gba slot for ds

[Sgt.Pepper1983]

Does anyone know if it's possible to replace the gba slot in a ds with the gba slot from a real gba? The gba slot in the ds will only play gba games, but a real gba will play all gb titles.

[shadow460]

It's possible, but you will still not be able to play DMG games. The DS lacks the processor found in the classic game boy. Also, I think there are voltage differences. IIRC, DMG carts run on a higher voltage from the slot than GBA carts do.

 

The same goes for Color cart as well--they run on a higher voltage, and the DS cannot play them.

[Video]

Actually, I think just the voltage is missing (no switch to switch between GB/C and GBA) I do know there are periphrials that allow you to use GB/C games in the DS though, I had one that I gave to a friend when he moved (and now can't seem to find another, but that's how it's supposed to work, right? )

[Warriorisabouttodie]

Actually, I think just the voltage is missing (no switch to switch between GB/C and GBA) I do know there are periphrials that allow you to use GB/C games in the DS though, I had one that I gave to a friend when he moved (and now can't seem to find another, but that's how it's supposed to work, right? )

 

There is no z80 cpu in the DS (although the DS phat was originally designed to have one and they left it out at the last minute). If you want to play GB/GBC games on your DS/DSL/DSi get a flashcart and run them through an emulator. It's the only option.

[Wickeycolumbus]

It's possible, but you will still not be able to play DMG games. The DS lacks the processor found in the classic game boy.

 

Are you sure about that? I know that is what many people say, and they also say that about the Gameboy Micro, which DOES have the z80. IIRC the z80 is embedded into the GBA CPU, so it would probably cost more money to redesign the CPU and leave out the z80. It would be very hard to get it to run actual gameboy cartridges though (voltage differences, as you said, as well as tricking it to use the z80).

[Ace_1]

The GameBoy Advance has everything consolidated on one chip: Z80, ARM, all other hardware. If the GameBoy Advance's hardware is included in something, unless the chip was redesigned(which, as Wickeycolumbus said, would cost more money), IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for the hardware not to have the Z80. STOP SAYING THE DS/GAMEBOY MICRO HAS NO Z80, IT'S BS!

[Warriorisabouttodie]

It seem's you are correct (about the Z80) read here:

 

The Nintendo DS is not compatible with games for the Game Boy Color and the original Game Boy, due to a slightly different form factor, voltage requirements, and the absence of the compatibility mode. The Sharp Z80 compatible processor used in the older systems is still included, and indeed necessary for some GBA games that use the older sound hardware.

 

 

 

Still the most practical way to get GB/GBC games to run on the DS is an emulator.

[Sgt.Pepper1983]

I was just curious because the ds my brother bought the week they hit the market would play gbc games. We never found out whether or not they would play gb games because we didn't have any at the time. I'm pissed that he sold it as soon as the dsl came out.

[Wickeycolumbus]

I was just curious because the ds my brother bought the week they hit the market would play gbc games.

 

Thats very interesting, I got mine launch week too, but it does not play the original gb/gbc games. I wonder if the first run was made compatible, but then they dropped the feature

[Warriorisabouttodie]

I was just curious because the ds my brother bought the week they hit the market would play gbc games.

 

Thats very interesting, I got mine launch week too, but it does not play the original gb/gbc games. I wonder if the first run was made compatible, but then they dropped the feature

 

 

I remember hearing something like this: that the orig DS Phats (pre-production) were GB/GBC

compatible and for whatever reason this option was removed. Maybe some of these models were

leaked out. I had an original release DS Phat but I never tried to play GB/GBC games. I sold mine when I picked up a DSL, so I can't try it out now :-(

 

If you had a DS phat that had GB/GBC compat. it would be a nice collectors item.

Edited July 1, 2009 by Warriorisabouttodie

[shadow460]

The GameBoy Advance has everything consolidated on one chip: Z80, ARM, all other hardware. If the GameBoy Advance's hardware is included in something, unless the chip was redesigned(which, as Wickeycolumbus said, would cost more money), IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for the hardware not to have the Z80. STOP SAYING THE DS/GAMEBOY MICRO HAS NO Z80, IT'S BS!

 

Your caps lock key is stuck.

While you're right about the Z80, there are, in fact, two ARM processors in there amongst everything else. I forget where I read that about the Z80. Then again, it might have been something I read about the DSi.

