VGBA Ported to Maemo

[fms]

I have just ported Virtual GameBoy Advance (VGBA) to Maemo OS2008. Get it from this post or from the web site:

http://fms.komkon.org/VGBA/

This version is highly optimized and uses code from the Symbian version. Thanks to those optimizations, VGBA-Maemo should run at almost the original GBA speed. Please notice that VGBA-Maemo is currently in the beta development stage. Test it and report any problems.

[Bundyo]

Tried with Hot Wheels Velocity X, but couldn't find the start button... Overall works fine.

Thanks!

[unique311]

strange, remember the post on this saying no sound.
I get sound from pac-man world.
excellent emu.
cant wait for controls.
also notice the scanline feature.
When can we expect a skin with buttons.

[Bundyo]

Seems like the different regions on the touchscreen are the controls... :)

[seiichiro0185]

Thanks for this port! seems to run really well! I just need to figure out how to control it ^_^

[Bundyo]

There's stylus help in the menu, you can see the regions with it. Just tried Riviera and it runs really well.

[unique311]

i Just realize nokia didn't have left handed people in mind when they developed the tablet...
Nokia 1000 people die a year because of freaking products that were only made with right-handed people in mind....come on now.

Bomberman works really well, with sound.

[ghoonk]

Oh, now it's Nokia's fault that people are left-handed?!?!? :D

[yabbas]

Weeeee, Street Fighter Alpha 3 here we come ;)

Quick testing - Final Fight, Tekken, Metal Slug, and a lot more roms work.

Unfortunately emulator is rather slow on my N810.
VGBA fails to remember the last roms directory I selected.
Would be nice to have zipped roms support.

[fms]

Tried with Hot Wheels Velocity X, but couldn't find the start button...
Either N810 ENTER key or the right-bottom screen corner, whichever you like best.

[fms]

strange, remember the post on this saying no sound. I get sound from pac-man world.
I left sound enabled in the beta version. It still sucks though - there just isn't enough CPU time to render it properly, I'm afraid.

cant wait for controls.
Controls are all there. Enable "Stylus Cues" from the menu to see how the screen is divided into control areas.

When can we expect a skin with buttons.
I won't do a skin like that - I think they are garish and interfere with the gaming experience. Just enable the cue grid and learn where buttons are - it isn't labeled but I guess you won't need the labels ;)

[fms]

Unfortunately emulator is rather slow on my N810.
It is pretty fast on mine (as far as GBA emulators go of course). You may be running something else.

VGBA fails to remember the last roms directory I selected.
This stuff isn't there yet - it is a beta.

Would be nice to have zipped roms support.
It supports GZIPped ROMs. Just get a copy of gzip, go into your ROMs directory, and do gzip *.gba. VGBA doesn't support .ZIP because .ZIP is clumsy.

[unique311]

Possible the A and B button could be move.
being right in the center doesn't play well with some games.

maybe a different stylus cue layout.
where the AB buttons are not in the middle.
Not sure but the directional pad Hotspots on the screen are not needed, IMO.

enjoying lots of GBA games not.
thanks again for this awesome port.



I left sound enabled in the beta version. It still sucks though - there just isn't enough CPU time to render it properly, I'm afraid.


Controls are all there. Enable "Stylus Cues" from the menu to see how the screen is divided into control areas.


I won't do a skin like that - I think they are garish and interfere with the gaming experience. Just enable the cue grid and learn where buttons are - it isn't labeled but I guess you won't need the labels ;)

[fms]

Possible the A and B button could be move.
being right in the center doesn't play well with some games. maybe a different stylus cue layout. where the AB buttons are not in the middle.
Well, suggest a different layout then - I am not happy with them at the middle myself, but where to move them?

Not sure but the directional pad Hotspots on the screen are not needed, IMO.
Maybe for your N800, but not for my N810 which has the physical directional pad hidden most of the time, and not very usable anyway (the directional rim is tiny).

[eetimm]

I am curious as to how you get the games off the GBA cartridges and into another format...

[unique311]

here is what i was thinking....but i don't know how hard it would be to make this happen, so be easy on me.

[unique311]

I am curious as to how you get the games off the GBA cartridges and into another format...

http://www.gameboy-advance.net/
this links show a couple of things you can use to do so.

[fms]

here is what i was thinking....but i don't know how hard it would be to make this happen, so be easy on me.
It is not hard to make this happen, but I do not see the directional keys in this picture.

[unique311]

n810 users...I forgot.
Let me see if i can do another quick layout

It is not hard to make this happen, but I do not see the directional keys in this picture.

[unique311]

Maybe 2...

[fms]

Maybe 2...
This leaves about 60 pixels ((800-2*240)/2/2) of width for LEFT and RIGHT buttons. This is ~7.5% of the total screen width for each button - they will be mighty easy to miss.

