.  The update allows the Play-Yan to playback MP4 movies in high-quality stereo sound.  After unzipping the patch, the file must be placed on the same SD card that contains the MP4 movies, and then they will be displayed on the movie menu as normal.    

The page with the update also contains a small preview clip showing off the higher quality movie format.  The clip is of the Link and Sheik extra movies from Super Smash Bros. Melee, and they look amazing on the small screen of the GBA or DS.  They sound even better thanks to the substansial boost in audio quality that the update brings to the table.    

Although the patch allows the playback of the MP4 format, there is currently no official Nintendo software that can encode into the format.  The Media Stage software that comes with the Play-Yan doesn't, but an update is coming for that program next month.  In the meanwhile, reports from around the Internet say that MP4 encoders for the Sony PSP, such as PSP Video 9, work just fine for converting files to the Play-Yan, as both can now use the same MP4 format.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Joy!

Now I too can make fake videos of the Resident Evil Remake running on DS.

XD

[jakeOSX]

*fingers crossed for an american version*

this and the game boy micro...  

[Smash_Brother]

Good to know that firmware updates aren't an alien concept to Nintendo.

I'm still hoping for that update which will allow my DS to alert me whenever I come in range of another active DS...

-SB

[Renny]

I wouldn't expect that function in the DS itself. It will most likely be implemented within games, as in Yoshi.

[Smash_Brother]

I remember hearing that it would be a function built into the DS, but they scrapped it at the last minute for reasons unknown to me.

I could be wrong, but that's just what I remember hearing.

-SB

[Deguello]

I hope the Play-Yan NEVER makes it over here.

Watching video on your Gameboy is asinine.

[pyrokamileon]

but you can watch those same files on the DS as well. not to mention the whole idea just adds more possibilities and functionality to the GBA/DS.  seriously how many people out there are excited about the PSP just because you see pics and vids on it??  (it seems that everytime Sony releases a system everyone's more excited about all the other things it can do!)

[KDR_11k]

Watching video on your Gameboy is asinine.

Noone's forcing you to buy it.

[ssj4_android]

Does this allow it to use avc? Can I use Nero Recode to encode it? Would I have to use the mobile or portable profile or something?

[KDR_11k]

It's MP4, RTFM to see if your app supports that.