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Java for the Gameboy Advance

Posted by Hemos on from the flash-roms-r0x0r dept.

heavy writes "For everyone who is wondering what else they can do with their newly purchased Gameboy Advance SP comes JAMiD - Java Action Media Interactive Device. What is it? "The aJile Systems JAMiD JAM-ID100C cartridge will turn your Nintendo® Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Advance SP system into a jammin' Java interactive gaming machine capable of playing those free Java games popping up all over the Internet. Based on Sun Microsystem's J2ME Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP), the JAMiD accelerated Java platform will run MIDP 1.0/2.0 games and other multimedia MIDlets." It can also play MP3s...a developer version available now and a consumer version is coming soon. Way cool."

169 comments

  1. A Great Day For Mankind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is fucking awesome! I am so happy about this, I just crapped my pants! But don't worry, Java has automatic garbage collection so I won't even have to change myself!

    1. Re:A Great Day For Mankind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


      {
      function; wipe
      move; gentle,vigoruos,thorough
      besureto; flush
      }
      </javascript>

      love you! - hb

  2. J2ME by FortKnox · · Score: 4, Insightful

    J2ME has become extremely popular with most handheld devices. Most new PDA's and Mobile Phones contain some variation of the J2ME. So if you are an ambitious entrepreneur (maybe dreaming of getting into the gaming industry?), J2ME may be your ticket. J2ME (IIRC) comes with J3D (at least it does in the Zarus), so there is a lot you can do with it.

    --
    Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
    1. Re:J2ME by gl4ss · · Score: 4, Informative

      maybe midp2.0 has some 3d(haven't checked into that), but midp1.0 does not(which is what the phones available on the market now support).

      in fact the gfx abilities of it are pretty limited(you get basic primitives and can plot images and basically that's it), though there's properiaty extensions for example nokia phones that allow some 'cooler' stuff, like plotting array of pixels straight to screen, but lacking such 'features' never made it impossible to code some great games on older systems before.

      however, it's very easy to (start to) develop midlets because it's so limited, and on the other hand it has an oldschool feeling because you can't assume the system has megabytes of memory for spare, and missing floating points it's time to dig up all those old fixed points libs you've had and refresh your memory. and provided that you take different screen sizes into consideration and different screen depths(that is, you don't hardcode it to look right on just one size screen) you will have it running on quite big amount of mobile devices without porting it spesically to every machines quirks(in theory at least, in practice as well)..

      the biggest hurdle i find that j2me games have is that most midp1 devices allow only 1 key to be pushed down at a time (this makes input for jump'n'run and such games a bitch).

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    2. Re:J2ME by mattbee · · Score: 3, Informative

      So if you are an ambitious entrepreneur (maybe dreaming of getting into the gaming industry?), J2ME may be your ticket

      Ugh, I hope not... after a few weeks of developing a pretty simple J2ME game for mobile phones I'm not a fan. You're at the mercy of the MIDP implementation for many quite basic game functions like sound, transparent sprite support, pixel operations and some IO bits and pieces. And Java is just the wrong language when (in the case of the Nokia 3410) you have to limit your total jar size to 50K but still try to write portable code which'll still be relevant on the top-end whizzy colour phones. Every frigging class takes another few precious bytes from your artwork / set of trivia questions, but what can you do? Trying to write less classes really isn't something Java is built to support so I've ended up writing a pre-processor to generate different source trees for each slightly different mobile platform, and the build, test & turnaround times are subsequently horrendous. Though this is just endemic to embedded development, having to run your code & graphics through three or four different Java-based tools to generate a finished product is painful.

      On the other hand, your unmodified GBA can be connected to a PC very cheaply to quickly upload demos to its RAM, or to use it to write images to flash cartridges for more substantial pieces of work. Use gcc and a few well-researched documents around the internet and you can get at the full graphics & sound capabilities of the GBA. It makes for much simpler to understand code which can gets results quickly: the portability aspect of Java in embedded devices seems to be a real red herring.

      So, umm, to bring the ramble to a close, Java might be nice where you have a roughly similar set of platforms to deploy on, but where your back-end APIs and deployment platforms can vary as wildly as MIDP-supporting devices can, it demands you write pre-processors and other things that are anathema to the language. So if you're after the GBA to showcase a game idea (and I still think it's a great platform for that) you'll get much better results in C.

      --
      Matthew @ Bytemark Hosting
    3. Re:J2ME by mlk · · Score: 2, Informative

      maybe midp2.0 has some 3d(haven't checked into that)
      Nope, JSR 184 covers it, and has quite wide support (Nokia, Sun, Motorola, Matsushita & Sony) reading the voting for it, it sounds like the 3D support is based on OpenGL.
      and missing floating points
      You can get MathFP to get round that problem.

      --
      Wow, I should not post when knackered.
    4. Re:J2ME by McPierce · · Score: 1

      J2ME isn't a product. It's an umbrella term for several different technologies. What most people are thinking of when they thing "J2ME" is the MID Profile. The MIDP does not contain 3D graphics in either version 1.0 or 2.0 of the profile specification. With 2.0 the introduction of gaming APIs was made, but these APIs provide layered graphics, sound and such APIs. Nothing 3d.

      --
      Darryl L. Pierce "What do you care what people think, Mr. Feynman?"
  3. Not just games by bsharitt · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm sure this won't just be for games. It might even turn out to be possible to add cheap PDA functionality to a GBA too.

    1. Re:Not just games by RexRuther · · Score: 3, Interesting

      But why? A PDA is better suited for PDA work and a GBA for games.

      --
      -"The early bird catches the worm, but the late bird sleeps the most"
    2. Re:Not just games by bsharitt · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Some people who use a PDA a lot, but don't play games enough to justify buying a GBA might play games on their PDA. The same goes for people who play their GBA a lot, but don't need a PDA enough to buy one, but might need that functionality occasionly.

