Nintendo - Game Boy / Color (Gambatte)Link
BackgroundLink
Gambatte is an accuracy-focused, open-source, cross-platform Game Boy Color emulator written in C++. It is based on hundreds of corner case hardware tests, as well as previous documentation and reverse engineering efforts.
The Gambatte core has been authored by
- Sinamas
The Gambatte core is licensed under
A summary of the licenses behind RetroArch and its cores have found here.
BIOSLink
Required or optional firmware files go in the frontend's system directory.
Attention
The 'Use official bootloader' core option must be set to On in order for these BIOS files to be used.
Filename | Description | md5sum |
---|---|---|
gb_bios.bin | Game Boy BIOS - Optional | 32fbbd84168d3482956eb3c5051637f5 |
gbc_bios.bin | Game Boy Color BIOS - Optional | dbfce9db9deaa2567f6a84fde55f9680 |
ExtensionsLink
Content that can be loaded by the Gambatte core have the following file extensions:
- .gb
- .gbc
- .dmg
RetroArch database(s) that are associated with the Gambatte core:
FeaturesLink
Frontend-level settings or features that the Gambatte core respects.
Feature | Supported |
---|---|
Restart | ✔ |
Saves | ✔ |
States | ✔ |
Rewind | ✔ |
Netplay | ✕ |
Core Options | ✔ |
RetroAchievements | ✔ |
RetroArch Cheats | ✔ |
Native Cheats | ✕ |
Controls | ✔ |
Remapping | ✔ |
Multi-Mouse | ✕ |
Rumble | ✕ |
Sensors | ✕ |
Camera | ✕ |
Location | ✕ |
Subsystem | ✕ |
Softpatching | ✔ |
Disk Control | ✕ |
Username | ✕ |
Language | ✕ |
Crop Overscan | ✕ |
LEDs | ✕ |
DirectoriesLink
The Gambatte core's library name is 'Gambatte'
The Gambatte core saves/loads to/from these directories.
Frontend's Save directory
File | Description |
---|---|
*.srm | Cartridge battery save |
Frontend's State directory
File | Description |
---|---|
*.state# | State |
*Frontend's System directory
File | Description |
---|---|
palettes/Default.pal | Global custom palette |
palettes/'content-name'.pal | Per-game custom palette |
Geometry and timingLink
- The Gambatte core's core provided FPS is 59.7275005696
- The Gambatte core's core provided sample rate is [Sample rate]
- The Gambatte core's base width is [Base width]
- The Gambatte core's base height is [Base height]
- The Gambatte core's max width is [Max width]
- The Gambatte core's max height is [Max height]
- The Gambatte core's core provided aspect ratio is [Aspect ratio]
Custom palettes for Game Boy gamesLink
The 'GB Colorization' core option must be set to custom.
Create a folder called "palettes" in RetroArch's system directory. Then, you can place custom palette files (.pal) inside the "palettes" folder
You can define different palettes for specific games by creating a .pal file in the "palettes" folder with 'INTERNALROMNAME.pal' or "rom-name.pal". If no specific palette is found for a ROM then the default palette is used.
You can also define a palette to be used for all Game Boy games by creating a .pal file in the "palettes" folder named "Default.pal"
Custom palettes can be created from the GUI in standalone Gambatte
Core optionsLink
The Gambatte core has the following option(s) that can be tweaked from the core options menu. The default setting is bolded.
Settings with (Restart) means that core has to be closed for the new setting to be applied on next launch.
-
Allow Opposing Directions [gambatte_up_down_allowed] (disabled/enabled)
Enabling this will allow pressing / quickly alternating / holding both left and right (or up and down in some games) directions at the same time.
This may cause movement based glitches to occur in certain games.
It's best to keep this core option disabled.
-
GB Colorization [gambatte_gb_colorization] (disabled|auto|internal|custom)
Colorizes Game Boy games.
GB Colorization - Off
GB Colorization - auto
-
Internal Palette [gambatte_gb_internal_palette] (GBC - Blue|GBC - Brown|GBC - Dark Blue|GBC - Dark Brown|GBC - Dark Green|GBC - Grayscale|GBC - Green|GBC - Inverted|GBC - Orange|GBC - Pastel Mix|GBC - Red|GBC - Yellow|Special 1|Special 2|Special 3)
Select which internal color palette for GB Colorization is going to be used. GB Colorization must be set to internal.
Internal Palette - GBC - Blue
Internal Palette - GBC - Brown
Internal Palette - GBC - Dark Blue
Internal Palette - GBC - Dark Brown
Internal Palette - GBC - Dark Green
Internal Palette - GBC - Grayscale
Internal Palette - GBC - Green
Internal Palette - GBC - Inverted
Internal Palette - GBC - Orange
Internal Palette - GBC - Pastel Mix
Internal Palette - GBC - Red
Internal Palette - GBC - Yellow
Internal Palette - GBC - Special 1
Internal Palette - GBC - Special 2
Internal Palette - GBC - Special 3
-
Color correction [gambatte_gbc_color_correction] (enabled|disabled)
Darkens Game Boy Color games to match the original hardware output.
Color Correction - On
Color Correction - Off
-
Emulated hardware (restart) [gambatte_gb_hwmode] (Auto|GB|GBC|GBA)
Choose which hardware is emulated Game Boy, Game Boy Color, or Game Boy Advance.
-
Use official bootloader (restart) [gambatte_gb_bootloader] (enabled|disabled)
Enables support for using official Game Boy and Game Boy Color bootloaders with startup logos. Check the BIOS section to see what files are needed.
Game Boy bootloader
Game Boy Color bootloader
-
GameBoy Link Mode [gambatte_gb_link_mode] (Not Connected|Network Server|Network Client)
Awaiting description.
-
Network Link Port [gambatte_gb_link_network_port] (56400 to 56420 in increments of 1. 56400 is default.)
Awaiting description.
-
Network link server address part 1 (client only) [gambatte_gb_link_network_server_ip_octet1] (0 to 255 in increments of 1. 0 is default.)
Awaiting description.
-
Network link server address part 2 (client only) [gambatte_gb_link_network_server_ip_octet2] (0 to 255 in increments of 1. 0 is default.)
Awaiting description.
-
Network link server address part 3 (client only) [gambatte_gb_link_network_server_ip_octet3] (0 to 255 in increments of 1. 0 is default.)
Awaiting description.
-
Network link server address part 4 (client only) [gambatte_gb_link_network_server_ip_octet4] (0 to 255 in increments of 1. 0 is default.)
Awaiting description.
JoypadLink
RetroPad Inputs | User 1 input descriptors |
---|---|
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B |
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Select |
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Start |
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D-Pad Up |
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D-Pad Down |
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D-Pad Left |
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D-Pad Right |
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A |
CompatibilityLink
Game | Issue |
---|---|
Command Master | Crashes on start. Unemulated MBC7 mapper. |
Game Boy Camera | Crashes on start. Unemulated Pocket Camera mapper. |
Game de Hakken!! Tamagotchi - Osutchi to Mesutchi | Crashes on start. Unemulated TAMA5 mapper. |
Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble | Crashes on start. Unemulated MBC7 mapper. |
Net de Get: Mini-Game @ 100 | Crashes on start. Unemulated MBC6 mapper. |
Pocket Family GB2 | Crashes on start. Unemulated HuC3 mapper. |
Robopon: Sun/Star/Moon Version | Crashes on start. Unemulated HuC3 mapper. |
External LinksLink
- Official Gambatte Github Repository
- Old Standalone Gambatte builds
- Libretro Gambatte Core info file
- Libretro Gambatte Github Repository
- Report Libretro Gambatte Core Issues Here