home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Nintendo GameBoy
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
-
- Maintained by Marat Fayzullin [FMS]
- EMAIL: fms@wam.umd.edu
- IRC: RST38h
-
- version 2.0
- 4/13/1994
-
- I. GameBoy: General Description
- II. Cheats, Passwords, Strategies, etc.
- III. List of the best games
- IV. GameGenie Questions
- V. Programming, Hardware, etc.
- *** Unanswered Questions
-
- UPDATES: 1. GameBoy mail-server and mailing list! <--*YEAH*
- 2. Mortal Kombat cheats
- 3. Yet more cheats, codes and passwords
-
- I finally found some time to update the FAQ. Sorry for the huge
- delay, this semester was a busy one for me. Anyway, here is a
- new v.2.0 of the FAQ.
-
- People, could somebody subscribing for "Electronic Gaming World"
- and other similar magazines go through the "S.W.A.T." sections in
- them and write down all GameBoy cheats/passwords/etc. not included
- into this file? I would appreciate your help.
- As always, FAQ may contain errors. Also, some information is
- missing. If you find an error or have a missing piece of information,
- email your comments to me. Notice that this file contains some data
- on GameBoy's internals. Any additional information in this field
- will also be greatly appreciated (read "Unanswered Questions" section).
-
-
-
- **************** I. GameBoy: General Description ******************
-
- CPU: 8-bit Z80 at 2.2 MHz
- RAM: 16kB internal
- ROM: 512kBit, 1MBit, 2MBit and 4MBit cartridges are known
- (64kB, 128kB, 256kB and 512kB). Probably, there are
- smaller kinds as well (16kB and 32kB).
-
- Sound: 4 Channels (Stereo: 2L/2R)
-
- Video:
- Display: Reflective LCD 160x144 dots
- Colors: 4 shades of gray
- Sprites: 8 sprites 8x8
-
- Communications: Serial port (?)
- Up to 4 Gameboys can be connected together using these ports
- Baud rate: ???
- Protocol: ???
-
- Power: 6 Volts, 0.7 Watts
- 4 AA Batteries - 35 hours
- OR
- Rechargable battery (NAKI) - 12 hours
-
- * What are an advantage of GB in comparison with other portable videogames?
-
- The same reflective LCD screen which is considered to be the weak point
- of GameBoy, is its advantage. Other systems, such as Atari Lynx or SEGA
- GameGear, use backlighted color screens which consume several times more
- power than reflective LCD of GB. Thus, these systems need 6 AA batteries
- instead of 4 AAs needed by GB and drain these batteries in about 6 hours.
- Also, dots on GB's LCD are much smaller than dots on the color screens of
- other portables which [given that you have a good light source nearby]
- means that GB's LCD looks crisper. The other advantage of GameBoy is that
- it is the only portable videogame you can actually PUT INTO YOUR POCKET.
- Both Lynx and GameGear are too big for it.
- Speaking about variety of games available for GB, I would *NOT*
- consider it an advantage of GB if we are talking solely about its
- technical characteristics. Amount of software written for the system has
- nothing to do with the system's hardware architecture. It is rather
- determined by commercial success of the system and [in fact] by how it
- is marketed. There are many technologically superior systems which just
- didn't make it because of poor marketing [TurboGrafx is an example].
-
-
- **************** II. Cheats, Passwords, Strategies, etc. ****************
-
- 1. Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge passwords
-
- H - Heart C - Candle B - Ball . - Space
-
- Central Castle: HBC. Hard Mode (like Castlevania I): .B.B
- Belmont's son's realm: HCBB Music Test: HHHH
- Count Dracula: BHCH Easy Mode (9 lives): CCHH
-
- 2. Nemesis cheats
-
- Pause the game and press these buttons:
-
- To get SPEED and SHIELD: BBBBBAAAAA
- To get SHADOWFIGHTERS,SHIELD,LASER,MISSILES: UUDDLRLRBA
-
- ( U-[UP] D-[DOWN] L-[LEFT] R-[RIGHT] A-[A] B-[B] )
-
- 3. Fortified Zone passwords: 1111,3375,1681,1122
-
- 4. Pipe Dream passwords:
-
- 5:HAHA 9:GRIN 13:REAP 17:SEED 21:GROW 25:TALL 29:YALI
-
- 5. Last password in Dr.Franken: JHT87 [HEART]V7VN VG20Z
-
- 6. How to get to Medusa Cave in Final Fantasy Adventure?