    3. Re:Not just games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      And why put games on a mobile phone - phones are for phoning, and consoles are for gaming. All these people are just wrong! Stop it! Stop playing games on your phone and make some phone calls!

    4. Re:Not just games by generic-man · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Why install a whole Java VM to get an address book, calendar, etc.? There's already a cartridge that does it for $10.

      --
      For more information, click here.
    5. Re:Not just games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, that's exactly why I don't own a cell phone. All of the newer ones have games, MP3 ringtones, or other useless (to me) junk that I have to pay for! I have a GBA for games, a Newton to manage my contacts. I don't need or want a cell phone to do either of those. It should make calls and do it well. Just like my GBA plays games well and my Newton stores information well.

    6. Re:Not just games by MeanE · · Score: 5, Funny

      Mamma miea...you hava an emale. Would you like to read it now or duel it with your pokemon.

    7. Re:Not just games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WTF? I am going to side for or against in an effort to clarify and obfuscate. How was that informative?

    8. Re:Not just games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It was clear enough to me. Maybe you need to take the wool from your eyes.

    9. Re:Not just games by secolactico · · Score: 1

      There's already a cartridge that does it for $10.

      ROTFL!!! It's a bad enough idea of a personal planner for the Gameboy (when you can get an el-cheapo one with better keyboard for about the same price). But an E.T. themed one? I might buy myself one just because of that. What can I say, I like tacky, plus my Animal Crossing "typing" skills might come in handy here.

      --
      No sig
    10. Re:Not just games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      or other useless (to me) junk
      No. All that junk actually is useless. Don't be tricked into thinking something that is actually true is only your opinion. The second you do this, someone else (probably some liberal wanker) will move over and marginalize what you say. These people start by assuming that everyone else is wrong, even if they say that "everything is relative."

      Here's an example:
      "Sure, this stuff is useless to you, but everyone else must find it useful, otherwise it wouldn't be added into the phones in the first place!"

      See? Since you've said that something true is only your opinion, this example argument cut your facts to ribbons (at least, in a debate sense). This is why we have things like the RIAA, MPAA, gun control, anti-war protests, and mere actors who are given pulpits because of their celebrity. The end result of this (and what is the overall goal of the Democratic party) is a new nobility. It's already started with celbrities, who are given more than average TV and radio time to voice their drug induced wrongisms. This group already has a large voice, control of information distribution (exceptions such as Foxnews exist), and they are now trying to take away people's right to bear firearms in an attempt to curb future resistance. So please, think about how you say what you say, or maybe someday it'll be the Iraqis freeing a defenseless American public from it's ruling nobility.
    11. Re:Not just games by KiahZero · · Score: 1

      I thought you were serious... then you called Fox News an exception to the control of intormation distribution.

      I'll point out what I believe is the fallacy of your arguement, though I'm sure you're just trolling for us liberals.

      It is the height of arrogance to assume that one's opinion is fact. Especially when there is plenty of evidence against said opinion. The previous poster said that the extras were useless. To him, that is absolutely true. Overall, however, it's simply an opinion. Plenty of people, including many that I know personally, do not find those features useless. Some of us like to have something to do to keep our mind busy while we sit in waiting rooms.

      This is the first time I've ever heard the Democratic party of being for a 'new nobility.' I guess that means I'll never have to hear them called 'pinko commie scum' anymore, right? Because obviously, if they were for a new nobility, they would have to stop promoting laws which level the playing field, and start pushing laws which raise one class above others.

      In my opinion, which I freely admit could be wrong in the absolute scheme of things, it's the Republicans who are pushing for a new nobility.

      --
      I'm a lawyer, but not yours. I wouldn't represent someone who thinks taking legal advice from Slashdot is a good idea.
    12. Re:Not just games by DrXym · · Score: 1
      Unfortunately this doesn't make much sense. The GBA is completely unsuitable as a PDA. There are no ifs or buts about it - the thing is good for games and nothing else.


      How much would a PDA cartridge cost? Best case - at least as much a game, perhaps more and for that you get some crappy organiser with a piss poor rocker pad entry system. GBAs are 'always on' or 'always off' so forget any fancy stuff like reminders.


      For the same price you can get any number of better PDAs from Casio, Oregon Scientific, Franklin etc. and you're fast approaching the Palm Zire price range. In other words, such a venture is pointless.


      The same could be said of most other GBA extensions. I have to wonder who the hell buys an MP3 player for it, or a Java player, or a Camera when it does none of those things well and in many instances you can pick up a better, dedicated device for the same amount of money.

    13. Re:Not just games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So passing Farm bills that line the pockets of the corporate farmers and Democratic Senators who own them while shutting out the family farmer is what you call leveling the playing field?

      The previously Democratic led Congress passed this bill right before they were elected out of power. Look it up if you want the straight talk.

      Please, I only write this because that is the most ignorant brainwashed idea I have ever heard of. Not that the Republicans are much better, since they do the same thing in different ways. Before we start trolling false political propaganda here, people should get the facts straight.

    14. Re:Not just games by zangdesign · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Some people who use a PDA a lot, but don't play games enough to justify buying a GBA might play games on their PDA. The same goes for people who play their GBA a lot, but don't need a PDA enough to buy one, but might need that functionality occasionly."

      it's so 8-year olds can remember to make their crack hookup on the fifteenth at 3 a.m., their parole board appt. at 9 a.m., and show off their "mad skilz" at 4 p.m. and STILL not forget to pick up a load of bread and a box of 9mm at the corner convenience store for their grandma.

      Seriously, isn't there a law of diminishing returns on doing something just because you can?

