Homebrew GBARunner2

[DSoryu]

Gotcha. Thanks ! Are those available ?

Not yet, they will be available once the hicode feature gets merged into the main branch.

 

[YoungK]

Not yet, they will be available once the hicode feature gets merged into the main branch.

Thanks buddy ! I’ll look out for that

 

[that_cereal_guy]

Hi everyone, I've been following this topic since last year, has anyone found a way to play Mother 3 Fan Translation without crashing? I understand GBARunner3 works but I couldn't make it work with my DSi XL.

 

[Flame]

Hi everyone, I've been following this topic since last year, has anyone found a way to play Mother 3 Fan Translation without crashing? I understand GBARunner3 works but I couldn't make it work with my DSi XL.

its GBARunner3 or nothing really. But how comes you couldn't get GBARunner3 to run? What problem you are having. We might help you with your problem.


· latest TwilightMenu++
· put latest GBARunner3.nds inside \_nds\TWiLightMenu\emulators
· GBA bios renamed as bios.bin inside the \_gba folder
· The configs folder from the repository inside of the \_gba folder, it should be \_gba\configs.
· GBARUNNER3_TEST = 1 text line under the [SRLOADER] section in \_nds\TWiLightMenu\settings.ini

 

[DSoryu]

Hi everyone, I've been following this topic since last year, has anyone found a way to play Mother 3 Fan Translation without crashing? I understand GBARunner3 works but I couldn't make it work with my DSi XL.

Please give more details, the ENG translation has been working since long ago.

 

[ChronoCrossfangirl2002]

Please give more details, the ENG translation has been working since long ago.

they might be trying to boot it via the frontend for GBAR3, i've had a similar issue where i just straight up thought the games didn't work until someone pointed out that the frontend isn't up to speed yet. though this is just a guess for this scenario.

 

[that_cereal_guy]

its GBARunner3 or nothing really. But how comes you couldn't get GBARunner3 to run? What problem you are having. We might help you with your problem.


· latest TwilightMenu++
· put latest GBARunner3.nds inside \_nds\TWiLightMenu\emulators
· GBA bios renamed as bios.bin inside the \_gba folder
· The configs folder from the repository inside of the \_gba folder, it should be \_gba\configs.
· GBARUNNER3_TEST = 1 text line under the [SRLOADER] section in \_nds\TWiLightMenu\settings.ini

Thanks! I did give it a try and I was able to boot it.

It's still in development for what I read so I might just wait for a while when it gets a formal release, for now, I guess I'll play the game using an emu, so far it's the only one that struggles.

Post automatically merged: Apr 13, 2025

Please give more details, the ENG translation has been working since long ago.

I boot and play just right, except, there's a point in the game where I have to heal using a hot spring and my character goes out of bounds and softlocks.

 

[DSoryu]

I boot and play just right, except, there's a point in the game where I have to heal using a hot spring and my character goes out of bounds and softlocks.

This issue shouldn't be occurring, it's a mirroring bug this game has, and was fixed since early GBARunner3 versions, so make sure you're not using GBArunner2 instead, which still has that issue.

If you followed the installation instructions correctly, you should be seeing this splash when booting any GBA game:

I'll write the instructions again:

To run Game Boy Advance ROMs in TwilightMenu++ using GBARunner3, follow these steps:

Requirements

• TwilightMenu++ version 27.5.0 or higher, update if you haven't yet.
• The latest hicode branch build of GBARunner3. Download it here
• A GBA BIOS (you must provide your own). Check this guide for more information.

Instructions

1. Extract the contents of the GBARunner3 (hicode branch) build ZIP file to the root of your SD card.
2. Copy GBARunner3.nds from your SD card root to _nds\TWiLightMenu\emulators in your SD card.
3. Obtain the GBA BIOS and rename it to bios.bin.
4. Place the GBA BIOS inside the _gba folder. The path should look like this: /_gba/bios.bin
5. Make sure the configuration folder is correctly placed. The configs folder must be inside _gba, like this: /_gba/configs/
6. Launch TwilightMenu++ and navigate to your GBA ROMs location.
7. Select a ROM and run it directly. You should see the GBARunner3 splash animation, followed by the GBA BIOS animation with the Nintendo logo.

