Gbaemu4ds

gbaemu4ds
General
Author	ichfly
Type	Handheld
Version	alpha 2 fix 4
License	Mixed
Last Updated	2012/12/23
Links
Download
Website
Source

gbaemu4ds is a Game Boy Advance emulator for DS.

The homebrew was entered into the GBAtemp Homebrew Bounty 2011 (DSi).

Installation

Download contains several versions:

• gbaemu4ds alpha 2 fix4.zip - Latest version, with sound.
• gbaemu4ds alpha 1 fix1.zip - Better compatibility.
• GBAEmu DS r5 fix 4.zip - Last working DSi mode build.

To install:

• Unpack the zip file to the root of your SD. Delete the file patch.pat.
• If you are using an acekard, keep the folder _rpg, else you can delete it.​
• Copy GBA homebrews and roms (.agb, .bin, .mb or .gba) to your flashcard (note that .gba is not supported for wood users (v1.45+)).

See also the gbaemu4ds compatibility list. ​

User guide

Run hbmenu.nds, browse to the ROM on gbaemu4DS, press A and choose "gbafile (start emu)" to launch it.

Menu options:

• gbafile (start emu)
• savefile
• bios
• patch

On the lower screen you will see some configuration options:

• lcdswap - Press A to use the upper screen, B for the lower screen.
• SaveType - You can use SaveTypeAutomatic for most case.
• frameskip - Modify framerate.
• autovsync - Press A to enable.

And launch options:

• oldirq
• newirq
• advirq
• HblancDMA
• forceHblanc
• newirqsound
• advirqsound
• HblancDMAsound
• forceHblancsound
• newirqsoundsc
• advirqsoundsc
• HblancDMAsoundsc
• forceHblancsoundsc
• oldirqsc
• newirqsc
• advirqsc
• HblancDMAsc
• forceHblancsc

Launch options

gbaemu4DS lets you select the launch mode for your ROM. advirq is designed for commercial ROMs and has better compatibility with games. You can choose others for homebrew.

However, there are exceptions like "Yggdra Union: We'll Never Fight Alone," which requires HblancDMA or forceHblanc (the latter works better than HblancDMA).

Notes on other options.

Saving and loading

To save a game, press Y or Up+A+B, then select "save".

To load a save, select load the save instead of the ROM, then click "savefile" and pick the ROM to boot it. Since Version r41, there's also an auto detect function for save files.

Troubleshooting

The compatibility isn't perfect right now. If a game crashes, you could try a different version or save type (128k Flash usually fixes most white screens). Also, (E) ROMs tend to work better.

Here are some things to try if a homebrew or ROM crashes:

• Hold the X button at the point it normally crashes.
• Switch to another mode like oldirq, newirq, advirq, HblancDMA, or forceHblanc.

There's no GBA border implemented, and you might see a glitchy fuzz around the sides of the screen. You can try using sc versions, which scales the ROM to fit the whole DS/DSi/3DS screen.

Controls

Up+A+B - Menu

Screenshots

Media

gbaemu4ds settings explanation (ichichfly)

gbaemu4ds alpha 1 first com rom sound test (ichichfly)

Play GameBoy Advance Games On Any R4 Card! (GBAEMU4ds) (Tech James)

Compatibility

Tested on:

R4i Gold
Supercard DSTWO

Changelog

alpha 2 fix 4

• UI impr.
• Minor irq impr.
• Patch support.
• Closed DS irq now halts the gba game.
• This update provides behind-the-scenes fixes that will improve the overall system performance (compatibility impr.).

fix 1

• Fixed bug that prevents the emulator from loading saves in some cases.
• Fixed accociations.ini is now in the __rpg folder as it should be.

alpha 1

• Added new UI (also gives the emulator more free ram).
• Added press Y to save the save.
• Added DMA sound.
• Changed break menue combination to A+B+UP.

r41

• Added auto detectadded lcdSwap if second arg is set to '1'.
• Added capture_and_pars mode.
• Fixed syncline input.

r40

• Fixed old_irqadded patching system.

r39

• Added buggy reset.
• Some small fixes/impr.
• Fix read/write from 0x0b000000.

r38

• Fixed most crushes if X is not pressed.
• Added H-Blank stuff.

r37

• (Pokemon works now if X is pressed at some points).
• Some IRQcode impr.
• Inc. buffslots from 100 to 255.
• Some functions are now arm code.

r36

• (Fixed Mario Advanced 2(U)/(J) fixed Anguna and many other homebrews they also save now).
• Added itcm protector.
• Added greatownfilebuffer.
• Added ichfly_readdma_rom.
• Fixed eeprom emulation.

r35

• (Fix(Camp Lazlo) and break some games(unknown) if you game frees try to press X at the point where the game frees and it may work (Camp Lazlo)).
• Added fat code.
• Fixed uppern_read_emulation.
• Added file map speedup.

r34

• "This update provides behind-the-scenes fixes that will improve the overall system performance".

r33

• Some shortcuts added.
• Added slow Versions (that Version fix some games,break some games and some games are slowed down).

r32

• "This update provides behind-the-scenes fixes that will improve the overall system performance".
• Better fifoinit.

r31

• "This update provides behind-the-scenes fixes that will improve the overall system performance" <-- lock at git if you don't blieve that (fixed DragonBallTR (PB)).

r30

• Now 2 irq systems --> switch in https://github.com/i...chflysettings.h (gba_handel_IRQ_correct) one for new homebrew and com. roms and one for old homebrew.
• New setting emulate_cpu_speed (https://github.com/i...chflysettings.h).
• Graphic fix for Defi_noel_2007.

