How to run GBA games on your DS

Slot-1 Flashcarts
There are four flashcarts that can emulate GBA games without the need for a slot-2 cart.

• Supercard DSTWO
• EX4i
• iPlayer
• iSmart MM
• CycloDSi Evolution (only works on a DSi and is extremely limited)

Slot-2 Flashcarts
You can also run GBA games using the below slot-2 flashcart. Do note that flashcarts of this type will only work in a DS Phat or DS Lite system. Flashcarts of this type will provide you with perfect GBA game compatibility.

• EZ Flash 3-in-1
• EZ-Flash IV

Alternative Method for all flashcarts
This method requires the use of a GBA emulator created by ichichfly. In DSi Mode (using CycloDSi Evolution or SudokuHax), you can run games/homebrew up to 14MB. Otherwise you will have to obtain a GBA game/homebrew that is 2MB or below. Do note that this method does not work with many GBA games.

Edited by SoulSnatcher, 21 June 2011 - 02:33 AM.

For the DSTwo
I think it would be better to link to the older emulator with the Game_config.txt, since it works a lot better than the newer one

for the dstwo spoiler:

• Download v1.21 of NDSGBA and extract it to your microsd card (an older version, so don't update it)
  
• Download game_config.txt and put that txt file in your microsd's NDSGBA folder.

for the ez flash 3-in-1:

just call it the EZ Flash 3-in-1, it works with every slot 1 flashcart (rename the spoiler to '... using the EZ Flash 3-in-1' too)

replace the "third party loader" with ExpLoader and the link with this

also, stop being a lazy ass

Edit: also mention that using the 3-in-1 will give you perfect compatibility while the slot-1 flashcarts wont

and the dstwo emulator has a real time clock 4 pokemon and etc. while the ez flash 3-in-1 does not (so you have to get it patched)
I don't think the other emulators have a real time clock either

Edited by Terminator02, 15 May 2011 - 04:57 PM.

http://gbatemp.net/t281715-gba-emulator-for-dsi
That runs very few games, but would make the guide more complete.

You can also use the EZiV (not to be confused with the EZ Vi)

1.Download the EZclient
2.Get a GBA game online
3.Copy it in the Mini SD ( not to be confused with Micro SD) used for the EZiV
3.Get a DS flashcart
4.Download the firmware and drag it into the Micro SD
5.Put the Micro SD into the flashcart
6.Put both the EZiV and DS flashcart into Slot 2 and Slot 1 respectively
7.Launch the Slot-2 icon when you boot into the flashcard's menu
8.Bingo!/Voila! the EZiV firmwqare boots up next... GET PLAYIN'!

P.S. If you are using an EZ Flash 3in1, use GBAExploader to launch games... It's Good

Edited by Inazuma Eleven, 15 May 2011 - 04:38 AM.

Updated the guide with all of your suggestions.

I am unsure with the alternative method section, though. Can someone check it and verify that it is correct?

well the gba emulator homebrew (the "alternative method") is pretty terrible, you could mention that to not get people's hopes up

you still have a formatting error in the "Running GBA games using the EZ Flash 3-in-1" spoiler, you need another line break

also consider rewriting the "Running GBA games using the DSTWO" spoiler, you tell people to extract the files twice

and again that thing about the "third party loader", make it exploader

Edited by Terminator02, 16 May 2011 - 02:01 AM.

Fixed.

Any other suggestions?

every flashcart is using the same ExpLoader, the only difference is the way each cart launches their homebrew, to set up ExpLoader it should be

• Extract GBA_ExpLoader.ini to the root of your MicroSD card.
  
  
• Create "/GBA_SAVE" and "/GBA_SIGN" folders on the root of your MicroSD card. (Modify "GBA_ExpLoader.ini" to set different folders)
  
  
• Copy GBA files into "/GBA_SIGN".
  
  
• Put SAV files into "/GBA_SAVE".

to operate it, just browse to your GBA file and press A to launch it

if a game is too big to launch in PSRAM, press R to switch to NOR, then press A to launch it

Edited by Terminator02, 19 May 2011 - 02:20 AM.

Very helpful. Now all i need to buy is a supercard dstwo.

ok so ive been searching for hours now and i cant seem to find it, but i had a program that converted gba games into a nds rom and i was able to play it on my r4 wood...but everything that ive looked up tells me otherwise. i even have the rom to prove that ive done it, it works fine too, no framerate issues or anything...then again most of the post that i see that say its not possible are back in 08

does anyone know where i can get this program again? or am i going crazy and i secretly discovered a way of magically converting gba roms into nds?

I've found a thing called "dsbuild.exe" . Is this?

i just looked that up and no that one actually goes the other way around it looks like...the thing i used actually converted a gba rom into a nds rom (wish i could post the rom file to show you :/ )

then you do not remember the name of the program?

no thats what im trying to do right now...i believe i got it on filetrip tho cuz i recognize it(i havent been using my ds for a while now, ive been using my psp) but i recently got back into mega man so i need to get the gba roms for mega man since it works sooo much better on the ds than the psp...ill post back once i find it again, IF i do