To run Game Boy Advance ROMs in any flashcard kernel using gbar3-frontend + GBARunner3, follow these steps:

Requirements

• gbar3-frontend, get the latest version here.
• The latest hicode branch build of GBARunner3. Download it here
• A GBA BIOS (you must provide your own). Check this guide for more information.

Instructions

1. Extract the contents of the GBARunner3 (hicode branch) build ZIP file to the root of your SD card.
2. Obtain the GBA BIOS and rename it to bios.bin.
3. Place the GBA BIOS inside the _gba folder. The path should look like this: /_gba/bios.bin
4. Make sure the configuration folder is correctly placed. The configs folder must be inside _gba, like this: /_gba/configs/
5. Boot your flashcard kernel as usual, Launch gbar3-frontend.nds and navigate to your GBA ROMs location.
6. Select a ROM and run it directly. You should see the GBARunner3 splash animation, followed by the GBA BIOS animation with the Nintendo logo.
7. Bonus feature: This frontend will automatically boot to roms/gba if it exists.

 

[that_cereal_guy]

This issue shouldn't be occurring, it's a mirroring bug this game has, and was fixed since early GBARunner3 versions, so make sure you're not using GBArunner2 instead, which still has that issue.

If you followed the installation instructions correctly, you should be seeing this splash when booting any GBA game:

View attachment 497671

I'll write the instructions again:

To run Game Boy Advance ROMs in TwilightMenu++ using GBARunner3, follow these steps:

Requirements

• TwilightMenu++ version 27.5.0 or higher, update if you haven't yet.
• The latest hicode branch build of GBARunner3. Download it here
• A GBA BIOS (you must provide your own). Check this guide for more information.

Instructions

1. Extract the contents of the GBARunner3 (hicode branch) build ZIP file to the root of your SD card.
2. Copy GBARunner.nds to _nds\TWiLightMenu\emulators in your SD card.
3. Obtain the GBA BIOS and rename it to bios.bin.
4. Place the GBA BIOS inside the _gba folder. The path should look like this: /_gba/bios.bin
5. Make sure the configuration folder is correctly placed. The configs folder must be inside _gba, like this: /_gba/configs/
6. Launch TwilightMenu++ and navigate to your GBA ROMs location.
7. Select a ROM and run it directly. You should see the GBARunner3 splash animation, followed by the GBA BIOS animation with the Nintendo logo.

To run Game Boy Advance ROMs in any flashcard kernel using gbar3-frontend + GBARunner3, follow these steps:

Requirements

• gbar3-frontend, get the latest version here.
• The latest hicode branch build of GBARunner3. Download it here
• A GBA BIOS (you must provide your own). Check this guide for more information.

Instructions

1. Extract the contents of the GBARunner3 (hicode branch) build ZIP file to the root of your SD card.
2. Obtain the GBA BIOS and rename it to bios.bin.
3. Place the GBA BIOS inside the _gba folder. The path should look like this: /_gba/bios.bin
4. Make sure the configuration folder is correctly placed. The configs folder must be inside _gba, like this: /_gba/configs/
5. Boot your flashcard kernel as usual, Launch gbar3-frontend.nds and navigate to your GBA ROMs location.
6. Select a ROM and run it directly. You should see the GBARunner3 splash animation, followed by the GBA BIOS animation with the Nintendo logo.
7. Bonus feature: This frontend will automatically boot to roms/gba if it exists.

Thanks! but I don't understand what am I supposed to do here:

How exactly do I get access to the "GBARunner3.nds"?

 

[RocketRobz]

Thanks! but I don't understand what am I supposed to do here:

View attachment 497678

How exactly do I get access to the "GBARunner3.nds"?

You need to log into your GitHub account, and then download a build from the actions tab (which the above links should've brought you to).

 

[that_cereal_guy]

You need to log into your GitHub account, and then download a build from the actions tab (which the above links should've brought you to).

Thanks! after a lot of attemps, I was able to boot the game using an Acekard 2i, couldn't make it boot from TwilightMenu, but I'm happy to say that it works for Flashcards.

