Changes

{{Infobox console|title = Nintendo Game Boy Advance|logo = gbagba.png|developer = [[:Nintendo]]|type = [[:Category:Handheld consoles|Handheld game console]]|generation = [[File:GameboyCategory:Sixth-glacier.jpggeneration video game consoles|Sixth generation]]|release = 2001|discontinued = 2010|predecessor=[[Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulators|Game Boy (Color)]], [[Virtual Boy emulators|Virtual Boy]]|successor=[[Pokémon mini emulators|thumbPokémon mini]], [[Nintendo DS emulators|The Gameboy Advance handheld consoleDS(i)]]|emulated = {{✓}}}} {{for|other emulators that run on GBA hardware|Emulators on GBA}}  The '''[[gametechwikipedia:Game Boy AdvanceGame_Boy_Advance|Game Boy Advance]]''' (often shortened to GBA) is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on the 21st of March 212001, 2001; in North America on the 11th of June 11, 2001; and in Australia and Europe on the 22nd of June 22, and retailed for {{Inflation|USD|99.99|2001}}. It has a ARM7TDMI CPU at 16.78 MHz and a Zilog Z80 CPU at 8 MHz and 4 MHz. It has 288KB of RAM and 96KB of VRAM.

===PC / x86===<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"|+PC-

! scope="col"|Operating SystemPlatform(s)

! scope="col"|GB[[#Hardware_features_and_accessories|Hardware features<br/GBC>and accessories]]! scope="col"|[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]! scope="col"|GBACompatibility! scope="col"|NDS<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>! scope="col"|Game Link SupportActive! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-|[[mGBA]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/mgba/ mGBA_libretro]</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Libretro CoreWindows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD|Web}}|[https://mgba.io/builds/1/ Dev builds]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<ref group=N>[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/12x3fsm/mgba_0102_released/jhigow4/ endrift confirming the libretro core is tracking the master branch]</ref><br/>[https://mgba.io/downloads.html {{MGBAVer}}]! scope|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|VBA-M]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/vba_m/ vbam_libretro]</small><br/><small><abbr title="colVBA Next is a Game Boy Advance emulator based on VBA-M 2011 with backported patches for performance and compatibility improvements.">[https://docs.libretro.com/library/vba_next/ vba_next_libretro]</abbr></small>|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|[https://nightly.vba-m.com/ Nightly builds]<br/> [http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core'''s'''] <br/> [https://github.com/visualboyadvance-m/visualboyadvance-m/releases {{VBAMVer}}]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[NanoBoyAdvance]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://nightly.link/nba-emu/NanoBoyAdvance/workflows/build/master Dev builds]<br/> [https://github.com/nba-emu/NanoBoyAdvance/releases {{NanoBoyAdvanceVer}}]|{{n}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[Recommended emulatorsSkyEmu]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Web}}|Recommended[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/pull/321 Dev Builds]<br/>[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/releases/ {{SkyEmuVer}}]|{{n}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[Visual Boy Advance -M|Visual Boy Advance-M (VBA-M)ares]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|Multi-platformmacOS}}|style[https://nightly.link/ares-emulator/ares/workflows/build/master <abbr title="text-align:center;Latest development build version"|>git Artifacts</abbr>]<br/>[httphttps://www.emucrgithub.com/searchares-emulator/labelares/VisualBoyAdvance-M/ r1231releases {{aresVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"|✓{{?}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{~}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[mGBAGBE+]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|Multi-platformmacOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://endriftgithub.com/mgbashonumi/downloads.html 0.1.0gbe-plus/releases {{GBEVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"{{~}} |✗|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} |✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} |✗|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} |✗|style="text-align:center;"|?{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[higanNo$|No$GBA]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, OS X, Linux|DOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[http://byuuproblemkaputt.orgde/higan/ 0gba.94htm {{No$GBAVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"{{~}} ||✓{{~}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align{{~}}[https:center;"|✗//problemkaputt.de/gbanew.htm *] |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"|iDeaS[[BizHawk]]<br/><small>(mGBA 0.10.0)</small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux}}|style="text[https://gitlab.com/TASVideos/BizHawk/-align:center;"|/pipelines Dev builds]<br/>[http://ciacintasvideos.site90.comorg/BizHawk/ideasReleaseHistory.php 1.0.4.0html {{BizHawkVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"{{~}} ||✗{{~}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[MESSMAME]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Multi-platformFreeBSD}}|style<abbr title="textLatest development version">git artifacts</abbr><ref group=N>[https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-windows/master CI-alignWindows] [https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-linux/master CI-Linux] [https:center;"|//nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-macos/master CI-Macos]</ref><br/>[http://www.mamedev.org/release.html {{MAMEVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} |✓|style="text-align:center;"{{~}} |✓|style[http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/lista_mess.php?software_list_name="text-align:center;"gba&compatibility= ?] |✗|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} |?|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style="text-align[https:center;"|Meteor//docs.libretro.com/library/gpsp/ gpSP_libretro]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://githubbuildbot.libretro.com/blastrocknightly/meteor 1.4libretro core]|style="text-align:center;"{{~}} |✗|style="text-align:center;"{{~}} |✓|style="text-align[https:center;"//docs.libretro.com/library/gpsp/#compatibility ?] |✗|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

|style[[Mednafen]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/beetle_gba/ mednafen_gba_libretro]</small>|align="textleft|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|[{{MednafenURL|releases/}} {{MednafenVer}}]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https://hades-emu.org Hades]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/hades-emu/Hades/releases/tag/v1.0.0 {{HadesVer}}]<br/> [https://nightly.link/hades-emu/Hades/workflows/build/master Nightly builds]<br/> [https:center;"//github.com/hades-emu/hades Git]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[No$GBAhigan]](火眼)<br/>byuu (謬/view)|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, MS|Linux|macOS}}|[https://github.com/higan-DOSemu/higan/releases/tag/v110 {{higanVer}}]|style{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}<ref group="textN>Superseded by [[ares]].</ref>|-|iDeaS|align:center;"=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|[https://web.archive.org/web/20150311100053/http://www6ciacin.zippysharesite90.com/videas.php {{iDeaSVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https:/86378833/filefms.html 2komkon.7borg/VGBA VGBA]|stylealign="text-alignleft|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|[https:center;"//fms.komkon.org/VGBA/#Downloads {{VGBAVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|style="text-|Meteor|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}|[https:center;"//github.com/blastrock/meteor {{MeteorVer}}]|{{?}} || ||||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|style="text-|BoyCottAdvance|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[http:center;"//boycottadvance.emuunlim.org/Downloads.htm {{BoyCottAdvanceVer}}]|✓{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|style="text-|PlayBoy Advance|align=left|{{Icon|macOS}}|[https:center;"//www.zophar.net/macintosh/gba/playboy-advance.html {{PlayBoyAdvanceVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||✓{{✗}}|style="text-|GameBeanAdvance|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https:center;"//github.com/bmchtech/GameBeanAdvance Git]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{~}} ||{{✗}}|style="text-|[[NooDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https:center;"//github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS/releases git]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}

===Mobile / ARM===<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"|+Consoles-

! scope="col"|Operating SystemPlatform(s)