-
- Find an oasis with two palm trees and walk in 8-like manner around
- them:
- +->>-+ <<-+
- | PP | PP |
- +-<< +->>-+
-
- 7. Faceball 2000
-
- Start on level one. Find an exit. Shoot it five times, then explore
- the level some more. You will find extra lives and speed-up power-ups.
- You will also have five exits to choose from, each of which takes you
- to a different level (level select).
- Contributed by Mark Kaufman.
-
- 8. Zen the Intergalactic Ninja passwords:
-
- C - Can B - Bottle T - Tire A - cArdboard box . - Space
-
- Passwords: [.CBB] [T.AT] [CBAB] ...and the final one: [BTCC]
-
- 9. Possible cheat in Final Fantasy Legend II:
-
- On some stage of the game double-clicking on the Trashcan [or, maybe,
- trying to "move" Trashcan to the different position in the list] will
- allow to increase Agility or Strength of the party members. This trick
- appeared only once and I couldn't repeat it. I also got responses from
- two people who encountered similar effect. Everybody who has more info
- on this trick, send email to me.
-
- 10. Tecmo Bowl codes [contributed by Kelly Gillilan]:
-
- Invisible Team: 397BFFA5
-
- Mirror Matches:
-
- Washington 5B7FBFA3 Denver CFBFF7A0 Indianapolis 43AFFEAC
- Miami 46AFFDAB Cleveland 49AFFBA9 L.A. 969FDFA5
- San Francisco 9C3F7FA5 Dallas 63AEFFA5 New York 269DFFA1
- Chicago 697BFFA5 Minnesota AC37FFA9
-
- 11. Stage select in Penguin Wars:
-
- At the character select screen, pick the character, then press L+B,
- then press A and [START].
-
- 12. Some interesting passwords for QBillion: WALL,IDEA,NOON
-
- 13. Some interesting codes in Shanghai:
-
- MAN - tough level REV - reversed tiles STF - credits
-
- 14. Invisible opponents in SoccerMania:
-
- At the title screen, press UUDDLRLRBA, then press [START]
-
- 15. Passwords for Korodice:
-
- [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
- EASY 94347 68890 24486 49320 28076 96545 83193
- AVERAGE 22307 64422 43059 46403 50136 17443 99007
-
- 16. Selected passwords for Mickey Mouse/Bugs Bunny:
-
- 10:WZFS 20:ZTPZ 30:WYCZ 40:TX9W 50:2TWX 60:YTKX 70:SHE2 80:XHO2
-
- 17. Snoopy's Magic Show passwords:
-
- 1N1B XZ10 V5K2 CA1H 424V VS10 C417 CS1V VUY0 12ET 2UV4 VU12
- Z2JH 2207 C21I ZUUV 7UBB BE10 CE1Q HEO4 CEIB VHNX 1H11 B6N0
- CD1T CD1D
-
- 18. Fish Killer passwords:
-
- 21:UIRE 22:CXMT 23:HOBL 31:KAPG 32:SNWD 33:FQJV A1:PAHN A2:ESZC
-
- 19. Battle Ping Pong codes:
-
- 7822 6524 1604 0781 5802 8731 0511 1199
-
- 20. Burai Fighter Deluxe passwords:
-
- HGKM GBAL IDCP CPFJ MHCB LEOJ JJOE ODEN COHL DKLF KDPI AFKP
-
- 21. Migrain Acclaim passwords: L2:0742 L3:X480 L4:586Y L5:3081
-
- 22. Blodia passwords:
-
- AIJD DIFP DJGN BKQF ANPD CNGL APQD DQMQ BNCE CPHI
-
- 23. Solomon's Club passwords: GZ3ZNN 2Z3NND CZ3DND
-
- 24. Awesome Klax pattern:
-
- last brick --->4 2 1 1 2
- 1 4 3 2 1
- 3 3 4 3 3
- 1 1 2 1 1
- 1 2 1 2 1
-
- 25. Mega Man games:
-
- Mega Man Mega Man 2 Mega Man 3
-
- 1234 1234 1234 1234
- A ** A *** A * * A *
- B * B * B ** B * *
- C ** C *** C ** C **
- D D * D ** D
-
- 26. Roland's Curse:
-
- QKMTTQHP (fire wand/magic axe) FRTTTGTP (sword/power crystal)
- at maximum power, only 25 sword hits to kill Barius.