 

[Deleted member 702243]

Thanks! after a lot of attemps, I was able to boot the game using an Acekard 2i, couldn't make it boot from TwilightMenu, but I'm happy to say that it works for Flashcards.

for twilight menu you have to put gbarunner3.gba in the twilight menu/emulators folder, and make sure your version of twilight menu is new enough. if gbarunner3.nds is in that folder, then running a .gba rom should go through gbarunner3 instead of gbarunner2

and make sure you have the bios in _gba/bios.bin

or you might be able to just run the frontend from twilight menu, it's an extra step but I don't see why that wouldnt also work

 

[YoungK]

Anyone have Jet Grind Radio working on either gbarunner 2 or 3? So far I get a black screen after the first tutorial

 

[DSoryu]

Anyone have Jet Grind Radio working on either gbarunner 2 or 3? So far I get a black screen after the first tutorial

That game needs manual JIT patches to work, which aren't included in the repo yet.

EDIT: I already gave you an answer for the same question some time ago...

 

[YoungK]

That game needs manual JIT patches to work, which aren't included in the repo yet.

EDIT: I already gave you an answer for the same question some time ago...View attachment 497920

Yes sorry was just checking to see if the hicode version of gbarunner3 updated 6 or so days ago resolved it. I tested it but figured I’d check

Sorry for the somewhat redundant post and thank you for the response

 

[DSoryu]

Yes sorry was just checking to see if the hicode version of gbarunner3 updated 6 or so days ago resolved it. I tested it but figured I’d check

Sorry for the somewhat reducing post and thank you for the response

No worries , here's an update for you:

I made the necessary manual JIT patches for Jet Set(Grind) Radio, just unzip this inside the _gba/configs folder

 

[YoungK]

No worries , here's an update for you:

I made the necessary manual JIT patches for Jet Set(Grind) Radio, just unzip this inside the _gba/configs folder

Much appreciated! Been playing Jet Set Radio Future and been eager to try the GBA one. Have an amazing day!

EDIT UPDATE: Ended up still encountering the black screen after the first loading sequence in the tutorial. PM’d a few more details. Also your work is great appreciated by the community

 

[that_cereal_guy]

for twilight menu you have to put gbarunner3.gba in the twilight menu/emulators folder, and make sure your version of twilight menu is new enough. if gbarunner3.nds is in that folder, then running a .gba rom should go through gbarunner3 instead of gbarunner2

and make sure you have the bios in _gba/bios.bin

or you might be able to just run the frontend from twilight menu, it's an extra step but I don't see why that wouldnt also work

I'm confused because there's not a "gbarunner3.gba" in the folder, only these that are inside the _nds folder, an nothing inside the "emulators" folder:

Finally, I did play Mother 3 Fan Translation and I noticed the audio isn't perfect, don't know if it's because the way it plays using the Flashcard method and the GBARunner3 has an ARM7 mode that boost performance on DSi.

Post automatically merged: Apr 17, 2025

You need to log into your GitHub account, and then download a build from the actions tab (which the above links should've brought you to).

I realized the guide provided doesn't account DSi, which is why I was struggling to get it to work. Are there any updated guides specifically designed for the aformented console? is there a GBARunner3 version available?

 

[DSoryu]

I'm confused because there's not a "gbarunner3.gba" in the folder, only these that are inside the _nds folder, an nothing inside the "emulators" folder:

View attachment 498722

View attachment 498726

Finally, I did play Mother 3 Fan Translation and I noticed the audio isn't perfect, don't know if it's because the way it plays using the Flashcard method and the GBARunner3 has an ARM7 mode that boost performance on DSi.

Post automatically merged: Apr 17, 2025

I realized the guide provided doesn't account DSi, which is why I was struggling to get it to work. Are there any updated guides specifically designed for the aformented console? is there a GBARunner3 version available?

GBArunner3 is programmed to work on any DS console model, there isn't any specific version, you just need to follow the provided instructions and it should work right away.

 

[Deleted member 702243]

I'm confused because there's not a "gbarunner3.gba" in the folder, only these that are inside the _nds folder, an nothing inside the "emulators" folder:

yes that's why you have to put it in there yourself

it's gbarunner3.nds also, I made a brain fart. it's not .gba