Homebrew How to use Cheats with GBA Virtual Console

[Arecaidian Fox]

@Alex S https://3ds.hacks.guide/godmode9-usage
There's a whole section in there about dumping and restoring GBA saves, on top of other usages.

 

[MagnesG]

Yup, I solved it. Turns out I did not update my godmode9 so the option for agsb.bin is missing previously, I was mislead in assuming the format needed is different. Update godmode9 guys, then follow the guide in 3ds.hacks, it's that easy actually.

Also I wanna share my experience in using this, 3 games I've played for at least couple of hours each got their saves corrupted at the end sadly. 2 of them crashed randomly while one of them having serious slowdowns (MMBN3). Cheats had also been tested before in pc (they're okay except MMBN) and accordingly to the rules (no master code, no blank choice codes). Personally I think the best choice is to mod your saves beforehand or just apply cheats in it using your emulator then inject that saves like above. Game on a clean slate with no fear of losing your progress.

 

[ninjistix]

Yup, I solved it. Turns out I did not update my godmode9 so the option for agsb.bin is missing previously, I was mislead in assuming the format needed is different. Update godmode9 guys, then follow the guide in 3ds.hacks, it's that easy actually.

Also I wanna share my experience in using this, 3 games I've played for at least couple of hours each got their saves corrupted at the end sadly. 2 of them crashed randomly while one of them having serious slowdowns (MMBN3). Cheats had also been tested before in pc (they're okay except MMBN) and accordingly to the rules (no master code, no blank choice codes). Personally I think the best choice is to mod your saves beforehand or just apply cheats in it using your emulator then inject that saves like above. Game on a clean slate with no fear of losing your progress.

that's specifically with MMBN series, they have some heavy anti cheat methods in the games code, from MMBN3+ they have anti cheat measure, from either delete all your zeni, corrupt your chip library, straight up deleting your sav data, making npcs not talk to you, or the worse offence you endup in a bugged battle with no chips -.-.

 

[MagnesG]

that's specifically with MMBN series, they have some heavy anti cheat methods in the games code, from MMBN3+ they have anti cheat measure, from either delete all your zeni, corrupt your chip library, straight up deleting your sav data, making npcs not talk to you, or the worse offence you endup in a bugged battle with no chips -.-.

Now that's kind of ironic, since the only game I've ended up playing is MMBN3. Clean cia with full library save emu preloaded, and I've given up on other titles for now. Havin' a good time.

 

[Arecaidian Fox]

Now that's kind of ironic, since the only game I've ended up playing is MMBN3. Clean cia with full library save emu preloaded, and I've given up on other titles for now. Havin' a good time.

Hey there, I'm glad you got GM9 working! As for the MMBN series, ninjistix is absolutely correct about the heavy anti-cheat in 3 and up, and the series in general doesn't hold up to cheat patching well. There's several games that exhibit issues. For example, Boktai 2 pretty much gets permanent slow motion and a host of other problems, a lot of the Fire Emblem games on the GBA have slowdowns in certain places after cheat patching. Others like Fullmetal Alchemist only get minor visual bugs, like a pixel on a sprite being color inverted. Now, most games do indeed patch just fine, but just be aware that it's not perfect.

 

[Leobgood]

Thanks for 'how to ' info.

 

[MattM]

Will this work with VC and GBA games using forwarders such Forwarder3DS and I think I am also using TwiLight Menu++

 

[ninjistix]

Will this work with VC and GBA games using forwarders such Forwarder3DS and I think I am also using TwiLight Menu++

as long as the cheats are patched to the rom, it doesn't matter how you play it, cheats will be active on every platform regardless

 

[MattM]

as long as the cheats are patched to the rom, it doesn't matter how you play it, cheats will be active on every platform regardless

Wow. I tested on two games and worked great. Default Menu is a bit ugly but no biggie. Is there a way to do something like this for the Original DS games? I have played around with NTR and Luma cheats for 3DS, but not sure about regular DS. Thanks!