! scope="col"|GB[[#Hardware_features_and_accessories|Hardware features<br/GBC>and accessories]]! scope="col"|[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]! scope="col"|GBACompatibility! scope="col"|NDS<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>! scope="col"|Game Link SupportActive! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-|[[mGBA]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Linux|Pandora}}|[https://github.com/huhao1987/mGBA_Android unofficial android version]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretrocore]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-|[[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|VBA-M]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Linux|Pandora}}|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[SkyEmu]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS}}|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sky.SkyEmu v3.2] (Play)[https://www.amazon.com/SkyEmu-GBC-GBA-NDS-Emulator/dp/B0CGHK8QP5 v3.2] (Amazon)[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu git]|{{n}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[gpSP]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Pandora}}<br/>{{Icon|Didj|Symbian}}|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<br/>[http://repo.openpandora.org/?page=detail&app=package.gpsp.notaz 0.9.2.8 Pandora]<br/>[https://github.com/Summeli/gpSP4Cute Symbian]|{{~}} ||{{~}} ||[https://docs.libretro.com/library/gpsp/#compatibility ?] ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=gpsp>Libretro CoreOnly.</ref> ||{{~}}|-|Pizza Boy A Basic|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.dbtecno.pizzaboygba 1.12.1]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}||{{~}}|-|[https://www.explusalpha.com/contents/gba-emu GBA.emu]<br/><small>(VBA-M 2.1.4 based)</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Android|Pyra}}|[https://github.com/Rakashazi/emu-ex-plus-alpha/releases/tag/Pre-release Pre-release]<br/>[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.explusalpha.GbaEmu {{.emuVer}}]</br>[https://pyra-handheld.com/repo/apps/75 1.5.46.02 Pyra]|{{?}} || || ||{{~}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[https://sites.google.com/site/fastemulator/ My Boy! scope]|align="col"left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fastemulator.gba 2.0.6]|{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[Recommended https://forums.windowscentral.com/app-spotlight/252987-trio-nintendo-emulators-vba8-vgbc8-snes8x.html VBA10]|align=left|{{Icon|W10P}}|Recommended[https://forum.xda-developers.com/windows-10-mobile/windows-10-mobile-apps-and-games/app-vba10-emulator-t3588704 1.22]<br/>[https://emulator.games/emulators/gameboy-advance/vba10/ Alt]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"|TempGBA4PSPGBA_J2ME|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|[[PlayStation Portable]]Java}}|style="text-align:center;"|[httpshttp://wwwoldfag.mediafire.comtop/downloads/?zzkw74c1kzobedj 26731013act=view&id=168 1.0]|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} ||✗|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗? |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗|style="text-align:center;"|✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{~}}

|styleVGBAnext|align="text-align:center;"left|[[Visual Boy Advance -M{{Icon|Visual Boy Advance-M (VBA-M)]]Android}}|style[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id="text-align:center;"|[[Wii]], [[Gamecube]com.fms.emu {{VGBANextVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"{{?}} |r1229|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|{{✗|style="text-align:center;"}} |✓|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓ (as VBA-Next)}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{✗}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[gpSPNooDS]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hydra.noods 0.1]<br/>[PlayStation Portable]https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS/releases git]|style="text{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-align:center;"|0.9GBA4iOS|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|✗iOS}}|style="text-align[https:center;"//iemulators.com/gba4ios 2.1]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|style="text-align|[http://web.archive.org/web/20190801135245/http:center;"|✗//allaboutwindowsphone.com/software/content/VBA8_1.php VBA8]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|✗W8P}}|style="text-align[https:center;"//www.appx4fun.com/xap/15223/ 2.27]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✗}}

==Comparisons=Consoles===<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"|-! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Platform(s)! scope="col"|Latest Version! scope="col"|[[#Hardware_features_and_accessories|Hardware features<br/>and accessories]]! scope="col"|[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]! scope="col"|Compatibility! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]* |-|[[gpSPmGBA]] last official version was 0|align=left|{{Icon|Wii|WiiU|Switch}}<br>{{Icon|3DS|PSV}}|[https://mgba.9 by Exophaseio/builds/1/ Dev builds]<br/> [https://mgba.io/downloads. There are, however, two superior forkshtml#homebrew {{MGBAVer}}]<br/>[https: //www.retroarch.com/?page=platforms libretro core]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} |-|[http[Nintendo Switch Online]] <small>(Sloop)</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Switch}}|N/A|{{~}} ||{{~}} ||[[Wikipedia:List_of_Nintendo_Switch_Online_games#Game_Boy_Advance|Only for selected titles]] ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} |-|[https://dldocs.qjlibretro.netcom/library/vba_next/ VBA Next]|align=left|{{Icon|NGC|Wii|NX}}<br/>{{Icon|PS3}}<br/>{{Icon|PS4}}<br/psp>{{Icon|Vita}}<br/emulators>{{Icon|Xbox|Xbox360}}|[https:/gpsp/www.retroarch.com/?page=platforms libretro core]|{{?}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}|-mod-20090720|[[gpSP]]|align=left|{{Icon|DC|PSP}}<br/>{{Icon|PS2|NGC|Wii}}<br/>{{Icon|3DS|Vita}}|[https://www.retroarch.html gpSPmodcom/?page=platforms libretro core]<br/>[[GpSP#PSP_Version|TempGBA4PSP]] and |{{~}} ||{{~}} ||[httphttps://filetripdocs.netlibretro.com/psp-downloadslibrary/homebrewgpsp/download-#compatibility ?] ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=gpsp></ref> ||{{✓}}|-j|[[Virtual Console]]|align=left|{{Icon|3DS|WiiU}}|8.10|{{~}} ||{{n}} ||[[Wikipedia:Virtual_Console#Titles_2|Only for selected titles (3DS)]]<br/>[[Wikipedia:Virtual_Console#Titles_3|Only for selected titles (Wii U)]] ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}|-12|Game Boy Player|align=left|{{Icon|GCN}}||{{~}} ||{{n}} || ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}|-06|ReGBA|Align=left|{{Icon|PS2}}|[https://www.ps2-16home.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1332 v1.45.5 revision 3]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}|-f29570|[https://www.htmlgpSPgc-J gpSP-Jforever.com/wiki/index.php?title=Enhanced_mGBA emGBA]|align=left|{{Icon|GCN|Wii|WiiU}}|[https://files. gpSPextremscorner.org/gamecube/apps/mgba/latest git]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-J has superior compatibility, while gpSPmod has more options for customization (full screen, cheats, etc). Both are superior to Kai.* |[[Visual Boy VisualBoy Advance #VBA-MGX|Visual Boy Advance-M (VBA-M)GX]] is the best emulator for the GBA|align=left|{{Icon|GCN|Wii|WiiU}}|[https://github. RetroArch's VBAcom/dborth/vbagx/releases git]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-Next is based off an older revision of VBA-M with added speedhacks and tweaks, making it a bit less accurate in some respects, though it fixes a few games such as Advance Wars |Gbaemu4DS|align=left|{{Icon|NDS}}|[https://ichfly.github.io/gbaemu4DS Alpha 2fix 4][https://github. com/ichfly/gbaemu4DS git]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}* |-|[[higanGBARunner2]]'s GBA core is cycle|align=left|{{Icon|NDS|3DS}}|[https://github.com/Gericom/GBARunner2/releases/tag/v20200812-131430_6e4ce45 2020/08/12] |{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-accurate, but is otherwise very much a WIP and not as compatible as either version of VBA|[[gpSP|UO gpSP Kai]] (UO gpSP改)|align=left|{{Icon|PSP}}|3.4 test 4 build 230|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}* |-|[[mGBANooDS]] is a GBA emulator that aims to be accurate while maintaining speed|align=left|{{Icon|Switch|Vita|WiiU}}<br/>{{Icon|PSP}}|[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS git]<small> (Switch/Vita/WiiU)</small><br/>[https://github.com/Xiro28/NooDS_PSP git] <small>(PSP port)</small>|{{?}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|}</div><references group=N />

==Emulation issues=Comparisons===;[[mGBA]]:Free and open-source Game Boy/Color and Game Boy Advance emulator developed by endrift. Being written from scratch, it aims for speed, [[Emulation Accuracy|accuracy]], and portability. As of yet, it's the most complete GBA emulation effort with [[#Enhancements|enhancements]] and [[#Hardware_features_and_accessories|feature support]], passing the older project VBA and its forks. It is also available as a Libretro core for RetroArch. As of 0.9.0, mGBA with a stripped-down GUI has been integrated into Dolphin recently for games supporting [[#Hardware_features_and_accessories|connectivity features]].

===Oversaturation===;[[FileNanoBoyAdvance]]:Highly [[Emulation_accuracy|accurate]]<ref>[https:1406913527173-1//github.com/nba-emu/NanoBoyAdvance/blob/master/docs/ACCURACY.md mGBA suite comparison]</ref> Game Boy Advance emulator.png|400px|thumb|right|Left showing the default game, and right showing It aims for [[VBAEmulation Accuracy|cycle-Maccurate]] in "Gameboy Colors" mode]]The original GBA screen was not backlitemulation when possible (CPU, DMA, timers, PPU and Game Pak prefetch), which would render the screen rather darkwhile also offering enhancements such as improved audio quality. To compensate for thisVery high compatibility, including games would be overly saturatedthat require emulation of [https://github.com/nba-emu/NanoBoyAdvance/blob/master/docs/ACCURACY. The bright overly saturated colors would appear rather normal on the GBAmd#Game-compatibility peculiar hardware edge-cases]. In emulation howeverUnfortunately, this over saturation is not needed. Some games made after 2003 may look better with following the release of the backlit colorsnext major update, however, as they were designed with developer "[https://github.com/fleroviux fleroviux]" will step down from actively developing the GBA SP in mindproject. For everything else, there are several ways to deal with this[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/1auz9c9/nanoboyadvance_180_is_released_plus_announcement/]

'''No$;[[VisualBoy Advance|Visual Boy Advance (VBA)]]:The original GBA'''emulator. Discovered to have an <abbr title="Arbitrary Code Execution">ACE</abbr> vulnerability detailed below.