r29

• New irq system <-- still beta break some games fix some (Another world is working now).

r28

• Use new PU configuration that give the gba much more power but make some games run to fast or crash but fix more crashes.
• Code cleanup now the src should be easy to compile.

r27

• Recompiled with new gcc.
• Some fixes.

r26

• Add: swi 2,3,4.
• Fix siw 5.
• Change: reduced power consumption if gba use swi 2,3,4,5.
• Add: file auto detect.
• Add: mb now used as mb.
• Change: now save new save files as .sav.

r25

• Add: select SaveType.
• Fix:re import sp.
• Add:some debug code (disabled).
• "This update provides behind-the-scenes fixes that will improve the overall system performance" (some code clean up and small things look at git if you want to see all changes).

r24

• Add: if L+R+B is pressed before the Emulator crash the emulator will generate an debug dump called "gbadump.bin" on the sd.
• Fix:sp for Multi Interrupts.
• Add: code for fast tracking.

r23

• Change: now only write non debug stuff to the touch screen.
• Add: swi 5 (VBlankIntrWait) now do frameasyncsync (If the gba rom support that you now get true 60fps).

r22

• Fix: irq (for Another World(still not working),MaxMod Audio(still not working),gng(now working) but some homebrews that worked in r21 or before are no more working).
• Change: Disabled sound dma get requests (sound dma get requests break many games).

r21

• Added: dehook some patches that break some functions.
• Added: not realy working sound emulation.
• Fix: timing functions now emulate the real speed that fix some games but also may break some games anyway I need it for the sound functions.

r20

• Inc. executable size to more than 3 Mbyte.
• Cleaned it up a bit.
• Speed up loading.

r19

• Added: now reads (dma and normal) from rom above the ram buffer work (now reads from any part of the rom work however execution is limited to lower ~ 2,9 MByte).

r18

• Change: impr. ex_s.s.
• Change: fixed 16 Bit read.
• Change: impr. hw reg read/write.

r17

• Change: now calculate the best size for the buffer for the gba file (currently a bit more than 2,9 Mbyte currently every read above that 2,9 Mbyte return garbage).
• Fix: irq system (faster irq handling, gba irqs seems to work now).
• Fix: some "advanced" graphic functions in mode 3-5.
• Added: some break menu functions.

r16

• Power Off unneeded things.
• Fixed some bugs.
• Don't crash the arm7 any more.
• Break function added (L+R+A+B).

r15

• dma speedup.
• Fix in the browseForFile function.
• Fix: swi 6.
• Add: swi 7.
• Add: BIOS_RegisterRamReset(0xFF) at start.

r14

• Working with unpatched gba roms.
• Some fixes by me and some by totschlag_Engelchen.
• New UI.

r13

• Prefetch fail fixed by workaround and on the fly patch.

r12 (hyperspeedup)

Notes:

• (only very very few homebrew work I think ~5-10 %)
• (most gba files must be patched)
• (speed normally 50-200% of the original gba speed)

Changes:

• Untested but hope it work now irq added.
• Features Behind-the-Scenes improvements to system performance (short cuts added).
• swi 6 fixed.

r11 (hyperspeedup)

Notes:

• (only very very few homebrew work I think ~5-10 %)
• (most gba files must be patched)
• (speed normally 50-200% of the original gba speed)

Changes:

• Features Behind-the-Scenes improvements to system performance (short cuts added).
• better 0x4000004 - 0x4000008 emulation.
• dma start a Vblanc now working (at Hblanc still not working).
• timer added 2*GBA frequency (no interrupt is working yet (also Vblanc and so on)).
• DISPCNT emulation improve (mode 3-5 still has a update frequency of 6 Hz).

r10 (hyperspeedup)

Notes:

• (only very very few homebrew work I think ~5-10 %)
• (most gba files must be patched)
• (speed normally 50-200% of the original gba speed)

Changes:

• Features Behind-the-Scenes improvements to system performance and stability (Flush/Invalidate DC and IC).
• Updated rom loader some older flashcards work now (AK(i) seems to have issue with the new version but not because of this (I can't test this but someone has reported that)).
• BIOS_RegisterRamReset(0xFF); is called at the startup also done on the original gba (fix some games).

Patcher:

• Added auto detect for some patches.
• Added Anti User patch some games need that to start.
• Some other things.

fix4

• UI working now but not every time sometime crush alloc.
• Add show fps.

fix1

• Fix DSi mode (broken when there are to much files on the SD) but dec size to a little bit more than 14 MB.
• Fix arm9.
• Fix gba open (hope).

r5

• Can load bigger gba roms in dsi mode (14.680.064) or with slot-2 ram (thanks Mbmax for testing).
• Can run commercial roms (beta).
• ui to load gba and .sav (beta) (hope this work as it worked with nitro).
• Load saves (no save saving just the load funktion) (beta).

r4

• Fixed key detection.
• hwspeedup: fixed BG mode 3,4,5 but not good yet.
• hwspeedup: little speedup.
• hwspeedup: speedup by dmaCopy.
• hwspeedup: size decrease the nds is about 80KB smaller.
• hwspeedup: little menü for changing the fps that are generated not good yet.

External links

• Official website - https://ichfly.github.io/gbaemu4DS/
• GitHub - https://github.com/ichfly/gbaemu4DS
• GBAtemp - https://gbatemp.net/threads/gbaemu4ds-gba-emulator-for-ds-i-dsi-entry.281715/
• Tutorial - https://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-get-gbaemu4ds-up-running-on-your-nds-the-correct-way.350336/