With the release of vba this emulator is now officially discontinued!

Many many thanks to everyone that helped!


I ported the gameboy advance emulator gdkGBA (originally made by gdkchan) to the nintendo switch! (Works on all versions as far as I know)

To set up I strongly recommend putting the original gba_bios.bin in sd:/switch/gba_bios.bin!
After that put the roms into sd:/switch/roms/ and start the homebrew.

As soon as retroarch gets updated for 5.0 this will instantly become obsolete!

source (you need the sdl2-libraries from the devkit-pro pacman to build this)

Known issues:
Sound is a bit weird (it seems like sometimes the wrong instruments play)
Some games seem to crash the switch after a while. (mostly fixed in v8)
Sometimes the switch likes to crash even in games that normally run pretty stable :/ (fixed in v8 I think)
Some games have graphical glitches/don't work at all
Saving doesn't work on some games. If that happens please don't hesitate to tell me and for now you can set (buggy) savestates using plus+r and load them using plus+l.

Please update to the latest version before reporting Problems!

Game compatibility list

UPDATE:
Sound now much better now! Many thanks to @renhei for the fix!
UPDATE2:
Changed rompath from sd:/switch/roms to sd:/switch/roms/gba in order to avoid confusion with the gbc emulator. Also double joycons now work in unattached mode!
UPDATE3:
Merged gdkchans changes to the ppu. Some games that had problems with artifacts on screen (I tried harvest moon) now look much better! However this is apparently causing trouble in some games so I also attached v2.
UPDATE4:
Added proper in-gaming-saving support! The old buggy savestate-feature is now read-only (so that you can move your progress to the new save-files). I recommend removing the old .savegame-file after making sure the new, better in-game-saving works correctly in order to make sure that you don't accidentally load it
Many thanks to @gdkchan for fixing some underlying issues with the in-game-saves of this emulator!
Also I added support for the original gba_bios.bin:
If you want to use it (which I strongly recommend since the open-source-one that's bundled is causing trouble with some games) put it into sd:/switch/gba_bios.bin
UPDATE5:
In game saving should now actually work in most games! Many thanks to @gdkchan for explaining to me how the gba handles saves!
UPDATE6:
Recompiled everything with latest libnx. Hopefully fewer crashes now.
UPDATE7:
Savestate feature is back. Please only use if the savegames fail as it is known to sometimes cause issues!
UPDATE8:
Updated libnx (again) and made a few small fixes. If you're experiencing fewer/more crashes please don't hesitate to tell me
UPDATE8.5 (Experimental only):
Pushed the new graphics-fixes from @gdkchan. Please only use them if you're experiencing graphical glitches since they introduce a large slowdown in some games.
UPDATE8.6 (Experimental only):
Pushed @gdkchans new fixes+optimisations. The experimental version should now run a bit faster!
UPDATE9:
Saving should now be more reliable again (makes the save-feature work as it did in v7 again).

 

[PRAGMA]

Can we move the bios into the /gba roms folder? dont like the way its mixed in with other stuff in /switch

 

[Deletedmember448668]

I do appreciate that this emulator port is out, Jakibaki has had a lot of help with certain fixes as well but the truth of the matter is this. Jakibaki from the beginning has stated multiple times he doesnt know how to fix certain things. Please do not get your hopes up with game fixing or this emulator working up to par with actual hw. This project has always been about being a quick fix while we wait for Retroarch to update their libraries to work with later firmware. If you are having issues, dont expect them to get fixed, if you cant understand that, then im sorry, its already been said, you just didnt read. I'm talking to you Jason L and those like him..Just stop! If you want to help, either learn programming, or if you already know how to program, offer to help, here's a link to the source: https://github.com/jakibaki/gdkGBA .... otherwise you guys just look silly begging for fixes

 

[Deleted User]

I'm not sure why this happened, but Iwas playing this emulator all day yesterday with little to no issue, but when I added 2 new games, all my save data across all my ROMs was deleted. All the progress I made on everything was gone. I'm not sure if adding the games caused it, but it happened after I did it.

 

[JJTapia19]

I just hope @jakibaki is having fun while learning with this project. I get that impression since he keeps updating and seems eager to fix some of the problems we are experiencing. If thats the case it's a win win that doesn't harm anybody and keep us all busy while wating for atmosphere/retroarch. If that's not the case please jakibaki let us know. Your work has been amazing so far and we don't mean to bother you with request/bugfixes.

 

[CaptainPumpkinhead]

I do appreciate that this emulator port is out, Jakibaki has had a lot of help with certain fixes as well but the truth of the matter is this. Jakibaki from the beginning has stated multiple times he doesnt know how to fix certain things. Please do not get your hopes up with game fixing or this emulator working up to par with actual hw. This project has always been about being a quick fix while we wait for Retroarch to update their libraries to work with later firmware. If you are having issues, dont expect them to get fixed, if you cant understand that, then im sorry, its already been said, you just didnt read. I'm talking to you Jason L and those like him..Just stop! If you want to help, either learn programming, or if you already know how to program, offer to help, here's a link to the source: https://github.com/jakibaki/gdkGBA .... otherwise you guys just look silly begging for fixes

Seathasky makes a good point. Thank you @jakibaki! We all know you didn't have to do this, but you did, and we appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[jakibaki]

The point is I like to have em all for testing...

thanks for letting me know! I'll fix it in the next version

 

[Deletedmember448668]

I just hope @jakibaki is having fun while learning with this project. I get that impression since he keeps updating and seems eager to fix some of the problems we are experiencing. If thats the case it's a win win that doesn't harm anybody and keep us all busy while wating for atmosphere/retroarch. If that's not the case please jakibaki let us know. Your work has been amazing so far and we don't mean to bother you with request/bugfixes.