Under ":;[[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|Visual Boy Advance-M (VBA-M)]]:A fork with additional minor improvements. It is behind in terms of [[Emulation Options"Accuracy|accuracy]] compared to mGBA or other recommended GBA emulators, select "GBA Mode. There are four modesbut is still useful for its robust debugging features and sound interpolation that reduces hissing.

::;VBA- GBA (no backlight) = strong desaturizationNext:A [[RetroArch]] fork from an older revision of VBA-M with added speedhacks and tweaks, making it useful for lower-end devices. A bit less accurate in some respects, but fixes a few games such as Advance Wars 2.

;[[SkyEmu]]:Low level Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance emulator. Its primary focus is to provide a [https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/ybejxv/skyemu_v2_release/itutt2h/ good user experience] through a good mixture of tradeoffs of [[Emulation_accuracy|accuracy]]<ref>[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu#accuracycompatibility SkyEmu: Accuracy and Compatibility], [https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/blob/dev/docs/Accuracy.md SkyEmu: Accuracy on Difficult to Emulate Games].</ref>, performance, features and usability. Capable of full instruction pipeline, prefetch emulation and per pixel PPU Implementation capable of both scan line and mid- GBA SP (backlight) = strong desaturizationscan line effects.

;[[higan]] / [[ares]]:[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]] wise it is behind compared to NanoBoyAdvance, SkyEmu (and maybe mGBA) but it has dot- Nintendo DS based instead of scanline-based renderer and doing better job compared to VBA-M. Also it is behind in GBA mode = terms of compatibility compared to mGBA, NanoBoyAdvance and SkyEmu, but Ares stands out being [[Multi-system_emulators|multi-system emulator]] and supports some desaturizationuseful [[#Enhancements|enhancements]] like shaders/filters and simple debug features.

- VGA Mode (poppy bright);[[MAME]]: zero desaturization Has a <code>gba</code> driver markup as working, but both graphics and sound are [http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/dettaglio_mame.php?game_name=gba "imperfect"] as of version 0.261.

;[[gpSP]]:Originally made for the PSP, its last official version was 0.91. There are, however, two forks of interest: [http://dl.qj.net/psp/emulators/gpsp-mod-20090720.html gpSPmod], and [http://filetrip.net/psp-downloads/homebrew/download-gpsp-j-12-06-16-f29570.htmlgpSP-J gpSP-J]. gpSP-J has superior compatibility, while gpSPmod has more options for customization (full screen, cheats, etc). Both are superior to Kai. TempGBA is another good fork. For other platforms, there's a libretro port of gpSP with fast x86 and ARM dynarecs. While it''VBAs behind the best GBA emulators in terms of accuracy, its great performance makes it a viable option for old/underpowered machines or for using extreme fast-M'''forward in games.

;Pizza Boy A:Likely due to the [[Yuzu#Lawsuit|yuzu situation]], the project was pulled from the Play Store by its developer after seven years of development and was presumed dead in 2024[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/1b97uus/emulator_pizza_boy_for_gba_and_gbc_removed_from/][https://old.reddit.com/r/EmulationOnAndroid/comments/1ba5h5g/pizzaboy_emulator_is_gone/][https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/7/24093867/another- (VBAemulator-M for Windows only) Under "Optionsis->Gameboy" you will find shutting-down]. However, in April, the optionsproject was renamed and development has resumed[https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/23/24138403/speaking-of-turning-your-phone-into-a-nintendo-emulator][https://gbatemp.net/threads/pizza-boy-a-basic-emulator-back-into-google-play-store-free-and-without-ads.654652/].

- "Real Colors"; [[Nintendo Switch Online]] (Sloop)* GBA support was added to Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack in February 2023, alongside GB games exclusive to the normal tier;* Users are [[Wikipedia: no desaturization List_of_Nintendo_Switch_Online_games#Game_Boy_Advance|limited to the selection of games]] Nintendo chooses to make available on the service;* Can support Local Play with other Switch Online users (up to 4 players, Local Play must be with individual Switch systems);* [https://twitter.com/LuigiBlood/status/1624005571815899136 Accurate enough] at the point of being able to pass any of the ''AGB Test Cartridge'' (v10) tests without a single failure;* Video filters can be applied;* Allows exchange of regional variants in the International version of the app (USA and/or European versions);* Allows rumble support for games that had such function back when played in a Game Boy Player (''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3'', ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'')* Different games between regions (Japan and International)

'''NOTE:''' There's a ''huge'' <abbr title="Arbitrary Code Execution">ACE</abbr> vulnerability affecting VBA and most of its forks, except for VBA- M. The function for adding GameShark codes ("Gameboy ColorsImport > Gameshark code file") doesn't check if the file's size is within 1024 kilobits, meaning cheat code files from dubious sources can be engineered with malware in mind. There is good news; VBA-M still doesn't do a sanity check for those files, but it just crashes instead of letting the code wreak havoc. So, depending on your use case, avoid using: strong desaturization # Cheat code files bigger than 1024Kb that you got online from untrustworthy sources.# The import code files feature.# The old emulator altogether, and settle for other options like mGBA or VBA-M. All of them support the same SRAM save data the cartridge uses.

'''ShadersList of recommended GBA emulators for Android:'''* [https://www.androidauthority.com/best-game-boy-emulators-for-android-368530/ 10 best Game Boy Advanced, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy emulators for Android] (SEPTEMBER 2, 2018. Includes some emulators not found in above charts. Reviews may be subjective.)