-
- 27. Selected paswords for Navy Blue:
-
- 65:MVCROEOX (CRUISER) 89:YLNFEMHQ (TARTAN) ??:KAFSKYLG (TOMCAT)
- 73:MBZRLYOC (SEA SPARROW) ??:YLNYDMIS (CARRIER) ??:FLTHVMXP (TRIDENT)
- 81:MUDLTEOH (TOMAHAWK) ??:FKMWCMHK (FANTOM) ??:FLTCWMHN (FINALE)
-
- 28. Final boss in Bionic Commando: S - Square T - Triangle C - Circle
-
- ABCDEF
- 1 SCSSCC
- 2 TS TSC
- 3 TSC TC
- 4 CT CCT
-
- 29. Mortal Kombat:
-
- In order to play as Goro,
-
- 1. Beat the game normally.
- 2. Wait for credits to scroll by.
- 3. When "The End" appears, hold UP+LEFT+SELECT+A
- 4. Enter initials and press A
- 5. Play as Goro!
-
- Playing as Goro, hold A+B and then press DOWN. Goro [you] will
- disappear and the time will go much faster. Your opponent will
- be constantly repeating same move and won't be able to hit you.
-
- These cheats were contributed by Jim Hsu and Timothy A. Meushaw
-
- 30. Bill and Ted's level passwords:
-
- 2: 555-4239 3: 555-8942 5: 555-4118 6: 555-8471 7: 555-2989
- 8: 555-6737 9: 555-6429 10: 555-1881
-
-
- *********************** Other cheats, passwords, etc. ********************
-
- Adventure Island : Stage Select : RLRLABAB at the title screen
- Adventure Island 2 : Power Up : 0894
- Amazing Penguin : Level 37 : 916328
- Amazing Tater : Floor 3 : YBTF5ZZFT2
- Amida : Passwords : TLKSS, LEIQX, VOTAJ
- Atomic Punk : Level 50 : B0MNDPBL3NCB3L2H2DJJ
- Avenging Spirit : Expert mode : U+A+B at the title screen
- Batman : Sound Test : U+R+START at the title screen
- Battle Bull : Level 48 : $F**
- BattleToads 2 : 5 toads : Holding D+A+B press [START]
- Boomer's Adventure : Level 55 : ANCIENT
- Boxxle : Lvl 11, Rm 8 : Q*HT * = Spade
- Boxxle 2 : Level 5 : 0K84
- Brainbender : Level 5 : 3081
- Bubble Bobble : Level 100 : KZ5J
- : Stage Select : KGBJ, then use L to select level
- Bugs Bunny : Level 79 : XHO2
- Bugs Bunny 2 : Level 27 : KING
- Burai Fighter Deuxe : Level 5 : DKLF
- Catrap : Level 100 : R61H
- Chase HQ : Stage Select : Holding D+A+B press [START]
- Contra : Extra Lives : UUDDLRLRABAB[SELECT][START]
- Cyraid : Last Level : RUGGER
- Dead Heat Scramble : Stage Select : BBBBBBBBAAAAAAAA then B one less time
- : : than the number of wanted level
- Deadalian Opus : Stage Select : ZEAL
- Dick Tracy : Level 5 : 56115
- Extra Bases : 7W 0L : 2CCZ
- Fish Dude : Stage C-3 : SE
- Fist Of The North Star: Last Level : XKP72QNVHRJGU5
- Flappy Special : ? : AK00
- Flash : Level 13 : FUNHOUS
- Fortified Zone : Level 4 : 1122
- Gargoyle's Quest : Last Level : SWXE-CBFJ
- Godzilla : Last Level : JXRB7K&948HPD32#JN
- GO! GO! Tank : Cheat Mode : LURULLURULUL[START] at title screen
- Hunt for Red October : Stage Select : B[SELECT]LR[START] at title screen
- Hyper Loderunner : Level Select : Enter QM-0388 as passcode
- Kirby's Dream Land : Cheat Mode : D+[SELECT]+B
- Lock & Chase : ? : Press AABBABB at title screen
- Mercernary Force : Stage Select : Holding U+[SELECT]+A+B press [START]
