Emulation GBA Game Link Cable Emulation

[Matt P]

Hi all,

I’m organising a Technōs Japan Double Dragon marathon with some friends less than a week from now. My friends love Double Dragon 1 to 3 arcade and NES versions and even Super Double Dragon for the SNES.

My friends however are unfamiliar with GBA’s Double Dragon Advance – and I want to convince them how brilliant it is. We’re going to be playing these games on Windows emulators on a big screen TV. The thing is, there will be four of us and there is no way they will allow a one player game (Double Dragon Advance is one player, unless you have two GBAs and a Game Link Cable).

Now for two questions you’ve probably all heard a thousand times and are thoroughly sick of:
* Is VBA Link the only GBA Windows emulator which includes Game Link Cable emulation?
* Double Dragon Advance is not currently listed as working with VBA Link (http://www.vbalink.info/gba-roms-multiplayer.htm) - is this information accurate and up-to-date?

If the answer to these two questions is “yes” then it must be currently impossible to emulate 2 player Double Dragon Advance on Windows.

I also have two identical Android phones running Double Dragon Advance on GameBoid but I assume it’s not possible to link these for a two player game?

I realise information on this subject is abundant on the internet but I have less than a week to figure this out. Any help or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Matt P

 

[zerofalcon]

You can use Myboy! (Gba Android emulator) for multiplayer games. No$gba (Gba pc emulator) has link cable emulation too. I already tested Myboy! and I can tell you it runs well, very little lag every minute or so.

Edit: Ignore that list, Double Dragon Advance works in Vbalink single computer mode in Link options (I tested a few minutes ago vbalink180b Lan / Wifi Edition)...

Final edit: Use no$GBA for windows, it runs way better than vbalink for link cable emulation, download the freeware version here http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm and follow the instructions for link play here http://www.emulator-zone.com/doc.php/gba/nocashgba.html

good luck!

 

[Lycan911]

I also tested My Boy!, and I can say that it worked flawlessly for me! You can play with other phones, or just run 2 roms at the same time on the same device. Best GBA emulator on Android in my opinion.

 

[GHANMI]

Just in case, here's the VBA Link compatibility list for VBA-M:

Working:
Advance Wars
Advance Wars 2 - Black Hole Rising
Bubble Bobble Old & New
Digimon Battle 1&2
Driver 2 Advance
Fire Emblem
Golden Sun
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Inspector Gadget Racing
Jazz Jackrabbit
Kirby - Nightmare in Dreamland
Kirby: The Great Mirror Labyrinth
Mario Golf
Mech Platoon
Pokemon Leaf Green Rom Fire RedMegaman Battle Network 2
Megaman Battle Network 3
Megaman Battle Network 4
Mega Man 1-5
Pokemon Fire Red
Pokemon Leaf Green
Pokemon Ruby
Pokemon Sapphire
Shining Soul
Shining Soul II
Sonic Advance
Sonic Advance 3
Sonic Battle
Tetris World
The Sims Bustin' Out
V-Rally 3
Zelda: Four Swords

When playing Zelda: Four Swords, you have to set Timeout in Options/Link to above 10000 or below 200 (these values worked for me) - anything in between might make the game not link.

If you want to use save files, you must rename them - the save file extension for VBA #1 is .sa1 (e.g. Pokemon Ruby.sa1), for #2 .sa2 etc. (the same is true for savestates - #1 has .sg1 etc.) - another solution is to import them, that works too.

NEW! Yu-gi-oh should work now

NOT working:
Super Mario Advance (perhaps uses a different link mode)

The e-reader, as well as lots (but not all) of the GBA/GC Link are not properly emulated.

 

[Matt P]

Hi zerofalcon, NikolaMiljevic and GHANMI,

Success, I have 2 player mode working in No$GBA - thanks!

Ideally I would like to achieve 2 player mode without the "dual screen" display. I understand that what I'm asking would not represent true emulation...nonetheless a single screen display would be more practical for my purposes. Any ideas? (zerofalcon’s VBA screenshots suggest that VBA makes it possible to just minimise one screen display and maximise the other).

Thanks,

Matt P

PS. I will try 2 player mode in My Boy! tomorrow.

 

[Lakum]

You can use Myboy! (Gba Android emulator) for multiplayer games. No$gba (Gba pc emulator) has link cable emulation too. I already tested Myboy! and I can tell you it runs well, very little lag every minute or so.

Edit: Ignore that list, Double Dragon Advance works in Vbalink single computer mode in Link options (I tested a few minutes ago vbalink180b Lan / Wifi Edition)...

Final edit: Use no$GBA for windows, it runs way better than vbalink for link cable emulation, download the freeware version here http://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm and follow the instructions for link play here http://www.emulator-zone.com/doc.php/gba/nocashgba.html

good luck!

View attachment 9260

What game is in these screenshots ?

 

[zerofalcon]

The one I uploaded is Double Dragon Advance, the screenshot on the page with instructions is Zelda four swords.

 

[Matt P]

Update
I have 2 player mode working with My Boy! It is excellent! I connected via Bluetooth (I assume that's the way, without a wireless internet connection)?

We're also using 2 x Bluetooth FC30 controllers - replica Nintendo Famicom controllers. Thanks!

 

[zerofalcon]

You can use WiFi tethering or Adhoc Wifi mode (if supported) on both devices, I guess its even faster than bluetooth, but if it works fine, it's just a matter of taste. Congrats and have fun!

 

[Matt P]

zerofalcon,

You've been a big help - thanks! Will you forgive my ignorance if I ask you a few more questions?

My Boy! WiFi Tethering Or Ad Hoc WiFi
* Do either or both the Androids require an internet connection to link?

No$GBA 2 Players - But With Just One Screen Display
* Is it possible? How do you configure it?

VBALink 1.72 LAN Edition And VBALink 1.8 LAN / WiFi Edition
* Do either or both of these require an internet connection to link?

Thanks,

Matt

 

[zerofalcon]

Hi! no worries I'm glad I can help you...

Both pc emulators can't work as standalone screen when linking emulation (maybe using two computers with vbalink should work), sorry, perhaps the only way to achieve what you want is to somehow connect your android device to a TV (if supported), then you link both devices and both players can share the same screen while playing.

No, no need of an active internet connection for wifi adhoc mode or wifi tethering with My Boy!.


Hope it helps!

 

[Matt P]

zerofalcon,

I can't Link my two Androids via Wi-Fi.
* Should I have Wi-Fi and Mobile Data switched on or off in the Android settings?
* What are the steps in My Boy! to link two Androids?

 

[zerofalcon]

Hi! Yes, you need to switch on mobile data before activate wifi tethering (sometimes refered as wifi hotspot). Configure you personal settings for the access point and proceed to connect the second device. The steps to connect via wifi with "my boy!" are almost the same as with bluetooth, choose Link remote, then for one device choose Wi-Fi (server), a message will appear showing "waiting for incoming connection.. IP: 123.456.7.8 Port:6374 (note: the IP address I show is just an example, the port is always the same). On the second device choose Link remote again, now choose Wi-Fi (client), type the IP address and port, then hit connect and both emulators will be linked.

 

[Matt P]

Thanks for your help zerofalcon - I'll keep at it.

 

[AdamN]

VBA-M svn1030e support GB/GBC Link, VBA Cable Link (upto 4 players), and VBA Wireless Link (upto 5 players), also better Joybus
Win32 Build & Source code available here http://vba-m.com/forum/Thread-vba-m-r1030e-sourcecode

 

[Michael Liem]

can i link android with pc?

 

[migles]

can i link android with pc?

pretty sure you can't, this would require compatible emulators...

note this is a 2014 thread