==Enhancements==<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;width:100%"|- style="font-weight:bold;"! colspan=2 | Name! mGBA! VBA-M! No$GBA! SkyEmu! NanoBoyAdvance! Game Boy Player! Virtual Console! BizHawk! ares! GBE+! gpSP! Pizza Boy GBA (Pro)! MAME! Nintendo Switch Online (Sloop)|-| rowspan=3 | Graphics| [[Resolution|Resizable Internal Resolution]]| colspan=14 | For emulation of 2D systems, the resolution can only be upscaled, making the pixels more apparent.|-| [[Texture_packs#Sprite_Replacement_.282D.29|Sprite Replacement]]|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|-| [[Widescreen_hacks#Emulators_.282D.29|Widescreen Hack]]|||||||||{{N}}||||||-| rowspan=2 | Performance| [[Overclocking|Overclock]]|{{N}}[https://github.com/mgba-emu/mgba/issues/2833 *]|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{?}}[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/65j3c3/can_a_emulated_game_run_better_then_the_actual/dgau7ck/ *]|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{Y}}[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/8nw23h/gba_emulator_w_overclock_support/e02nnn6/ *]|{{N}}|-| [[30/60_FPS_cheat_codes|Internal Framerate Hack]]||||||{{N}}|{{N}}||{{N}}|||||{{N}}|-| rowspan=6 | Post-Processing| [[Wikipedia:Category:Anti-aliasing_algorithms|Post-rendering AA]]<br/><small>(FXAA, TXAA and MLAA/SMAA)</small>| {{Y}}||||||||||{{Y}}||||-| [[Wikipedia:Comparison_gallery_of_image_scaling_algorithms|Post-rendering scaling]]<br/><small>(Sharp bilinear, Lanczos and [[Wikipedia:GPUOpen#FidelityFX_Super_Resolution|FSR 1]])</small>|{{Y}}||||||||||{{Y}}||{{Y}}||-| [[Shaders_and_filters|Filters]]|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|||{{Y}}||||{{Y}}||{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|-|[[Shaders_and_filters#AI-powered filters|AI-powered filter compatible]]<br/><small>([https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/gfecnt/nvidia-freestyle-ansel-enhancements-geforce-experience-article/ Freestyle])</small>| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{N}}|-| [[Shader_Presets|Shader Chain]]|{{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrExclusive></ref>|{{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrExclusive></ref>|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{Y}}[https://github.com/ares-emulator/ares/pull/1397 *]|{{N}}|{{Y}}|{{N}}|{{Y}}|{{N}}|-|[[High_dynamic_range#Inverse_tone_mapping|Inverse tone mapping compatible]]| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{N}}| {{N}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{N}}|-| rowspan=5 | [https://tasvideos.org/Emulatorresources/Features TAS features]| [[Wikipedia:Macro_(computer_science)|Macros/Scripts]]/[https://tasvideos.org/LuaScripting Lua]|{{Y}}<ref group=N3 name=ExStandalone>Exclusive to standalone version.</ref>||||{{N}}|{{N}}|{{?}}|{{N}}|{{Y}}|{{N}}|||{{Y}}[https://docs.mamedev.org/plugins/inputmacro.html *]|{{N}}|-| Rewind|{{Y}}|||{{Y}}|||||||{{Y}}|{{Y}}||{{Y}}|-| Fast-Forward/Turbo Speed|{{Y}}||||||||||{{?}}|{{Y}}|||-| Savestates|{{Y}}|||{{Y}}|{{Y}}||||||{{Y}}|{{Y}}|||-| [https://tasvideos.org/Movies Movie recording/playback]| {{?}}[https://forums.mgba.io/archive/index.php?thread-4910.html]||||||||||{{?}}||||-| rowspan=1 | Controls| [[Input_lag|Input lag-mitigating technique]]|{{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrExclusive></ref>||||||||||{{?}}|||{{N}}|-| rowspan=6 | Quality of life| Built-in [http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,106405 Custom resolution/CRTSwitchRes]<br/><small>For using this on Windows OS you need [http://geedorah.com/eiusdemmodi/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1009#p1009 CRT Emudriver].<br/>Another option is using EDID editor tool such as "Custom Resolution Utility".</small>| colspan=13 | <small>Exclusive to [https://docs.libretro.com/guides/crtswitchres/ libretro cores] and [[GroovyMAME]] at the moment.<br/>Also there is a [https://github.com/psakhis/Groovy_MiSTer project] for achieving software emulators like libretrocores and GroovyMAME send the raw RGB data over a network to a core running on MiSTer, it basically turns the MiSTer into a GPU for the emulator allowing for easy setup and use with CRT TVs/Arcade monitors.</commonsmall>| {{N}}|-| Built-in [[Cheats_and_patches|Cheat Manager]]|{{Y}}||||||||||{{?}}|{{Y}}|{{Y}}||-| [[Save_disk_space_for_ISOs#Game_Boy_Advance_.2F_Nintendo_DS_.2F_Nintendo_3DS|Streamable compression format]]|{{Y}}||||{{Y}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{Y}}|||{{?}}|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{N}}|-| Per-Game Profiles|||||||||||{{Y}}||{{Y}}||-| Command Line Options|||||||||||{{Y}}||{{Y}}|{{N}}|-shaders| [[Frontends#Graphical_User_Interfaces_.28GUIs.29|Big Picture Mode]]||||||||||||||{{Y}}|-| rowspan=5 | Misc| [[Netplay|Netplay]]<br/><small>You can use either yuzu/Ryujinx for playing GBA games online via netplay.<br/>This enhancement shouldn't be confused with GBA connectivity features emulation.</small>|[https://mgba.io/faq.html#glossary WIP]|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{Y}}[https://www.nintendo.com/blobus/masterstore/cgpproducts/gameboygame-colorsboy-advance-nintendo-switch-online-switch/ *]|-| [https://github.com/ipatix/gba-hq-mixer High Quality Audio Mixer]<br/><small>HQ audio mixer for games which use Nintendo's MusicPlayer2000 sound engine</small>|{{~}}||||{{Y}}||||{{N}}||{{?}}|||{{N}}|-| [[Virtual_reality#VR_game_room_simulations|EmuVR support]]| colspan=14 | Exclusive to [https://www.emuvr.net/wiki/Installation_Guide#Downloads libretro cores] at the moment.|-| [https://retroachievements.org/gameList.php?c=5 RetroAchievements]|{{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrExclusive>Exclusive to libretro core. There is also a [https://github.com/RetroAchievements/RAVBA modified version of VBA-M] for RetroAchievement support. [https://github.com/mgba-emu/mgba/issues/2232 Feature request: RetroAchievements integration in mGBA standalone].</ref>|{{~}}<ref group=N3 name=lrExclusive></ref>|{{N}}|{{N}}[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/issues/36 *]|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|{{Y}}[https://retroachievements.org/download.php#bizhawk *]|{{N}}||{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{N}}|{{N}}|-| [[Wikipedia:Category:Debugging|Debug Features]]|{{Y}}[https://mgba.cgp gameboyio/2021/03/28/mgba-colors0.9.cgp0/#more-debugging-improvements *]|{{Y}}|{{Y}}||{{Y}}||||{{Y}}|||||{{N}}|}</div><references group=N3/>

