Hardware Buying a GBA Flash Cart in 2013

[Fuyumi]

That was great info. Thanks. My EZ went into white screen of death after a few hours. Scared the shit out of me. Splash screen loads with the Nintendo, meaning it detects the cart. But nothing loads up after that. They will send me a replacement.

So if the battery dies, what will it affect? The .sav files are in the SD card right? So the saves should be safe?

 

[scottg1234]

What do you want to know about Goomba Color?

I converted Pokemon Red Color Hacked version over to GBA file, and it shows this screen saying "This game can only be played on a GameBoy Color or GameBoy Advance console." I'm thinking like "I AM playing it on a GBA console!!!!!" It seems to work, but thats all its showing me after converting. Well, I tried it on VBA and transfered it to my EZ Flash IV card, still the same result.

Also, I was told to not use EZ Client. But thats what I used to transfer it to my EZ Flash. Is that why it's showing that message?

Here is the thread with my problems:

http://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-u...-sp-need-a-good-tutorial.352872/#post-4742100

 

[rs1n]

For anyone who was ordering through ebluar, I just wanted to share that I went ahead and asked for a refund after waiting 30 days. They were very friendly about it and I did receive my refund via Paypal (which then transferred it back to my CC).

 

[Count Duckula]

RHS is listing them as back in stock currently: http://www.realhotstuff.hk/EZ-Flash-IV-Flashcardin-stock-now_p_76.html

 

[rharesh]

You can get one from ebluar.Com

 

[ntpsq]

boom.

ordered one, finally! ^__^

 

[rs1n]

Looks like the EZ Flash IV got restocked by a few other channels. 0shippingzone.com also shows that they have a few (sent me an email about it)

 

[NickRay]

Just ordered 3 from RHS!!

 

[Nusdogg]

Damn. All of the sudden, they all starting to appear. Lol.

Might have to scoop another one.

 

[ntpsq]

any1 know how long it takes for a RHS order to process? is it normal for it to take a few days because im a little nervous my payment didnt go through

 

[Count Duckula]

any1 know how long it takes for a RHS order to process? is it normal for it to take a few days because im a little nervous my payment didnt go through

The charge showed on my credit card almost instantly.
My Ez-flash order is still on processing also, my gateway 3ds order I made a few days earlier shipped yesterday so I'd say give it a few more days.

 

[galneon]

Thinking about buying an EZ4 since they're available again... I have a few DSLites that I use exclusively for GBA games. Is there any reason I'd want an EZ4 just for GBA games if I already have the M3DS Real Perfect bundle? My only real concern is the highest possible GBA game compatibility--don't care about homebrew.

 

[FAST6191]

Only reason there is it might be slightly easier to use for holding many games at once. Compatibility wise as long as it is not a supercard, supercard clone (team cyclops made one) or one of the earliest GBA carts (you will be extraordinarily hard pressed to find one of these) then compatibility is the same near 100%* for every flash cart going assuming you can fit it on the cart (the likes of the EZ4 lite compact and M3 Pro series had a small limit as they were aimed at DS games, also some of the earlier carts and more recently the firecards only had 128Mbit where games eventually went up to 256Mbit, there is a bit of note in the 256Mbit world but not as much as most think).

