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"|GBA[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]! scope="col"|NDSCompatibility! scope="col"|Game Link Support<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>! scope="col"|[[libretro|Libretro Core]]Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulatorsEmulators|Recommended]]

|style="text-align:center;"|[[Visual Boy Advance -M|Visual Boy Advance-M (VBA-M)mGBA]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/mgba/ mGBA_libretro]</small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD|Multi-platformWeb}}|style[https://mgba.io/builds/1/ Dev builds]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<ref group="text-align:center;"|N>[httphttps://wwwold.emucrreddit.com/searchr/emulation/comments/12x3fsm/mgba_0102_released/jhigow4/ endrift confirming the libretro core is tracking the master branch]</ref><br/>[https:/label/VisualBoyAdvance-Mmgba.io/ r1231downloads.html {{MGBAVer}}]|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[[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-M|VBA-M]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/vba_m/ vbam_libretro]</small><br/><small><abbr title="textVBA Next is a Game Boy Advance emulator based on VBA-align:center;M 2011 with backported patches for performance and compatibility improvements."|>[[mGBA]https://docs.libretro.com/library/vba_next/ vba_next_libretro]</abbr></small>|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|Multi-platformFreeBSD}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://endriftnightly.vba-m.com/mgbaNightly builds]<br/> [http://downloadsbuildbot.html 0libretro.1com/nightly/ libretro core'''s'''] <br/> [https://github.0com/visualboyadvance-m/visualboyadvance-m/releases {{VBAMVer}}]|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;"|[[higanNanoBoyAdvance]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, OS X, |Linux|macOS}}|style="text[https://nightly.link/nba-align:center;"|emu/NanoBoyAdvance/workflows/build/master Dev builds]<br/> [httphttps://byuugithub.orgcom/nba-emu/higanNanoBoyAdvance/ 0.94releases {{NanoBoyAdvanceVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"{{n}} |✓|style="text-align:center;"{{~}} |✓|style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"{{✓}} |✗|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"|iDeaS[[SkyEmu]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Windows, |Linux|macOS|Web}}|style="text-align[https:center;"|//github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/pull/321 Dev Builds]<br/>[httphttps://ciacin.site90github.com/ideas.php 1.0.4.0skylersaleh/SkyEmu/releases/ {{SkyEmuVer}}]|style="text-align:center;"{{n}} ||✗{{~}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓|style="text-align:center;"}} |✗|style="text-align:center;"|✗{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗{{~}}

|style="text-align:center;"|[[MESSares]]|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://wwwgithub.mamedev.orgcom/ares-emulator/ares/release.html releases {{MAMEVeraresVer}}]|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[[GBE+]]|align="text-align:center;"left|Meteor{{Icon|style="text-align:center;"Windows|Linux|macOS}}|style="text-align:center;"|[https://github.com/blastrockshonumi/gbe-plus/meteor 1.4releases {{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;"|[[No$|No$GBA]]|stylealign="textleft|{{Icon|Windows|DOS}}|[http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm {{No$GBAVer}}]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}[https://problemkaputt.de/gbanew.htm *] ||{{~}}|-|[[BizHawk]]<br/><small>(mGBA 0.10.0)</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|[https:center;"//gitlab.com/TASVideos/BizHawk/-/pipelines Dev builds]<br/>[http://tasvideos.org/BizHawk/ReleaseHistory.html {{BizHawkVer}}]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[[MAME]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows, MS-DOS|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|style<abbr title="textLatest development version">git artifacts</abbr><ref group=N>[https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-alignwindows/master CI-Windows] [https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-linux/master CI-Linux] [https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-macos/master CI-Macos]</ref><br/>[http:center;"//www.mamedev.org/release.html {{MAMEVer}}]|{{?}} ||{{~}} ||[http://problemkaputtadb.arcadeitalia.denet/lista_mess.php?software_list_name=gba&compatibility= ?] ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https://docs.htm 2libretro.8com/library/gpsp/ gpSP_libretro]|stylealign="textleft|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]|{{~}} ||{{~}} ||[https://docs.libretro.com/library/gpsp/#compatibility ?] ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[Mednafen]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/beetle_gba/ mednafen_gba_libretro]</small>|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|[{{MednafenURL|releases/}} {{MednafenVer}}]<br/>[https:center;"//buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|style[https://hades-emu.org Hades]|align="textleft|{{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://github.com/hades-emu/hades Git]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[higan]] (火眼)<br/>byuu (謬/view)|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[https:center;"//github.com/higan-emu/higan/releases/tag/v110 {{higanVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}<ref group=N>Superseded by [[ares]].</ref>|style-|iDeaS|align="textleft|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|[https://web.archive.org/web/20150311100053/http://ciacin.site90.com/ideas.php {{iDeaSVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|[https://fms.komkon.org/VGBA VGBA]|align=left|{{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}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|BoyCottAdvance|stylealign="textleft|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|[http://boycottadvance.emuunlim.org/Downloads.htm {{BoyCottAdvanceVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|-|PlayBoy Advance|align=left|{{Icon|macOS}}|[https:center;"//www.zophar.net/macintosh/gba/playboy-advance.html {{PlayBoyAdvanceVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|style-|GameBeanAdvance|align="textleft|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://github.com/bmchtech/GameBeanAdvance Git]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{~}} ||{{✗}}|-|[[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"|GBA[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]! scope="col"|NDSCompatibility! scope="col"|Game Link Support<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>! scope="col"|[[libretro|Libretro Core]]Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulatorsEmulators|Recommended]]|-|[[mGBA]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Linux|Pandora}}|[https://github.com/huhao1987/mGBA_Android unofficial android version]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}