Edited July 1, 2009 by shadow460

[Wickeycolumbus]

While you're right about the Z80, there are, in fact, two ARM processors in there amongst everything else.

 

Ok, that is true (for the DS), but what is your point?

[malducci]

The GameBoy Advance has everything consolidated on one chip: Z80, ARM, all other hardware. If the GameBoy Advance's hardware is included in something, unless the chip was redesigned(which, as Wickeycolumbus said, would cost more money), IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for the hardware not to have the Z80. STOP SAYING THE DS/GAMEBOY MICRO HAS NO Z80, IT'S BS!

 

 

IIRC (it's been a long time since I've done GBC dev), the GBA doesn't have access to the z80 when in GBA mode. Port accessed audio regs have nothing to do with a cpu, regardless if it's on the same dye or not. The GBA mode has access to those regs, not the z80. And *if* that's correct (my memory, that is), the missing z80 from the DS *is* the reason why (and possibly that GB/GBC video modes are not available either) GB/C carts will not run - regardless of the port. Maybe you're confusing the setup wit the Genesis and the z80 available for use in Genesis mode?

[Video]

Actually, the GBA does have access to the Z80, maybe only in GBC mode, but it's there. (or maybe the GBC has access to the GBA, er) But that's what handles the Stretch screen when you hit L or R.

 

As the DS was released first in Japan, they may have a LOT of GBC compatible systems overthere, early importers, and a few lucky early buyers may have gotten them. Anyhow...

 

Nintendo's official "excuse" for not supporting GBC, is that it "ran the battery down to fast" (being 5 volt instead of 3) Though the real excuse is "we wanted to resell games on the GBA, and couldn't do that if it still supported GBC" Though honestly, I bought Super Mario Bros Delux, and had the GBA SMB classic evver been available, I would have bought it too (no, being released and being available are two different things) And a lot of people bought New Super Mario Bros for the DS (except me, sorry, $30 is my limit for a handheld game that doesn't have something else with it)

 

Like I said, way back when, i bought a thing, looked like a Gameshark, that allowed you to play DMG/Color games on the DS, now I can't find one eh. oh well.

 

As for replaceing the cart, I doubt there's a huge difference between the Color compat Phat DS, and the Non color compat Phat, probably as simple as the switch being left out. If that's the case, it would probably be quiet easy to add a switch to make it boot in GBC mode.

[Metalwario64]

As the DS was released first in Japan, they may have a LOT of GBC compatible systems overthere, early importers, and a few lucky early buyers may have gotten them. Anyhow..

Uh... The DS was released in America first...

11/20/04 US

12/02/04 JP

 

Like I said, way back when, i bought a thing, looked like a Gameshark, that allowed you to play DMG/Color games on the DS, now I can't find one icon_sad.gif eh. oh well.

Hmm... I think I know what you are talking about... Was it called a Gameboy Bridge?

 

As for replaceing the cart, I doubt there's a huge difference between the Color compat Phat DS, and the Non color compat Phat, probably as simple as the switch being left out. If that's the case, it would probably be quiet easy to add a switch to make it boot in GBC mode.

 

I was a very early adopter, and mine didn't support GBC games like all of the rest... Why do you think Nintendo would release a few early ones with GBC support? Where are you getting all of this from? Or am I misunderstanding you?

Edited July 4, 2009 by Metalwario64

[Warriorisabouttodie]

I never heard of this Gameboy bridge, if such a device existed then why isn't it available now? Im sure places like Dealextreme would sell quite a few of them.

[Wickeycolumbus]

Like I said, way back when, i bought a thing, looked like a Gameshark, that allowed you to play DMG/Color games on the DS, now I can't find one icon_sad.gif eh. oh well.

Hmm... I think I know what you are talking about... Was it called a Gameboy Bridge?

 

The Gameboy Bridge is a device that allows you to use a GBA flash cart on a GB/GBC IIRC.

[Metalwario64]

Like I said, way back when, i bought a thing, looked like a Gameshark, that allowed you to play DMG/Color games on the DS, now I can't find one icon_sad.gif eh. oh well.

Hmm... I think I know what you are talking about... Was it called a Gameboy Bridge?

 

The Gameboy Bridge is a device that allows you to use a GBA flash cart on a GB/GBC IIRC.

