Goafer Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 What's the easiest way to play homebrew on the Game Boy? I have a ROM for a homebrew game on the original Game Boy. Could I get one of them there flash card things for the GBA and play an original Game Boy ROM on it? What's the cheapest/most retro option? I know there is one for the DS and GBA, but is there one for any older GBs? I have no interest in the piracy side of things, I just want to play homebrew. Specifically the Game Boy homebrew here.
mcj metroid Posted January 20, 2010 Posted January 20, 2010 amm i think this might be of help http://eng.supercard.sc/manual/minisd_cz.htm If that doesn't suit you try around the site for another option. I used to have one of these. Easy to use you have to download a program from that website to convert the file into whatever. There is a good pdf floating around the web for it. Hope we're o the same page here
Goafer Posted January 20, 2010 Author Posted January 20, 2010 Yeah, that's the sort of thing I'm looking at. Just wondering if the GBA cart version is the oldest one, or if there a normal Game Boy carts that can do the same thing. I know you can get blank GB carts (sort of like a developer kit thing), but I heard they cost a fortune.
mcj metroid Posted January 21, 2010 Posted January 21, 2010 oh supercard should be able to run any gameboy homebrew or whatever. As far as I can remember anyway.
Happenstance Posted January 21, 2010 Posted January 21, 2010 I dont think your understanding him, hes checking to see if theres a card which can be used with the original gameboy. Not a card that runs on a DS/GBA that can run original gameboy stuff.
Goafer Posted January 21, 2010 Author Posted January 21, 2010 Yeah that's pretty much what I mean. I guess the GBA one will have to do for now.
Link83 Posted January 21, 2010 Posted January 21, 2010 (edited) I have just recently been looking into this for the same reason as the OP, only I wanted to use LSDJ on an original Game Boy and Game Boy Color:- http://www.littlesounddj.com/lsd/ At present there seems to be four main 'modern' choices of cartridge for the original Game Boy/Game Boy Color that all transfer files over USB (There are older cartridge models but they need a Parallel port/cable, and my PC does not even have a Parallel port! ) BleepBloop Cartridge and USB Programmer - This has 16Mbit of storage. It seems to be discontinued but might still be available in some places. You plug the cartridge into a separate USB programmer to transfer files. http://8bitcollective.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=1916 It used to be available from 'nonfinite's shop, but I cant find it on there at the moment:- http://www.nonelectronics.com/index.php BleepBloop USB Cartridge - This has 16Mbit of storage and uses a standard USB to 'Mini B' USB cable to connect the cartridge directly to the PC. Basically the USB Programmer has now been built inside the cartridge instead of being separate. Its usually available from nonfinite in three colors, but its out of stock at the moment and it only seems to come in stock randomly (Top three products):- http://www.nonelectronics.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2&zenid=77c2150bc6326a9600d7b46f532efe90 Smartboy 32M Cartridge with USB Programmer - This has 32Mbit of storage. It is almost identical to the BleepBloop Cartridge with a separate USB Programmer, only this cartridge has 32Mbit of storage space instead of 16Mbit. Its usually available at kitsch-bent's store, but is sold out at the moment:- http://store.kitsch-bent.com/product/smartboy-32m-cartridge-programmer-bundle Also available direct from the manufacturer here (Half way down the page) http://www.smartboy.ugu.pl/ EMS GB Smart Card 64M USB Cartridge - This has 64Mbit of storage. It is similar to the Bleepbloop USB Cartridge and uses a standard USB to 'Mini B' USB cable (Cable not usually included) to connect the cartridge directly to the PC. Its usually available at kitsch-bent's store:- http://store.kitsch-bent.com/product/usb-64m-smart-card Also available at consolegoods in the UK:- http://www.robwebb1.plus.com/copiers/copiers.htm Note that all of these cartridges require you to use their own custom software to transfer files over to the cartridge. Also, only the 'GB Smart Card 64M' can support multiple homebrew files (Or so I have read) although it can only have one save file at any given time. The other cartridges only support one homebrew file at a time. I think the best choices are either the 'Smartboy' or the 'GB Smart Card 64M', because the 'BleepBloop' cartridges are hard to find, expensive, and have apparently had quite a few manufacturing defects recently. I personally went for the Smartboy as I really wanted the USB Programmer it comes with, because it also allows you to backup the save files on original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. This was an important factor to me because original Game Boy/Game Boy Color games all use a small battery to power the SRAM chip inside them used for saving:- http://www.pokemasters.net/forums/showthread.php?t=15464 So when that battery dies (And they will all die over the next few years, if they haven't already) You lose all your save files (Lose all my level 100 Pokemon? Noooo! ) With the Smartboy's USB Programmer I can backup my game saves and keep a copy on my PC, so even if the cartridge battery dies I will not loose my save file So, if you want to backup the save files from original Game Boy games, get a Smartboy which comes with a USB Programmer, if you want to play multiple homebrew files get the GB Smart Card 64M. Sorry for waffling so long, and I hope I helped somewhat. Edited January 30, 2010 by Link83 Typos, and 64M cart now in stock at kitsch-bent's store
Goafer Posted January 21, 2010 Author Posted January 21, 2010 Those are exactly what I'm looking for! Thanks! Little bit pricey for my tastes, but it's something to consider.
Link83 Posted January 21, 2010 Posted January 21, 2010 Those are exactly what I'm looking for! Thanks! Little bit pricey for my tastes, but it's something to consider. Glad I could help Regarding the prices, unfortunately its a case of 'supply and demand'. There is simply not a massive demand for this sort of thing, so they end up costing quite a bit more than similar devices for more modern systems like the GBA etc.
Live_Steam_Mad Posted February 21, 2010 Posted February 21, 2010 I have a Netmars GB E-Merger with 16Mb and 64Mb Flash cards with battery backed save SRAM. It's wonderful. Fits the Nintendo GameBoy perfectly and allows you to play e.g. Zelda Links Awakening (either color or monochrome version, I own both originals of these games anyway as well) perfectly and saves work perfectly, battery life of the GB is unaltered, I use 2900mAh cells in my GB Color, also works a treat with my GB Pocket. You need a PC with a parallel port though. I paid rather a lot for it (90 GBP) quite a number of years ago when they were new and never regretted it. I wish you could still get them and Netmars is still in business in Taiwan but not selling anything like that now. I was having a look on Ebay but I couldn't find any second hand. There was a review on subport.org many years ago that someone did. If you manage to find one then I can give you any help you need on it. I just bought a Firelinker GBA Flash linker 128Mb for a few GBP for use with my intended purchase of a GBA, I hope it works just as well?! If anyone knows of a Flash card system for Sega Game Gear or Master System or Megadrive / Genesis or Nintendo NES or SNES then I'd love to hear about it. Cheers, Alistair G. Here are some pic's of my Flash cards. The flash makes the GB's look horrid LOL. Link ;- picasaweb.google.com/LiveSteamMad/NetmarsGameboyEMerger# Sorry can't use the link thing since have less than 15 posts but you can copy the above web address into your web browser to see some nice photo's of it. Enjoy! I use these to put several original games that I bought onto the 1 card, far more convenient instead of a pocket full of cart's LOL. So nothing illegal at all LOL. As you can see, compatability is not an issue, it works perfectly. I recently replaced the CR2032 cell in each cart (they're getting old now LOL). Cheers, Alistair G.
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