2781 - Yggdra Union - We'll Never Fight Alone (Europe)
2770 - Harry Potter Collection (Europe)
2769 - The Legend of Spyro - The Eternal Night (Europe)
2748 - 4 Games on One Game Pak - GT Advance - GT Advance 2 - GT Advance 3 - Moto GP (USA)
2742 - The Legend of Spyro - The Eternal Night (USA)
2736 - 2 in 1 - Pferd & Pony - Mein Pferdehof + Lass Uns Reiten 2 (Germany)
2723 - 2 Games in 1 - Sonic Battle + ChuChu Rocket! (Europe)
2702 - GBA Video - Cartoon Network Collection - Edition Platinum (France)
2687 - 4 Games on One Game Pak - Nickelodeon (USA)
2649 - GBA Video - Yu-Gi-Oh! Yugi vs. Joey (France)
2648 - GBA Video - Turtles le Demenagement (France)
2647 - GBA Video - Cartoon Network Collection - Edition Speciale (France)
2642 - Strawberry Shortcake - Summertime Adventure - Special Edition (USA)
2637 - Shamu's Deep Sea Adventures (Europe)
2610 - Arthur and the Minimoys (Europe)
2603 - GBA Video - Cartoon Network Collection - Premium Edition (USA)
2589 - GBA Video - Nicktoons Volume 3 (USA)
2588 - My Animal Centre in Africa (Europe)
2575 - Lizzie McGuire 2 - Lizzie Diaries - Special Edition (USA)
2573 - Yggdra Union - We'll Never Fight Alone (USA)
2570 - Happy Feet (USA)
2564 - Happy Feet (Europe)
2558 - The Sims 2 - Pets (Europe)
2543 - The Sims 2 - Pets (USA)
2541 - Pokemon Mystery Dungeon - Red Rescue Team (Europe)
2526 - 2 in 1 GamePack - Spider-Man + Spider-Man 2 (USA)
2460 - Pokemon Mystery Dungeon - Red Rescue Team (USA)
2443 - Robots (Japan)
2424 - Yu-Gi-Oh! GX - Duel Academy (Europe)
2420 - Vecinos Invasores (Spain)
2410 - Yu-Gi-Oh! Double Pack (USA)
2395 - Crash & Spyro Superpack - Ripto's Rampage + The Cortex Conspiracy (USA)
2389 - Cinnamon Fuwafuwa Daisakusen (Japan)
2375 - Double Pack - Sonic Battle + Sonic Advance Plus (Japan)
2374 - Double Pack - Sonic Pinball Party + Sonic Battle (Japan)
2367 - GBA Video - Cartoon Network Collection - Edition Premium (France)
2351 - Mother 3 (Japan)
2341 - Crayon Shin chan - Densetsu wo Yobu Omake no Miyako Shockgaan (Japan)
2322 - Yggdra Union (Japan)
2320 - Yu-Gi-Oh! Ultimate Masters 2006 (Europe)
2317 - Yu-Gi-Oh! Ultimate Masters 2006 (USA)
2315 - Yu-Gi-Oh! Double Pack (Europe)
2299 - 2 Disney Games - Disney Sports Skateboarding + Football (Europe)
2296 - Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters Expert 2006 (Japan)
2286 - Double Game - Cartoon Network Block Party + Speedway (Europe)
2277 - Yu-Gi-Oh! GX - Duel Academy (USA)
2249 - Summon Night Craft Sword Monogatari - Hajimari no Ishi (Japan)
2233 - Shamu's Deep Sea Adventures (USA)
2215 - Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon - Aka no Kyuujotai (Japan)
2205 - 2 Games in 1 - Sonic Battle + Sonic Advance (Europe)
2204 - 2 Games in 1 - Sonic Pinball Party + Sonic Battle (Europe)
2200 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (USA)
2193 - Fire Emblem - The Sacred Stones (Europe)
2183 - The Sims 2 (USA)
2174 - Crash Superpack - N-Tranced + Nitro Kart (USA)
2164 - Crash & Spyro - Super Pack Volume 3 (Europe)
2160 - GBA Video - Cartoon Network Collection - Special Edition (USA)
2155 - Horse & Pony - Let`s Ride 2 (Europe)
2153 - Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters Gx - Mezase Duel King! (Japan)
2099 - Wagamama - Fairy Milmo de Pon! DokiDoki Memorial (Japan)
2078 - 2 Games in 1 - Spider-Man + Spider-Man 2 (Europe)
2059 - Steel Empire (Europe)
2042 - Bleach Advance (Japan)
2018 - Riviera - The Promised Land (USA)
2012 - Kouchu Ouja - Mushi King (Japan)
1974 - GBA Video - Cartoon Network Collection - Limited Edition (USA)
1968 - Kingdom Hearts - Chain of Memories (Europe)
1967 - GBA Video - The Proud Family - Volume 1 (USA)
1948 - GBA Video - Super Robot Monkey Team - Volume 1 (USA)
1946 - GBA Video - Disney Channel Collection - Volume 1 (USA)
1945 - GBA Video - Cartoon Network Collection - Platinum Edition (USA)
1944 - GBA Video - SpongeBob SquarePants - Volume 3 (USA)
1926 - Maya The Bee - Sweet Gold (Europe)
1806 - Kingdom Hearts - Chain of Memories (USA)
1792 - Cinnamon - Yume no Daibouken (Japan)
1790 - The Urbz - Sims in the City (Japan)
1743 - Kingdom Hearts - Chain of Memories (Japan)
1738 - Pferd & Pony - Mein Pferdehof (Europe)
1735 - The Urbz - Sims in the City (USA)
1711 - Ochainuken Kururin (Japan)
1690 - GBA Video - Cartoon Network Collection - Volume 2 (USA)
1668 - GBA Video - Nicktoons Collection - Volume 2 (USA)
1665 - GBA Video - Pokemon - Volume 4 (USA)
1664 - GBA Video - Pokemon - Volume 3 (USA)
1632 - GBA Video - Dragon Ball GT - Volume 1 (USA)
1564 - GBA Video - Yu-Gi-Oh! - Yugi vs. Joey - Volume 1 (USA)
1560 - GBA Video - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Volume 1 (USA)
1546 - GBA Video - The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius - Volume 1 (USA)
1543 - GBA Video - Nicktoon's Collection - Volume 1 (USA)
1540 - GBA Video - Codename Kids Next Door - Volume 1 (USA)
1539 - GBA Video - Cartoon Network Collection - Volume 1 (USA)
1532 - GBA Video - Pokemon - Volume 1 (USA)
1531 - GBA Video - Pokemon - Volume 2 (USA)
1506 - GBA Video - All Grown Up - Volume 1 (USA)
1504 - GBA Video - The Fairly Odd Parents - Volume 1 (USA)
1497 - GBA Video - Strawberry Shortcake - Volume 1 (USA)
1489 - GBA Video - Sonic X - Volume 1 (USA)
1487 - GBA Video - Dora the Explorer - Volume 1 (USA)
1469 - GBA Video - The Fairly Odd Parents - Volume 2 (USA)
1468 - GBA Video - SpongeBob SquarePants - Volume 2 (USA)
1467 - GBA Video - SpongeBob SquarePants - Volume 1 (USA)
1467 - GBA Video - SpongeBob SquarePants - Volume 1 (USA)
1456 - Tennis no Ouji-sama 2004 - Glorious Gold (Japan)
1456 - Tennis no Ouji-sama 2004 - Glorious Gold (Japan)
1455 - Tennis no Ouji-sama 2004 - Stylish Silver (Japan)
1455 - Tennis no Ouji-sama 2004 - Stylish Silver (Japan)
1408 - Mermaid Melody - Pichi Pichi Picchi Pichi Pichitto Live Start (Japan)
1330 - Minna no Ouji-sama (Japan)