      --
      To celebrate the occasion of my 1000th post, I will post no more forever on Slashdot. Goodbye.
    15. Re:Not just games by levik · · Score: 1
      I want to run servlets on mine :)

      Imagine a full-blown J2EE app with Enterprise Java Beans on [one/a Beowulf Cluster] of those! :)

      --
      Ñ'
    16. Re:Not just games by wheany · · Score: 1

      GBAs are 'always on' or 'always off' so forget any fancy stuff like reminders.

      Nope, they can also sleep. At least Golden Sun can.

    17. Re:Not just games by Kris_J · · Score: 1
      "...so forget any fancy stuff like reminders."
      Datel made a "SmartCOM" PDA card for the GB that had an alarm that would go off even if the cart wasn't in the GB.

      The GB(A) is just a CPU with a screen and battery. If you're not after anything too complicated, it's a nice, supported, QAed device that can save you some development time. In other words, it's a platform. Heck, I bought my mother the Singer sewing machine with the GBC controller. Works fine.

    18. Re:Not just games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      some liberal wanker) will move over and marginalize what you say. These people start by assuming that everyone else is wrong, even if they say that "everything is relative."

      I AM that wanker! Everything IS relative. Unless there's some written-in-stone list of what's right and what's wrong somewhere that i`m unaware of. Is homosexuality a sin? Is capital punishment right? Should cannabis be legal? These and many more exciting questions await YOUR wise and final ruling, oh master. Please, show me the light, that I may live my life according to thine judgement.

    19. Re:Not just games by ginbot462 · · Score: 1

      ET Themed? I hope it doesn't come with that awful ET game made for the Atari.

      --
      Atlas Shrugged : Thematic Story :: Battlefield Earth : Organized Religion
  4. hmm by Masami+Eiri · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Should prove to be interesting. How will one put the games on the cartidge though? That would require a specially built device for it, which would either require money or scrapping another GBA.

    still cool though.

    1. Re:hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      flashcards have only been avaialable since before the system launched in the usa

    2. Re:hmm by gl4ss · · Score: 0

      i would guess that it would come with a link cable to computer to make it possible to use ota('over-the-air') like loading of midlets into it.

      that is, you would connect it to the computer and maybe use a program on the cartridge, or on the computer, to point it a .jad file(that descripts where the application manager might find the actual midlets .jar) and then it would fetch it through web and install it to the cartridge to be used.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    3. Re:hmm by FortKnox · · Score: 1

      The question then becomes:
      Does everyone that wants to play a java game on their gameboy have to buy the $200 SDK? If not, what other options do they have?

      --
      Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
    4. Re:hmm by jkeyes · · Score: 3, Informative

      It's called Flash Advance or Flash 2 Advance, besides being able to flash GBA games you can also flash homebrew stuff so I don't see why it wouldn't work for this although I've yet to see it because the site is going slow as crap. You can read up on flash advance and its friend Flash 2 Advance at the following sites:
      http://www.flash2advance.com
      http://www.g baemu.com

    5. Re:hmm by Jace+of+Fuse! · · Score: 1

      You simply buy a Flash2Advance, sheesh.

      I love the F2A, but my biggest problem with it is that too many people will abuse it for ROMS (let's not lie to ourselves here) and few people will use it for PD Roms or Demos, or neat toys just like this.

      That's why I bought mine. It's a cool toy to let me tinker with GBA Programming, playing around with PD stuff, and basically just using my GBA for something other than the games I can buy a store.

      Having that freedom and the ability to do all kinds of neat things with my GBA awesome, and for that reason I'm glad the F2A is available.

      Too bad there will always be the little ROMZ kiddies though.

      Flash 2 Advance

      --

      "Everything you know is wrong. (And stupid.)"

      Moderation Totals: Wrong=2, Stupid=3, Total=5.
    6. Re:hmm by Kris_J · · Score: 1

      I use my old Bung GB Xchanger mostly for: Copying ROMs from cart for my TRGpro with the Liberty emulator, and getting photos off my GB camera. "Significant non-infringing uses".

    7. Re:hmm by Jace+of+Fuse! · · Score: 1

      "Significant non-infringing uses".

      Yup. Lots of cool things you can do with these awesome toys. It's a shame that all of the really fun and geeky stuff you can do legally gets overshadowed by rom kiddies.

      BTW - in case anyone hasn't noticed, the F2A now comes in USB. :D

      --

      "Everything you know is wrong. (And stupid.)"

      Moderation Totals: Wrong=2, Stupid=3, Total=5.
  5. Pretty nice by shayborg · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I have doubts about the actual utility of this sort of thing for something like PDA functionality, just because the GBA is really not designed for text manipulation. Games could be cool, though ... I'd love to play that Java Qix game I found the other day on my Game Boy. :-)

    -- shayborg

  6. pretty cool by ih8apple · · Score: 4, Funny

    Here's a Java Applet which can run GameBoy software.

    Therefore, (if the applet's updated to run the GBA SP software), you can run Java applications on your Java GB emulator.

    JVM on GB on JVM on GB on JVM..........

    --


    Why do I h8 apple?
    1. Re:pretty cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Metacircular gameboys anyone?

    2. Re:pretty cool by AnyoneEB · · Score: 1

      While we're wasting processor cycles on nested emulators, why don't we run that JVM on Wine on cygwin on wine on cygwin... ;)

      --
      Centralization breaks the internet.
  7. Code Warrior Wireless studio for free by asmithmd1 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Motorola bought Metrowerks and for a limited time you can download a full version of Code Warrior wireless studio for free. All you have to do is sign up at Motocoders This is a full featured IDE that is all set-up for J2ME development

    --
    Free cell phone tracking
    1. Re:Code Warrior Wireless studio for free by hoop33 · · Score: 3, Informative

      FWIW, the download had me in a vicious cycle--I registered, logged in, went to the page, clicked the link to download . . . and would be taken to the login page again. This happened in both Mozilla 1.3 and IE 6.