|style="text[[VisualBoy Advance#VBA-align:center;"|TempGBA4PSPM|style="textVBA-align:center;"|[[PlayStation PortableM]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Linux|Pandora}}|[https://wwwbuildbot.mediafirelibretro.com/?zzkw74c1kzobedj 26731013nightly/ libretro core]|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;"|[[Visual Boy Advance -M|Visual Boy Advance-M (VBA-M)SkyEmu]]|stylealign="text-align:center;"left|[[Wii]], [[Gamecube]]{{Icon|style="text-align:center;"Android|r1229iOS}}|style[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id="textcom.sky.SkyEmu v3.2] (Play)[https://www.amazon.com/SkyEmu-GBC-GBA-NDS-alignEmulator/dp/B0CGHK8QP5 v3.2] (Amazon)[https:center;"//github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu git]|✓{{n}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{~}} |style="text-align:center;"|✗|style="text-align:center;"|{{✓}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{✓ (as VBA-Next)}} |style="text-align:center;"|✓{{~}}

|style[[gpSP]]|align="text-align:center;"left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Pandora}}<br/>{{Icon|Didj|Symbian}}|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<br/>[gpSPhttp://repo.openpandora.org/?page=detail&app=package.gpsp.notaz 0.9.2.8 Pandora]<br/>[https://github.com/Summeli/gpSP4Cute Symbian]|style{{~}} ||{{~}} ||[https://docs.libretro.com/library/gpsp/#compatibility ?] ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}<ref group="textN name=gpsp>Libretro Core Only.</ref> ||{{~}}|-|Pizza Boy GBA|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https:center;"//play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.dbtecno.pizzaboygbapro 2.6.8] (Offline)|{{~}} ||{{~}} || ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/1b97uus/emulator_pizza_boy_for_gba_and_gbc_removed_from/ *] ||{{~}}|-|[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/>[PlayStation Portablehttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.explusalpha.GbaEmu {{.emuVer}}]</br>[https://pyra-handheld.com/repo/apps/75 1.5.46.02 Pyra]|style="text{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[https://sites.google.com/site/fastemulator/ My Boy!]|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https:center;"//play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fastemulator.gba 2.0.6]|0{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}|-|[https://forums.windowscentral.com/app-spotlight/252987-trio-nintendo-emulators-vba8-vgbc8-snes8x.9html VBA10]|stylealign="textleft|{{Icon|W10P}}|[https://forum.xda-developers.com/windows-10-alignmobile/windows-10-mobile-apps-and-games/app-vba10-emulator-t3588704 1.22]<br/>[https:center;"//emulator.games/emulators/gameboy-advance/vba10/ Alt]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}|style="text-|GBA_J2ME|align=left|{{Icon|Java}}|[http:center;"//oldfag.top/downloads/?act=view&id=168 1.0]|{{?}} || || ||? |✓|{{✗}} ||{{~}}|style="text-|VGBAnext|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https:center;"//play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fms.emu {{VGBANextVer}}]|{{?}} || || ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|style="text-|[[NooDS]]|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https:center;"//play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hydra.noods 0.1]<br/>[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/NooDS/releases git]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}|style="text-|GBA4iOS|align=left|{{Icon|iOS}}|[https:center;"//iemulators.com/gba4ios 2.1]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}|style="text-|[http://web.archive.org/web/20190801135245/http://allaboutwindowsphone.com/software/content/VBA8_1.php VBA8]|align=left|{{Icon|W8P}}|[https:center;"//www.appx4fun.com/xap/15223/ 2.27]|{{?}} || || ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}

==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.

- ; [[Nintendo Switch Online]] (VBA-M for Windows onlySloop)* GBA support was added to Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack in February 2023, alongside GB games exclusive to the normal tier;* Users are [[Wikipedia: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) Under "Options->Gameboy" you will find tests without a single failure;* Video filters can be applied;* Allows exchange of regional variants in the optionsInternational 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 ("Real 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: no 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.

