https://github.com/mattieb/4-e
send e-Card bins to Super Mario Advance 4 over a link cable
https://github.com/mattieb/4-e
e-reader game-boy-advance nintendo super-mario-advance-4 super-mario-bros-3
Last synced: about 2 months ago
JSON representation
send e-Card bins to Super Mario Advance 4 over a link cable
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/mattieb/4-e
- Owner: mattieb
- License: mit
- Created: 2024-06-08T00:29:26.000Z (about 1 year ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2024-06-22T16:47:57.000Z (12 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-04-11T21:56:38.264Z (about 2 months ago)
- Topics: e-reader, game-boy-advance, nintendo, super-mario-advance-4, super-mario-bros-3
- Language: C
- Homepage:
- Size: 85 KB
- Stars: 7
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE.md
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README
# 4-e
A project to send [Super Mario Advance
4](https://www.mariowiki.com/Super_Mario_Advance_4:_Super_Mario_Bros._3)
[e-Reader](https://www.mariowiki.com/E-Reader) cards from one Game
Boy Advance running 4-e to another running the game, using homebrew
and decoded .bin versions of those cards instead of printed cards
an an actual e-Reader.
It has been tested to successfully and reliably send demo, power-up,
and level cards between mGBA multiplayer windows as well as real
Game Boys Advance and [Analogue Pockets](https://www.analogue.co/pocket).
I've written more about 4-e [on my
blog](https://mattiebee.io/52283/introducing-4-e-super-mario-advance-4-e-cards-without-an-e-reader).
## Usage
1. Build the 4-e.gba ROM or download it from
[releases](https://github.com/mattieb/4-e/releases).
2. Using [gbfs-web](https://mattiebee.app/gbfs-web), attach the
e-Card .bin files you wish to use to 4-e.gba, and save a new
ROM.
- You can also use the standard tools from
[GBFS](https://pineight.com/gba/#gbfs) to create a GBFS
file, then concatenate it to 4-e.gba. (These tools are
also included in the "gba-tools" package in devkitARM.)
3. Link two Game Boy Advance systems with a link cable. The game
must be player 1, and 4-e must be player 2.
4. On the first system, run Super Mario Advance 4.
5. On the second system, run your custom 4-e ROM.
6. Pick the e-Card you wish you send from the list. If your GBFS
file only had one e-Card in it, it will be selected automatically.
From this point on, you can cancel and reset by pressing B.
7. On the first system, start the e-Reader communication process.
4-e will connect to the game automatically and try to send your
card.
8. When the game has finished, press any button on 4-e to reset
so you can send another card if you wish.
## Troubleshooting
### 4-e doesn't respond when I start communication
Check that your link cable is connected firmly and correctly.
- If you're using the official Nintendo link cable, it must be
connected with the purple end to the game and the gray end to
4-e.
- If you're using the Analogue Pocket link cable, it must be
switched to GBA mode, not GB/C mode.
## Thanks
4-e wouldn't exist without:
- [devkitARM](https://devkitpro.org/wiki/devkitARM)
- [gba-makefile-template](https://github.com/gbadev-org/gba-makefile-template)
- GBATEK (specifically the section on [GBA Communication
Ports](https://problemkaputt.de/gbatek.htm#gbacommunicationports))
- [GBFS](https://pineight.com/gba/#gbfs)
- [mGBA](https://mgba.io)