      After a few rounds of that, I tried passing my user name/password in the URL of the tools page (...?userName=XXX&password=YYY) (No, not my real id/pw) and it worked.

      YMMV

    2. Re:Code Warrior Wireless studio for free by Jonboy+X · · Score: 1

      After a few rounds of that, I tried passing my user name/password in the URL of the tools page (...?userName=XXX&password=YYY) (No, not my real id/pw) and it worked.

      Yeah, thanks a lot for giving away _my_ username and p/w...

      --

      "In a 32-bit world, you're a 2-bit user. You've got your own newsgroup, alt.total.loser." -Weird Al
  8. Bluetooth by FortKnox · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Now, I just heard this from an EB manager, but he said the plans are for the next Gameboys to have bluetooth in them to allow multiplayer without any cords. This would make it like calculators where you can just 'beam' (non-cartridge)games/apps to other people.

    --
    Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
    1. Re:Bluetooth by unborracho · · Score: 1

      They already have this implemented, the GameBoys if i'm not mistaken already have infared ports on them so you can play wireless multiplayer with another person (although both GameBoys must have the same game cartridge in them).

      --
      "You had this look that of an angel, it was such a bad disguise" --Dishwalla
    2. Re:Bluetooth by Dr_LHA · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually they dumped the IR port for the GBA, it's only on the GBC. Also it couldn't be used as a replacement for the GBC link cable - it was only available for use if programmed into specific games and was hardly ever used.

      As for the original poster, I would take any information from a "EB manager" as nonesense as these guys have no real insider knowledge, although its nice speculation.

    3. Re:Bluetooth by Kris_J · · Score: 1
      "...they dumped the IR port for the GBA..."
      Which is a right pain. Means I can't use my learning IR remote control cart in my new GBA SP. Also makes my IR, colour electric rat tamigotchi a bit of a waste.
    4. Re:Bluetooth by sprayNwipe · · Score: 1

      I've heard people from EB say that the Xbox runs Windows out of the box, developers aren't supporting the PS2, and that Duke Nukem Forever was a 'definite' for Christmas 2000. Notice a pattern?

      Somehow, I doubt that an anonymous EB employee knows any more about Nintendo's future GB plans than anyone else outside of Nintendo - it's just pure speculation.

  9. For lack of better specs... by GoRK · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Note that this almost certainly has its own internal CPU for this as the gba's internal CPU is not up to task - especially with the bitmapped (framebuffer) modes that a java interpreter would demand. Still, a very neat application.

    As close to java as you can get on the gba? There are some waba VM's out there... here is one:

    http://www.badpint.org/jaysos/

    1. Re:For lack of better specs... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I believe that the cartridge has the Ajile systems processor, which was designed to execute java byte codes on silicon, on board.

  10. Please insert ... by DogIsMyCoprocessor · · Score: 3, Funny

    standard joke about how, judging by the Web sites response time, they must be running their Tomcat servlet engine as a midlet on one of their JAMiD cartridges.

    --

    "And this is my boy, Sherman. Speak, Sherman." "Hello." "Good boy."

    1. Re:Please insert ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://www.servertec.com/products/ajile_iws/ajile_ iws.html

      not far from the truth
      LOL

  11. what i want to see by Photon01 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    what id really like to see is the ability to download video onto a gba cartridge and play it back.

    It would be great to be able to take an anime episode or two somewhere with me. It seems to me that the GBA screen, especially the SP's lit one would be great for playing back anime.

    1. Re:what i want to see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Especially if you only want to watch anime which last 17 seconds. Then again, that 17 seconds is enough for me.

    2. Re:what i want to see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      why anime specifically? and not any other form of media

      oh yeah, youre a FAT PATHETIC VIRGIN

    3. Re:what i want to see by FortKnox · · Score: 1

      That would have to be a SERIOUSLY large cartridge. How can you put a 60+minute video onto a gameboy cartridge??

      --
      Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
    4. Re:what i want to see by x0n · · Score: 1

      I've recently bought the Flash2Linker eeprom cart for my gameboy, and the CD that comes with it has several video rom images. It is very capable of playing them. I watched a trailer for "ice age" on it, now that I think of it, you can get a TV tuner for it anyhow?

      - Oisin

      --

      PGP KeyId: 0x08D63965
    5. Re:what i want to see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > How can you put a 60+minute video onto a gameboy cartridge??

      Easy. http://www.ps2modchip.com/flash/1g.htm
      (ok, so it's 1 Gigabit, but anyway, that's pretty huge for a flash cart)

      Also, remember the GBA screen is "only" 240x160 and can only do 256 colors at a time (for full-screen, double-buffering stuff), and its DACs are 8-bit (not 16).

      If you take all of these, and cut the FPS from 24/30 to 12/15, you just might pull it off (that's my bet, anyway)

    6. Re:what i want to see by jandrese · · Score: 1

      With Divx it is not hard to get a TV episode (22 minutes of video) down to the ~50 - 100MB range (at rather low quality settings). The flash cards for the GBA seem to go as high as 512MB. I'd think it would chew through the batteries kinda fast though. YOu would definatly need some sort of external MPEG4 decoder chip to handle it.

      --

      I read the internet for the articles.
    7. Re:what i want to see by yerricde · · Score: 2, Informative

      The flash cards for the GBA seem to go as high as 512MB

      The largest GBA flash carts have 512 megaBITS, not megabytes. And nobody makes the decoder chips yet.

      --
      Will I retire or break 10K?
    8. Re:what i want to see by Forkenhoppen · · Score: 1

      You can, but they're huge; as huge as the GBA itself. (Original GBA, not the SP. Don't think they'd work with SP.)