A ==Hardware features and accessories==<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;width:100%"|- style="font-weight:bold;"! colspan=2 | Name! mGBA! VBA-M <br/>[[VisualBoy_Advance#VBA_Link_e-Reader|VBA 1.73 Mod]]! No$GBA! SkyEmu! NanoBoyAdvance! Game Boy Player! Virtual Console! BizHawk! ares! GBE+! gpSP! Pizza Boy GBA! MAME! Nintendo Switch Online (Sloop)|-|colspan=2 | [https://www.copetti.org/writings/consoles/game-boy-advance/#operating-system GBA BIOS]|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{Y}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{Y}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{Y}}|{{?}}|{{Y}}|-|colspan=2 | [[#GB.cgp shader preset can be loaded in 2FGBC_backwards_compatibility_emulation.2FEnhanced_Mode|GB/GBC backwards compatibility emulation/Enhanced Mode]]|{{?}}|{{?}}[https://www.romhacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=21831.0 *]|{{n}}|{{?}}|{{n}}|{{?}}|{{?}}<abbr title="3DS only">*</abbr>|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{X}}<abbr title="Plays GB/GBC games through a separate app">*</abbr>|-| colspan=2 | [[#Game_Boy_Advance_Video|Game Boy Advance Video]]|{{y}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{n}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|-|rowspan=5 | [[#Connectivity|<abbr title="There are five different kinds of connectivity, support varying by game.">Connectivity</abbr>]]|[https://squallsnake.com/blog-gba-single-pak-multiplayer-game-list/ Single Pak]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro>Does not work on Libretro core. Feature Requests: [https://github.com/libretro/vbam-libretro/issues/114 GBA Game Link Support], [https://github.com/libretro/vbam-libretro/issues/87 e-Reader support] for for VBA-M libretro core.</ref>|{{✗}}[https://github.com/visualboyadvance-m/visualboyadvance-m/issues/831 *]|{{✓}}|{{✗}}[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/issues/44 *]|{{✗}}|{{y}}|{{~}}<abbr title="Pokemon only">*</abbr>|{{✓}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-|[[OpenEMU#GBA_Multi_Pak_Link_Multiplayer_.281.7E4GBA.29|Multi Pak]] or |{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{✓}}|{{✓}}|{{✗}}[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/issues/44 *]|{{✗}}|{{y}}|{{~}}<abbr title="Pokemon only">*</abbr>|{{✓}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-|[[RetroArch#Connectivity|Wireless]] |{{✗}} [https://mgba.io/timeline.html#IN+THE+FUTURE *]|{{~}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{y}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{~}}|{{Y}}[https://www.davidgf.net/2024/01/13/gba-wireless-adapter/ *]|{{Y}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-|[[#GameCube Connectivity|<abbr title="The Nintendo GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable (model DOL-011) is a link cable that links the GameCube to the Game Boy Advance, the Game Boy Advance SP, the e-Reader, or even a second GameCube via the Game Boy Player. The Game Boy Micro is not compatible due to its different connector. The Wii, however, is meant compatible with the cable due to the Wii's backwards compatibility with GameCube games and controllers.">GameCube communication</abbr>]]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{✗}}|{{✗}}[https://old.reddit.com/r/EmuDev/comments/vvdqyk/release_of_skyemu_10/ifjfj7a/ *]|{{✗}}|{{y}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-|[[Wikipedia:Game_Link_Cable#Third_generation|<abbr title="The third generation started with the release of the Game Boy Advance which was released alongside its own link cable called the Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable (sortmodel AGB-005). It features yet another new type oflink cable port which is used on the Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP and Game Boy Player. The e-Reader also uses the third generation link cable port, but since it is incompatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, it is not backwards compatible with the second generation Game Link Cable. Another option is Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter (model AGB-015) replicate for Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP, and Game Boy Player.">Link Cable</abbr>]]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{✓}}|[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/15pvssg/the_skyemu_v3_gbgba_and_newly_nds_emulator_is_now/jw1785m/ WIP]|{{✗}}|{{y}}|{{✗}}|{{✓}}|{{?}}|{{✓}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-| rowspan=3 | [[GBA_e-Reader_emulators|e-Reader]]| [[GBA_e-Reader_emulators#Emulators|e-Reader Alone]]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro /> |{{~}}|{{✓}}|{{TBD}}|{{✗}}|{{y}}|{{~}}<abbr title="Wii U only">*</abbr>|{{TBD}}|{{?}}|{{TBD}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-| [[GBA_e-Reader_emulators#Emulators|e-Reader/GBA Game]]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{~}}<ref group=N2 name=e-Reader-GBAGame>incomplete: this emulator will not recognize the games they're connected to. Normally, after choosing "Connection/to Game Boy Advance", the e-Reader should have "Gameboy Colors(Game Name) Game Data" option pre-loaded in its internal EEPROM memory and appearing in a tiny black box on-screen, but this can't happen in either No$GBA, VBA-M using , or VBA e-Reader mods. Without this step done, scanning e-Cards will just yield an error message. e-Reader/GBA game pack emulation in this emulator can be still reached by ripping a save game from real e-Reader hardware, with this step already done. Using this save with the e-Reader BIOS, it's possible to connect to the imageGBA game pack, and scan e-adjustment Cg shaderCards. The settings .. though it's a very less-than-ideal solution and there are parameters only pre-baked e-Reader save files for Super Mario Advance 4 (U), Pokémon Emerald (J), LeafGreen (J) and FireRed (J)."</ref>|{{~}}<ref group=N2 name=e-Reader-GBAGame></ref>|{{TBD}}|{{✗}}|{{y}}|{{✓}}|{{TBD}}|{{?}}|{{TBD}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{~}}<abbr title="SMA4 only">*</abbr>|-| [[GBA_e-Reader_emulators#Emulators|e-Reader/GCN Game]]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{y}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-|rowspan=3 | Inputs|Rumble Feature| {{y}}| {{tbd}}| {{tbd}}| {{tbd}}|| {{tbd}}|||| {{y}}[https://github.com/shonumi/gbe-plus#read-the-manual *]|| {{y}}|| {{~}}<abbr title="Allows rumble support for games that are stored had such function back when played in a Game Boy Player (Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga)">*</abbr>|-|[[#Inputs|Solar Sensor]]| {{~}}<ref name=manual-switch group=N2>Only the cgp and can be adjusted at runtimeNintendo Switch port allows use of the Switch's light sensor.</ref>| {{~}}<ref name=manual group=N2>Only manual configuration. No automatic detection via light sensor/camera input/weather forecast/GPS location/other.</ref>| {{~}}<ref name=manual group=N2 />| {{~}}<ref name=manual group=N2 />| {{~}}<ref name=manual group=N2 />||||| {{~}}<ref name=manual group=N2 />|| {{y}}|||-|Motion Control| {{y}}| {{y}}<ref group=N2 name=RetroArch>Motion Control support present on RetroArch VBA-M core.</ref>| {{n}}| | {{n}}||||| {{y}}[https://github.com/shonumi/gbe-plus#read-the-manual *]|| {{y}}|||-|rowspan=11 | [[#Special_hardware|Special hardware]]|Battle Chip Gate| {{y}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Soul Doll Adapter| {{y}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Multi Plust On System| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Turbo File Advance| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Power Antenna & Bug Sensor| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Official Nintendo Infrared Adapter| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Jukebox| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art31.html *]| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Virtureal Racing System| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art24.html *]| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Play-Yan| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{~}}[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art32.html *]| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Campho Advance| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| [https://old.reddit. The relevant parameters set for this effect arecom/r/emulation/comments/141mm66/glucoboy_found_and_dumped/jn0p5jr/ (WIP)]| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|-|Glucoboy| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{y}}[https://shonumi.github.io/articles/art33.html *]| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}| {{n}}|}</div><references group=N2/>

Target Gamma = ==GB/GBC backwards compatibility emulation/Enhanced Mode===Game Boy Advance is backwards compatible with GB/GBC, resulting in some of the [https://cheapergamer.co.uk/gba-enhanced-gbc-games/ GB/GBC games enhanced if you play on GBA]. Having said that, this shouldn't be confused with [[Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulators|Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulation]] or [[Super_Nintendo_emulators#Hardware_features_and_accessories|Super Game Boy 1/2]]. Some of the multicore emulators supports both GB/GBC and GBA emulation, however they do not have support for "backwards compatibility/GBA mode" emulation.4

Monitor Gamma = 2==Game Boy Advance Video===:''See also: [[Wikipedia:Game Boy Advance Video|Game Boy Advance Video]] on Wikipedia''GBA Videos were officially released cartridges with movies/shows on them for viewing on GBA hardware. Most recommended GBA emulators should be able to play this type of cartridge if its 32MB, although [https://youtu.be/o9XmB43bN5w?t=540 not all of it supports 64MB ones].*[https://old.reddit.com/r/Gameboy/comments/byos8r/watching_gameboy_advance_video_on_a_gamecube/ Game Boy Player is not compatible with this feature]*mGBA support both 32MB and 64MB video cartridges.:See [[Home_Media_Player#Emulators|this dedicated page]] for more information about home media playback support for emulation softwares.:See [[Ripping_games|Dumping/ripping]].16

Saturation = 0==Connectivity=======GBA Multi Pak Link Multiplayer (1~4GBA)====;VBA-M: This doesn't work with old VBA versions.:Just disable "Pause when Inactive", configure all four Joypads each with their own button layout, enable "Link, Enable GBA Link". Now open VBA-M again as many times needed for each player, and have them each use their separate Joypad configuration. Each player will have a separate SRAM save file.;VBA Link + e-Reader:Useful if you want to use the Pokémon Battle-eCards. Downloads and instructions reside [http://projectpokemon.org/forums/showthread.php?42433-RELEASE-VBA-LINK-E-READER here].;mGBA:Select "New multiplayer window" from the menu. As you load your ROMs into each window, "Player [X] of [Y]" will appear across the title bar. This can be done for up to four players. However, multiple instances of the same ROM will share a save file.;No$GBA:Set the number of Emulated Gameboys in the Emulation setting to be 2 or more, and the Link Gamepaks Options to Gamepak in all GBAs.5

Luminance = 0'''Note''': Purple end in GBA means player 1, while a grey end in GBA means P2, P3, or P4.9Daisy-chaining up to three cables will set up the additional P3 and P4 by connecting the purple end to a purple midsection.<ref>https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/agblink.pdf</ref>

====GBA Wireless Multiplayer====The colors will not be exactly [[Wikipedia:Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter|wireless adapter]] has the same as what VBA-M produces (ability to connect five players<ref>https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/agbwireless_trilingual.pdf</ref> to each other and includes its own software to download a bit brighter subset of another player's game that runs when no cartridge is inserted. ''Pokémon Fire Red'' and no washed out blacks) ''Leaf Green'' came bundled with this accessory, but it will get you the desaturation effect. Can be adjusted to fit your tastes, can also work with ''Pokémon Emerald'' and you can get the washed out blacks by increasing "Brightness Boost" and decreasing Luminance a bit''Classic NES Series''.

===Save file issues===There are a number The libretro core of different save formats for GBA games[[gpSP]] has successfully emulated the wireless adapter<ref>https://www.davidgf.net/2024/01/13/gba-wireless-adapter/</ref>. With raw save data[[GBE+]](in v1.6) and VBA-M partially implemented the support of this add-on, though it's very hard to detect what save type it is just by looking at it. Visual Boy Advance tries to autodetect save type but often is incorrect still a work-in-progress, and this causes issuescan only access menus. A fix to Support of this issue add-on is to use a file called "vba-over.ini" to tell VBA what each gamecurrently on [[mGBA]]'s proper save type is, which eliminates most issues regarding save type. Current VBA-M versions come with vba-over.ini by default, but older versions of VBA like VBA 1.7.2 and VBALink did notroadmap.