[unique311]

make the right and left the size of the original AB....
Think that might work.






This leaves about 60 pixels ((800-2*240)/2/2) of width for LEFT and RIGHT buttons. This is ~7.5% of the total screen width for each button - they will be mighty easy to miss.

[fms]

make the right and left the size of the original AB.... Think that might work.
You mean, 1/3 of the screen? Then it comes down to 800/3/2=133 pixels (in full screen mode). Yea, this one may actually do the job.

[unique311]

I wasn't thinking about window mode.

hmmm.....
Im pretty sure there are others out there with some suggestions in mind.
maybe someone will come up with something you can use.

[fms]

I wasn't thinking about window mode.
Also notice that in the window mode there is a column of Maemo icons at the left. Those are rather easy to press accidentally if you place the directional pad close to them. But this one inconvenience may be unavoidable.

[unique311]

in window mode.
VGBA Maemo 3.5
|------L-------|
_____________|
|------UP------|
_____________|
|-left--|--right-|
_____________|
|----Down----|
_____________|
|------S-------|
_____________|
|
_____________|


with the Title being the guide for the size of the buttons.
hope this helps for window mode.

Also notice that in the window mode there is a column of Maemo icons at the left. Those are rather easy to press accidentally if you place the directional pad close to them. But this one inconvenience may be unavoidable.

[ArnimS]

Also notice that in the window mode there is a column of Maemo icons at the left. Those are rather easy to press accidentally if you place the directional pad close to them. But this one inconvenience may be unavoidable.

I don't see any reason to support windowed mode in an emulator. (excepting dosbox which needs some space for xkbd).

Btw: If you want to scale the game window, I've heard it's possible to have fb-controller scale a region arbitrarily (leaving a buttons region unscaled). See mplayer sources for implementation.

Very nice emu fms. It was a little shocking to see an emulated 3d game running at 10+ fps.

[Underscore]

Alright! Can't wait to try.
Now all we need is a DS emu. (yeah, sarcasm)

[qole]

I've only tried it with a couple of games, it seems to run at a very decent speed, once sound has been disabled. The sound on the games I've tried doesn't really work anyways.

I agree that the on-screen buttons need to be changed. My thumbs are in the way when I'm trying to make Mario jump and throw turnips.

I don't want to lose windowed mode, at least not until a fast way is discovered to fill the screen. The emulator's screen looks so lonely in the middle of the big full screen.

Here is a screen shot of Super Mario Advance. Our protagonists are squatting and grunting, sweat drops flying...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/2326954591_b4975cb5d4_o.png (http://www.flickr.com/photos/qole2/2326954591/)

[fms]

I don't see any reason to support windowed mode in an emulator. (excepting dosbox which needs some space for xkbd).
My goal is to be as system friendly as possible and this means windowed mode support.

Btw: If you want to scale the game window, I've heard it's possible to have fb-controller scale a region arbitrarily (leaving a buttons region unscaled). See mplayer sources for implementation.
I am scaling the window already anyways. The problem of scaling it farther is that it will look bad unless you repeat each pixel the same number of times. I do have the scale+soften mode which can be used to fill the whole screen with a very smooth image, but it is too slow on the tablet.

[unique311]

FMS check EMUL8 groups for an updated stylus cue layout.

I think might work....

[hangster]

you are the greatest. keep up the good work!

[Cheesebaron]

Just tried some various Pokemon games, but they are running pretty slow and the colors look awful. Also is there a way to disable the sound, cause it sounds horrendous.

EDIT: Okay found out how to do it. Just start it from the terminal with -nosound, but the colors still look awkward.

[unique311]

you can remove sound from the menu.
drop down menu>configuration



Just tried some various Pokemon games, but they are running pretty slow and the colors look awful. Also is there a way to disable the sound, cause it sounds horrendous.

EDIT: Okay found out how to do it. Just start it from the terminal with -nosound, but the colors still look awkward.

[jbb]

In yu gi oh stair to the duelist it freezes and turns all black when you attack a monster

[fms]

EDIT: Okay found out how to do it. Just start it from the terminal with -nosound, but the colors still look awkward.
Could you please post a picture of the awkward colors?

[KilroyPerrywinkle]

I like it alot... seems very promising... thanks so much! But I agree that the button placement is not good. Could you make it so the enter button was A or B on the N800? It doesnt do anything for me in-game.

[Pushwall]

Wow! This runs great. I'm looking at Zelda: A Link to the Past and it's amazing. If you could have custom hardware key mapping besides the onscreen controls it would be fantastic. Thanks for the port!