'''List of recommended GBA emulators for Android:'''* [https://www.androidauthority.com/best-game-boy-emulators-for-android- "Gameboy Colors": strong desaturization 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}}|{{N}}|{{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 libretro cores 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.</small>| {{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}}|-| [[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/us/store/products/game-boy-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''Shaders'''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.io/2021/03/28/mgba-0.9.0/#more-debugging-improvements *]|{{Y}}|{{Y}}||{{Y}}||||{{Y}}|||||{{N}}|}</div><references group=N3/>

==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.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/commonvbam-libretro/issues/87 e-Reader support] for for VBA-M libretro core.</ref>|{{✗}}[https://github.com/visualboyadvance-shadersm/blobvisualboyadvance-m/masterissues/cgp831 *]|{{✓}}|{{✗}}[https:/gameboy/github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/issues/44 *]|{{✗}}|{{y}}|{{~}}<abbr title="Pokemon only">*</abbr>|{{✓}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-colors|[[#GBA_Multi_Pak_Link_Multiplayer_.281.7E4GBA.cgp gameboy29|Multi Pak]]|{{✓}}<ref group=N2 name=libretro />|{{✓}}|{{✓}}|{{✗}}[https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/issues/44 *]|{{✗}}|{{y}}|{{~}}<abbr title="Pokemon only">*</abbr>|{{✓}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-colors|[[#Connectivity|Wireless]]|{{✗}} [https://mgba.cgpio/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 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 (model AGB-005). It features yet another new type of link 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) 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 "(Game Name) Game Data" 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, 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 GBA game pack, and scan e-Cards... though it's a very less-than-ideal solution and there are 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 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 Nintendo 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.com/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/>

A ===GB/GBC backwards compatibility emulation/Enhanced Mode===Game Boy Advance is backwards compatible with GB/GBC, resulting in some of the [https://cheapergamer.co.cgp shader preset can uk/gba-enhanced-gbc-games/ GB/GBC games enhanced if you play on GBA]. Having said that, this shouldn't be loaded in confused with [[OpenEMUGame Boy/Game Boy Color emulators|Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulation]] or [[RetroArchSuper_Nintendo_emulators#Hardware_features_and_accessories|Super Game Boy 1/2]] that is meant to (sort-. Some of) replicate the multicore emulators supports both GB/GBC and GBA emulation, however they do not have support for "Gameboy Colorsbackwards compatibility/GBA mode" option in VBA-M using the image-adjustment Cg shaderemulation. The settings are parameters that are stored in the cgp and can be adjusted at runtime. The relevant parameters set for this effect are:

Target 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]].4

Monitor Gamma = ==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 2or more, and the Link Gamepaks Options to Gamepak in all GBAs.16

Saturation = 0'''Note''': Purple end in GBA means player 1, while a grey end in GBA means P2, P3, or P4.5Daisy-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>

Luminance = 0===GBA Wireless Multiplayer====The [[Wikipedia:Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter|wireless adapter]] has the 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 subset of another player's game that runs when no cartridge is inserted. ''Pokémon Fire Red'' and ''Leaf Green'' came bundled with this accessory, but it can also work with ''Pokémon Emerald'' and the ''Classic NES Series''.9

The colors will not be exactly libretro core of [[gpSP]] has successfully emulated the same as what wireless adapter<ref>https://www.davidgf.net/2024/01/13/gba-wireless-adapter/</ref>. [[GBE+]](in v1.6) and VBA-M produces (partially implemented the support of this add-on, though it's still a bit brighter and no washed out blacks) but it will get you the desaturation effect. Can be adjusted to fit your tasteswork-in-progress, and you can get the washed out blacks by increasing "Brightness Boost" and decreasing Luminance a bitonly access menus. Support of this add-on is currently on [[mGBA]]'s roadmap.

===Save file issues=GameCube Connectivity====There are a number of different save formats for GBA games[https://nintendo. With raw save data, it's very hard to detect what save type it is just by looking at itfandom. Visual com/wiki/Game_Boy_Advance_to_Nintendo_GameCube_Link_Cable#List_of_Supported_Games The Game Boy Advance tries can also connect to autodetect save type but often is incorrect and this causes issuesthe GameCube].<ref>https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/agbgcncable. A fix to this issue is to use a file called "vbapdf</ref> e-over.ini" Reader functionality with GC games has now been emulated thanks to tell VBA what each game's proper save type is, which eliminates most issues regarding save typemGBA. Current [[Dolphin]] supports connectivity through rudimentary joybus emulation made in parallel with VBA-M versions come with vba-over.ini by defaultBecause this emulator has fallen behind, the feature was recently added to [[mGBA]], a more accurate emulator. They showcased early higan support in a video, but older versions of VBA like VBA 1.7.2 and VBALink did notnothing has been released as yet.

The libretro versions of VBA, libretro-VBA-Next and libretro-=====Dolphin/mGBA or VBA-M, come with vba-over=====:''Requires mGBA 0.ini baked into the binary so it is able to load raw 9.sav files, but also changes the save file output to be a 136KB .srm file for every save type, with save type info contained within the file. This completely avoids any save type issues, but makes its save files incompatible with standalone 0 or newer or VBA and most other emulators-M r947 or newer.''