- Navy Blue : End : FLTCWMHN
- Ninja Boy : Stage Select : UUDDABAB, holding A press [START]
- : Continue : Holding A press [START]
- Operation C : Stage Select : UUDDLRLRBABA[START] at full title screen
- Pitman : Stage Select : Q16KXW [Stage 95]
- Power Mission : Level 11 : LRDMR1
- Prince of Persia : Final Battle : 71196464
- Q Billion : Stage Select : TOIL
- Raging Fighter : Plr vs. Plr : UUDDLRLRB, then A for dk., B for normal
- Roger Rabbit : Level 6 : RTJBWW43
- Rolan's Curse : End : PQRJLNPC
- Snoopy's Magic Show : Level 58 : V5YO
- Snow Bros. Jr. : Stage Select : Holding U+[SELECT]+B press start at
- : : the title screen
- Solomon's Club : Level 4-10 : QDDHSY8
- Spanky's Quest : Stage Select : 0119
- Spud's Adventure : Stage Select : BANCHOU
- Star Trek : Planet Killer: 3516.7
- Super Mario Land 2 : Easy Mode : [SELECT] at the pipe screen
- Tail Gator : Last Area : 8093
- TMNT : Extra Life : Pause game, then UUDDLRLRBA[START]
- : Bonus Games : Holding A+B+[SELECT] press [START] at
- : : the config screen (?)
- Tetris : Expert Mode : D+[START] at the title screen
- Turrican : Stage Select : Holding [SELECT] press [START] at the
- : : title screen
-
- *********************** III. List of the best games ******************
-
- This list is compiled based on the ratings and reviews I got from
- various sources. The fact that some game is in the list doesn't
- necessarily mean that it is the best game for you; it just means
- that this game is worth checking out. I put asterisk (*) next to
- my personal favorites. For the current information about the best
- games, send mail containing one word, get_gameboy, to
- paien00@dmi.usherb.ca to get "Nick's GameBoy Game Ratings List".
-
- 1. RPGs:
-
- *Final Fantasy Legend |
- *Final Fantasy Adventure (2MBit) +-----> These seem to be everybody's
- *Final Fantasy Legend 2 (2MBit) | favorites.
- Final Fantasy Legend 3 (4MBit?)|
- Zelda: Link's Awakening (4MBit)
-
- 2. R-Type-like shoot-em-ups:
-
- Nemesis
- *Gradius: Interstellar Assault (2MBit)
-
- 3. Platform Games:
-
- *Metroid II
- SuperMarioLand II (4MBit)
- *Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
- *Batman
- *TMNT: Fall of the foot Clan
- Operation C
- Mega Man 1,2,3
- BattleToads
- Gargoyle's Quest
-
- 4. 3D Games:
-
- *Altered Space (platform game)
- Faceball 2000 (shoot-em-up)
-
- 5. Sport Games:
-
- Jack Nicklaus Golf
- F-1 Race
-
- 6. Logic/Strategy Games:
-
- *Shanghai
- *Tetris
- Chessmaster [watch for revision, there are two of them]
- *Spot
- 4-in-1 packs 1 and 2
- Dr. Mario
- Ishido
-
- 7. StreetFighter clones:
-
- Mortal Kombat
- Raging Fighter
-
- 8. Classical Arcade games:
-
- Asteroids
- Missile Command
- Centipede
- Pacman
-
- 9. Flight Simulators:
-
- Turn and Burn
- Top Gun
-
-
- ***************************** IV. Game Genie ****************************
-
- 1. How it works?