[fms]

I like it alot... seems very promising... thanks so much! But I agree that the button placement is not good. Could you make it so the enter button was A or B on the N800? It doesnt do anything for me in-game.
If you mean the center button in the d-pad, it does nothing on purpose: this button is so easy to press accidentally that using it for a fire button will make some games unplayable.

[unique311]

Public website
http://fms.komkon.org/VGBA/

Google groups
http://groups.google.com/group/emul8?hl=en

VGBA compatibility list.
http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=154242#post154242

[fms]

Public website
http://fms.komkon.org/EMUL8/
No, this is actually http://fms.komkon.org/VGBA/. The site you have quoted is mainly for developers and it does not have the Maemo-relevant source code yet.

VBGA compatibility list.
VGBA :)

[hangster]

the speed is great for just a beta. The only problems i see are messed up colors for certain games (like pokemon) and not yet perfect speed. If this can manage to run a game at full speed without sound, that would be WONDERFUL. keep up the good work!

[unique311]

most of the games I played are really fast. some games fair well with interpolation deselected.

But nothing beats the good ole scanlines.
try running your games with scanline.

[kaito]

Wow, I'm playing Advanced Wars on my 770 (2008HE). Thanks, I've never thought it would be possible. :)

[BoxOfSnoo]

Cool, Advance Wars 2 runs well too! I didn't like playing it on my DS Lite because the cartridge sticks out (yeah I'm petty). This is the most compact way to do it now!

Thanks!

[qole]

I notice some games don't seem to be able to get past the "Press start button" screen. What is the start button? What is it mapped to? Or is this just a sign that the game doesn't run under VGBA?

[fms]

I notice some games don't seem to be able to get past the "Press start button" screen. What is the start button? What is it mapped to? Or is this just a sign that the game doesn't run under VGBA?
START button is either N810 ENTER key or the bottom right screen corner.

Important: the d-pad center button does nothing. It is not a bug. It is a feature.

[jbb]

Final Fantasy runs great on this, thanks, I like holding this a lot better than holding a ds or micro.

[jamesc760]

Great! I love it! I've tried Pokemon: Ruby, and it runs very slowly; however, Advance War runs great. Definitely move the key arrangement around the edges as suggested above. Thanks a million!

[joshv06]

where can I download the gba games?

thanks

[ArnimS]

GBA runs on a ARM7tdmi RISC chip at 16.78 MHz. How the *heck* are they doing 3d games with *that*?? O.o

[fms]

GBA runs on a ARM7tdmi RISC chip at 16.78 MHz. How the *heck* are they doing 3d games with *that*?? O.o
It has got huge rotatable sprites, rotatable backgrounds (see Z-mode in SNES) that can be used for pseudo-3d effect and there are up to 4 playfields. It's enough for some 3d stuff.

[b-man]

Does enyone know if and ware you can find a free Super Mario world download that's playible? If so please tell me ware you can find it.:)

[Johnx]

To people looking for "ROMs:" Don't ask here. Distributing ROMs or even linking to sites that provide them can get a site into legal trouble, whether or not it's illegal in the country you currently reside in. Thanks.

-John

[b-man]

Sory. I kinda feel a litle stupid for putting the term "Roms" in that post... I did not know roms were illegal in the U.S. well, it's a good thing i haven't downloaded eny of them! I've edited my post so it definitely doesn't include Roms.
Again, i'm very sory. I Just hope people don't hate me for that post..........

[Johnx]

That was just a heads up, so no worries. :)

-John

[zeez]

Does enyone know if and ware you can find a free Super Mario world download that's playible? If so please tell me ware you can find it.:)

If you want the actual Nintendo gamem i doubt there is a (legal) way to get it for free. I think the best chance to play SMW on the tablet ist still the SNES emulator. It is fast enough, but lacks sound. I tried SMW and SMB for VGBA but it's too slow and it is horribly irritating that you have to cover the character with you thumb while jumping all the time because of the on screen button layout.

[yabbas]

There's also a huge slew of homebrew apps and games for the GBA if you google for it...

One of my faves is Lumines ;)

[rohail1234]

so what can we expect on a beta release? more compatibly plus a bit faster? i hope a lil faster cuz its boring playing pokemon at already a slow pace plus the slow pace of the n800 if u could thatd be awsme =) but also move the a and b button to the side somehow... idk....

[Starcruiser1229]

I would love a different stylus map as well - or at least the ability to map hard buttons to the different actions - it is really hard to play Mario Kart with the location of A and B. Otherwise it runs great. THANKS

Patrick

[Jakob]

Okay,
This emulator is really great,
I need to be able to push the Following combinations:
R+A
R+B
L+R

Is that even possible??
Can I map the + and - key on top of my N800 to be L and R??
in that case everything would work out :)

Jakob