Libretro devs created a [https://github.com/libretro/vbam-libretro/blob/master/src/libretro/gbaconv/gbaconv.c command line tool] to convert libretro-VBA .srm save files to raw .sav save data for other emulators* Reduce your volume. You can just drag and drop a .srm onto the executable and won't want it will output raw .sav. The same can to be done in reverse. A precompiled Windows 64-bit binary of this tool can be found [https://www.mediafire.com/?6bg8ag0bjs1b7ng here]. ==Connectivity=====GBA Link Multiplayer (1~4GBA)===* VBA-M: This doesn't work with old VBA versions.  Just disable "Pause when Inactive"high, configure all four Joypads each especially with their own button layout, enable "Link, Enable GBA Link". Now open VBA-M again as much times needed for each player, and have them each use their separate Joypad configuration. Each player will have a separate SRAM save file. * No$GBA: This method also works with DS roms, and that's the actual way to see the incomplete non-functional local Wi-Fi DS multiplayer implementation. (todo) ===GameCube Connectivity===The GBA unit can connect to a GameCube. ====Dolphin and VBA-M==== Game Boy connection support can be supported via joybus emulation. Such requires VBA-M (r947 or newer) and a dump of a GBA BIOSheadphones. '''Connect 1~4 GBA Unit Without Game to GC Game''' First Part!* Open Dolphin and mGBA/VBA-M (duh). Make sure neither are blocked by your firmware.* '''In Dolphin:''' Start your , launch the game and play until you get navigate to the in-game menu area where you're asked to connect a the GBA. Under Then, under the GC controller options (earlier "Config, Gamecube", now it's with assign the GC/Wii controller options). You have 4 GC controller ports: change how much you need to GameCube controllers as "GBA"for whichever you need. Leave * If you are using mGBA, open up the game File menu, and its music running :)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:''' You'll need to , uncheck "Options, Emulator, Pause When Inactive"in Options > Emulator. Then, under "Options, > Link, > Joybus Options", Make make sure to enable the "Enable Joybus Connection" is on and set "IP/Hostname" to use default settings, that is (<code>127.0.0.1) </code> or (<code>localhost) - without the brackets</code>. * THEN, Dolphin will freeze. You'll want to not have the system sound too high if you're using headphones.  Second Part!* '''VBA-M''': Open the GBA BIOS in VBA-M as if it were a regular GBA ROM. There will be that The regular splash screen but it will stutter a bit. * In either emulator, Dolphin should recognize the Joybus Link by then , and the GC game will detect that a GBA unit was connected.* To connect other GBA units, open another VBA-M emulator instance and repeat what you did with VBA-Mits 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===:''Main page: [[GBA e-Reader emulators]]''Connect This device can read content off e-Card paper stripes either as standalone content, or additional content to GBA Game to /GC Game'''games. Can be thought of as DLC.

* '''===Inputs===;Solar Sensor1. Emulation: This feature has been emulated in mGBA, VBA-M''': Under "Emulator, Bios Files" set the No$GBA BIOS file directory2.6 onwards, and have My Boy!:* mGBA: In the shortcuts editor, shortcuts can be configured to raise/lower the emulator solar level incrementally or to set any particular brightness level. The Nintendo Switch port of mGBA also allows use itof the Switch's light sensor. This will cause each regular GBA rom you load in * VBA-M to show : This emulator uses the keys of the BIOS splash screen then proceed lateral motion controls to change the gameSolar Sensor levels. You can find those keys and modify them in Options -> Input -> Configure... It has higher compatibility too-> "Special" tab.* You do the all the steps above in the No$GBA: Under '''first partOptions/Emulation Setup''' of , you can find the Solar Sensor Level option. You are given the previous section (connecting 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 unit without Game : Uses the device's light sensor to a GC game) until check the line with Dolphin freezing when you enable Joylink in VBA-Mbrightness level.

Then2. ROM Patches:* '''VBA-M''': Open Fixes applied directly to the regular GBA ROM by various scene release groups to be connected make it compatible with any emulator/flashcard, making the GC game in VBA-M as if it were game brightness level controllable with L+Left/Right. It's argued this makes for a regular GBA ROMbetter experience actually, but sadly not all releases are covered. * There will be that splash screen'''Boktai 1:''' [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1567 JP], [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1145 US], but if you do nothing the GBA game starts as usual and the connection doesn't actually happen<s>EU</s>. What you must do is to hold * '''Select+StartBoktai 2:''' while the BIOS is loading[http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases. This will cause the BIOS animation to stop and wait for connectionsphp?id=1567 JP], <s>US</s>, and the regular GBA ROM game won't boot immediately[http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases. If it goes as intended, VBA-M will stutter a bit and the connection will be initiatedphp?id=1992 EU].* Dolphin should recognize the Joybus Link by then and the GC game will detect that a GBA unit was connected'''Boktai 3:''' [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=2048 JP Fix].* To connect other GBA units, open another VBA-M instance and repeat what you did Combinations of Boktai 4 JP with VBA-Mearlier solar sensors to get solar sensor bonuses aren't emulated yet in any DS emulator.

