Review K1 GBA SP

[Another World]

the embedded nes emu is pocketnes. it doesn't not support .zip files as far as i know. unzip your roms so that they are .nes files and then place them anywhere on the msd card.

-another world

 

[ruilong]

Ok, so I bought a link cable from the K1 site, and can't get it to link for:
Mario Advance2: super mario world
Megaman bn1-6
Tetris worlds

Any one else having issues with these games?
or is my k1's link port broken??

K1 can supports multi-link playing. To active the multi-link, you need to set one K1 or GBA SP as your host then set the other unit and connect with the hosting device. Make sure the games you download support multi-player. At the same time, unzip the files and extend the file like .gba or .gbc or .nes which will make sure the K1 recognize it.

By the way, besides the above games, can you link and play for other games? such as Mario Kart?

 

[BOBdotEXE]

Ok, so I bought a link cable from the K1 site, and can't get it to link for:
Mario Advance2: super mario world
Megaman bn1-6
Tetris worlds

Any one else having issues with these games?
or is my k1's link port broken??

K1 can supports multi-link playing. To active the multi-link, you need to set one K1 or GBA SP as your host then set the other unit and connect with the hosting device. Make sure the games you download support multi-player. At the same time, unzip the files and extend the file like .gba or .gbc or .nes which will make sure the K1 recognize it.

By the way, besides the above games, can you link and play for other games? such as Mario Kart?

Yes, I tried this, And I used two different cables the official K1 link another one.
I tried cart-to-cart, and it worked with two official gba's (using the same cable) but when I used the same cartage in the k1,
I would get a link error.
I'm guessing it may have been a soldering issue, maybe the ports not connected all the way.

I don't own mario karts, But I'll see if I can borrow a copy from a friend.

Dose anyone who has megaman battle network have similar issues?

 

[DragorianSword]

I can't seem to get my link cable to work. Too bad since the reason I bought it and not just a flashcard was so I could trade between my own pokemon games.
It's a cgb-003 cable.

EDIT: Ok sorry I was just stupid. I looked it up and that cable only works for gb and gbc games.
I'll just buy a cable from the website.

 

[Another World]

multi-player via the link cable works for gba and nes games. goomba/goomba color has a transfer mode for the gbx games but it does not support multi-player.

@[member='BOBdotEXE'], the issue i had was that the k1 gba sp simply did not recognize retail carts. i had to reseat the cart multiple times before it was recognized. this may be your issue. try running a rom of the game from the k1 and using the k1 as the host. see if that much works. i was able to get mariokart multi-player working using both a cart and a rom, i always used the k1 as the host device.

-another world

 

[ducksick]

Thanks onfor the help the NES files, Funny the OS recognizes all .zips as GBA games. Well at least .nes files but I think almost anything that is emulated cannont be zipped. Anyone making a Compatiblilty list? I've seen a few games say no enough memory to run. Kingdom Hearts: chain of memories. Also the save to memory via *+start is a little tricky to remember but like a GBA's the save functions are odd.

 

[BOBdotEXE]

multi-player via the link cable works for gba and nes games. goomba/goomba color has a transfer mode for the gbx games but it does not support multi-player.

@[member='BOBdotEXE'], the issue i had was that the k1 gba sp simply did not recognize retail carts. i had to reseat the cart multiple times before it was recognized. this may be your issue. try running a rom of the game from the k1 and using the k1 as the host. see if that much works. i was able to get mariokart multi-player working using both a cart and a rom, i always used the k1 as the host device.

-another world

I've tried that, It reads the carts/roms fine,
but with games like megaman/tetris, their is no host/client option, it's a bi-directional connection, both people go to link, and it's supposed to connect.
I'm thinking it may be a problem with my link port, or maybe the K1 only supports host->client connections.

I'll see if I can find my old pokemon game, or another game that links host to client.
I'll post the results.

---
Edit:
I managed to get to borrow a copy of mario kart,
no luck with single pack (k1 host)
I think maybe I should take it apart and see if somethings louse.

 

[Another World]

i also had some games load but failed to initialize the client. i had to turn off everything, turn back on the client and let it sit at the bios screen, and then try again. it did work, but never seemed to want to work the 1st time. i chalked it all up to the issues i had with the k1 gba slot.

instead of taking it apart you may want to contact k1gba.com directly and ask about a replacement. opening it may void any warranty they have in place.

-another world

 

[BOBdotEXE]

i also had some games load but failed to initialize the client. i had to turn off everything, turn back on the client and let it sit at the bios screen, and then try again. it did work, but never seemed to want to work the 1st time. i chalked it all up to the issues i had with the k1 gba slot. instead of taking it apart you may want to contact k1gba.com directly and ask about a replacement. opening it may void any warranty they have in place. -another world

Tried that about 20 times with no luck,
oh well, I guess I just use the carts and do multiplayer with my old gba (non-sp)
Do you know of anyway to convert k1 save files to RAW gba format?
I know their is a tool to convert to k1, but how do I go back?

 

[Another World]

Since the progress is right, then the K1 should already be in the raw format. The only reason there should be problems is if users' emulators don't like save files that are larger than they should be. This can be fixed (if needed) by using my NDS converter, converting from raw to raw and specifying the proper size (64KB for Mario Golf).

those were his instructions after discussing a tool to go from emu -> k1. perhaps the steps can be reversed using his save conversion tools (k1 -> emu).

one other suggestion, make sure you aren't blocking the gba bios splash screen. i found that when it was turned off multi-player did not function. i just ended up leaving it on during testing because it was a way to test if homebrew required a header fix (would just white screen).

what roms did you have issues with? can you give me release numbers? i'll try them after i am able to borrow an official sp again.