-
- GameGenie allows you to substitute some of the codes in the cartridge
- ROM with your own codes. For example, you can substitute the default
- number of lives with your own number. GameBoy GameGenie allows to
- substitute up to three codes.
-
- 2. Where to get the codes?
-
- GameBoy GameGenie codes are available through anonymous FTP at
-
- netcom.com directory /pub/vi/vidgames/gamegenie
-
- 6828 Jun 14 1993 gbcod1.txt
- 5798 Jun 14 1993 gbcod2.txt
- 5256 Jun 14 1993 gbcod3.txt
- 5606 Jun 14 1993 gbcod4.txt
- 5668 Jul 24 03:11 gbcod5.txt
- 2122 Oct 26 23:21 gbcod6.txt
- 6341 Jun 14 1993 gbin02.txt
- 11011 Jun 14 1993 gbup01.txt
- 13427 Jun 14 1993 gbup02.txt
-
- 3. What is the meaning of the digits in GameGenie code for GameBoy?
-
- * All digits are in hexadecimal system
-
- GameBoy GameGenie Code: DD2-103-???
-
- DD - Data Byte
- 0,1,2,3 - Address, reads as 3210
- ??? - Meaning of these digits is unknown.
- It is suspected that they represent the
- ROM paging register, but no information
- is available.
-
- Example: 3D2-ABF-3BE - Set 3Dh (DEC A command) at address F2ABh
-
- 4. Some commonly used Z80 instructions with their codes:
-
- Code(s): Instruction: Common Usage:
- 3Eh xxh - LD A,xxh Load default number of lives (energy,ammo,etc.)
- 3Dh - DEC A Decrease number of lives (energy,ammo,etc.)
- 3Ch - INC A Increase number of lives (energy,ammo,etc.)
- 00h - NOP DO NOTHING (set this instead of 3Dh)
-
- 5. CodeMasters' address and phone number:
-
- Codemasters
- Lower Farm House, PHONE: +44 926 814132
- Southam,
- Warwickshire.
- CV33 0DL
- UK
-
- * I didn't try calling them. If you get any additional information from
- CodeMasters, please, email it to me
-
-
- ********************* V. Programming, Hardware, etc. *******************
-
- 1. Are there any GameBoy emulators for the personal computers?
-
- YES, there is a GameBoy emulator for the Commodore Amiga called ToyBoy.
- This emulator can be obtained by FTP from AmiNet sites:
-
- ftp.luth.se: /pub/aminet/misc/emu/Gameboy68000.lha
- ftp.etsu.edu: /aminet/misc/emu/GameBoy68000.lha
- wuarchive.wustl.edu: /systems/amiga/aminet/misc/emu/Gameboy68000.lha
-
- Unfortunately, this package is incomplete. It doesn't have documentation
- and a Z80 assembler. The author of ToyBoy is unknown. According to some
- sources, ToyBoy was stolen from a company called Argonaut developing
- Amiga->GameBoy cross-development system for Nintendo. Other rumors say
- that there is a demo console based on this emulator. The ToyBoy package
- found on Aminet includes:
-
- a) GameBoy emulator
- b) Binary file for Tetris which can be run by emulator
- c) Source code of Tetris in Z80 assembler
-
- Following information was mainly obtained by exploring the Tetris source
- code which came with ToyBoy. Information about GameBoy's hardware is
- extremely hard to find. Most of it is incomplete, uncertain and vague.
- If you have any information [especially about things listed in
- "Unanswered Questions" section], PLEASE, email it to fms@wam.umd.edu.
