carts:nintendo:gba

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carts:nintendo:gba [2021/07/24 15:43]
hiccup 		carts:nintendo:gba [2022/09/19 22:51]
cartridge_hermit Copy from todo/gba
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-'''todo:'''  
-  - look into cart-to-PC hardware (e.g. https://www.shop01media.com/en/Nintendo-GBA/GBA-GameBoy-Flash-Carts/XG2-Slim-Loader-III-NeoFlash-SlimLoader-USB) 
-  - list DIY hardware methods 
-  - try out this: https://github.com/RattletraPM/gbaxxdumper 
-  - https://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/22312/how-to-back-up-and-restore-game-saves-in-cartridges-for-the-original-game-boy-c/ 
-  - Add GodMode9i to the dumping methods. seems like it recently got support for GBA Video movie carts based on duplo code. 
-  - Datel Advance Game Port https://www.gc-forever.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=2655 
- 
 ====== Game Boy Advance ====== ====== Game Boy Advance ======
 +
 +{{wst>see_hardware_page}}
 +
 +{{wst>vgpc_help}}
  
 ===== Introduction ===== ===== Introduction =====
-xxxx 
  
-===== Methods =====+{{wst>carts_important_notes}}
  
-  - DS + DS Slot-1 Flashcart (Normal Carts)+Game Boy Advance games are one of the easier systems to dump and there are numerous tools available, so you should be able to find a great method that works with the hardware you have on hand.
  
-  - DS + DS Slot-1 Flashcart (GBA Video Movie Carts)+====== Methods ======
  
-  - GBA + GCN-GBA Link Cable + Homebrew-enabled GCN/Wii+===== Dedicated dumping hardware =====
  
-  - Homebrew-enabled GCN + Game Boy Player + SD-GCN Memory Card Adapter+  - [[#GBxCart RW]] 
 +  - [[#The Joey Jr]] 
 +  - [[#Sanni Cart Reader]]
  
-  - BennVenn Joey Joebags+==== GBxCart RW ====
  
-  - BennVenn Joey Jr.+GBxCart RW is one of the cheaper dedicated hardware methods for dumping.
  
-  - GBxCart RW+Supports: GB/GBC/GBA, Game Boy Camera, and Nintendo Power Carts and Bootleg flashing
  
-==== DS + DS Slot-1 Flashcart (Normal Carts) ==== +Please see the the page for Lesserkuma's open-source software for the GBxCart RW, [[https://github.com/lesserkuma/FlashGBX|FlashGBX]]. 
-=== Tools === + 
-  - A Nintendo DS or Nintendo DS Lite with a flashcart +==== The Joey Jr ==== 
-  - [[https://gbatemp.net/download/gba-backup-tool.3228/|GBA Backup Tool]]+ 
 +The Joey Jr is another inexpensive option for dedicated dumping hardware. 
 + 
 +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]]. 
 + 
 +==== Sanni Cart Reader ==== 
 + 
 +Sanni Cart Reader is a versatile dumping tool that supports several different consoles/cartridges, but is pricier than the Joey Jr or GBxCart RW. 
 + 
 +The Sanni Cart Reader comes with Game Boy / Game Boy Color dumping capabilities by default. [[https://github.com/sanni/cartreader/wiki/Reading-a-Game-Boy-rom|Follow the Sanni Cart Reader wiki]] for proper settings, and dumping instructions. 
 + 
 +===== Dumping with DS flashcarts ===== 
 + 
 +  - [[#GodMode9i]] 
 +  - [[#GBA Backup Tool]] 
 +  - [[#Duplo]] 
 + 
 +==== GodMode9i ==== 
 + 
 +If you already have a DS flashcart like R4, dumping GBA games is fairly straight forward with GodMode9i. As DS flashcarts were manufactured in large quantities, this is perhaps the cheapest and easiest accessible method for dumping GBA games. GodMode9i is a free/open source preservation tool inspired by GodMode9 for the Nintendo 3DS. 
 + 
 +=== Tools needed === 
 + 
 +  - A Nintendo DS or Nintendo DS Lite with a slot-1 (DS) flashcart 
 +  - [[https://github.com/DS-Homebrew/GodMode9i/releases]]
  
 === Dumping === === Dumping ===
-  - Run the .nds for GBA Backup Tool+ 
 +  - Download the .nds file for GodMode9i from project's releases page to your flashcart and put it in the slot-1 (DS) slot of your DS. 
 +  - Insert the GBA cart into slot 2 and turn on the DS. 
 +  - Use the D pad to select the GBA game and press A twice to dump it to the flashcart's SD card. 
 + 
 +If you have multiple GBA games to dump, you can swap cartidges in slot 2 without rebooting the DS. 
 + 
 +==== GBA Backup Tool ==== 
 + 
 +GBA Backup Tool is a commonly used tool, though it hasn't seen any updates since 2008. 
 + 
 +=== Tools needed === 
 + 
 +  - A Nintendo DS or Nintendo DS Lite with a slot-1 (DS) flashcart 
 +  - [[https://gamebrew.org/wiki/GBA_Backup_Tool]] 
 + 
 +=== Dumping === 
 + 
 +  - Insert your DS flashcart into slot-1 and run the .nds for GBA Backup Tool
   - Ensure that your GBA cart is inserted, then press A on the pop-up.   - Ensure that your GBA cart is inserted, then press A on the pop-up.
-  - By default, GBA Backup Tool is in Save Backup mode. Press R twice to go to rom backup mode.+  - By default, GBA Backup Tool is in Save Backup mode. Press R twice to go to ROM backup mode.
   - Press B to make a new backup, then hit A to confirm. Your rom will be dumped to your SD card.   - Press B to make a new backup, then hit A to confirm. Your rom will be dumped to your SD card.
  
