Support NeoGAF

[DSFan1970]

Debate with a friend: Could a GBA game played in a DS be programed to be played over WI-FI (like Mario Kart) if a developer wanted to do it? I say yes.

I know it's a little stupid: just make it a DS game, but we were just curious.

 

[neptunes]

uhh I don't believe GBA software has access to any of the other DS API's when running in GBA (ARM 7) mode.

 

[Mejilan]

Nintendo confirmed in an interview well before the DS came out that yes, a GBA game could theoretically be programmed to take advantage of select DS features, much like GBC games could be (and in some cases, were) programmed to take advantage of the GBA.

At this point, however, it won't happen.

 

[Mihail]

Which Color games took advantage of GBA features? Please tell me before Liu Kang comes in.

 

[Forgotten Ancient]

Which Color games took advantage of GBA features? Please tell me before Liu Kang comes in.

I only know of the oracle zelda games that would give you bonuses if you played in a GBA. Beyond that, I'm not sure.

 

[Bartman3010]

Shantae had an extra level and better colorization. (Plus had brighter colors to accomidate the old GBA's darker screen.

*Sigh* I wish I had Shantae.

 

[CO_Andy]

Still waiting for Shantae Advance...

 

[Parallax Scroll]

*Sigh* I wish I had Shantae.

Someone once told me that it rox.

 

[Deleted member 284]

*Sigh* I wish I had Shantae.

How much is it going for now?

 

[Gazunta]

I think there was a GBC Sabrina The Teenage Witch game that had an Advance level in it.

However AFAIK there's no way a GBA can detect it's in a DS and go on to use its hardware. I tried to get that to happen in TY 3 GBA but was told it wasn't possible. Whether or not it's REALLY not possible or the programmers were just sick to death of me asking for new features is debatable

 

[DSFan1970]

Nintendo confirmed in an interview well before the DS came out that yes, a GBA game could theoretically be programmed to take advantage of select DS features, much like GBC games could be (and in some cases, were) programmed to take advantage of the GBA.

At this point, however, it won't happen.

Yeah, I do realize that they will never do this. We were just wondering of WiFi and TouchScreen abilities would be available to a GBA catridge. I guess in a limited way it seems. I think Daigasso Band Brothers uses a song add on catridge to supplement the DS game which prompted this debate with my friend.

 

[joshschw]

Yeah, I do realize that they will never do this. We were just wondering of WiFi and TouchScreen abilities would be available to a GBA catridge. I guess in a limited way it seems. I think Daigasso Band Brothers uses a song add on catridge to supplement the DS game which prompted this debate with my friend.

DS Games can access GBA slot, and GBA features, but not the othe way around.

 

[:Motorbass]

DS Games can access GBA slot, and GBA features, but not the othe way around.

This is why homebrewers need that Pass-Me / Wifi-Me stuff to run Code from a GBA-Card in DS Mode (like for Double Screen/ Touchscreen, Mic etc. features).

I doubt that there is a secret "password" to activate it otherwise.

 

[Azure Dream]

However AFAIK there's no way a GBA can detect it's in a DS and go on to use its hardware. I tried to get that to happen in TY 3 GBA but was told it wasn't possible.

Not to brown-nose or anything, but it's cool to hear that you at least tried. The subject had always interested me, but the big red flag was when I read how oddly DS functions were divided up, down to (and I'm still not sure this is right) the ARM7, because it handles the GBA-related tasks, is the one that tracks B and A input, while the ARM9 handles X and Y (and the touch screen and so forth).

I suppose they had concerns with GBA compatibility if one processor handled the extra buttons and features? (A shame, since a game like FFVI Advance could've automatically adjusted to an expanded, SNES-like control layout, instead of cutting things out or changing them around to work with just the GBA's button set.)