A group of iPhone hackers has just released version 0.0.5 of gpSPhone. gpSPhone is a GameBoy Advanced emulator for iPhone. As with all first releases, it's still a bit on the iffy side. Although "many games are playable", sound output is pretty awful and the GUI and instructions are being worked on. If you feel like giving this a try, here are a few things you really need to know:
- You have to run it from /Applications. The programmers obviously hard coded search paths and the app just will not work from any other location.
- You need to supply your own BIOS. You can easily google for instructions on dumping your own gba_bios.bin. If you decide to download one instead, the correct MD5 for a working bios is a860e8c0b6d573d191e4ec7db1b1e4f6. Stick the bios file into the .app folder.
- You need to supply your own games. We happen to already own Hello Kitty Party in physical ROM form. So that's what I decided to test out.
- Playback is...early. I'm sure that playability will improve in future releases but for now, it's not really in the "fun" category; more "interesting because this may grow into something usable". Add your games to /var/root/Media/ROMs/GBA.
Thanks Wayne
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-13-2007 @ 2:32PM
ishcabittle said...
I found a working gba_bios.bin here:
http://files.filefront.com/gba+biosbin/;6021104;/fileinfo.html
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11-13-2007 @ 2:43PM
tim said...
can we just start calling them 'iphone developers' please? it's hard to call it hacking when you go to a website to get it done automatically.
come to think of it, it almost seems like they are the ones to be hacked when doing so...
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11-13-2007 @ 3:05PM
SmileyDude said...
can we just start calling them 'iphone developers' please? it's hard to call it hacking when you go to a website to get it done automatically.
Except in this case, it was done by the people who are putting together things like that website that automatically does everything on your iPhone or Touch. So, calling them iPhone hackers is appropriate here.
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11-13-2007 @ 3:06PM
Dasutin said...
Alright if they can do GBA games then where are my SNES games
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11-13-2007 @ 3:42PM
Simon Arch said...
"Alright if they can do GBA games then where are my SNES games"
The GBA similar to, but not exactly the same as a SNES. Give it some time.
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11-13-2007 @ 3:55PM
Balazs said...
I tried it out, and it works. A bit sluggish, right directional button doesn't seem to want to work. But as a 0.0.5 release I can hardly complain. It is quite awkward using a touch screen as an interface for a GBA emulator though. Hopefully in future releases they can size the screen better to give a larger view of the ROM.
Great work to the zodttd (I actually talked to zodttd on IRC the other day about this very same app, was waiting for a nice release!)
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11-13-2007 @ 3:59PM
mingistech said...
Re: Dasutin
Thats just what I was gonna ask. I'd love a SNES Emulator over any others. :)
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11-13-2007 @ 3:59PM
Alex McKee said...
Ugh. Don't call it a Gameboy Advanced!!! It's GameBoy Advance.
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11-13-2007 @ 4:01PM
Chris said...
Where is a good place to get the ROMS?
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11-13-2007 @ 4:19PM
wayne said...
thanks for the blurb, so far dragonballz and mario kart are my favorite games, just do some google searches for roms or hit me up via twitter direct style waynesutton
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11-13-2007 @ 9:27PM
Slacker said...
Why did you already own Hello Kitty?
http://askaslacker.blogspot.com
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11-14-2007 @ 4:45AM
Dawson said...
It's "Game Boy". Two words, dummy.
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11-14-2007 @ 4:08PM
CUBSWILLWIN said...
This is cool
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11-18-2007 @ 8:43PM
Farrizx said...
I got it working! Thanks =D
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11-18-2007 @ 8:47PM
Farrizx said...
i got it working!
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6742/071811165515pj2.png
Thanks!
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11-19-2007 @ 12:33AM
Kristian Freeman said...
@1: Don't know if that's allowed, but thanks anyways :P
@8: One letter... does it really matter? That's like getting mad for Ipod versus iPod.
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11-20-2007 @ 6:57PM
Joe S said...
i dont get it i have the bios and the everything but how do you put it in the .app folder; do you have to use ibrickr?
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11-23-2007 @ 11:27AM
razr said...
Can someone send me or give another mirror for the gba_bios.bin file? The above URL is no longer valid.
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11-27-2007 @ 1:01PM
sTeFFo said...
Well.. Can anyone tell me how i get this into my Iphone? I´m a bit sucky at this =P
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11-28-2007 @ 8:48PM
Jeff said...
I guess no chance of just a regular Gameboy emulator coming soon? Or is there a way to play .gb roms on it instead of .gba?
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