      One of them requires you have a GBA game in the cart slot so it can steal it's boot sequence. The other has it's own boot code. Only one has a plug for an external antenna or cable. Both allow you to hook another (composite?) source into them, like a Gamecube or PS2, or even the output of a computer, if you're nuts. Both require an extra 4 AA batteries, on top of those that are already in the GBA, in order to run..

      That's about where I stopped reading up on 'em.

  12. I am impressed by electro_mike · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I was considering going with one of those illegal things that lets you flash your own carts. But I deffenetly not now that this is out and will be totally legit. Plus it is not limited to just games because it's java!

  13. Homebrewing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Im a homebrew developer for the GBA and the GBA is very easy to program for as it is. I belive this may just be a bottleneck in speed for the already slow ARM7 processor it has. The GBA does not have any 3D acceleration hardware (it shouldnt, it has incredible 2D capabilities which is it's market), so i think Java3D would also be out of the question. This may be a good way to let the people who have never worked on an imbedded system port there own projects very quickly, but if you know JAVA, try doing C for GBA. http://www.gbadev.org is a great place for finding out news on the GBADEV scene, as well a forum with many intelligent programmers and artists. http://www.ngine.de is home of the HAM development kit which for sompe people is very good. Also on EFnet there is the #GBADEV channel. There are usually about 50 people there at any given time.

    1. Re:Homebrewing by Dr.+Bent · · Score: 2, Informative

      I read this article a while ago (seems to be slashdotted now), and as I recall, this cartridge has a native Java CPU (one that runs the bytecode directly, as opposed to in a VM) so it should be only slightly slower than an equivlent C application.

      I think the main use for this technology will not be writing games solely for the GBA, but as a platform "porting" path for J2ME cell phone game developers.

    2. Re:Homebrewing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://jstamp.systronix.com/

      i have developed a cool server for this device and i can tell u that as an embedded developer i will never look at c/asm again.
      Realtime os in hardware, multithreading, faster that c in equivalent procs.
      and the good part is that you can develop in phyton or other language and compile to bytecode wich in the end will run at native speed :D

    3. Re:Homebrewing by rbeattie · · Score: 1



      Java won't be a bottleneck. The system is made by the guys who developed an on-chip Java system, so all the Java stuff happens on the cartridge. That's why the system can be run on GBCs as well.

      -Russ

      --
      Me
    4. Re:Homebrewing by RevAaron · · Score: 1

      It would depend on the speed of the Java stamp. The Java stamp could provide a Java-based user experience that was faster or slower than the equivalent of a C program written for the GBA; or it could provide a faster or even slower user experience than even a Java app written for the GBA itself. I presume they've aimed for a decent speed though... But just using a Java chip says nothing about the speed at which it executes bytecodes compared to how the GBA does its own instructions.

      --

      Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
    5. Re:Homebrewing by manjunaths · · Score: 1
      [Shameless plug]

      Last week I stumbled upon the GameBoy Advanced development scene. I found out that GameBoy does not have an opengl port for it. I come from mainly the PC Game developer scene. So I have ported TinyGL (http://fabrice.bellard.free.fr/TinyGL/) a small free subset of OpenGL API.

      If anybody is interested the website is this. The GBA is not very good at 3D, but I believe still little 3D games like 3D chess, 3D fly throughs should be feasible. I am trying to optimize it, the library is under a BSD like license.
      --
      Slashdot: Tabloid for the nerds. Stuff that doesn't matter.
  14. JAMiD Information by jetkust · · Score: 4, Informative

    This story has a lot of information on it. The main site i believe has been slashdotted.

  15. Re:hmm.... by BlaKnail · · Score: 1

    Only if you can rewrite Windows in Java and fit it into a cartridge....good luck :)

  16. Re:hmm.... by denisbergeron · · Score: 1

    Only if you use an windows emulator on Java !

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une Signature !
  17. When will swing be ported by Billly+Gates · · Score: 4, Funny
    Its such a lean, elegant, and fast that its perfect for a lightweight solution like an old gameboy.

    --
    http://saveie6.com/
    1. Re:When will swing be ported by pdbogen · · Score: 1

      I don't think the mods realize how funny this joke is.

    2. Re:When will swing be ported by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No thisis funny.

    3. Re:When will swing be ported by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      lean, elegant, and fast

      I know this is a joke, but it *is* rather elegant, IMO.

    4. Re:When will swing be ported by ipjohnson · · Score: 1

      No thats just plain f'kin stupid ....

    5. Re:When will swing be ported by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      lean, elegant, and fast. Pick 2 of the 3.

    6. Re:When will swing be ported by wheany · · Score: 1

      Grapefruit, puppies, bank account.

      Pick 2 of the 3.

    7. Re:When will swing be ported by mlk · · Score: 1

      I think someone has ported a mini-swing to J2ME.
      but quick google returns no intresting results.

      --
      Wow, I should not post when knackered.
  18. Hooked by Mattygfunk1 · · Score: 4, Funny
    I love the power and the flexibility of the gameboy. My problem? Tetris keeps sucking me back in.

    Nintendo, PLEASE LET ME LIVE.

    It started out fairly innocent. My brother offered to let me play one night on his. "Just a few games..." he used to say. It's like crack, and I was hooked. I'm now 22 and it has consumed my life. I have tried quitting cold turkey, but it was like the sky was falling and not fitting into place.

    If they would only go one generation without it I might have a chance.

    __
    cheap web site hosting on linux

  19. Down already by nate1138 · · Score: 0

    Shit, their webserver is tanked after less than 30 comments. I wonder if they are running their server on a GBA.......

    --
    Where's my lobbyist? Right here.
    1. Re:Down already by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow you are a quick one!

      That was sooo funny I think I just peed my pants.

      Wow, slashdot really *NEVER* stops to amaze me!

      Thanks all, have a good day, love ya!