+ the occasional rom hack that uses the extra space


*down the rabbit hole we go.
Trouble games
NES classics and later famicom mini. Patches available if you want but importantly there are emulators in pocketnes and HVCA that offer a superior experience.
If you are curious about what was done to protect them then a full analysis is available
https://mgba.io/2014/12/28/classic-nes/
Dragon Ball (Z?) titles. Some of the other few titles to have AP on the GBA. Patches http://gbatemp.net/threads/log1-2-3-ez-flash-iv.348556/#post-4655532
Yoshi universal gravitation/topsy turvy. Tilt sensor. Patches available http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1947 http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=2001 http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1799
Warioware twisted. Tilt sensor. Patches available http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1979
Koro Koro Puzzle - Happy Panechu!
Tilt sensor
http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=0408
Legendz series. Hardware addon (think spyro skylanders). Unpatched on anything mainly as it is extra hardware that needs sorting, there may be some scope to fix it though.
Plaston/Plastar Gate (Bouken Yuuki Pluster World - Densetsu no PlustoGate and another with EX on the end). Apparently another hardware thing a la legendz above, fixes available for both entries in the series.
http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1020
http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=2006
Boktai/Solar Boy Django. Solar sensors and RTC.
http://gbatemp.net/threads/boktai-solar-sensor-patch-kit.245127/ (do read the whole thread).
Pokemon games with RTC.
GBATA from http://www.no-intro.org/tools.htm is my preferred patch set/tool here for ruby and sapphire.
For emerald you might try
http://gbatemp.net/threads/any-rtc-...emerald-using-ez-flash-4.354231/#post-4767363
Megaman 4.5 had RTC or something if the people doing patches are to be believed, they should have also sorted that with any patch that arrives.
https://gbatemp.net/threads/mega-ma...lish-fan-translation-is-now-available.550942/
Top gun combat zones
http://www.advanscene.com/html/Releases/dbreleases.php?id=1906
Others
I have yet to confirm Samurai Deeper Kyo as having AP -- it seems to be an unwinnable first boss.
I think polarium has RTC. Polarium without a touchscreen though.....
Possibly one of the Tony Hawk games has RTC (you set a time at least).
The GBA videos for Shrek (whole films) have now been dumped and as expected used bankswitching. More info https://mgba.io/2015/10/20/dumping-the-undumped/
Update from the future. The EZFlash Omega Definitive Edition does support these larger format videos https://gbatemp.net/threads/ezflash...on-gba-flash-cart-in-house-at-gbatemp.581991/

Likewise I had an interesting discussion a few years back with a guy that had one of those tourist trap 90 in 1 (in reality 5 in one with a lot of cheats/mods) things where they were trying to dump it.

Hardware stuff.
The personal organiser game is probably the most notable and I think it has extra hardware.
Naturally the TV decoders, action replay/gameshark/codebreaker/xploder cheat stuff and the Ereader dumps will not do much of anything without their attendant hardware.
To the best of my knowledge the FM radio stuff was not hardware at all but simply used the GBA as a way to power it and did not speak to it at all.
As you might imagine the glucoboy will need its hardware as I am pretty sure the GBA and/or your chosen flash cart did not come with blood sugar detection hardware built in.