Hell yea! Jakibaki is the man!

 

[Stercate79]

I ported the gameboy advance emulator gdkGBA (originally made by gdkchan) to the nintendo switch! (Works on all versions as far as I know)

To set up I strongly recommend putting the original gba_bios.bin in sd:/switch/gba_bios.bin!
After that put the roms into sd:/switch/roms/ and start the homebrew.

As soon as retroarch gets updated for 5.0 this will instantly become obsolete!

source (you need the sdl2-libraries from the devkit-pro pacman to build this)

Known issues:
Sound is a bit weird (it seems like sometimes the wrong instruments play)
Some games seem to crash the switch after a while.
Sometimes the switch likes to crash even in games that normally run pretty stable :/
Some games have graphical glitches/don't work at all
Saving doesn't work on some games. If that happens please don't hesitate to tell me and for now you can set (buggy) savestates using plus+r and load them using plus+l.

Game compatibility list

UPDATE:
Sound now much better now! Many thanks to @renhei for the fix!
UPDATE2:
Changed rompath from sd:/switch/roms to sd:/switch/roms/gba in order to avoid confusion with the gbc emulator. Also double joycons now work in unattached mode!
UPDATE3:
Merged gdkchans changes to the ppu. Some games that had problems with artifacts on screen (I tried harvest moon) now look much better! However this is apparently causing trouble in some games so I also attached v2.
UPDATE4:
Added proper in-gaming-saving support! The old buggy savestate-feature is now read-only (so that you can move your progress to the new save-files). I recommend removing the old .savegame-file after making sure the new, better in-game-saving works correctly in order to make sure that you don't accidentally load it
Many thanks to @gdkchan for fixing some underlying issues with the in-game-saves of this emulator!
Also I added support for the original gba_bios.bin:
If you want to use it (which I strongly recommend since the open-source-one that's bundled is causing trouble with some games) put it into sd:/switch/gba_bios.bin
UPDATE5:
In game saving should now actually work in most games! Many thanks to @gdkchan for explaining to me how the gba handles saves!
UPDATE6:
Recompiled everything with latest libnx. Hopefully fewer crashes now.
UPDATE7:
Savestate feature is back. Please only use if the savegames fail as it is known to sometimes cause issues!
UPDATE8:
Updated libnx (again) and made a few small fixes. If you're experiencing fewer/more crashes please don't hesitate to tell me

you should make a github page.

 

[JJTapia19]

you should make a github page.

Here it is: https://github.com/jakibaki/gdkGBA

 

[Irxboxkilla]

On v7 and v8 I get game pak error on all roms

 

[Madman55]

On v7 and v8 I get game pak error on all roms

What games in particular? I'll try looking into it and see what the issue could be

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

On v7 and v8 I get game pak error on all roms

Is this the screen that shows up?

 

[Irxboxkilla]

that would be the one

 

[sakuraslight]

edit

 

[Hernie]

Why isn't this in the Homebrew app store? Wouldn't it be easier to update through there? Forgive me if it is in there now. When I looked a while ago, it wasn't.

 

[Madman55]

Seems you're getting popular ;D

 

[ownedlol]

Hey, just wanted to report on something I found that could potentially fix crashes(?), it'll definitely help with sprite loading issues if you do know what to do with the information. In the Minish Cap and FireRed there are two locations in each game that overlay a fog layer on the entire screen which prevents you from seeing anything, you can still move around perfectly fine if you know the layout etc. Turns out the emulator NO$GBA had the same issue, and it was relatd to "transparent issues" and "sprite layers". Sort of speaks for itself but I figured it wouldn't hurt to post here.

Unfortunately I am unable to post images, so you can look up "Pokemon Tower Fog" and the first result should display what it looks like. The transparent looking one is how it's supposed to look like, and the thick fog is what the game looks like now.

 

[SuperSpiny64]

Can you add doc support?

 

[Deletedmember448668]

Can you add doc support?

It's a port.. read below

I do appreciate that this emulator port is out, Jakibaki has had a lot of help with certain fixes as well but the truth of the matter is this. Jakibaki from the beginning has stated multiple times he doesnt know how to fix certain things. Please do not get your hopes up with game fixing or this emulator working up to par with actual hw. This project has always been about being a quick fix while we wait for Retroarch to update their libraries to work with later firmware. If you are having issues, dont expect them to get fixed, if you cant understand that, then im sorry, its already been said, you just didnt read. I'm talking to you Jason L and those like him..Just stop! If you want to help, either learn programming, or if you already know how to program, offer to help, here's a link to the source: https://github.com/jakibaki/gdkGBA .... otherwise you guys just look silly begging for fixes

 

[SkyAeolus]

It's a port.. read below

There's the toxicity everyone loves. (If it wasn't intended as toxic it sure came across as so)

Can you add doc support?

It worked somewhat in earlier versions, but I wouldn't expect it from this emulator. Jakibaki even said this was quick so he could play games on the switch and isn't a permanent solution. Retroarch will make it's way eventually.
However I am super grateful that JakiBaki is taking this as a time to learn and hone his skill. I know I couldn't do that. Our best option is to wait for now my man.

 

[Deletedmember448668]

There's the toxicity everyone loves. (If it wasn't intended as toxic it sure came across as so)

Maybe you're just sensitive