-another world

 

[BOBdotEXE]

Since the progress is right, then the K1 should already be in the raw format. The only reason there should be problems is if users' emulators don't like save files that are larger than they should be. This can be fixed (if needed) by using my NDS converter, converting from raw to raw and specifying the proper size (64KB for Mario Golf).

those were his instructions after discussing a tool to go from emu -> k1. perhaps the steps can be reversed using his save conversion tools (k1 -> emu).

one other suggestion, make sure you aren't blocking the gba bios splash screen. i found that when it was turned off multi-player did not function. i just ended up leaving it on during testing because it was a way to test if homebrew required a header fix (would just white screen).

what roms did you have issues with? can you give me release numbers? i'll try them after i am able to borrow an official sp again.

-another world

I've only tested with classic gba's I'll see if I can borrow an SP for testing.

as for the roms tested, I don't know the number but it's the us version of megaman battle network, I've tried all 6 of them.
using cartcart and romCart. with no luck. if you need a save file for refrance I could send you mine,
the rom+save were ripped by me with 'gba backup tool' I have the splash screen on, but I'll try again with an SP,
I'll try to borrow one, and I'll report bay my results.

Has anyone else had trouble linking with an (non-sp)?

 

[syrusch]

Hi guys.

can someone give me the reduction code coupon please. I can't find it.

 

[ruilong]

Hi guys.

can someone give me the reduction code coupon please. I can't find it.

My friend, I had send you the coupon via sending you the message. Kindly check your message. Thanks.

 

[BOBdotEXE]

Hi guys.

can someone give me the reduction code coupon please. I can't find it.

My friend, I had send you the coupon via sending you the message. Kindly check your message. Thanks.

Aww man I wish I knew about the coupon code

oh and I got my link situation fixed, it turns out the official Link dose work but the k1 has to be plugged in to the 'Player 1' side,
Unlike the official GBA link their not labeled so when I was testing, I would test both sides, but I would alternate. the way to find out is to use a game like Mario advanced 2 or tetris,
or any game that labels the players (the fastest way is to use two official gba's, since their not picky) once I found the p1 side I carved a 'K' into it.
(if you only have one gba, and a k1, you could alternate, stay at the waiting screen and wiggle the cable and wait 10 seconds, then if no luck switch sides. and repeat until you find player 1/2's sides.)

I highly suggest anyone who DOSE NOT have the official GBA link, buy k1's cable it works great!

but they need to make a new version that has the ends labeled '1' and '2' or have a 'K' on the player one side, so no one has to go though what I did thinking I received a defective product.
I know see if was My fault, and I should have done more research before I started using this review as my personal Customer support page, Thanks again to 'another world' and all the other people who had to put up with me.
I can now link up with other sp's and with classic GBA's!

 

[Another World]

i never did try hosting with another unit, i always used the k1 gba sp as the "player-1" host. the small part of the plug is for the host machine. have you tried with the small part in another gba and the larger part in the k1? for this to work you would need the gba bios splash screen turned on.

if i still had an sp here i would test. i won't be able to get one again until its time to write the review of the k101 revo.

-another world

 

[pasc]

Well this device is exactly as awesome as you'd except, Payback, Driv3r, Kingdom Hearts, V-Rally all work great.

However Sound in MMBN 4 (enemy deletion, health recovery) and those sounds in multiplayer matches of Bomberman Tournament are totally screwed with the K1 GBA.

Furthermore (like mentioned) the Wariowaretwisted Gyro doesn't work.

Also Rainbow Six Multiplayer coop always states "this mode has yet to be unlocked", however if I use a m3cf in the k1 and a ez iv in the original gba the mp works fine.

Also I can't seem to get all games to load their respective saves correctly.

I know the saves have to have a ".gba.sav" extension and be in the same dir as the game itself, however Megaman Batllenetwork, Sims bustion out and many other don't seem to load their saves, the only ones I could get the saves loading for are KH:CoM and Sims 2.

(I wished they would just make an automatic save backup, it is cumbersome to always remember pressing * and Start, good thing I can use my old EZ 3in1 packs with this device and it seems to autosave on it - naturally)

 

[Another World]

if you have the time, type out a full list of games (with release number) that you are experiencing save issues with. i will do my best to run some of my own tests.

cheers,
-another world

 

[pasc]

Well, the problematic is, that the k1 can't read saves I had from my previous cards/vba whatever.

The games are:

Megaman Battlenetwork 1
Megaman Battlenetwork 2
Megaman Battlenetwork 3 - White
Megaman Battlenetwork 3 - Blue
Megaman Battlenetwork 4 - Red Sun
Megaman Battlenetwork 4 - Blue Moon
Megaman Battlenetwork 5 - Team Protoman
Megaman Battlenetwork 5 - Team Colonel
Megaman Battlenetwork 6 - Cybeast Falzar
Megaman Battlenetwork 6 - Cybeast Gregar
Sims Bustin' out
Sims Urbs in the City (doesn't boot at all with the k-card, however works fine with my M3 CF and probably any other Flashcard aswell)

 

[Another World]

oh, yeah you need to convert them. there is a converter by Shuny linked in the review. give it a try. if that doesn't work there are instructions i can dig out of one of the other k1 threads that explain how to accomplish it using uniquegeek's tools.

-another world

 

[jabman696]

I'm thinking about getting the K1 GBA SP. But I think ordering it from the website is kinda "shady" cause when I put my information and was ready to order, the payment was asking me to send a Western Union Wired Payment. And since the product is from China, I think that I am gonna get ripped off and not get my product. So, I'm asking that if anybody ordered the K1 GBA SP and used this method of payment and actually got the k1 gba sp. and tell me if this is a rip off or not. Please and thank you if someones responds.