Please note e;Motion Control1. Emulation: This feature has been emulated in mGBA, VBA-Reader functionality 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 GC 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 controller stick (left or right)* My Boy! uses the device's accelerometer to emulate this feature. You can change the sensitivity under Settings -> Input -> Cartridge Features -> "Motion sensitivity" menu.* Pizza Boy GBA also used the device's accelerometer to emulate this feature for games isnlike WarioWare: Twisted and Yoshi't emulated as of yets Universal Gravitation.

====Dolphin 2. ROM Patches: Fixes applied directly to the ROM (with the Lunar IPS utility, or at runtime using mGBA or VBA-M and other emulatorsnaming them the same as the ROM in the same directory) by various scene release groups to make it compatible with any emulator/flashcard. D-Pad controls substituting motion controls don't work as well here as they tilt it "too much" at times to be 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=Dolphin devs are working at rewriting the entire GBA connectivity code in a far better way from scratch with more accurate emulators1682 JP], [http://www. They did a video using the higan emulatoradvanscene. Nothing of the sort is published at the momentcom/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1979 US])

===;Rumble FeatureThere are various rumble features found in GBA/DS Connectivity===GBC cards:* '''GBC Rumble:''' GBC games which came on special cartridges with additional hardware for the rumble feature. It was actually used by dozens of releases, and some games like Tarzan 2 GBC were programmed to have rumble support but shipped on regular cartridges. Emulated by VBA-M GX (Wii-only), which also cover the dummied-out rumble games. Not emulated anywhere else.Inserting * '''GBA Gyro Rumble:''' WarioWare Twisted was shipped on a cart with rumble support. It would rumble when you tilt to one "extreme". Emulated by VBA-M GX (Wii-only, functional), mGBA has this feature but it's not enabled in current builds, * '''GBA card Variable Rumble:''' Drill Dozer has rumble support, with variable force and speed depending on the rock type you drill through in Slot-2 in a Nintendo DS unit game. Partially emulated by VBA-M GX (thatWii-only, functional), mGBA has this feature but it's not a DSi) while a DS game is running could unlock various gameplay features enabled in some DS gamescurrent builds. DesMume can emulate this* '''Game Boy Player Rumble: while playing the DS ROM''' Many regular GBA games, go to "Configshipped on regular cartridges, Slot 2 enable rumble during gameplay when played on GB Player hardware (which is essentially GBA Slothardware)" and select "GBA Cartridge". Now select the GBA ROM fileThese include Super Mario Advance 4, Summon Night Hajimari no Ishi, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Shikakui Atama wo Marukusuru Advance (both releases), Pokémon Pinball, as well as Drill Dozer which disables its original cartridge rumble scheme and make sure its sav file is in the same folderenables this one instead. You may need to reset None of the game sometimes to see emulators support this, though it's being under development for the effect in-gamemGBA emulator.

==Special Hardware=====Special Cartridgeshardware===These were never emulated as Emulation of yet. There used to be patches to be applied to these is spotty, apart from GBE+, which supports almost all GBA ROMS with an utility like LunarIPS, but they're for the most part lost to time nowadays. Your best bet is to use Action Replay to emulate thoseperipherals.

* '''Solar Sensor:''' Boktai 1 (Fix: [http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1567 JP];Turbo File AdvanceThe Turbo File Advance was a peripheral for the GBA which allowed certain games to write data to it, [http://www.advansceneacting as an external memory card.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1145 US]Developed by Sammy Corporation, <s>EU</s>), Boktai it was compatible with only 2 (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]), Boktai 3 ([http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=2048 JP Fix]).* '''Motion Control:''' Yoshi Topsy Turvy/Universal Gravitation (Fix: [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])games, 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])* '''Variable Rumble Speed''': Drill Dozer. Can still be emulated.* '''Figurine Add-on:''' Legendz: Isle Of Trials, Legendz: Sign Of Necromu, Plaston Gate ([http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1020 Fix]), Plaston Gate DX ([http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=2006 Fix]). The add-on is essentially Skylanders before it became popularRPG Tsukuru Advance and Derby Stallion Advance.

VBAGBE+ supports this add-M has an option for Motion controls "Input, Set, Motion". It currently works with 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-gameon.

* 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==;Official Nintendo Infrared AdapterThe e-Reader is As the GBA did not have native infrared connectivity, Nintendo released an addofficial IR adapter called the AGB-on for the Game Boy Advance released in Japan and USA/Australia (and cancelled 006 to restore this functionality. However, it only saw use in Europe)Cyber Drive Zoids: Kiju no Senshi Hyuu to control specific Zoid toy models.

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 ;Figurine ReadersSome GBA games/series had figurine reader add-ons, most famously Super Mario Advance 4 where some cards triggered switch effects essentially precursors to the likes of Skylanders and Amiibo.* '''Soul Doll Adapter''' (like vegetables everywhere, various powerups including the Boomerang Legendz: Island of Ordeal/Sign of Nekuromu)* '''Multi Plust On System''' (only appearing after in Mario Land 3DSBouken Yuuki Pluster World: Plust Gate/EX/Pluston GP), GBE+ has support for both the Kuribo Shoe Soul Doll Adapter and the SMW CapeMulti Plust On System, a 100-Up powerup, a replay feature, and other stuff) while others held entire new levels in their data found nowhere in the original cartridge to be transferred to mGBA supports the save file.Due to its impopularity outside Japan, these features would often be removed when e-Reader compatible games would be localizedSoul Doll Adapter.