-
-
- 2. Addresses of GameBoy I/O ports:
-
- GameBoy seems to access I/O ports as memory cells rather than as real Z80
- I/O ports i.e. instead of IN A,(Port#) we have LD A,(Port Addr). Here are
- several port addresses and their usage:
-
-
- EA64h: Joystick (INPUT)
-
- Bits: Meaning: When buttons are pressed, appropriate
- 0 [LEFT] bits go to "1"s
- 1 [RIGHT]
- 2 [UP]
- 3 [DOWN]
- 4 [A]
- 5 ?
- 6 ?
- 7 ?
-
-
- EA62h/EA63h: Low/High bytes of the Character Set address (OUTPUT)
-
- Using these two ports you can set an address of the Character Set
- table for GameBoy's video controller. This address should be EVEN(?).
- There may be up to 256 (?) characters 8x8 dots each. Character's
- pattern takes 16 bytes. Each dot has two bits in two consequent bytes:
-
- Addr: db 00010000b
- | |
- +------------> Dot with color 2 (10b)
- | +----------> Dot with color 1 (01b)
- | |
- Addr+1: db 00001100b
-
- Here is an example of the character using colors 0 and 2 only:
-
- db 00000000b,0
- db 01111100b,0
- db 11001110b,0
- db 11011110b,0
- db 11110110b,0
- db 11100110b,0
- db 11000110b,0
- db 01111100b,0
-
- Let C be a code of the character. Then the pattern of this character
- in the table will be located at
-
- PattAddr(C)=CharSetAddr+16*C
- |
- +---> This is the address in EA62h/EA63h
-
-
- EA60h/EA61h: Low/High bytes of the Character Map address (OUTPUT)
-
- These ports define the address of the table video controller uses as
- a Character Map. This 20x18 table contains codes of the characters
- being displayed on the screen. Let X,Y be coordinates of the character
- (starting at the left-upper corner). Then the address of this character
- in the table will be
-
- CharAddr(X,Y)=CharMapAddr+20*Y+X
- |
- +---> This is the address in EA60h/EA61h
-
-
- 3. Is it possible to build a backlight into GameBoy?
-
- NO, it is impossible to make a backlight for the reflective LCD.
- Nevertheless, it is possible to put a light source inside GameBoy so
- that it will be above the screen. Don't forget that opening GameBoy will
- void the warranty though.
-
- 4. Are there any game copiers for GameBoy?
-
- No stand-alone game copiers are known. Nevertheless, there seem to be
- GameBoy adaptors for MultiGameDoctorII, MultiGameHunter, SuperWildCard
- and SuperComPro. Also, there is a device allowing to play games stored
- on credit card-like magnetic cards which is produced in Japan and isn't
- sold in U.S.
-
- 5. MultiGame cartridges for GameBoy:
-
- Yes, these cartridges are at least half-illegal because their producers
- violate copyright law.
- Yes, these things exist for GameBoy. At present time, there are four
- kinds of them: 48in1, 64in1, 86in1 and 105in1 (although there were rumors
- about 200in1 cartridge also). They all seem to contain the same basic set
- of games most of which are either old Nintendo products (like Alleyway or
- Tennis) or low-quality games from other companies with a couple of good
- games added. Number of games in such a cartridge is actually SMALLER than
- it is written on the box because some games are present in two or three
- copies (with a number of lives and other things changed). For example,
- 64in1 cartridge contains only about 48 DISTINCT games. At least 27 of
- them can be classified as "logic" or "strategy" games. There were many
- requests to list games multigame cartridges contain. So, here is a list
- of games how it appears in a menu of a 105in1 cartridge. Other multigame
- cartridges contain subset of games listed below. Notice large number of
- japanese titles and repetitions. There are also some titles which actually
- respond to the same game.
