GAME BOY ADVANCE WIRELESS ADAPTER FAQ
Version 1.8 September 2nd, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
01 INTRODUCTION
02 COMPATIBILITY
03 GAMES WITH WIRELESS ADAPTER SUPPORT
04 WIRELESS GAMES RUNDOWN
05 WIRELESS ADAPTER SEARCH MODE
06 POKEMON MYSTERY GIFT
07 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
08 CHANGES/CONTACT/LINKS
01 INTRODUCTION
---------------
The biggest problem with multiplayer on the DMG Game Boys usedto be
cartridges. For me, the chances that my friends and I had thesame
games (plus a link cable to hook them up) was very slim. Laterin the
system's lifespan, Nintendo came out with a four-player hub,where
every player needed a link cable to connect their system.
When Nintendo introduced the Game Boy Advance, certain games hada
new "Single-Pak" mode that allowed up to four players to useonly one
cartridge. Of course, the tired old cable system was still usedhere.
This time, four players only needed three link cables. Not muchof an
improvement on that end, but at least multiplayer was moreaccessible
than before.
And here we are, with the Nintendo Wireless Adapter. Finally upto
five players can play a game simultaneously, or in the case ofthe
Pokemon games, up to 30 players can connect to a Union Room.With
each player equipped with a Wireless Adapter (which is lessbulky
than cables), multiplayer matches can happen anywhere,anytime.
02 COMPATIBILITY
----------------
With the release of the Game Boy Micro coming up soon, severalpeople
have asked me if it will be compatible with the WirelessAdapter.
Here's the low-down.
The Game Boy Micro will support all Game Boy Advance games,including
games that utilize the Wireless Adapter. However, unlike theGame Boy
Advance, SP, and Game Boy Player, the Micro does not have astandard
link cable. Therefore, Nintendo is releasing a new WirelessAdapter
specifically designed for the Game Boy Micro.
This Wireless Adapter will be 100% compatible with the previousGame
Boy Wireless Adapter, meaning that games won't be able to tellthe
diffrence. Also, whether you're playing wirelessly against aGame Boy
Advance, SP, or Game Boy Player, they won't be able to tellthe
diffrence, either.
To repeat for clarification, the Game Boy Micro Wireless Adapteris
the same device as the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter, exceptfor
the way you plug it in the system. It can be assumed that theGame
Boy Micro EXT port design will be featured on the next Game Boy,and
that the Game Boy Micro is a transition device (much like howthe SP
and the DS, with similar design, power and headphoneadapters).
03 GAMES WITH WIRELESS ADAPTER SUPPORT
--------------------------------------
Here's the list of games that support the GBA Wireless Adapter.For
the time being, I'm only covering games released in US orEurope,
unless they are Nintendo-published titles.
1st Party (Nintendo):
Hamtaro: Ham Ham Games
Mario Golf: Advance Tour**
Mario Tennis: Power Tour
Pokemon Emerald**
Pokemon FireRed*
Pokemon LeafGreen*
Super Mario Bros. 20th Anniversary
NES Classic Series:
Donkey Kong
Dr. Mario
Ice Climber
Pac-Man
Super Mario Bros.
Xevious
Famicom Mini Series:
#01 Super Mario Bros.
#02 Donkey Kong
#03 Ice Climber
#06 Pac-Man
#07 Xevious
#08 Mappy
#11 Mario Bros.
#12 Clu Clu Land
#13 Balloon Fight
#14 Wrecking Crew
#15 Dr. Mario
#16 Dig Dug
#18 Makaimura
#19 Twin Bee
#30 SD Gundam World Scramble Wars
3rd Party:
Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django (Konami)
Digimon Racing (Bandai)
Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury (Atari)
Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team Protoman (Capcom)
Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team Colonel (Capcom)
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (EA Games)
* - Adapter bundled with game in Japan
** - Adapter bundled with game America and Japan
04 WIRELESS GAMES RUNDOWN
-------------------------
Here's a look at what the wireless adapter lets you do in games.Note
that "multi-pak" multiplayer involves two (or more) gamecartridges,
while "single-pak" involves only one. Also, JoySpot support isnoted,
however it's unlikely this service will show up in America (seethe
Frequently Asked Questions section for more information).
Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django
JoySpot support (gets you a special item). All multiplayer
functions can use a Wireless Adapter in place of a linkcable.
Originalcracker adds:
"...This game can link to Mega Man Battle Network 5 (Rockman exe5
for the Japanese version). [There is a] mode is calledCrossover
Battle. In this mode, you play as the game's respectivecharacter in
a race to see who can defeat Shademan the fastest, or you canlast
the longest. This can only be played with the wirelessadapter."
Digimon Racing
Multi-pak racing for two to four players.
Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury
Unknown at this time.
Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Games
Wireless trading of player cards (multi-pak), but no
multiplayer mini games. Includes JoySpot support.
Mario Golf: Advance Tour
All multiplayer functions can use a Wireless Adapter inplace
of a link cable. JoySpot support.
Mario Tennis: Power Tour
All multiplayer functions can use a Wireless Adapter inplace
of a link cable. Joyspot support unconfirmed.
Famicom Mini Series/NES Classic Series
Single-pak multiplayer and clone mode. Clone mode is an
undocumented feature of the Nintendo Famicom Mini/NES ClassicSeries
games. Simply transmit the game data as you normally wouldduring a
single-pak multiplayer game, then sever the connection. Now theGame
Boy that you connected to has a copy of the full game you justsent
it, which is completely playable in singleplayer. Also, if youdon't
sever the connection, you can play the single-player mode onboth
Game Boy screens simultaneously.
Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team Protoman/Team Colonel
It looks like you can perform every action possible with the
link cable, via the wireless adapter.
The game can also connect to Boktai 2. Originalcracker adds:
"...[There is a] mode is called Crossover Battle. In this mode,you
play as the game's respective character in a race to see whocan
defeat Shademan the fastest, or you can last the longest. Thiscan
only be played with the wireless adapter."
Pokemon Emerald (Includes Wireless Adapter in Japaneserelease)
Multi-pak wireless battling, chatting, and trading. Connects
to FireRed and LeafGreen, and features JoySpot support.
Pokemon FireRed/Pokemon LeafGreen (Includes WirelessAdapter)
Multi-pak wireless battling, chatting, trading, and a mini-
game. Also includes "Mystery Gift" function for trading items.These
Pokemon games have a unique link mode called the "Union Room,"which
can connect up to thirty Pokemon players in a general area.Two
players can connect in a "Direct Connect," just for twoplayers.
FireRed and LeafGreen also includes JoySpot support.
Super Mario Bros. 20th Anniversary
Two-player multiplayer and clone mode.
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
Unknown at this time.
05 WIRELESS ADAPTER SEARCH MODE
-------------------------------
When you insert a Wireless Adapter into a GBA without a game pak(or
by holding the Start and Select buttons during the logoboot-up
sequence), you can go into "Search Mode." This mode allows youto
play those NES Classic games in single-pak multiplayer.
First, you have to pick your language. Note that this optionis
strictly for the Wireless Adapter interface, and will have nobearing
on the game itself. For example, if you've imported aJapanese
Famicom Mini game, and try to play it, the game's menus willstill be
in Japanese.
Next, you will see a list that's divided down the screen. Itsays
"Game List" and "User Name," as well as "Now Searching..."flashing
at towards the bottom of the screen. This list will basicallyact as
a list of the games available in the local area.
With the NES Classics Series (the only games that use thisfeature as
of this writing), the game name will pop up under the "GameName"
header, and the developer will show up under the "User Name"header.
So, for instance, a game name of "Super Mario Bros." would havethe
user name of "Nintendo," a game of "Pac-Man" would have the username
"Namco," etc. There is no way to edit the username.
Please note that this does not indicate Wireless Adapter use inthe
local area. If you, for example, are trading a player cardin
Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Games, it will not show up on this screen. Thisis
currently only for the NES Classic Series/Famicom MiniSeries.