In these cases, it requires two GBA units - one with the game cartridge, the other with the e-Reader ;Battle Chip GateA peripheral device, linked by Capcom and Takara compatible with a link cable, with the gray end on the second GBA''Mega Man Battle Network 4'' (Japanese edition). Playing the game up It can be connected to the point where you can initiate Game Boy Advance and allow the eplayer to transmit real-Reader features, you can then swipe life toy Battle Chips to the paper cards NetNavis in the e-Reader to read the data - itgame. It's not ideal though outside of emulation due to how much finnicky the process actually isalso compatible with toy Advanced PETs and ''Rockman.EXE 4.5 Real Operation''. It can also unlock minigames in ''Mega Man Zero 3''.

It could also connect with GameCube games in the same way, notably Animal Crossing[[mGBA]] and [[GBE+]] support this add-on.

Other e;GlucoboyAn obscure medical peripheral designed to monitor a child'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-Cards that only require one GBA with egameboy-Reader include NES games (often mapper 0 games) and various promotional cardsadvance.41853/page-2 Bayer Healthcare destroyed all unsold stock] making it hard to find. It's emulated in GBE+ as of Nov 25 2023, but the last release was in April 2023 so you'll have to compile the source code yourself.

e-Reader was originally released in Japan in 2001 without Link cable 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 e-Reader in USA and Australia.==Emulation issues=====What you'll needOversaturation=== '''The e-Card images[[File:''' Yes, these have actual data in them. The "No1406913527173-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. The dumps are around 2.2KB, and are region1-locked. No European-region dumps exist (even though really rare e-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$gba 2.4 and above. Modified versions of The "Gameboy Colors" mode on [[VisualBoy Advance#VBA include e-Reader support, with one for 1.7.0 (no Link support)and 1.6e (Link support), but their emulation isn't perfect, and no$gba is still needed for many setups involving two GBAs. No emulation for now for eM|VBA-Reader/GameCube connectionM]].]] ''Or, alternatively (even if it's not actual e-Reader emulation):'' '''Battery backup files (sav)''' from people who had already scanned e-Cards. Their data gets stored in The screen on the sav file for the e-Reader BIOS rom, or the GBA game with e-Reader features. This original Game Boy Advance is one convenient way to play the exclusive levels from SMB4 if you just grab a save file with the levels already stored not backlit and import it in your emulator for use with that game (also the only way can be hard to get it to work on PAL SMB4). '''Cheat codes''' enabling the e-Reader unlockables see in some gamesconditions. Only works if the "dlc data" is already included in the cartridge - To compensate, game developers often used oversaturated colors by default so it wouldn't work with SMA4's levels or F-Zero Legend's developer ghost data for example. It's also useful to get data that was removed from US versions (since the e-Reader was discontinued outside Japan very early) - including notably Pokémon Coloseum, Megaman Zero 3, and Megaman Battle Network 5 (6 JP included the data result would look normal on-cart already, US didn't and made heavy content cuts)..hardware. ===Scan a Standalone Card (1 GBAOn standard computer screens, e-Reader only)=== Trying to scan a card for use with another GBA game to unlock stuff within using this method would give you saturation is not an error message. ====Using No$GBA==== No$GBA offers actual full hardware emulation for e-Readerissue, but its GBA emulation, while very decent so this can look jarring and with save state support, isn't the best out thereundesirable for gameplay. You can still export your save at will. '''Emulator:''' Open Some games made after 2003 may have also taken the eGame Boy Advance SP <abbr title="AGS-Reader BIOS. It's a regular GBA ROM. 001">model<br /abbr>The very first time it's loadedinto account, it will save some e-Reader specific configuration, then reset the emulator. After that it's all good.since its screen was actually <br />'''In-game, BIOS:''' Press A (or abbr title="Select" for a hidden bonus :P). Choose "Scan Card".<br />'''Emulator:''' A window should pop-up. Now you can choose the e-Card roms (often RAWnewer model, but can be also BIN, or BMP/JPG images) you'll need. Choose the file and click OK.<br />'''InAGS-game101, BIOS:''' A "Scan Card" message appears, and the data is loaded. If the application (NES game, minigame, promotional app) is stored was released in multiple e-Cards, the game will let you know ("You need [n] more Dot Code(s) to start. Scan [Application Name] 2/[n].") In 2005 that case: '''Emulator:''' Click was actually backlit"File, Load e-Reader Dotcode". Choose the next e-Card image file. >frontlit<br /abbr>'''In-game, BIOS:''' In the same screen, press A to Scan Code. The data should be loaded. If you tried to do so before loading the next fileFor everything else though, the BIOS would say you emudevs have already scanned it. Rinse and repeat until you get all parts. If you're done with all parts (could be one part in many cases), and all is fine, the BIOS would suggest you save the data to the e-Reader's SRAM. (You can then conveniently grab the sav file for use with other emulators).  This prevents the data from getting deleted when rebooting the device or scanning other e-Cards. You can then access it from the title menu with the new third option, "Access Saved Data" (and the app 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).  Then, after this save prompt, you can play the actual application. ====Using VBA e-Reader compatible old builds==== VBA 1.7.0 e-Reader (no Link)VBA 1.6e e-Reader + Linkgiven some solutions:

These old versions of VBA (later VBA-M) do not do full e-Reader emulation but still do the job here. The version lacking the Link feature though is useless for cards to be used with ====Emulator Options===='''No$GBA:''' Under "Emulation Options", select "GBA gamesMode". Regular VBA, and VBA-M versions do not have e-Reader support at allThere are four modes.