  20. Can't Wait to Hear: by OctaneZ · · Score: 2, Funny

    Boss: "waht are you doing there?"
    Worker: "I'm coding boss! I swear!"
    Boss walks away...
    Worker (hushed tones): Damnit the wizard got me again

  21. Hey, that's circular! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You can take the original hardware out of the loop, once you reach that level of abstraction.

  22. aJile Systems JAMiD JAM-ID100C by Tyler+Eaves · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Stupidest .... name .... ever

    --
    TODO: Something witty here...
  23. Come one this is FUNNY! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I was laughing so hard I capped MY pants!

  24. Movies on GBA/SP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    >what id really like to see is the ability to download video onto a gba cartridge and play it back.

    Dude, gimme more time I'm working on it! (seriously)

  25. aJile has a really nice processor there by Headius · · Score: 2, Informative

    I've been developing embedded Java solutions for the aj-80 and aj-100 for about 5 months now, and I must say they are nice little processors. Very fast, very solid resource management, and a solid selection of APIs.

    This is another cool innovation from aJile, I hope we'll see more like this. Now if the embedded side of J2ME development would take off, the world would be a much nicer place!

  26. Convergance by rf0 · · Score: 1

    Cool so now I can dump my PDA. All I need is for something to run Gameboy games, PDA type things be a phone and also make me a cup of tea I will be happy

    rus

    --
    Cheap UK and US VPS
  27. very very cool! by smd4985 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    i'm most impressed. obviously having J2ME support for the GBA is a smart move by Nintendo (i bet they are setting up developers for their next GB, which is rumored to have wireless support built-in). allowing consumers to access the java API is even more impressive - smart idea for allowing home-grown innovations to blossom.

    i put off getting a GBA SP but i'll grab one as soon as the java access is available.

    --
    smd4985
  28. Re:E-Rotic - "Fred Come to Bed" by Billly+Gates · · Score: 0, Troll
    No shit.

    --
    http://saveie6.com/
  29. Advertisment by LS · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This story smacks of advertisement. Who uses "jammin" as slang, except for copy writers and advertising executives?

    LS

    --
    There is a fine line between being a cultivated citizen and being someone else's crop. - A. J. Patrick Liszkie
    1. Re:Advertisment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who uses "jammin" as slang, except for copy writers and advertising executives?

      Bob Marley? Or was he an advertising executive?

    2. Re:Advertisment by Kris_J · · Score: 1

      That bit's a quote.

  30. MP3's? by LS · · Score: 4, Funny

    I get a sick feeling in my stomach when I hear about yet another device with virtually no memory that can now play MP3's. Who gives a rat's ass? I guess teenagers who listen to the same song over and over might like this feature.

    LS

    --
    There is a fine line between being a cultivated citizen and being someone else's crop. - A. J. Patrick Liszkie
    1. Re:MP3's? by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      since i couldnt get the site to load i can only guess how much memory it's going to have.. but it could easily have 128mb+ of memory, which would be pretty much enough to listen while jogging/rollerskating/whatever.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    2. Re:MP3's? by Bohiti · · Score: 1

      Jogging with a GBA? It's hard enough getting my Tequiza gut up to trotting pace without the weight and bulk of a GBA.

    3. Re:MP3's? by Cpt_Kirks · · Score: 1

      I guess teenagers who listen to the same song over and over might like this feature.

      Sounds like most Top 40 trash stations. Yea, Clear Channel...

    4. Re:MP3's? by RevAaron · · Score: 1

      I am not sure about this Java cart (slashdotted!), but you can get 128 MB and plus flash cart for the GBA that you can program on you PC. You can use this for MP3s, stolen GBA ROMs, homebrew s/w or emulators. Tasty.

      --

      Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
    5. Re:MP3's? by Kris_J · · Score: 1
      They're usually Mb, as in 16MB. I think there's a 512Mb (64MB) flash cart for the GBA.

      Meanwhile, this product uses MMC, so 128MB not a problem. Not that I'll ever go back to flash-based portable MP3 after my iPod.

  31. Moo by Chacham · · Score: 4, Funny

    Kewl. I wonder if someone will port a Gameboy Emulator to it. :-)

    --
    Have you read my journal today?
    1. Re:Moo by Dr.+Bent · · Score: 1

      Better yet, a SEGA Genesis emulator....

    2. Re:Moo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Google is thy friend

  32. Maybe it's just that I'm sick... by Akardam · · Score: 1

    ... but that writeup's overuse of acronyms is making my head spin.

    Do all Java programmers have military backgrounds or something?

  33. Re:Come one this is FUNNY! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I was laughing so hard I capped MY pants!

    You capped my, not pants.

  34. Looks like.. by CausticWindow · · Score: 2, Funny

    mobile gaming is going to save Java. At least for now.

    You know that a technology is sound when it is supported by Ericsson, Nokia and er.. Nintendo.
    --
    How small a thought it takes to fill a whole life
  35. What cool Java games? by westfirst · · Score: 1


    I'm not trying to be sarcastic. I'm just curious. Are there any out there? Can you run them with a 1.4.1 plugin?

    1. Re:What cool Java games? by BlaKnail · · Score: 1

      www.popcap.com has a bunch of fun Java games. Unfortunately, I think they might be optimized for Microsoft's VM, but they will still work pretty well in 1.4.1

    2. Re:What cool Java games? by rreyelts · · Score: 1

      If you go to http://www.javagaming.org you can get information about Java game development. I've been having fun beta-testing AlienFlux - http://www.puppygames.net/ It's a pretty good example of what can be done in Java in a fairly short period of time.

    3. Re:What cool Java games? by Scott+Francis[Mecham · · Score: 1

      Get Amped is built using a custom Java libraries(Keel, similar to the situation with Eclipse and SWT). It comes with an embedded JRE though.