-
- turtle ninja bouken jima super mario land motocross
- penguin land kid kiki mickey mouse crocodile
- dr. mario solomons club head on dr mario
- ishido battle city bouken tennis
- volley fire boxing trump boy klax
- bubble ghost master karateka othello puzzle boy
- hong kong tetris minisweeper heiankyo alien
- bouken 3 flipull hyper loderunner amida
- yakuman match mania pala medes world bowling
- loopz bouken 4 alleyway koro dice
- puzzle road spot castelian dragon slayer 1
- space invader snake war bouken 5 flappy special
- pipe dream koi wa kakehiki bouken 6 pitman
- tasmania story soukoban 2 shanghai kinkong escape
- arkanoil ls caste star gate bouken 7
- super kid super turtle super mario go tank
- bouken 8 spec mouse big ghost excite bike
- penguin egg spec turtle adventure 2 tank
- kiki mouse small ghost motor bike adventure
- big penguin speed runner bom bom alley 1992 castelian
- thunder force luck boy adventure 4 sp turtle
- mario boy adventure 5 loder runner sp alley
- sp motocross adventure 6 sp invader sp kid kiki
- easy tasmania adventure 7 turtle ii sp mario
- gogo tank adventure 8 sp mouse adventure island
- sp penguin happy boy happy ghost bouken boy
- sp tasmania
-
- 6. Using GameGenie with multigame cartridges:
-
- No, GameGenie DOES NOT WORK with multigame cartridges.
-
- 7. Japanese cartridges:
-
- These are cartridges which are not available in U.S., although you can
- find them if you are lucky. Following descriptions of japanese cartridges
- were prepared by Mark Kaufman.
-
- * Name: Parodius Type: Shooter Producer: Konami
- Graphics: 10 Sound: 10 Playability: 10 Overall: 10
-
- This is the legendary Japanese shooter to which all others are compared.
- It is awesome, huge, creative, challenging and fun, fun, fun.
-
- * Name: Twinbee Type: Shooter Producer: Konami
- Graphics: 9 Sound: 9 Playability: 9 Overall: 9
-
- Another Japanese cart that should be sold over here. It's better than
- 90% of all GB games.
-
- 8. Why some GameGenie codes don't work?
-
- Some games exist in several different versions. Although these versions
- look exactly the same, the actual program codes differ. Therefore, while
- some GameGenie codes work with one version of the cartridge, they aren't
- guaranteed to work with other versions.
-
- 9. Where is GB Zelda FAQ?
-
- The GameBoy Zelda FAQ list is supported by Michael Evans
- [evansmj@NeXTwork.Rose-Hulman.Edu]. Another strategy guide for GB Zelda
- is written by Christer Ericson [Christer.Ericson@cs.umu.se].
-
- 10. Where to get parts to repair GameBoy?
-
- Mark Kaufman found address of the company selling replacement parts for
- GameBoy [as well as Sega AC adapters and Atari parts]. Here is their
- phone number and a list of GameBoy parts they carry:
-
- MCM Electronics TOLL-FREE: 1-800-543-4330
- FAX: 1-513-434-6959
- VOICE: 1-513-434-0031
- M-F: 7AM-8PM EST Sat: 9AM-6PM EST
-
- #83-2285 $3.50 Gameboy Type 32 Pin Connector
- (replace worn or corroded cartridge jack inside GB)
- #83-1570 $1.49 Controller Replacement Pads
- (set of three)
- #81-1605 $7.95 Schematic Diagrams
- (THIS should be interesting! =))
-
- Game Bit Drivers (fit tamper resistant star screws):
- #22-1145 $9.95 Small bit for GB cartridge
- #22-1150 $9.95 Large bit for GB battery packs
-
- 11. GameBoy cartridge pinouts [not complete]:
-
- Pin Function
- ----------------------------------------------------------
- 1 Vcc
- 2 ? Connected on Gameboy, but not used on GamePaks.
- 3 /RESET
- 4 /WR
- 5 ? Used by paging PAL on high capacity GamePaks.
- 6-21 A0-A15
- 22-29 D0-D7
- 30 /RD
- 31 ? Connected on Gameboy, but not used on Game-Paks.
- 32 GND
- -----------------------------------------------------------
-
- 12. GameBoy memory map [speculation]:
-
- FFFFh ----------------------
-
- Gameboy peripherals
- Cartridge address frame is filled
- C000h ---------------------- by 32kB of ROM in small cartridges.