====GameCube Connectivity====[https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Game_Boy_Advance_to_Nintendo_GameCube_Link_Cable#List_of_Supported_Games The libretro versions of VBA, libretro-VBA-Next and libretroGame Boy Advance can also connect to the GameCube].<ref>https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/agbgcncable.pdf</ref> e-Reader functionality with GC games has now been emulated thanks to mGBA. [[Dolphin]] supports connectivity through rudimentary joybus emulation made in parallel with VBA-M. Because this emulator has fallen behind, come with vba-over.ini baked into the binary so it is able feature was recently added to load raw .sav files[[mGBA]], but also changes the save file output to be a 136KB more accurate emulator.srm file for every save type, with save type info contained within the file. This completely avoids any save type issuesThey showcased early higan support in a video, but makes its save files incompatible with standalone VBA and most other emulatorsnothing has been released as yet.

Libretro devs created a [https://github.com/libretro/vbam-libretro/blob/master=====Dolphin/src/libretro/gbaconv/gbaconv.c command line tool] to convert libretro-mGBA or VBA .srm save files to raw .sav save data for other emulators. You can just drag and drop a .srm onto the executable and it will output raw .sav. The same can be done in reverse. A precompiled Windows 64-bit binary of this tool can be found M=====[https://www''Requires mGBA 0.mediafire9.com/?6bg8ag0bjs1b7ng here]0 or newer or VBA-M r947 or newer.''

==Connectivity==* Reduce your volume. You won't want it to be high, especially with headphones.* Open Dolphin and mGBA/VBA-M. Make sure neither are blocked by your firmware.===* In Dolphin, launch the game and navigate to the area where you're asked to connect the GBA . Then, under the controller options, assign the GameCube controllers as "GBA" for whichever you need.* If you are using mGBA, open up the File menu, and click Connect to Dolphin. * In the dialog box that appears, press Connect. mGBA will boot up the GBA BIOS if no rom has been selected.* If you are using VBA-M, uncheck Pause When Inactive in Options > Emulator. Then, under Options > Link Multiplayer (> Joybus Options, make sure the "Enable Joybus Connection" is on and set "IP/Hostname" to use default settings, that is <code>127.0.0.1~4GBA)===</code> or <code>localhost</code>.* Dolphin will freeze.* Open the GBA BIOS in VBA-M: This doesn't work with old VBA versionsas if it were a regular GBA ROM. The regular splash screen will stutter a bit.* In either emulator, Dolphin should recognize the Joybus Link by then, and the GC game will detect that a GBA was connected.* To connect other units, open another emulator instance and repeat its process.

* [https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Four_Swords_Adventures The Legend of Zelda Four Swords Adventures]: Both two modes are available for the US/PAL version work. The third Japan-only Navi Trackers mode works as well, but the game crashes after the naming screen due to a bug in the GC/GBA connectivity.* [https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=Final_Fantasy_Crystal_Chronicles Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles]* [https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=Billy_Hatcher_and_the_Giant_Egg Billy Hatcherand the Giant Egg]: You can download games to your GBA. Amusingly, a RAM dump from VBA-M can be opened as a functional GBA ROM.* [https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=Kururin_Squash! Kururin Squash!]* [https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=Sonic_Adventure_2:_Battle Sonic Adventure 2 : Battle] (buggy)

DonNotable games that don't work:* The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker[https: Tingle Trainer connection always fails, though some messages do display on VBA//wiki.dolphin-Memu.org/index.php?title=Mr_Driller:_Drill_Land Mr.* Driller: Drill Land]* lots more

===e-Reader===:'''Connect Main page: [[GBA Game to GC Game'e-Reader emulators]]''During the GBA bios splash screen (if VBAThis device can read content off e-M is set Card paper stripes either as standalone content, or additional content to use a bios file -that bios- then open a retail GBA game supposed to connect with the /GC game), pressing a button combination (A+Select???) is needed for connecting GBA games with GC games, . Can be thought of as opposed to the above methodDLC.

(needs investigation===Inputs===;Solar Sensor1. Emulation: This feature has been emulated in mGBA, whatVBA-M, No$GBA 2.6 onwards, and My Boy!:* mGBA: In the shortcuts editor, shortcuts can be configured to raise/lower the solar level incrementally or to set any particular brightness level. The Nintendo Switch port of mGBA also allows use of the Switch's light sensor.* VBA-M: This emulator uses the keys of the lateral motion controls to change the actual Solar Sensor levels. You can find those keys and modify them in Options -> Input -> Configure... -> "Special" tab.* No$GBA: Under '''Options/Emulation Setup''', you can find the Solar Sensor Level option. You are given the choice between only three brightness levels though: Darkness, 100 Watts, and Bright Sunlight.* My Boy!: This emulator uses a button combination)or the device's light sensor to check the brightness level. You can change this under Settings -> Input -> Cartridge Features -> "Solar Emulation By" menu.* Pizza Boy GBA: Uses the device's light sensor to check the brightness level.

2. ROM Patches: Fixes applied directly to the ROM by various scene release groups to make it compatible with any emulator/flashcard, making the in-game brightness level controllable with L+Left/Right. It's argued this makes for a better experience actually, but sadly not all releases are covered.* '''Boktai 1:''' [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1567 JP], [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1145 US], <s>EU</s>.* '''Boktai 2:''' [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1567 JP], <s>US</s>, [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=Dolphin and other emulators===1992 EU]. * '''Boktai 3:''' [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=2048 JP Fix].Dolphin devs are working at rewriting the entire GBA connectivity code * Combinations of Boktai 4 JP with earlier solar sensors to get solar sensor bonuses aren't emulated yet in a far better way from scratch with more accurate emulators. They did a video using the higan any DS emulator. Nothing of the sort is published at the moment.

===GBA/DS Connectivity===;Motion ControlInserting a GBA card 1. Emulation: This feature has been emulated in SlotmGBA, VBA-2 M, My Boy! and Pizza Boy:* mGBA includes full motion control support using the motion sensor present in controllers like DualShock 4, DualSense and Switch Pro Controller.* VBA '''doesn't''' emulate this feature, and its "Motion Control" option (with keys mapped to each tilt direction) covers the GBC title Kirby Tilt'n Tumble.* VBA-M core on RetroArch includes motion control support by using a Nintendo DS unit controller stick (thatleft or right)* My Boy! uses the device's not a DSi) while a DS game is running could unlock various gameplay features in some DS gamesaccelerometer to emulate this feature. DesMume You can emulate this: while playing change the DS ROM, go to sensitivity under Settings -> Input -> Cartridge Features -> "Config, Slot 2 (GBA Slot)" and select "GBA CartridgeMotion sensitivity"menu. Now select the * Pizza Boy GBA ROM file, and make sure its sav file is in also used the same folder. You may need device's accelerometer to reset the game sometimes to see the effect in-gameemulate this feature for games like WarioWare: Twisted and Yoshi's Universal Gravitation.

==Special Hardware=====Special Cartridges===These were never emulated as of yet2. There used to be patches to be ROM Patches: Fixes applied directly to GBA ROMS the ROM (with an the Lunar IPS utility like LunarIPS, but they're for or at runtime using mGBA or VBA-M and naming them the same as the ROM in the most part lost same directory) by various scene release groups to time nowadaysmake it compatible with any emulator/flashcard. Your best bet is D-Pad controls substituting motion controls don't work as well here as they tilt it "too much" at times to use Action Replay to emulate thosebe very playable.* Yoshi Topsy Turvy/Universal Gravitation: [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1799 JP], [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1947 EU], [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=2001 US]* WarioWare Twisted! (Patch: [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1682 JP], [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1979 US])

;Rumble FeatureThere are various rumble features found in GBA/GBC cards:* '''Solar SensorGBC Rumble:''' Boktai 1 (Fix: [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleasesGBC games which came on special cartridges with additional hardware for the rumble feature.php?id=1567 JP]It was actually used by dozens of releases, [http://wwwand some games like Tarzan 2 GBC were programmed to have rumble support but shipped on regular cartridges.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1145 US], <s>EU</s>), Boktai 2 Emulated by VBA-M GX (Fix: [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1567 JP], <s>US</s>, [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1992 EU]Wii-only), Boktai 3 ([http://wwwwhich also cover the dummied-out rumble games.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=2048 JP Fix])Not emulated anywhere else.* '''Motion ControlGBA Gyro Rumble:''' Yoshi Topsy Turvy/Universal Gravitation (Fix: [http://wwwWarioWare Twisted was shipped on a cart with rumble support.advansceneIt would rumble when you tilt to one "extreme".com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1799 JP], [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1947 EU]Emulated by VBA-M GX (Wii-only, [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=2001 US]functional), Warioware Twisted! (Patch: [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1682 JP]mGBA has this feature but it's not enabled in current builds, [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1979 US])* '''GBA Variable Rumble Speed:''': Drill Dozerhas rumble support, with variable force and speed depending on the rock type you drill through in-game. Can still be Partially emulatedby VBA-M GX (Wii-only, functional), mGBA has this feature but it's not enabled in current builds.* '''Figurine Add-onGame Boy Player Rumble:''' Legendz: Isle Of TrialsMany regular GBA games, Legendz: Sign Of Necromushipped on regular cartridges, Plaston Gate enable rumble during gameplay when played on GB Player hardware ([httpwhich is essentially GBA hardware). These include Super Mario Advance 4, Summon Night Hajimari no Ishi, Mario & Luigi://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1020 Fix])Superstar Saga, Plaston Gate DX Shikakui Atama wo Marukusuru Advance ([http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=2006 Fix]both releases), Pokémon Pinball, as well as Drill Dozer which disables its original cartridge rumble scheme and enables this one instead. The add-on is essentially Skylanders before None of the emulators support this, though it became popular's being under development for the mGBA emulator.