Not that different from No$* '''GBA (no backlight):''' Strong desaturation* '''GBA. You open the e-Reader BIOS first like any regular SP (backlight):''' Strong desaturation* '''Nintendo DS in GBA ROM.mode:''' Some desaturation* '''VGA Mode (poppy bright):''' No desaturation

You might be faced with a "Memory Error" screen in-game. That'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 youmGBA:'''re at itUnder Tools > Settings > Shaders > Load New Shader, check under Emulator if select "Save egba-Reader RAW Files" is checkedcolor. shader"Pause when Inactive" needs to be disabled if you ever intend to link between two GBAs (not needed right now).

Reset, and press A and just wait for the SRAM to be formatted '''VBA-M:''' (a good minutenightly only). Press A when : Under Options > Game Boy Advance, you're done and you can go to the in-game title menu. Whenever will find the game tries to scan e-Cardsoption, unlike with NO$GBA a window will always pop up asking you to choose your e-Card dump (can be only a RAW file in VBA's case). It's more straightforward here, and the NES compatibility is even better. That said it's more of the same. Read the NO$GBA section for more infoLCD Filter'''.

Of course, you can fetch SRAM battery save files (sav) for the e-Reader BIOS or the e-Reader compatible GBA games AFTER e-Cards were already scanned * '''Color Emulation off:''' No desaturation* '''Color Emulation on:''' Gamma correction and their data saved in these SRAM files, either using e-Reader emulators or real hardwareadjusted color range. These sav files should work with ANY emulator'''NanoBoyAdvance''': Enabled by default.Under Config > Video > Color Correction > GBA

Alternatively'''SkyEmu''': Color Correction is set by default to 1.00 force in this emulator, and there are cheats2 types of desaturation methods. Very oftenThe first one is named SkyEmu and is selected by default, and the other one is named Higan and, as it's name suggests, thatis based on higan's color correction. Change the desaturation type by pressing the ≡ button, then select GBA Color Correction Type. You can also change the intensity of the desaturation: slide the only way slider to 0.00 to unlock e-Reader features in games lacking them in some versions (notably US Megaman games versions, and SMA4 PAL)brighten the screen a tad bit.

===Scan a Card for Use with =Shaders====Cg [[Shaders and Filters|shaders]] can be used in [[OpenEmu]] or [[RetroArch]] that adjust the colors to those of a real GBA Game (2 GBAs linkedscreen, eas well as other screen types. These are available in GLSL<ref name="GLSL">https://github.com/libretro/glsl-Reader + GBA Game)==shaders/tree/master/handheld/shaders/color</ref> for OpenGL, and Slang<ref name="Slang">https://github.com/libretro/slang-shaders/tree/master/handheld/shaders/color</ref> for Vulkan.

====No$GBA====Shugo Takahashi's explanation in There is also <code>nds-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 case color profiles of SMA4the original Nintendo DS frontlit screen and the PSP-1000/PSP-2000 backlit screen, respectively.

1. You'll need a save file for For Game Boy Advance shader presets, see the e-Reader BIOS GBA ROM with the SMB4 Level Card Program already saved. ([http://www.zophar.net/download_file/20656 Link], US)."Shader Presets" page;{{Main|Shader_Presets}}

2. Next you need ===Horrible Sound Quality===As a handheld rushed to set up NO$GBA. Place the GBA BIOS file in NO$GBA's root and run NO$GBA. Open any ROM market (right now it doesn't matterbecause of the WonderSwan Color competition) and immediately go edit , the settings by pressing F11Game Boy Advance had some cut corners. Go The sound hardware was affected the hardest: while it could play Game Boy Color sound in addition to samples and sequenced music like what would be heard on the Controls tab and define your control layout for both Player 1 and Player 2SNES, then click on Options and click "Save Options". Close out of NO$GBAthe actual playback quality is awful compared to the sound samples stored internally in the ROM.

