====== Game Boy / Game Boy Color ======
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===== Introduction =====
There are numerous tools available for dumping Game Boy / Game Boy Color games. The cheapest tool for dumping carts is a GBxCart RW, followed by the Joey Jr.

The (now discontinued) Submodule GB01 dumper is not recommended, as there is no known way to manually change the dumping settings and the automatic setting detection does not work on some carts.

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===== Methods =====
  - [[#GBxCart RW]]
  - [[#The Joey Jr]]
  - [[#Open Source Cartridge Reader]]
  - [[#RetroBlaster 2.0 + Game Boy Adapter]]

==== GBxCart RW ====

Supports: GB/GBC/GBA, Game Boy Camera, and Nintendo Power Carts and Bootleg flashing

Please see the the page for Lesserkuma's open-source software for the GBxCart RW, [[https://github.com/lesserkuma/FlashGBX|FlashGBX]].

Nintendo Power cart dumps will include a .map metadata file - include this in your dump submission.
==== The Joey Jr ====

Supports: GB/GBC/GBA, Game Boy Camera, and Nintendo Power Carts and Bootleg flashing. 

For latest official instruction on how to use the Joey Jr, please see the [[https://bennvenn.myshopify.com/pages/the-joey-junior-gb-gbc-gba-cart-dumper-and-flasher|official user guide]].

You should add "NPC" as a line in MODE.TXT, so that it dumps the .map metadata file from Nintendo Power carts, which you should include in your dump submission.
==== Open Source Cartridge Reader ====

The Open Source Cartridge Reader (OSCR) comes with Game Boy / Game Boy Color dumping capabilities by default.
[[https://github.com/sanni/cartreader/wiki/Reading-a-Game-Boy-rom|Follow the OSCR wiki]] for proper settings, and dumping instructions. If it is a Nintendo Power cart you are dumping, also select the "Read Mapping" option to dump the .map metadata file, which you should include in your dump submission.
==== RetroBlaster 2.0 + Game Boy Adapter ====
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The RetroBlaster software currently only supports Windows and is available on the [[https://github.com/retrostage/RetroBlaster|RetroBlaster github]].

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Make sure the RetroBlaster voltage switch is set to 5V (not the 3V setting).

Connect the GB/GBC/GBA adapter to the RetroBlaster. To seat the adapter, firmly but gently push the adapter in until the pins are no longer showing.

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Insert the cartridge the adapter, with the label side facing up.

Open the RetroBlaster software (click Run if you see a security warning about the publisher not being verified) and navigate to the GameBoy/GBC tab.

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Click "Dump ROM." Choose the location and filename for your ROM.

The activity LED will turn on on the RetroBlaster board. A progress bar will indicate the status of the dump, and information will be displayed on the 'status' log when the dump is complete.

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You can also dump the SRAM from this same tab, by clicking the "Dump SRAM" button.

==== Opening carts ====

Unscrew the back of the cartridge with a 3.8mm Gamebit or line head screw driver, carefully separating the bottom half of the cart's shell. Once the screw is removed, gently slide the label side of the cart down to expose the PCB.

===== Identifying Game Versions =====
{{:carts:nintendo:gb:gb-identifying_game_versions.png?260}}

**SSS**-**(T)GGR**-**V**\\
S = System (DMG = Game Boy, CGB = Game Boy Color)\\
T = Type (N = Normal)\\
G = Game code (e.g. KY = Kirby's Dream Land)\\
R = Region (A = World, J = Japan, E = USA, P = Europe)\\
V = Version (starts at 0)\\

===== Gathering and Submitting Dump Info =====
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