VBA-M has an option for Motion controls "Input===Special hardware===Emulation of these is spotty, Setapart from GBE+, Motion". It currently works with which supports almost all versions of the GBC title Yoshi Tilt'n Tumble, which also was a special cartridge with a motion sensor built-in to control movement in-gameGBA peripherals.

* Battle Chip Gate (and variations): compatible with Japanese versions of Megaman Zero 3, Megaman Battle Network 4, 4.5, 5 and 6GBE+ supports this add-on.

==e-Reader==;Power Antenna & Bug SensorThe e-Reader is an add-on for Power Antenna & Bug Sensor were small plastic peripherals that interfaced with the Game Boy Advance released in Japan GBA's serial port and USA/Australia (and cancelled contained LEDs that flashed in Europe)response to certain events within Keitai Denjuu Telefang 2, the only supported GBA game.

It has a LED scanner that reads paper cards with data printed GBE+ supports this add-on them, called "e-Reader cards". These cards hold actual data.

This way, stuff could get unlocked in games, most famously Super Mario Advance 4 where some cards triggered switch effects (like vegetables everywhere, various powerups including ;Official Nintendo Infrared AdapterAs the Boomerang (only appearing after in Mario Land 3DS)GBA did not have native infrared connectivity, Nintendo released an official IR adapter called the Kuribo Shoe and the SMW Cape, a 100AGB-Up powerup006 to restore this functionality. However, a replay feature, and other stuff) while others held entire new levels in their data found nowhere it only saw use in the original cartridge Cyber Drive Zoids: Kiju no Senshi Hyuu to be transferred to the save file.Due to its impopularity outside Japan, these features would often be removed when e-Reader compatible games would be localizedcontrol specific Zoid toy models.

In these cases, it requires two GBA units GBE+ supports this add- one with the game cartridge, the other with the e-Reader device, linked with a link cable, with the gray end on the second GBA. Playing the game up to the point where you can initiate the e-Reader features, you can then swipe the paper cards in the e-Reader to read the data - it's not ideal though outside of emulation due to how much finnicky the process actually is.

It could also connect with GameCube ;Figurine ReadersSome GBA games in /series had figurine reader add-ons, essentially precursors to the same waylikes of Skylanders and Amiibo.* '''Soul Doll Adapter''' (Legendz: Island of Ordeal/Sign of Nekuromu)* '''Multi Plust On System''' (Bouken Yuuki Pluster World: Plust Gate/EX/Pluston GP)GBE+ has support for both the Soul Doll Adapter and Multi Plust On System, notably Animal Crossingwhile mGBA supports the Soul Doll Adapter.

Other e-Cards that only require one GBA ;Battle Chip GateA peripheral device by Capcom and Takara compatible with e-Reader include NES games ''Mega Man Battle Network 4'' (often mapper 0 gamesJapanese edition) . It can be connected to the Game Boy Advance and allow the player to transmit real-life toy Battle Chips to the NetNavis in the game. It's also compatible with toy Advanced PETs and various promotional cards''Rockman.EXE 4.5 Real Operation''. It can also unlock minigames in ''Mega Man Zero 3''.

e-Reader was originally released in Japan in 2001 without Link cable [[mGBA]] and [[GBE+]] support (thus unable to link to other GBA/GC games), but that was added in a second version released in 2002 as e-Reader+ in Japan. That second version was released as ethis add-Reader in USA and Australiaon.

===What you;GlucoboyAn obscure medical peripheral designed to monitor a child'll need===s blood glucose levels and reward them for keeping tabs on their condition. [https://assemblergames.com/threads/glucoboy-for-gameboy-is-this-the-rarest-game-accessory-for-gameboy-advance.41853/page-2 Bayer Healthcare destroyed all unsold stock] making it hard to find. It's emulated in GBE+ since version 1.8.

'''The e-Card images:''' Yes, these have actual data in them. The "No-Intro Game Boy Advance (e-Cards)" rom set is only missing 12 US cards (Pokémon TGC) and a few dozen JP ones (mainly F-Zero Legend, Rockman EXE 5/6, Pokémon Pinball). Either download the set or hunt down the device and obscenely rare cards to archive them.==Emulation issues=====Oversaturation===The dumps are around 2.2KB, and are region[[File:1406913527173-locked. No European-region dumps exist (even though really rare e1-Cards do). png|400px|thumb|right|'''The e-Reader BIOSLeft:''' A regular GBA ROMThe default game. Three versions exist, be sure to pick up the one with the same region as the e-Card. Card e-Reader (Japan) (not recommended)Card e-Reader+ (Japan)e-Reader (USA) <br/>'''Emulators for e-ReaderRight:''' Your best bet is no$gba 2.4 and above. Modified versions of The "Gameboy Colors" mode on [[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|VBA include e-Reader support, with one for 1.7M]].0 (no Link support)]]and 1.6e (Link support), but their emulation isn't perfect, and no$gba The screen on the original Game Boy Advance is still needed for many setups involving two GBAs. No emulation for now for e-Reader/GameCube connection. ''Or, alternatively (even if it's not actual e-Reader emulation):'' '''Battery backup files (sav)''' from people who had already scanned e-Cardsbacklit and can be hard to see in some conditions. Their data gets stored in the sav file for the e-Reader BIOS romTo compensate, or the GBA game with e-Reader features. This is one convenient way to play the exclusive levels from SMB4 if you just grab a save file with the levels already stored and import it in your emulator for use with developers often used oversaturated colors by default so that game (also the only way to get it to work result would look normal on PAL SMB4)hardware. '''Cheat codes''' enabling the e-Reader unlockables in some games. Only works if the "dlc data" On standard computer screens, saturation is already included in the cartridge - not an issue, so it wouldn't work with SMA4's levels or F-Zero Legend's developer ghost data this can look jarring and undesirable for examplegameplay. It's Some games made after 2003 may have also useful to get data that was removed from US versions (since taken the eGame Boy Advance SP <abbr title="AGS-Reader 001">model</abbr> into account, since its screen was discontinued outside Japan very early) - including notably Pokémon Coloseumactually <abbr title="A newer model, Megaman Zero 3, and Megaman Battle Network 5 (6 JP included the data onAGS-cart already101, US didn't and made heavy content cuts)was released in 2005 that was actually backlit">frontlit</abbr>... ===Scan a Standalone Card (1 GBAFor everything else though, e-Reader only)===emudevs have given some solutions:

Trying to scan a card for use with another ====Emulator Options===='''No$GBA game to unlock stuff within using this method would give you an error message:''' Under "Emulation Options", select "GBA Mode". There are four modes.

====Using * '''GBA (no backlight):''' Strong desaturation* '''GBA SP (backlight):''' Strong desaturation* '''Nintendo DS in GBA mode:''' Some desaturation* '''VGA Mode (poppy bright):''' No$GBA====desaturation

No$GBA offers actual full hardware emulation for e'''mGBA:''' Under Tools > Settings > Shaders > Load New Shader, select "gba-Reader, but its GBA emulation, while very decent and with save state support, isn't the best out there. You can still export your save at willcolor.shader"

Emulator: Open the e-Reader BIOS. It's a regular GBA ROM. The very first time it's loaded, it will save some e-Reader specific configuration, then reset the emulator. After that it's all good.InVBA-game, BIOSM: Press A ''' (or "Select" for a hidden bonus :Pnightly only). Choose "Scan Card".Emulator: A window should pop-up. Now Under Options > Game Boy Advance, you can choose will find the e-Card roms (often RAWoption, but can be also BIN, or BMP/JPG images) you'll need. Choose the file and click OK.In-game, BIOS: A "Scan Card" message appears, and the data is loaded''LCD Filter'''.