 

[ninjistix]

Wow. I tested on two games and worked great. Default Menu is a bit ugly but no biggie. Is there a way to do something like this for the Original DS games? I have played around with NTR and Luma cheats for 3DS, but not sure about regular DS. Thanks!

last i checked twlight menu worked with usercheat.dat

 

[MattM]

Honestly, I find importing CHT files to be hit and miss (mostly miss). Make sure your codes are CodeBreaker format and cut and paste them into GBAATM manually.

Hi. I am a bit confused with how to use this site. I don't understand what Format means and if I try to download the cheats it creates a php file. And I don't understand which codes to use where there seems to be multiples for same cheat such as Infinite Health. What does AR34, AR12, CB mean? Which code is the correct one to use?

Example: If I wanted to create a custom cheat for Link to the Past for example, where I only want 999 rupees and Infinite Health would I just insert:

Must Be On:
000039C7 000A
10068310 0007

Infinite Health:
EB0D090B EEE6644A

 

[MattM]

last i checked twlight menu worked with usercheat.dat

Hi. Thanks. I downloaded the cheat database files but not sure how to install any of the cheats for my setup. I don't have a flashcart.

 

[ninjistix]

Hi. Thanks. I downloaded the cheat database files but not sure how to install any of the cheats for my setup. I don't have a flashcart.

take a look at https://gbatemp.net/threads/ds-i-3d...-ds-i-games-and-ds-i-menu-replacement.472200/ and the github page has setup instrcutions on where to place the cheat file. and as for the cheat db you should get the one from @DeadSkullzJr

 

[MattM]

take a look at https://gbatemp.net/threads/ds-i-3d...-ds-i-games-and-ds-i-menu-replacement.472200/ and the github page has setup instrcutions on where to place the cheat file. and as for the cheat db you should get the one from @DeadSkullzJr

Ok, well I do have Twilight Menu already installed, but I am now bypassing it and my games are using forwarders so they show on Home screen instead of using Twilight. I can't seem to find anything on Github of how to install the cheat.dat. And all the actual cheat files are .scc which I am not sure what to do with that. Do you have a link to setup instruction on Github?

 

[ninjistix]

Ok, well I do have Twilight Menu already installed, but I am now bypassing it and my games are using forwarders so they show on Home screen instead of using Twilight. I can't seem to find anything on Github of how to install the cheat.dat. And all the actual cheat files are .scc which I am not sure what to do with that. Do you have a link to setup instruction on Github?

as of twlight menu++ https://github.com/RocketRobz/TWiLightMenu/tree/v7.3.0

Cheat menu can now be accessed on all themes!

• You will need to move usrcheats.dat from sd:/_nds/TWiLightMenu/cheats to sd:/_nds/TWiLightMenu/extras.

note the above link is not the latest release its just the most recent instructions on where cheats go, and to activate cheats your have to press X+Y to bring up the menu i think... dunno i don't use twilight menu, i have a flash cart.

 

[SoleCrusherTheFirst]

Do you know how to fix the problem that says "The 1M sub-circuit board is not installed" It makes it to were I cant save and or use the old save I had for the game. (Pokemon Fire Red In case you were wondering.)

 

[ninjistix]

Do you know how to fix the problem that says "The 1M sub-circuit board is not installed" It makes it to were I cant save and or use the old save I had for the game. (Pokemon Fire Red In case you were wondering.)

it sounds like the save type for your rom got changed form 128k, https://www.pokemoncoders.com/fix-1m-sub-circuit-board-not-installed-error/

 

[SoleCrusherTheFirst]

it sounds like the save type for your rom got changed form 128k

Thanks I'm Trying that right now (I kept the first patch) and when I tried to convert it to a CIA and yeah it did change to 512K instead of 128K so thanks!!!
EDIT: It still didn't work for some reason. Is there any other way I can check???
EDIT 2: I loaded a non-modified rom and it gave the options it loaded originally for the modified one and In case you were wondering yes I have tried using the hex editor option still didn't work (16MB Rom SIze and 512KB for Save Type)
Last Edit (Hopefully): I fixed the save problem using hex and regular options.

 

[SoleCrusherTheFirst]

Now I cant open The Trainer Card (It freezes)

 

[bigtukker]

I seem to have trouble when loading a .cht file (more specifically the Pokémon Emerald (UE) one). It seems to crash when I load it.