      For "cool game-like" applets, you can try BulletML's demo applet, as well as the related BulletMorph applet(genetic evolving of 2D shooter bullets). Kenta also has a Java applet version of Noiz2 available as well.

      --
      --
    4. Re:What cool Java games? by GreenCow · · Score: 1

      www.shizmoo.com has some really well done java games. they've turned some turn based games (pool, chess, scrabble) into realtime action games.

    5. Re:What cool Java games? by mlk · · Score: 1

      This is for the J2ME platform, not the J2SE platform. Some big games (Vampire: Redemption for example) actually use J2SE as its scripting langauge, but I digress, All the games coming out for mobile phones are J2ME games.

      --
      Wow, I should not post when knackered.
    6. Re:What cool Java games? by /^Neil/ · · Score: 0

      All the Atari games have been ported to Applets.

  36. Re:hmm.... by atomray · · Score: 1

    I'll try adding a serious complement to complement the other, amazing witty responses to your comment. I nearly went insane trying to find out why java would crash my machine whenever I ran any graphical java applications - although I tried for a long time to find the problem, even replacing some suspect hardware, in the end I simply read the readme file included with java. It seems that some of the directdraw and direct3d implementations are a little fucked up, and can cause this - they provide some ways to disable it - the funny thing was that after I disabled the directdraw, I think it ran faster than before (and without crashing). Take a look, maybe that's the only problem with your parents set up. I've never had problems on my work machines, just my machine at home, so it doesn't seem to be too common.

    --
    take your sig and shove it
  37. hmm, let's not forget by katalyst · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    that java itself is nothing great, but it's the virtual machine concept that rocks. Similar virtual machines can be built to support other languages too, on any platform.

    Now, for the inevitable question, WHEN DOES GBA LINUX get its release?? ;)

    --
    |/________
    |\A|ALYS|
    1. Re:hmm, let's not forget by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that java .... that rocks
      Most /.ers would prob. put it the other way round, but hey each to there own.

      The JVM supports other languages.

  38. What I'd like... by exp(pi*sqrt(163)) · · Score: 1

    ...is a z-code VM, not a Java VM, so I can play the hundreds of games already available - some of very high quality. Might need a keyboard port too though.

    --
    Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.
    1. Re:What I'd like... by meloneg · · Score: 2, Informative

      ...is a z-code VM, not a Java VM, so I can play the hundreds [wurb.com] of games already available - some of very high quality. Might need a keyboard port too though.
      Ask and though shalt receive.
      Isn't google grand?

    2. Re:What I'd like... by arose · · Score: 2, Informative

      GBA Frotz, seems to have a rather nice keyboard emulation too.

      --
      Analogies don't equal equalities, they are merely somewhat analogous.
  39. Re:Batteries anyone? by Ransom342 · · Score: 1

    I get about 8-10 hours out of a charge on my GBA sp. The Manual says the battery is rated for approx 500 charges thats 4000 + hours

  40. What did Nintendo ever do to these guys? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why do you hate the Gameboy enough to inflict Java on it?!! YOU MONSTERS!

  41. Re:uh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    get your facts man.
    www.ajile.com
    this baby runs byte in native (hardware).
    i'm playing with some cool devs from jstamp.systronix.com
    so shut up and go to kindergarden :D

  42. You java pussies think you're so hardcore... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Wake me up when you get Java running on this !

  43. NATIVE bytecode execution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    tis is not an interpreter, the crtrige has an java CPU, meaning that it executes java bytecode at lowlevel (java is its assembly language).
    i've been working with similar products based on ajile.com microproc

  44. Already done, just get this cart by Chairboy · · Score: 2, Funny
    Just get the Mary-Kate & Ashley Pocket Planner:

    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000 04YMSV/qid=1050343992/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/104-475058 0-6665505?v=glance&s=videogames

    1. Re:Already done, just get this cart by Cpt_Kirks · · Score: 1

      I would rather (insert lewd, illegal phrase here) Mary-Kate and Ashley, with-a-side-of-hot-grits!

    2. Re:Already done, just get this cart by los+furtive · · Score: 1

      I soooo can't wait until I'm home from work to find out where that link goes. They are the bane of the earth, and yet I can't stop looking!

      --

      I'm a writer, a poet, a genius, I know it. I don't buy software, I grow it.

    3. Re:Already done, just get this cart by rutledjw · · Score: 1
      Dude, that is just wrong. Simply wrong.

      I added it as a bookmark just in case

      --

      Computer Science is Applied Philosophy
  45. Web browser for Java MIDP by hqm · · Score: 1
    I have a small web browser (for CHTML) that runs in Java MIDP, and has specifically been ported to the aJile systems chipset (by me). It's called Picrobrowser, and I have versions both on iAppli (iMode) phones, and on MIDP.

    See http://sourceforge.net/projects/bearlib/ see the PicoMIDP project.

  46. Vorbis by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It can even play vorbis files

  47. Wheee.. Gameboy Flash... Whee... by Mulletproof · · Score: 0

    "Game Boy Advance SP system into a jammin' Java interactive gaming machine"

    And this is so much better than the existing lineup of games in what way again? I'm sorry, but 95% of the java games in existance are crap. The time and expensive, let alone value of this project make it's worth really, really dubious.

    --
    You need a FREE iPod Nano
    1. Re:Wheee.. Gameboy Flash... Whee... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All of the Java games (remeber we are talking MIDlets (mobile phone games) not Applets are based on the crappy MIDP 1. MIDP is cool.

  48. I think not by LPetrazickis · · Score: 1

    You'd have to pay me a lot if you want me to learn a language that ends a while with a labourious end while instead of the vastly superior }.