If the application (NES game, minigame, promotional app) is stored in multiple e-Cards'''higan:''' Under Settings > Video Filter, you will find the game will let you know ("You need [n] more Dot Code(s) to start. Scan [Application Name] 2/[n]Color Emulation" checkbox.") In that case:

Emulator* '''Color Emulation off: Click "File, Load e-Reader Dotcode". Choose the next e-Card image file''' No desaturation* '''Color Emulation on:''' Gamma correction and adjusted color range. In-game, BIOS'''NanoBoyAdvance''': In the same screen, press A to Scan Code. The data should be loaded. If you tried to do so before loading the next file, the BIOS would say you have already scanned it. Rinse and repeat until you get all partsEnabled by default.Under Config > Video > Color Correction > GBA

If you're done with all parts (could be one part ''SkyEmu''': Color Correction is set by default to 1.00 force in many cases)this emulator, and all there are 2 types of desaturation methods. The first one is named SkyEmu and is fineselected by default, and the BIOS would suggest you save other one is named Higan and, as it's name suggests, is based on higan's color correction. Change the data to desaturation type by pressing the e-Reader's SRAM≡ button, then select GBA Color Correction Type. (You can then conveniently grab also change the intensity of the desaturation: slide the slider to 0.00 to brighten the sav file for use with other emulators)screen a tad bit.

This prevents ====Shaders====Cg [[Shaders and Filters|shaders]] can be used in [[OpenEmu]] or [[RetroArch]] that adjust the data from getting deleted when rebooting the device or scanning colors to those of a real GBA screen, as well as other e-Cardsscreen types. You can then access it from the title menu with the new third option, These are available in GLSL<ref name="Access Saved DataGLSL" (>https://github.com/libretro/glsl-shaders/tree/master/handheld/shaders/color</ref> for OpenGL, and the app Slang<ref name shows below too!) In case you want to delete it, hold L+R at console startup (you can use the numeric pad * (multiply) key to reset)="Slang">https://github.com/libretro/slang-shaders/tree/master/handheld/shaders/color</ref> for Vulkan.

ThenFor GBA, after this save promptthere is <code>gba-color.cg</code><ref>https://github.com/libretro/common-shaders/blob/master/handheld/shaders/color/gba-color.cg</ref>, which simulates the color profile of a GBA screen under an external light source more accurately than VBA-M or No$GBA color options. If you can play prefer the actual applicationdarker color options that those emulators have, then use <code>vba-color.cg</code><ref>https://github.com/libretro/common-shaders/blob/master/handheld/shaders/color/vba-color.cg</ref> instead.

====Using VBA eThere is also <code>nds-Reader compatible old builds====color.cg</code><ref>https://github.com/libretro/common-shaders/blob/master/handheld/shaders/color/nds-color.cg</ref> and <code>psp-color.cg</code><ref>https://github.com/libretro/common-shaders/blob/master/handheld/shaders/color/psp-color.cg</ref>, which simulates the color profiles of the original Nintendo DS frontlit screen and the PSP-1000/PSP-2000 backlit screen, respectively.

These old versions ===Horrible Sound Quality===As a handheld rushed to the market (because of VBA (later VBA-Mthe WonderSwan Color competition) do not do full e-Reader emulation but still do , the job hereGame Boy Advance had some cut corners. The version lacking sound hardware was affected the Link feature though is useless for cards hardest: while it could play Game Boy Color sound in addition to samples and sequenced music like what would be used with GBA games. Regular VBAheard on the SNES, and VBA-M versions do not have e-Reader support at allthe actual playback quality is awful compared to the sound samples stored internally in the ROM.

Not There were [https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/881/ tools] made to extract the internal high-quality music (as midi files plus a sound font, to be played on foobar2000), however, interest remains limited in implementing its playback in real-time on emulators. It's worth noting that different from No$NanoBoyAdvance includes [https://github.com/ipatix/gba-hq-mixer High Quality Audio Mixer] and there's a very experimental feature exists on [[mGBA]] (nightly versions) under Enhancements as "XQ GBA. You open Audio", but it's very buggy and still limited to games using the standard sound engine, the eso-Reader BIOS first like any regular called "Sappy" engine, which is still a big part of the GBA ROM's software library.

You might be faced with a ===High Resolution Affine Transformation Graphical Effects===Similar to the scaling effects used on the Super NES known commonly as "Memory ErrorMode 7" screen graphics, the Game Boy Advance has affine transformation effects for some backgrounds and individual sprites that can be done in-gamehardware. ThatDue to the GBA's because VBA didn't detect the save type correctly. You'll need to do that manually, by going to Options, Emulator, Save Type, then choosing 128K rather than 64K. While you're at itlower resolution, check under Emulator if "Save e-Reader RAW Files" is checked. "Pause when Inactive" needs to some detail may be disabled if you ever intend to link between two GBAs (not needed right now)lost.

Reset, and press A and just wait for the SRAM to be formatted (a good minute). Press A when youThe [[mGBA]] emulator added an Enhancements're done and menu where you can go to change the in-game title menu. Whenever the game tries to scan e-Cardsresolution of those graphical effects, unlike with NO$GBA for a window smoother effect. The graphical render engine will always pop up asking you need to choose your e-Card dump (can be only a RAW file in VBA's case)OpenGL for those to take effect. Itwon's more straightforward here, and the NES compatibility is even better. That said it's more t work on games where those effects are done in software instead of the same. Read hardware scaling features (like the NO$GBA section for more info.3D environment in Asterix & Obelix XXL)

====Emulators lacking e-Card reading support=Save formats===Originally, when saves were implemented, nobody settled on a format, so the Visual Boy Advance devs made their own. Because other emulators often went with raw data, having to exchange different saves caused problems. The original Visual Boy Advance tries to figure out which format a given save is but often fails at it. By explicitly telling the emulator to read it as a specific type using a file called <code>vba-over.ini</code>, VBA complies. VBA-M includes this config file by default, but older revisions like VBA 1.7.2 and VBALink do not.

Of course, you can fetch SRAM battery save files (sav) for the eThe VBA-Reader BIOS or the eNext and VBA-Reader compatible GBA games AFTER e-Cards were already scanned and their data saved M cores in these SRAM Libretro have the file baked into the binary so that it can load raw .sav files, either using e-Reader emulators or real hardwarebut converts the format to its own derivative at exactly 136 KB every time, with save type info contained within the file. These sav files should work This completely avoids the previous issues at the cost of incompatibility with ANY emulatorstandalone VBA and most others.

AlternativelyTo solve this incompatibility, there are cheatsLibretro devs created a [https://github. Very often, that's the only way com/libretro/vba-next/blob/master/libretro/gbaconv/gbaconv.c command-line tool] to convert .srm save files made from these cores to unlock raw .sav save data for other emulators. It takes standard input (i.e-Reader features in games lacking them in some versions (notably US Megaman games versions, . just drag and SMA4 PALdrop the .srm onto the executable)and outputs accordingly. It can also be done in reverse. A [https://thysbelon.github.io/gbaconv-web/ website version of this tool can be found here].

For more information about Game Boy Advance hardware and reverse engineering; <br/>* Rodrigo Copetti: [https://www.copetti.org/writings/consoles/game-boy-advance/ Game Boy Advance Architecture Practical Analysis]* MVG: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R43k-p9XdIk The Story of Quake on the Game Boy Advance], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qqg4VCZ0k8 How the Game Boy Advance knew it was running a Game Boy Game], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scan a Card for Use with a GBA _GVSLcqGP7g Tomb Raider on the Nintendo Game Boy Advance is incredible], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpNWEbZdXNw How Graphics worked on the Nintendo Game Boy Advance]* martin korth: [https://problemkaputt.de/gbatek-contents.htm gbatek]* [https://akkera102.sakura.ne.jp/gbadev/ akkera102.sakura gbadev (2 GBAs linked, eJapanese)]* [https://gbadev.net/gbadoc/ gbadev - gbadoc]* [https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/GBA_Development/Resources WikiBooks -Reader + GBA Game)===Development Resources]