Emulation Full SGB Emulation on GBA?

[Bart Lemming]

I know I can use SGB borders with Goomba Color but I would really like to mess around with full SGB functionality. For example DK uses built in SGB sounds and Galaga/Galaxian allows multiple borders and a colour scheme I can't find by going through all the palettes I've found.

Is it even possible to fully emulate the Super Game Boy? Has it been attempted? Has it been achieved and I've just missed it? All answers on a postcard!

 

[thaddius]

I imagine that would involve SNES emulation, which the GBA does poorly. I'm not even sure if you can run GB© games through a Super Game Boy ROM in a SNES emulator...

EDIT: A quick google search has told me that the Super Game Boy has GB hardware in it, so not only would a GBA have to emulate SNES hardware, but also GB hardware as well. Difficult to say the least.

 

[Bart Lemming]

I figured about the SNES emulation but surely you wouldn't have to emulate the full machine. I suppose it would have to be a specific SGB emulator if you know what I mean... one bit Gameboy + one bit SNES. I'm unsure if it's SGB or SNES hardware which generates the custom sounds but obviously that would have to be taken into account.

I haven't a clue how one would go about something like that but I'm pretty sure a genius like FluBBa could suss. If only he was still around the GBA scene...

 

[thaddius]

Someone might get to it eventually, but for now you can always fire up the ol' SNES and play that way...

The main problem with the Super Game Boy is that it doesn't play GBC games (those that are in the clear cases with no notch in the corner). Seems like there wouldn't be much interest for that.

 

[JulietStMoon]

My understanding has always been that the Gameboy Color and Game Boy Advance features full Super Gameboy functionality, except the borders. But I could be totally wrong.

 

[Deleted-236924]

My understanding has always been that the Gameboy Color and Game Boy Advance features full Super Gameboy functionality, except the borders. But I could be totally wrong.

Well, you are.

 

[JulietStMoon]

Ah. What functionality is it missing, then? I noticed that GBC and GBA work with the built in super gameboy color palettes that some regular gameboy games had. I thought it also had the special sound features, but I guess not.

 

[Bart Lemming]

Some games, like Donkey Kong, actually use different sound hardware to produce the soundtrack - sometimes with extra things like voice samples et cetera.

A particularly strong example of Super Gameboy recognition by a game would probably be the GB version of Space Invaders. When the cart is plugged in to the SGB it actually unlocks a full SNES version of Space Invaders!

There are loads of other examples like on screen multiplayer modes for beat 'em ups to full colour like the Galaga/Galaxian cart.

Lots of cool stuff that can't be got at any other way than through the SGB...

 

[JulietStMoon]

that's pretty sweet!

 

[Bart Lemming]

Certainly is! That's why I'd like to see it emulated somehow. Maybe some GC/GBP thingy could be implemented? It's all pipe dreams though...

 

[Deleted-236924]

Ah. What functionality is it missing, then? I noticed that GBC and GBA work with the built in super gameboy color palettes that some regular gameboy games had. I thought it also had the special sound features, but I guess not.

The color palettes given to regular GB titles are different than the color palettes used when the game is played in SGB-mode.
The difference is especially visible if you compare Pokémon Red/Blue on a GBC and Red/Blue on a SGB.

 

[Chaos Rush]

Some games, like Donkey Kong, actually use different sound hardware to produce the soundtrack - sometimes with extra things like voice samples et cetera.

A particularly strong example of Super Gameboy recognition by a game would probably be the GB version of Space Invaders. When the cart is plugged in to the SGB it actually unlocks a full SNES version of Space Invaders!

There are loads of other examples like on screen multiplayer modes for beat 'em ups to full colour like the Galaga/Galaxian cart.

Lots of cool stuff that can't be got at any other way than through the SGB...

That's because the Space Invaders cartridge contains two separate roms. The Game Boy and SNES have different architectures and can't share code. When you put the Space Invaders Game Boy cartridge into a Super Game Boy, what it does is that it loads a SNES rom from the Game Boy cartridge. Yes, the Space Invaders Game Boy cartridge contains a SNES rom.

http://blog.scoutsho...oy-introduction
http://blog.scoutsho...-fighting-games
http://blog.scoutsho...boy-donkey-kong
http://blog.scoutsho...re-playing-with
http://blog.scoutshonour.com/post/2487450388/fuck-the-super-gameboy-kirbys-dream-land-2

 

[JulietStMoon]

That's because the Space Invaders cartridge contains two separate roms. The Game Boy and SNES have different architectures and can't share code. When you put the Space Invaders Game Boy cartridge into a Super Game Boy, what it does is that it loads a SNES rom from the Game Boy cartridge. Yes, the Space Invaders Game Boy cartridge contains a SNES rom.

http://blog.scoutsho...oy-introduction
http://blog.scoutsho...-fighting-games
http://blog.scoutsho...boy-donkey-kong
http://blog.scoutsho...re-playing-with

Most engaging...

 

[LoggerMan]

DSTWO handles this okay on any DS, SGB emulation I mean. Except, of course, that some of the image is slightly cut off at the top and bottom. And some games run extremely poorly or not at all. If you have a DSi XL then I would recommend it, as the pixels on the XL are only slightly larger than the original pixel size on the original GB.

But still, those games won't run, especially games with FMV or any actual audio clips. Road Rash doesn't work either. These are due to the DSTWO GB emulation to begin with, and nothing to do with SGB emulation.

Actually, now that I think about it, I'm not certain that the DSTWO does full SGB emulation, or if it just draws the border. Either way, GB emulation on the XL is the only reason I do not regret buying the XL and a DSTWO.

 

[JulietStMoon]

I think it just does the border... I've played Donkey Kong 94 on my SuperCard, and it doesnt have any of the borders or special colors that the SGB has.