3There were [https://www.romhacking. It should now have created several net/utilities/881/ tools] made to extract the internal high-quality music (as midi files and folders plus a sound font, to be played on foobar2000), however, interest remains limited in the root folder you placed it implementing its playback inreal-time on emulators. Open NO$GBAIt's worth noting that NanoBoyAdvance includes [https://github.ini in Notepad com/ipatix/gba-hq-mixer High Quality Audio Mixer] and find the there's a very experimental feature exists on [[mGBA]] (nightly versions) under Enhancements as "SAV/SNA File Format" setting. Change this to "RawXQ GBA Audio" and save , but it. Go place your SMA4 SAV 's very buggy and still limited to games using the estandard sound engine, the so-Reader SV2 in called "Sappy" engine, which is still a big part of the BATTERY folder. Make sure they share the same names as the SMA4 and e-Reader ROMs you haveGBA's software library.

4. Open NO$GBA and open ===High Resolution Affine Transformation Graphical Effects===Similar to the scaling effects used on the e-Reader ROM. Change Super NES known commonly as "All machines" to "1st machineMode 7"graphics, the Game Boy Advance has affine transformation effects for some backgrounds and individual sprites that can be done in hardware. Then press F11 and change "Number of Emulated Gameboys" Due to "2". DO NOT SAVE THE OPTIONS HERE. IT WILL CRASH ON STARTUP EVERY TIME IF YOU DOthe GBA's lower resolution, some detail may be lost.*

The [[mGBA]] emulator added an Enhancements''If menu where you screw up and save can change the NO$GBA options after you've enabled two Game Boysresolution of those graphical effects, then open NO$GBAfor a smoother effect.INI and find the "Number of Emulated Gameboys" option. Change this The graphical render engine will need to be OpenGL for those to "-Single Machine" and savetake effect.It won''t work on games where those effects are done in software instead of the hardware scaling features (like the 3D environment in Asterix & Obelix XXL)

5. After enabling two Game Boys===Save formats===Originally, click "File" and "Cartridge Menu (FileName)" and open your SMA4 ROMwhen saves were implemented, this time selecting "2nd machine". If you did this rightnobody settled on a format, then SMA4 should be loaded on so the left side Visual Boy Advance devs made their own. Because other emulators often went with sound and the e-Reader should be loaded on the right side without soundraw data, having to exchange different saves caused problems. Navigate The original Visual Boy Advance tries to figure out which format a given save is but often fails at it. By explicitly telling the SMB3 main menu and check emulator to see that your save read it as a specific type using a file loaded properlycalled <code>vba-over.** Go to "Level Card" and then move Marioini</Luigi onto the swirling panel in front of the castle to open a menucode>, VBA complies. VBA-M includes this config file by default, but older revisions like VBA 1.7. Move up to "Level Card" 2 and select it to be taken to the e-Reader communication screenVBALink do not.

6. The VBA-Next use the Player 2 controls you mapped out to navigate the e-Reader menu to "Access saved data". "Super Mario Advance 4" should be displayed as the saved data.** This should take you to a communication screen just like SMA4's next to it. Hit A on SMA4 to begin communication. Go to "File" and then "Load eVBA-Reader Dotcode" M cores in NO$GBA and navigate to Libretro have the file baked into the binary so that it can load raw .RAW Level Card dotcode sav files you downloaded. Double-click one and , but converts the e-Reader should accept it and send it back format to its own derivative at exactly 136 KB every time, with save type info contained within the SMA4 ROMfile. The SMA4 ROM will then tell you that a Level Card was receivedThis completely avoids the previous issues at the cost of incompatibility with standalone VBA and most others.

''If either the SMA4 ROM or the eTo solve this incompatibility, Libretro devs created a [https://github.com/libretro/vba-Reader ROM don't have the proper saved data, make sure that you changed the save type in NO$GBAnext/blob/master/libretro/gbaconv/gbaconv.INI c command-line tool] to "Raw", the convert .srm save files are the same names as their ROM counterparts, and that SMA4 is on the left screen while e-Reader is on the right screenmade from these cores to raw . If their screens are flipped, then either restart NO$GBA and follow my instructions more carefully or open BATTERY and change their sav save types around data for other emulators. It takes standard input (i.SAV to e.SV2 just drag and vice versadrop 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].''

6bFor more information about Game Boy Advance hardware and reverse engineering; <br/>* Rodrigo Copetti: [https://www.copetti. Now here's 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 catchGame Boy Advance], [https://www. SMA4 will not let you save a level permanently and then scan more levels until you beat the level you just scanned at least onceyoutube. So you either have to beat com/watch?v=_Qqg4VCZ0k8 How the level now in the emulator or load the save back onto your real gameGame Boy Advance knew it was running a Game Boy Game], beat [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GVSLcqGP7g Tomb Raider on the levelNintendo Game Boy Advance is incredible], and then repeat this entire process for [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpNWEbZdXNw How Graphics worked on the next levelNintendo Game Boy Advance]* martin korth: [https://problemkaputt.de/gbatek-contents.htm gbatek]* [https://akkera102. It's cumbersome, I know, but in the end when you have all the levels scanned in and you've played them all it'll be well worth it; these are some of the coolest levels in the entire Super Mario series!sakura.ne.jp/gbadev/ akkera102.sakura gbadev (Japanese)]* [https://gbadev.net/gbadoc/ gbadev - gbadoc]* [https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/GBA_Development/Resources WikiBooks - GBA Development Resources]