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Nintendo e-Reader Gets Homebrew Dot-Code Games

Posted by simoniker on from the gotta-love-dem-hackers dept.

figa writes "Tim Schuerewegen announced that the Reed Solomon error correction used by the Nintendo Game Boy Advance e-Reader has been figured out. This was the last remaining obstacle to creating custom dot-code printouts for use with the GBA e-Reader (more info), which scans special Nintendo trading cards to load in mini-games on your Game Boy Advance. This should be a boon to homebrew GBA developers who want to print their own games - Schuerewegen has examples and documentation on his site, and has released a dot-code version of the homebrew BombSweeper game by SnowBro."

8 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Translation, please? by lotsofno · · Score: 5, Informative
    As apparently, a real geezer, I have no idea what this post is about. Is it just saying that the "Game Boy Advance" has been reverse enginnered, so people can write games for it? And why exactly is this interesting? Isn't the Game Boy a relatively ancient little hand held thing?
    People have been able to create their own games for game boy for a while now, and there's even hardware/software to write your own carts for use with the gameboy, to play them. Nintendo looks down on the usage and sales of these carts/cart-writers as they are mostly used to "burn" and play pirated ROMs. Nonetheless, there are many people who use these carts to make GBA games as a hobby.

    What this project has managed to do is extend their hobby to GBA's e-reader system. The e-reader is a hardware attachment that you can plug into your gameboy, and it'll let you play special games for the GBA, written on cards. Though these games aren't as complex and full-featured as those on carts, they are much much cheaper, and great for kids as well as collectors.

    As for the GBA being an "ancient little hand-held" thing, they are VERY popular, and with good reason. The machine has matured much with it's long-life rechargeable battery, wonderful backlight, and it's stylish case. Throw in the huge gaming collection and it's portability, and you can't lose with it. It's impressive RPG selection (Fire Emblem, Final Fantasy Tactics, Zelda: Four Swords, Tactcis Ogre, Golden Sun, etc..) is reason enough to invest in one.
  2. Also used in CDs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Reed-Solomon codes are also what does error correction in Compact Discs

  3. Re:How do I print these? by medication · · Score: 4, Informative

    On the site he has a seperate app for printing: dotcode-print-v10.zip

    Cheers

    --
    "If you're flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit." - Mitch Hedberg
  4. Re:Too much work by Lord+Graga · · Score: 3, Informative

    You could start with this kernel :)

  5. I'll better clear some things up. by Lord+Graga · · Score: 5, Informative

    As a 1337 homebrew GBA coder, I think I should clear some stuff up:
    First of all: Yes, you can write your own code for GBA. The most used language is C, and ASM for heavy optimizing. The compiler used is called Devkit Advance, but there's an even better one called... DEVKIT ARM (which also supports Gamecube and Gp32).
    The GBA is reverse engineered pretty much 100%, and everything documented in some way. It's really simple too. Just set a few registers, and ZOOOOM, you have everything ready to use, I recomend it to everybody who needs a short break from everyday coding.
    Also, ARM ASM is really cool to code for too :)

    1. Re:I'll better clear some things up. by Abcd1234 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually, the compiler used is called GNU GCC. Credit where credit is due, people. Devkit Advance is just a nice, convenient packaging of GCC cross-compiled for the ARM, and the same is likely the case for that other kit you mentioned.

      Of course, personally, I just built my own development environment by downloading and building my compiler and related tools by hand.

  6. Re:Translation, please? by ArsSineArtificio · · Score: 4, Informative
    Game Boy: ancient green-screen handheld portable game player

    Game Boy Advance: modern, insanely popular, color backlit handheld portable game player, backwards-compatible to old Game Boy games. Basically a portable Super NES.

    e-Reader: A contraption you attach to your Game Boy Advance, which works like a magnetic paper card reader as in a subway or parking garage. Nintendo sells packages of paper cards, printed with dots. You swipe these through your e-Reader, and load small games onto your Game Boy Advance.

    Point of story: Somebody has figured out the system of dots so that you can print your own software onto cards, and swipe them through your e-Reader into your Game Boy Advance.

    --
    All employees must wash hands before seeking equitable relief.
  7. Re:Who cares about a demo game.. by Geoffreyerffoeg · · Score: 3, Informative

    Uh...dude, R-S codes are common and well known in academia. My dad works with R-S codes.

    And the point of open source is not to evade the law. If it is, you're here for the wrong reason; go find some warez group on IRC. (Disclaimer: that does not count as an endorsement of warez.)