Getting Connected

TouchMaster Connect's original online service shut down years ago. This is an independent revival - to get your DS talking to it, two things need to be true: your game needs a small patch, and your DS needs to know where to find our server instead of Nintendo's dead one.

Before anything else: patch your ROM

1. Download the patcher: touchlink_patcher.exe

2. Run it, then either drag your ROM file onto it or use the file picker that opens to select it

3. It saves a new, patched copy next to your original (named <yourrom>_touchlink.nds) - your original file is never modified

The patcher just points the game at our server instead of the closed-down original one. It doesn't contain any part of the game itself - we don't provide ROMs, you need your own legally-dumped copy to patch.

Tested against the TouchMaster Connect (USA) ROM specifically. Other regions/revisions may have the relevant text at different locations in the file and could fail to patch, or patch incorrectly - if the patcher reports an error, it hasn't touched your file.

Windows may show a SmartScreen warning since this isn't a code-signed executable - click "More info" then "Run anyway". Some antivirus software may also flag it; this is a known false-positive pattern with the tool used to build the .exe, not a real issue with what it does.

1. A genuine, unmodified cartridge can't connect

You'll need a flashcart with the patched ROM loaded.

2. Point your DS at the right DNS server

Nintendo's own Wi-Fi Connection servers are long gone too. We use a community-run replacement called AltWFC to handle that part - you just need to tell your DS to use it.

On a real DS/DSi

  1. From the TouchMaster Connect main menu, tap Connect Main menu with Connect option
  2. Tap Nintendo WFC Setup Connect menu with Nintendo WFC Setup option
  3. Tap Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Settings Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Setup screen
  4. Select an existing connection, or an unused one if you don't have one set up yet Connection slots screen
  5. Scroll down and set Auto-obtain DNS to No, then enter your Primary and Secondary DNS as below DNS settings screen
  6. Primary DNS: 172.104.88.237
  7. Secondary DNS: 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 - don't leave this blank, the console needs a real secondary server here
  8. Tap Save Settings
  9. Tap Back twice to return to TouchMaster Connect

On melonDS

  1. Config → Wifi settings melonDS Wifi settings screen
  2. Select Indirect mode (uses libslirp, recommended) - this is usually already selected by default, so you likely don't need to change anything here
  3. In-game, go to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection settings screen
  4. Turn off Auto-obtain DNS and enter 172.104.88.237 as the primary DNS server, and 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 as secondary

3. Create an account and get your passphrase

  1. Sign up here with a username, email, and password
  2. Pick a player icon - this is what shows next to your name on the leaderboards
  3. You'll be shown a passphrase once at signup - it's also emailed to you, and you can view it any time by logging in and going to My Account
  4. Do not share your passphrase with anyone - anyone with it can post scores to your account

If your passphrase is entered incorrectly, the connection will fail - double-check it against your account page and try again.

Entering it on your DS

  1. From the TouchMaster Connect main menu, tap Connect Main menu with Connect option
  2. Tap Passphrase Connect menu with Passphrase option
  3. Type in your passphrase exactly as shown on the website, then tap Next Passphrase entry keyboard
  4. Tap Yes to connect your accounts Confirm connecting your accounts
  5. Tap Test Server Test Connection screen
  6. Tap Yes to connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection prompt
  7. Once you see this success screen, tap OK - you're connected Successfully connected confirmation

Your console links to your account the first time it successfully connects with the correct passphrase. After that, post a score from any game's results screen and it'll show up on the leaderboards.

Something not working?

Most connection failures come down to one of the two steps above - either the ROM isn't the patched version, or the DNS server isn't set correctly. Double-check both before assuming something's wrong on our end.