Homebrew. I know you deliberately did not mention it but pogoshell might cause some trouble somewhere as it was designed for certain carts and could exceed the 256Mbit limit. http://kuwanger.altervista.org/gba/pogoshell/ and http://kuwanger.altervista.org/gba/plugin2gba/ should sort that though.
Similarly I am told Flubba's PCE/TG16 emulator could use the extra RAM on the EZ3 to allow PCE-CD emulation. It might also work for the EZ4 but who knows.
Any other homebrew problems are almost always save (fixes/workarounds are readily available) or bad header (fix the header-- http://www.gameboy-advance.net/rom_tools/flash_advance_toolkit.htm and GBATA from http://www.no-intro.org/tools.htm , sometimes combined together, should do that) related.

GBA video. If you are running it on a GB player.
http://www.caitsith2.com/gba_video_arv3.htm has workarounds. Outside of morbid curiosity though do not run GBA video on a GB player as it will look awful.

Rare exceptions.
A handful of the 256 Mbit titles had some non FF/00 code at the end of it. I trimmed it manually without issue but I later heard that it might have actually been something.

Also trimming.
There were a few GBA games that did not work with GBA style trimming. The solution was do not trim or set a byte or three a couple of dozen bytes after the apparent end of the ROM to something other than 00 or FF and cause the trimmer to stop there and have the game still work.

Odd hacks. Some hacks seem to like changing one of the header bytes to something other than the 00 it is in every known game, my guess was as a flag of some form to prevent a high level editor from editing the game (I have seen such things a few times before).
The EZ4 seemingly uses this 00 as a header detection/end of string affair and if you write it to the NOR then it will not show up. Change it back to 00 and all is right with the world.
I have never seen an emulator only hack for the GBA.

Link issues. Save patching, reset patching and sleep mode type hacks seem to mess up the link timing for some games. Use VBAlink or disable the patching (rather than fiddle with saves you could always stick the unpatched game in a folder with the same name and it will load the appropriate save).

EZ4 specific stuff.
Some games seem to only save (write the save back to the EZ4) if they use 8:3 style naming. Not sure why but it happens and is easily solved by using 8:3 naming.

Gamecube hookups and DS hookups.
Various games for the GC and DS could speak to the GBA (slot) and load stuff from there. Naturally as flash carts patch for SRAM they do not have the flash and EEPROM often used by those games.
For most this means pokemon PAL park and whatever pokemon stadium was called on the GC. The former has a patch ( http://filetrip.net/nds-downloads/rom-hacks/download-pokepatch-42-f27240.html ) and the GC stuff is nowhere to be seen.
More generally the EZ4 kind of had support for DS just needing the game to be present and you could probably work around a lot with the GC if you thought it through. Most GC stuff wanting a hookup just wanted the GBA though.

That is quite literally every edge case I have ever encountered on the GBA, they are so few and far between and largely easily solved that compatibility is up there at that near 100% if you want it to be (give or take quibbles on how well you rate the fixes in the case of the tilt games). This is also why I have to frown at things like the supercard that mess this up.

 

[rharesh]

I already have two of them one I ordered from RHS and one from Ebluar... Now I am planning to order 2 more... I am not sure why I am so crazy about these flashcarts...

 

[galneon]

Thank you, FAST6191, that was exceptionally thorough I'll remain happy with my M3 bundle.

 

[bitbite]

I've just ordered a few EZ-flash IV's from RHS, im curious if this was old stock that was located or if this is a new batch / revision?

 

[rs1n]

I've just ordered a few EZ-flash IV's from RHS, im curious if this was old stock that was located or if this is a new batch / revision?

From what I gathered from the folks at ebluar.com, all the outlets selling EZ-Flash IV were likely told that the carts were delayed due to one of the onboard chips being temporarily out of production (for whatever reasons). It appears that all other outlets are also showing EZ Flash IV as being in stock; hopefully this means no SMCs needed to make the cart are out of production (anymore).

 

[NickRay]

From what I gathered from the folks at ebluar.com, all the outlets selling EZ-Flash IV were likely told that the carts were delayed due to one of the onboard chips being temporarily out of production (for whatever reasons). It appears that all other outlets are also showing EZ Flash IV as being in stock; hopefully this means no SMCs needed to make the cart are out of production (anymore).

So do you think they are shipping them? Or just that they have some coming in but not actually in stock?

 

[Count Duckula]

So do you think they are shipping them? Or just that they have some coming in but not actually in stock?

My RHS (hk) order just shipped today, so certainly looks like they have stock on hand currently.

 

[bitbite]

My RHS (hk) order just shipped today, so certainly looks like they have stock on hand currently.

RHS (HK) just msg'd me that their out of stock again, and waiting for another shipment to come to process the rest of their open orders for the EZ-flash IV.