    --
    Is this a sigs-optional kind of place? 'Cause I am totally down with that if you know what I mean.
    1. Re:I think not by zymano · · Score: 0
      it's fast. makes up for it by cutting down on java bloat. Less coding necessary for a simple 'hello world' program.

      there you go. my reply!

  49. Rock On! by Rinikusu · · Score: 1

    I've been slowly teaching myself games programming in Java for the past 6 months. Since my area of "interest" happens to be 2D games (RPG's, in particular), I've also been "looking at" gba development (www.gbadev.net, I think). I've been wishing for J2ME for the GBA (less redundant learning) for quite some time, and now it appears that I finally get my wish!

    Yay!

    Now if they'd just release JRE's for PS2, XBox (I'd think that it wouldn't be that hard..), and Gamecube..

    As an aside:
    People keep wanting to "hack the XBox" to put linux on it.. Has anyone tried installing Win2K on a hacked Xbox?

    --
    If you were me, you'd be good lookin'. - six string samurai
  50. Qix by yerricde · · Score: 1

    I'd love to play that Java Qix game I found the other day on my Game Boy.

    Taito made Qix for Game Boy. Pick it up on Half.com.

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  51. Ever tried hard drugs? by yerricde · · Score: 1

    My problem? Tetris keeps sucking me back in.

    Maybe you don't need to quit. Maybe you just need to switch to so-called "hard" drugs.

    If they would only go one generation without it I might have a chance.

    The official Tetris Worlds release for GB Color sucked, but that didn't stop the homebrewers from releasing both unpolished ("Bobbletris"; "Tetvis") and polished ("Tet*is Advance"; "Tetanus On Drugs") Tetris clones.

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  52. Z-code VM on the GBA by yerricde · · Score: 2, Informative

    What I'd like... is a z-code VM

    You mean like Frotz for GBA?

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  53. wait just a minute by theblacksun · · Score: 1

    did i just hear something that might actually motivate me to learn java? It's warm outside here (midwest America) but I'm sure hell has just frozen over.

    --
    Ignorance kills, complacency kills, hatred kills, but usually not the ones guilty of them.
  54. Even worse by jvalenzu · · Score: 2, Interesting

    what's worse even than that is the fact that you can buy a pad of paper and pencil for like $3.

  55. Re:Not just games - but $199??? by molarmass192 · · Score: 1

    At $199 bucks a pop it's kinda hard to justify any way you slice it. I think $99 is the highest price point most would consider reasonable, above that they're unlikely to get any kind of volume going.

    --

    Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws-Plato
  56. MAME on GBA PS? by Oz_Fozzler · · Score: 1

    Bueller, Bueller?

  57. Re:Batteries anyone? by duren686 · · Score: 1

    Front-lit screen, actually.

    The SP supposedly has 10 hours of "typical playing time" with the light perma-on, and up to 18 hours without.. Mine ran somewhere in between before I had to charge it for the first time (Special hint for other companies from Nintendo: Including fully-charged batteries with product is a GOOD THING and costs next to nothing) so I guess that's about accurate.

    --
    Y2K Compliant since the late 1890s
  58. A more versitle solution? by veredox · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I realize that the goal of this project was not to provide a versitle solution but rather to allow existing MIDP games to be played on the GBA. However, I think it would be fun to write a JVM for the GBA that would allow you to run any (okay not any, but with less limitation) java application or applet MIDP or not. Also, rather than having to buy a cartridge with its own processor, why shouldn't the program be run on the GBA's processor and loaded from a standard cartridge or even a multiboot cable. Slow? Yeah, it would be slow. There's no question about that. But it would certainly be more in the spirit of Java. I've started a sourceforge project to try and tackle this task. If you are interested in helping out, please inquire there.

  59. Re:Batteries anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You can't have a fully charged battery unless you have a freshness expiration date on your product... Rechargable battery leaks charge over time.

  60. SMC reader... by Rob+Simpson · · Score: 1

    Supposedly there's a Smart Media Card Reader coming out for the GBA that will be able to do this. I'm not sure how big they can get, but SMC's are pretty cheap.

  61. There already is one! by Rob+Simpson · · Score: 1

    Seriously: "GBonGBA v0.4 01/12/03 - As weird as it sounds, this is a GameBoy emulator for the GameBoy Advance. It allows you to play GameBoy roms on your GameBoy Advance without the use of a GB Bridge."

  62. The IR range is 4 inches by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See above.

  63. Nice! by exp(pi*sqrt(163)) · · Score: 1

    nt

    --
    Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.
  64. Re:Not just games - but $199??? by Kris_J · · Score: 1
    "At $199 bucks a pop..."
    Developer's Pack. Consumer version not released yet.

    BTW: I signed up for email notification using my spamgourmet account and they use up two emails just verifying your address. Set your address to five or so messages. I chose three and I'm thinking that I'll have to reset it soon.

  65. Java Rules by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This so cool now I can play with my java code in GB

    Rushing now to Walmart and picking one up.

  66. Recommendations? by Kris_J · · Score: 1
    If you like Qix you may also enjoy: Killer Instinct Super Nintendo.

    What?

  67. Bluetooth in Nokia's N-Gage by janaagaard · · Score: 1

    Nokia's upcoming N-Gage has Bluetooth built-in, so I think it's pretty likely that Nintento will do the same thing for the next Gameboy. Now let's just hope that they will make them somewhat compatible.

  68. Would it be illegal if you own the carts? by jotaeleemeese · · Score: 1

    And then flash them to an emulator?

    Or flash them for backup purposes?

    I don't think so.

    --
    IANAL but write like a drunk one.
  69. Hmmm... by Squidgee · · Score: 1
    If you can run the games (Since it's a port of the JVM for GBA), can it run _any_ Java applications? Because if it could, then this could turn the GBA into something very much hackable...

    Maybe it could be turned into a basic wearable computer...? Hmmm...