Gameboy Advance Programming

1
Gameboy Advance Programming
2
Outline

• Overview of the GBA
• Programming environments (HAM, DevKitArm)
• Protoytping on hardware(Flashcart, xboo,
  wireless)
• Project Ideas?

3
Programming With HAM

• HAM is a free GBA development kit
• Visual Ham IDE(Windows only)
• Source code examples
• Uses Hamlib
• Used in commercial development
• Programming GBA book unreleased but free to read
  online. Written by Johnathon S. Harbour. Source
  code costs 12.00 to download.

4
Programming with DevKitARM

• DevKitARM is part of the DevKitPro package. This
  package includes toolchains for development on
  the GBA, NDS, GP32, PSP, and Gamecube.

5
Prototyping with flash carts

• Flash carts allow a program to be loaded into the
  memory of a GBA-like cartridge. Some allow roms
  of legitimate GBA games to be made(legal?).
• Carts retail for 25.00 before shipping.

6
Prototyping with xboo

• Xboo is a program able to send multiboot programs
  to your GBA with the use of a xboo cable. The
  cable is easy to make. It requires a parallel
  port(what is that?). Programs are limited to the
  size of the internal RAM of the GBA.
• Cost A few dollars for the link cable and
  parallel adapter.

7
Prototyping over wireless

• Multiboot programs can be loaded onto the NDS
  over a wireless connection
• Only for Windows
• Works only for specific wireless adapters
• Still limit in size?
• Cost

8
Project Ideas

• Game(duh) Platformer, FPS?
• Music application
• External Peripheral Interfacing use of
  accelerometers for wiimote-like interaction.
• Wireless sniffer using DS(war.DSing?)

9
Links

• HAM Kit http//www.ngine.de/article/id/40/
• Unofficial Guide to GBA Programming
  http//theharbourfamily.com/jonathan/?page_id89
• DevKitPro http//www.devkitpro.org/
• Xboo communicator http//www.devkitpro.org/downlo
  ads.shtml
• NDS WiFi Multiboot tutorial http//www.aaronroger
  s.com/nintendods/wifime.php
• Tonc Guide to programming GBA http//www.coranac.
  com/tonc/text/
• VisualBoy Advance GBA Emulator
  http//vba.ngemu.com/