So I preordered the GB Operator on a whim and it shipped today. The thing that most intrigued me was the ability to write to GB and GBA carts. I am at a loss right now as to where I can get blank carts to write to. Any suggestions on what carts to use for writing games and where I can get them?
Re: GB Operator - Blank GB & GBA Carts for Writing
Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2021 11:13 pm
by Gucci
So are you able to dump the game file to your PC for back up purposes?
Re: GB Operator - Blank GB & GBA Carts for Writing
Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2021 11:45 pm
by SpaceBooger
Gucci wrote:So are you able to dump the game file to your PC for back up purposes?
Yes and then rewrite them to carts that are able to be rewritten.
Re: GB Operator - Blank GB & GBA Carts for Writing
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 7:33 am
by Ziggy
Usually when someone makes a cart dumper/programmer, they also make the programmable carts to go along with it. For example, Retro Stage has a GB and GBA programmable cart, but they're made to work with their specific programmer. Did you try emailing them and asking? Maybe they plan to sell the matching carts at a later date? Or at least they can tell you which ones you need that are compatible.
I skimmed the page you linked, and the only mention of writing games to carts makes it sound like it's only geared toward people creating homebrew games. And they don't seem to have a matching writable cart for sale. So possibly they expect such people to supply their own carts to write. I've come across projects for several GB/C/A carts that you can build.
Re: GB Operator - Blank GB & GBA Carts for Writing
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 11:30 am
by Anapan
I was talking about this with someone not-too-long ago. He wanted to buy my old Flash Advance linker so he could reprogram cheap Chinese pirate GBC & GBA carts. AFAIK the protocol never changed, so despite the slow transfer rate, even an old parallel device can do the job. I think I sourced one new cart. Edit: Found the email. Don't think I sent the unit to Omar, but here's the last communication:
Hello, sorry for my late response. Yes, that sounds good. Isn't that thing from insidegadgets basically the same thing as the flash advance linker? Also, I don't really care if it's tracked or not. Are there other shipping options?
On Thu, May 6, 2021 at 4:17 AM Anapan . <anapan8@hotmail.com> wrote: Hey, back from the extended job finally; Sorry for the delayed response.
I weighed the Flash Linker, with the AC/DC adapter and compatible Parallel/LPT cable fit into the necessary box size. 529 G 19x9x7 cm The total cost of shipping is ~ $20 parcel (untracked?), or $22 xpresspost 4-day delivery (in CAD)
I can only provide old software and limited support. I last used it on an XP laptop (which I still own and despite lack of programmable cart, still registers a connection to the device. I recall I was making custom multi-roms for the cart I had and sending the combined file as one rom into the linker software (LittleWriter iirc?)
Let me know if you want it for $22 tracked and I'll mail it out.
Re: GB Operator - Blank GB & GBA Carts for Writing
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 6:17 pm
by Gucci
SpaceBooger wrote:
Gucci wrote:So are you able to dump the game file to your PC for back up purposes?
Yes and then rewrite them to carts that are able to be rewritten.
I gotcha. This is a cool little device based on what I've read on the site you linked. While nice to have for me, I'd be super interested in a DS version of this.
