Hacking Flash card that can run GBA games using the DS/DSlite's hardware?

delt · Nov 1, 2012

Hello,

I would like to know if there's a flash card that can run Game Boy Advance roms/homebrew using the DS/DSlite's hardware capabilities for running them - ie. without an emulator. Or is the only way to do this to have an actual GBA (slot 2) cartridge?

Thanks very much for any info.

Foxi4 · Nov 1, 2012

If you want to use DS/DSLite's native capabilities, your only option is a SLOT 2 solution since that's how the built-in system works. The only other solution that's worth mentioning is the DSTwo. Technically you can also run the DS version of ichichfly's GBA emulator, but the results leave a lot to be desired.

http://gbatemp.net/threads/gba-emulator-for-ds-i-dsi-entry.281715/

As for recommended SLOT 2 devices, hunt for an M3 with a built-in RTC, but you are unlikely to find one, so if that fails, EZ3in1 should be enough for all your needs.

Rydian · Nov 1, 2012

GBA games won't run from slot-1, so without an emulator or virtualizer no.

suppow · Nov 1, 2012

Foxi4 said:
As for recommended SLOT 2 devices, hunt for an M3 with a built-in RTC, but you are unlikely to find one

how would one go about that?

Foxi4 · Nov 1, 2012

Google? Auction sites? GBATemp's trading forum?

They're really hard to find and the RTC clock is not that much of a catch anymore, since there are patches for the games affected by its lack, so it'd probably be cheaper, or shall I say "more cost-effective" to get the widely-available EZ3in1 or the EZ IV.

The number of games affected by RTC is rather small, I just figured that you're aiming for near-perfect compatibility (which you won't achieve anyways due to all the custom cart perhaptials that were sometimes used).

My opinion? Go for the 3in1 - it has a perfect case for the DS Lite and the Classic alike, it has built-in rumble and it's a RAM expansion, all at the same time.

delt · Nov 1, 2012

Thanks for your replies everyone.

Does the EZ 3in1 use a mini/micro SD card? If so, where do you suggest i should buy it?

suppow · Nov 1, 2012

delt said:
Thanks for your replies everyone.

Does the EZ 3in1 use a mini/micro SD card? If so, where do you suggest i should buy it?

AFAIK it doesnt, but you need a SLOT-1 pass card to use it

delt · Nov 1, 2012

whoa, fast reply!!
umm ok.... what's a pass card? Wouldn't the device act as a standard GBA cartridge?

anyway, thanks again =)

suppow · Nov 1, 2012

delt said:
whoa, fast reply!!
umm ok.... what's a pass card? Wouldn't the device act as a standard GBA cartridge?

anyway, thanks again =)

np, maybe i should rephrase my answer.
AFAIK, you to use the EZ3in1 you need a normal DS (Slot1) flashcart (like R4 etc), to access the 3in1 and load games in to it,
so to my knowledge it wouldnt use sd cards. but someone might correct me on that.

you could also use an EZF4 which works both on GBA and DS/Lite, but uses a miniSD card or microSD + adapter

edit: here's the wikitemp page on EZ 3in1
http://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/3_in_1_Expansion_Pack_for_EZ-Flash_V

delt · Nov 1, 2012

Looks like the EZF4 is the choice for me. (that's ezflash4, right?)
What reliable and trustworthy store(s) should i look at for it?

suppow · Nov 1, 2012

delt said:
Looks like the EZF4 is the choice for me. (that's ezflash4, right?)
What reliable and trustworthy store(s) should i look at for it?

right, i can personally recommend eachgame.com / eachgame.net, since it's where i've bought,
i bought an EZ-Flash IV from them to play Mother 3, and no problems there.
the price is great and they're nice and quick to answer,
they usually have paypal, and ship as soon as you pay,
but take notice they're in china (hence the low price) so the package takes a while to arrive depending on your location.
and make sure to get a tracking number.
other recommended sites are realhotstuff, they're a bit more expensive but the shipping is faster since they're in the US (i think)
and zhuzhuchina, i cant say much there since i dont really know.

here's the wiki on the EZ4
http://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/EZ-Flash_IV

suppow · Nov 1, 2012

zarabow said:
that means if you want to play GBA game, you need a slot 1 card and a slot 2 card. slot 2 card is EZ 3in1, and slot 1 card, whatever it is, r4i gold, ak2i etc..
i remember dstwo can work GBA without slot 2 card ...

i think that might confuse him a little,
DSTWO (it's a Slot1 DS flashcart) can emulate GBA on the DS, and doesnt need a Slot2 flashcart.
but it will not work on a GBA

edit: and since we're on it, here's the DSTWO wikitemp page
http://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/DSTWO

delt · Nov 1, 2012

So, Ezflash IV "phat" it is =) thanks for the help everyone! I just ordered one from realhotstuff.com along with a few other gadgets, i'll keep you posted when i receive it. In the mean time, is there somewhere i can obtain the most -recent- files and info for it, ie. firmware for the card, client/patcher program, etc? It's kind of difficult to know if information is outdated, i'd figure here is the best place to ask this question.

I was also wondering, if the Ezflash acts exactly like a GBA cartridge - as proven by the fact that it runs in an actual GBA - then it should theoretically work the same in a DS/DSlite without a passme or nopass? (either with no game cartridge in the top slot, or by selecting "start GBA game" from the firmware's bootup menu) ...correct?

Thanks again for all your help

Another World · Nov 1, 2012

http://www.ezflash.cn/software.htm#ez4

you should make some posts in the gba section of gbatemp if you want specific ez flash slot-2 answers.

once you correct set it up, you will be able to use the ez iv in any gba as well as the ds phat/dslite. you only need a passme device if you wish to pass running code from slot-2 to slot-1. the passme was a way of exploiting how the ds phat/lite worked. with it you could execute .nds homebrew on slot-2. however, running gba stays on slot-2 and does not pass off to anywhere but the gba hardware which is only accessible from slot-2.

pretty much every slot-1 flash kit on the market doubles as a passme device. you can use a supercard, acekard, etc, to run older .gba.nds homebrew from slot-2. there are a few projects that will require this, as in, projects never ported over to slot-1. one such project is dsheretic.

-another world

delt · Nov 1, 2012

Ah, magnificent! See you in the gba section - the name of the site is gbatemp after all

Another World · Nov 1, 2012

ez flash has their own active forum as well: http://ezflash.sosuke.com/

-another world

Foxi4 · Nov 1, 2012

-Snip! Nevermind, I didn't notice that he already ordered the cart.

-

suppow · Nov 1, 2012

everything's already been said above, but if you make a new topic, make sure to link to it in here. so anyone can follow

Hacking Flash card that can run GBA games using the DS/DSlite's hardware?

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