-==== DS + DS Slot-1 Flashcart (GBA Video Movie Carts) ==== +==== Duplo ====
-use duplo (https://github.com/endrift/duplo)+
  
-here is a build from Whovian: https://archive.org/download/duplo+Duplo helps dump GBA Video Movie Carts.
  
-not needed (and won't work for) for TV series carts ,which don't use the Matrix memory chips+  - Use duplo ([[https://github.com/endrift/duplo]]), here is a prepared build from Whovian: [[https://archive.org/details/duplo]] 
 +  - This is not needed (and won't work for) for TV series carts, which don't use the Matrix memory chips
  
-==== GBA + GCN-GBA Link Cable + Homebrew-enabled GCN/Wii ==== 
-=== Tools === 
-  - A Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Advance SP 
-  - A GameCube GBA Link Cable 
-  - A Wii or a GameCube with some way to load .dol files (e.g. the Homebrew Channel for the Wii). 
-  - The [[https://github.com/FIX94/gba-link-cable-dumper/releases|GBA Link Cable Dumper]] 
  
-=== Dumping === 
-  - Load the .dol with Homebrew Launcher or via Swiss on GameCube. 
-  - Attach your GBA to the system in port 2 **without** a game in, leaving your gamecube controller attached to port 1. 
-  - Turn on your GBA and wait for the dumper to be sent. After a moment, you should see the screen on your GBA change. 
-  - Insert a cartridge into your GBA. Press A on the gamecube controller to continue in the menu, then press A again to dump. 
-  - Remove the SD card and insert into your PC. the gba file will be placed in the dumps folder. 
  
-==== Homebrew-enabled GCN + Game Boy Player + SD-GCN Memory Card Adapter ==== +====== Documenting physical media ======
-=== Tools === +
-  - A GameCube with some way to load .dol files +
-  - A GameCube Memory Card to SD Adapter. +
-  - A Game Boy Player. +
-  - The latest [[https://files.extremscorner.org/gamecube/apps/gbi/latest|GBI]] - You only need GBI.DOL, none of the others.+
  
-=== Dumping === +{{wst>carts_photos}} 
-  - Load GBI.DOL with no cartridge in your Game Boy Player. A menu should appear on screen, and some screen options will appear. + 
-  - Press B to hide the screen options, then insert your cartridge. Navigate to "Dump ROM" and hit A. +==== Opening carts ==== 
-  - Text showing progress will appear. Once done, hold reset, eject your cartridge and release. Upon the restart, you can power off. + 
-  - Remove your SD Card. the .GBA file will be on the root of your SD, named by serial which you can find on the bottom right of your cartridge's label.+The Y-shaped screw on the back of GBA cartridges can be opened with a size Y1 tri-point (sometimes called tri-wing) screwdriver. Once the screw is removed, gently slide the label side of the cart down to expose the PCB. 
 + 
 +==== Identifying Game Versions ==== 
 + 
 +Once the cart has been opened, you can decode the letters/numbers stamped on the main chip. 
 + 
 +{{:carts:nintendo:gba:gba-identifying_game_versions.png?260}} 
 + 
 +{{:todo:gba_cart_code.png?600}} 
 + 
 + S = System (Almost always "AGB")\\  T = Type (N = Normal)\\  G = Game code (e.g. MA = Super Mario Advance)\\  R = Region (J = Japan, E = USA, P = Europe)\\  V = Version (starts at 0)\\
  
-===== Verification ===== +There is also a shortened version of the code on the left hand side, in the format **TGGR**-**V**.
-Description of how to verify that is a dump is correct.+
  
-===== Gathering Dump Info =====+todo: add info on cart/box serials (and non-standard carts if relevant)
  
-<code -> +===== Gathering and Submitting Dump Info =====
-Dumping tool:  +
-Dumper:  +
-Affiliation:  +
-Dump creation date:  +
-Dump release date: +
  
-Title:  +The main group cataloging GBA games is no-intro.
-Region:  +
-Edition:  +
-Languages:  +
-Language Select:  +
-WikiData ID:+
  
-Size:  +See [[submission:general|Gathering and Submitting Dump Info (Basic)]]
-CRC32:  +
-MD5:  +
-SHA-1:  +
-SHA-256:  +
-</code>+
  
-  * General Note: If you are submitting this info to a person/group in order for them to add it to a database, you can skip the transcription of some things, and leave it to them. But it can make the process smoother if you do the transcription yourself. 
-===== Submitting Dump Info ===== 
-Point to external submission information for No-Intro/Redump. 
  
  • carts/nintendo/gba.txt
  • Last modified: 2022/09/28 22:05
  • by hiccup