Quick Google search yielded "GB Bridge will let you play Gamboy Color roms on Gameboy Advance with GBA Flash Advance Card."

[Video]

As the DS was released first in Japan, they may have a LOT of GBC compatible systems overthere, early importers, and a few lucky early buyers may have gotten them. Anyhow..

Uh... The DS was released in America first...

11/20/04 US

12/02/04 JP

 

Like I said, way back when, i bought a thing, looked like a Gameshark, that allowed you to play DMG/Color games on the DS, now I can't find one icon_sad.gif eh. oh well.

Hmm... I think I know what you are talking about... Was it called a Gameboy Bridge?

 

As for replaceing the cart, I doubt there's a huge difference between the Color compat Phat DS, and the Non color compat Phat, probably as simple as the switch being left out. If that's the case, it would probably be quiet easy to add a switch to make it boot in GBC mode.

 

I was a very early adopter, and mine didn't support GBC games like all of the rest... Why do you think Nintendo would release a few early ones with GBC support? Where are you getting all of this from? Or am I misunderstanding you?

 

 

I don't know, from your own numbers, it still looks like the DS released in Japan first (though maybe that was supposed to be the other way around, I can't see Nintendo releasing something in US beffor Japan, maybe simultaneous but not first)

 

As I said, not all the DS's were compatiblee, but some of the very first run were, so it was probably a quick fix (or break) just by getting rid of the switch. I can't imagine a much bigger hardware revsion other than that.

 

If I can find a phat, I may take it apart and tinker with it (I thought about it anyways, I like it's form better, and would like to mod one with a lites screen)

[Wickeycolumbus]

Like I said, way back when, i bought a thing, looked like a Gameshark, that allowed you to play DMG/Color games on the DS, now I can't find one icon_sad.gif eh. oh well.

Hmm... I think I know what you are talking about... Was it called a Gameboy Bridge?

 

The Gameboy Bridge is a device that allows you to use a GBA flash cart on a GB/GBC IIRC.

Quick Google search yielded "GB Bridge will let you play Gamboy Color roms on Gameboy Advance with GBA Flash Advance Card."

 

Ah, I knew it was something to that effect (thats why I put the 'IIRC')

[Metalwario64]

Like I said, way back when, i bought a thing, looked like a Gameshark, that allowed you to play DMG/Color games on the DS, now I can't find one icon_sad.gif eh. oh well.

Hmm... I think I know what you are talking about... Was it called a Gameboy Bridge?

 

The Gameboy Bridge is a device that allows you to use a GBA flash cart on a GB/GBC IIRC.

Quick Google search yielded "GB Bridge will let you play Gamboy Color roms on Gameboy Advance with GBA Flash Advance Card."

 

Ah, I knew it was something to that effect (thats why I put the 'IIRC')

Yup, just wanted to create some back up!

Edited July 6, 2009 by Metalwario64

[gloriousconnor]

I remember reading about someone modding a DS Phat to play gb/gbc games but I think he lost compatibility with gba games.... I'll have to look around, he gave a step by step on how to do it

[Video]

He may have had it set to permanantly be 5 volt or something (no switch) so yeah, that wold loose compatibility with GBA.

 

A toggle would be better, let you manually switch between the two.

[Metalwario64]

I remember reading about someone modding a DS Phat to play gb/gbc games but I think he lost compatibility with gba games.... I'll have to look around, he gave a step by step on how to do it

That was proven to be fake. Many people on the Pocketheaven forums (who are into this kinda thing) have discussed this a long time ago. It is also obvious because the screenshot of Pokemon he uses has a yellow palette, which is not one of the default GBC palettes, but is the default palette of Goomba, a GB emulator for the GBA (there is a "yellow" palette on the GBC, but it looks nothing like the Goomba one... and the sprites are blue on the GBC "yellow" setting which they aren't on that screenshot.)

 

...Unless someone else made a different mod than the one I'm thinking of...

[Warriorisabouttodie]

This is a very interesting thread, but if GB/GBC compatibility were built into every GBA micro and DS and simply disabled or the provisions for the proper voltage were left out and that was it... well I just don't see why Nintendo would leave out that kind of compatibly ?!? Also, if it were possible to make a device that would enable GB/GBC compatibility on a DS then with the huge homebrew flash cart community out there someone would of done it.