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Home > Archive > Nintendo gameboy advance > September 2004 > GBA question?
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| Firstly apologies for my ignorance, the last time I had a handheld consol was when the first GB came out!
Basically, I quite fancy getting myself a GBA SP and have one simple question that none of the websites seem to be able to answer. Is it possible to save game progress on the GBA SP? The biggest downfall about the original GB (all those years ago!) is that you had to spend 6 hours non stop if you wanted to actually complete Super Mario...I'm hope things have moved on since then.
Many Thanks!
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| Glenn Shaw 2004-09-02, 6:20 am |
| JF wrote:
quote:
> Firstly apologies for my ignorance, the last time I had a handheld
> consol was when the first GB came out!
>
> Basically, I quite fancy getting myself a GBA SP and have one simple
> question that none of the websites seem to be able to answer. Is it
> possible to save game progress on the GBA SP?
It depends on the game. Most GBA games have flash backup, which means
that game progress is saved to a flash memory module inside the cart.
Some games still use battery backup, and there are a few which have no
backup at all -- for example, in Gundam Seed Battle Assault, you have to
enter a password to unlock additional Mobile Suits and game features.
The GBA SP itself doesn't have any means of saving or backing up game
saves; that's purely a function of the game cartridge, if the function
is available.
HTH. HAND. 
--
Glenn Shaw
Indianapolis, IN USA
To reply by e-mail, delete NOSPAM and transpose CAST and NET
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| John Salerno 2004-09-02, 12:00 pm |
|
"Glenn Shaw" <togusa@NOSPAMcomnet.cast> wrote in message
news:nbadnXwj15TuSbDcRVn-hQ@comcast.com...
quote:
> It depends on the game. Most GBA games have flash backup, which means
> that game progress is saved to a flash memory module inside the cart.
> Some games still use battery backup
Interesting. How is flash backup utilized, then? I'm not quite sure I
follow.
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| Matt Stone 2004-09-02, 12:00 pm |
| On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 13:08:43 +0100, JF <farrelj@3mail.com> wrote:
quote:
> Firstly apologies for my ignorance, the last time I had a handheld
> consol was when the first GB came out!
>
> Basically, I quite fancy getting myself a GBA SP and have one simple
> question that none of the websites seem to be able to answer. Is it
> possible to save game progress on the GBA SP? The biggest downfall about
> the original GB (all those years ago!) is that you had to spend 6 hours
> non stop if you wanted to actually complete Super Mario...I'm hope
> things have moved on since then.
>
> Many Thanks!
It's completely dependant upon the game you are playing.
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quote:
> JF wrote:
>
> Firstly apologies for my ignorance, the last time I had a handheld
> consol was when the first GB came out!
>
> Basically, I quite fancy getting myself a GBA SP and have one simple
> question that none of the websites seem to be able to answer. Is it
> possible to save game progress on the GBA SP? The biggest downfall
> about the original GB (all those years ago!) is that you had to spend
> 6 hours non stop if you wanted to actually complete Super Mario...
So, you never found the warp zones? Or the start button?
I could finish the game in around 20/25 minutes after a small amount of
practice. Even running through every level I think I could do it in
about an hour, and without nearly as much practice.
Not at first obviously, but you kept playing the early levels, you get
proficient at them, then you kept dying on the later levels until you
got proficient, then played the even later levels where you kept dying,
and so on.
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| DeepThought 2004-09-02, 7:40 pm |
| John Salerno <johnjsal@NOSPAMrcn.com> wrote:
quote:
> Interesting. How is flash backup utilized, then? I'm not quite sure I
> follow.
Basically, it works on the same principle as cameral flash memory (or any
other flash memory product such as a USB drive). The GBA is strictly for
playing compatible games; everything game-related is in the cartridge. The
game data is stored on the non-writeable ROM (which is how the ripped data
viewable with an emulator has it's name), and the flash memory is allocated
so when the game's save command (different for each game) is used, it can
store the save/checkpoint on the cart. For instance, Kirby Nightmare in
Dreamland automatically saves every level progression, while Metroid Fusion
requires that you reach a save room and choose to save the game status.
Of course, some games use battery-powered save status, and there's really no
way to tell the difference (other than the fact that when the battery dies,
your game is lost). I read something about certain batteries leeching power
off of the GBA power, so the frequently-played game is recharged, but I have
no idea of the validity of that claim. Also, "GameShark for GBA" has a
feature which can download the savegame to the computer as a restorable data
file. I've downloaded saves from Pokemon R/S and both Metroid games, as well
as Jurassic Park Builder, but couldn't download Harry Potter Quidditch. I
believe that flash saves can't be downloaded.
Save games have been around (it sounds like) pretty much right after you
stopped playing. Pokemon Red/Blue offered an "anywhere but a battle" save
option in the menu, which is not uncommon for RPGs like Dragon Warrior.
In most cases, any form of savegame is fairly infallible. My Pokemon Red
(last time I checked) was still diligently saving my game, and any essential
Pokemon were sent to G/S/C, which (being newer) will last a while yet.
--
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Deep Thought
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Erase the Earth
to g-mail me.
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