- In large [>32kB] cartridges it has
- 16K of internal RAM following structure:
- READ WRITE
- 8000h ---------------------- -------------------+-------------------
- |
- Paged ROM bank | 8kB battery-backed
- | RAM (if paged in)
- Cartridge address -------------------+-------------------
- frame |
- Bottom 16kB of ROM +-------------------
- | Paging Register
- 0000h ---------------------- -------------------+-------------------
-
- Paging Register has 5 bits - D0-D4 which represent 32 16kB banks of
- memory. Bank 0 is a battery-backed RAM.
-
- 13. Which games are best to buy?
- You can use a list of best games included into this FAQ-file. It is
- incomplete and quite biased though. To get most recent information,
- send email containing a single word get_gameboy to
- paien00@dmi.usherb.ca to get "Nick's GameBoy Game Ratings" list. It
- also seems to be biased, but let's hope that it will look better
- when more people contribute to it.
-
- 14. Mail-server and mailing list for GameBoy:
- They are maintained by M. S. Manley. The address for both is
-
- gameboy@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
-
- Try fingering this address to get more info.
-
- In order to access mail-server, send email with subject "archive"
- and body containing a list of commands. At the beginning, you can
- send a letter containing only one word: "help" and the server
- will send you a help-file with the list of all available commands.
-
- In order so subscribe for the mailing list, send email with subject
- "subscribe". You can include your email address in the letter body,
- otherwise it will be taken from the header. All other mail sent
- to the above-described address and not containing keywords
- "subscribe", "unsubscribe", "help" or "archive" will be forwarded to
- the mailing list.
-
- My personal thanks to M.S.Manley. =:)
-
-
- ********************************* Credits: *******************************
-
- Thanks to all people who sent their comments and
- contributed to this document! (list follows)
-
- Mark Kaufman - Cheats for Faceball 2000 and passwords Pipe Dream.
- Descriptions and ratings of some games. MCM
- Electrionics' phone numbers.
- Yi-Min Wei - Comments about software sections of the FAQ.
- Kelly Gillilan - Excellent list of cheats and passwords.
- Tecmo Bowl codes. CodeMasters' phone number.
- Peter Knight - Cartridge pinouts and a memory map. Codemasters'
- address.
- Jim Hsu - List of passwords and codes and MK cheat.
- Timothy A. Meushaw - Mortal Kombat cheat.
- Robert Newman - Various cheats and codes.
- M. S. Manley - Maintaining GB mailing list and mail-server
-
-
- **************************** UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ************************
-
- If you have any information about GameBoy, feel free to send email to
-
- Marat Fayzullin (FMS)
- fms@wam.umd.edu
-
-
- 1. Meaning of the last three digits of GameGenie code?
- 2. Memory Map of GameBoy?
- 3. Author of ToyBoy emulator?
- 4. Pinouts of the GameBoy cartridges?
- 5. Programming sprites, sound, screen scrolling, serial port?
- 6. Connecting GameBoy to TV?
- 7. GameGenie codes not listed in the official updates?
- 8. Game cheats and passwords?
- 9. Complete version of GameBoy emulator?
- 10. Classified listings of the games with ratings from 0 to 9?
- 11. Game Copiers for GameBoy?
- 12. "Generic" cartridges allowing to use reprogrammable ROM plugged
- into the socket or static RAM?
- 13. Pinouts of GameBoy's serial port?
- 14. Ports' addresses and their usage?
- 15. Where to get triple-blade screwdriver to open GameBoy? ;)
- 16. etc. etc. etc.
-
- * Reviews: Please, send your reviews of GB games. Rate four categories:
-
- Graphics Sound Playability Overall
-
- Give ratings from 0 to 9 for each of these categories. Also, classify
- the game [RPG, shoot-em-up, classic, etc.] and give information about
- the cartridge size and manufacturer. Games which get more than 2 ratings
- from different people, will be mentioned in the FAQ. I still couldn't
- collect enough of these raitings to come to any conclusions.
-
-