06 POKEMON MYSTERY GIFT
-----------------------
Pokemon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald have compatibilitywith
"WonderSpot" (or something similar; official name is coming).This is
similar to the "JoySpots" in Japan. These let you download newitems
that can alter the game, or tickets that grant access to newareas.
Currently, the only real-world place that has a WonderSpot isthe
Nintendo World in New York City. It's unknown if anymoreWonderSpots
will pop up. If you have anymore information, please contactme.
Accessing the Mystery Gift is simple. The first step is to gointo
any Pokemart, and fill out the "questionnaire" next to theregister.
The words you should put in are as follows:
LINK TOGETHER
WITH ALL
Select "OK," and save the game. Now, the next time you restartthe
game, the "Mystery Gift" option will be available. You candownload
Wonder Cards and Wonder News. Even better, you can transferthese
items to up to 16 other trainers.
07 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
-----------------------------
Q: Who makes the Wireless Adapter?
A: It's a joint partnership between Nintendo and Motorola(similar to
the E-Reader was a partnership between Nintendo andOlympus).
Q: How do I use the Wireless Adapter?
A: The Wireless Adapter works just like a link cable, exceptit's
wireless.
Q: How big is the Wireless Adapter?
A: It's about the size of a game pak, but twice as thick.
Q: Can I use a Wireless Adapter on older games?
A: The only games that can use a Wireless Adapter are thosewhich are
specially programmed for it. See the list of games programmed touse
the adapter further up in this document. Just a note: PokemonFireRed
and LeafGreen cannot communicate with Ruby or Sapphire viathe
adapter; communication between these two requires a linkcable.
Q: Does the Wireless Adapter work with the Game Boy Player?
A: Yes, this is stated in the manual.
Q: Does the Wireless Adapter work with the Nintendo DS?
A: No. The Wireless Adapter is not compatible with WLAN orWi-Fi.
Similarly, GBA software that supports the GBA Wireless Adapterwill
not function from DS-to-DS, so it's best to hang on to thatGBASP for
a little while longer.
Q: Does the wireless adapter connect to the internet?
A: No. The wireless adapter works on radio frequencies, and doesnot
connect to Bluetooth devices or Wi-Fi networks.
Q: What's the difference between the Japanese and AmericanWireless
Adapters?
A: Nothing. Other than the stickers on the back, they're theexact
same.
Q: How can I change the language back to English?
A: The Wireless Adapter lets you choose between English andJapanese.
If you chose Japanese by accident, just perform a soft reset(press
A, B, Start, and Select simultaneously), and you can chooseyour
language option again.
Q: What's with the bars when I play a wireless game?
A: That's the signal strength, just like on any cell phone orWi-Fi
device. The more bars you have, the better the signal is.
Q: Can you purchase a Wireless Adapter separately?
A: In Japan, you can. They've been out on the market for a fewmonths
for about $18 USD. Nintendo of Japan also made a specialcolored
Wireless Adapter in Famicom red and white for their ClubNintendo
program. Nintendo has released the adapters in a stand-aloneform in
the US, for about $20.
Q: What's a JoySpot?
A: In Japan, some stores have special hotspots for customers whouse
the Wireless Adapter. These let you, for instance, connectto
download new clubs in Mario Golf, or tickets to get to aspecific
island in Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen. In America, these arecalled
"WonderSpots." For more information, check out NCL's JoySpotpage:
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/joyspot/index.html
Q: Can I create (or simulate) my own WonderSpot?
A: No, or at least no one has done this yet. Though I believethat
Wonderspots are simply a GBA and Wireless Adapter, with a cartthat's
programmed to allow downloading; it could even be a GameCubewith a
GB Player and a special GameCube disc (GC discs are so cheapto
produce, and in Japan they seem to add new features toWonderSpots
every few weeks, so maybe that's how it works).
Q: How far apart can you be to use the adapter?
A: Getting down to a single bar on Super Mario Bros, I've testedthem
at least 40 feet apart outside, and about 30 feet indoorswithout
going through walls.
Q: Will there be a cheaper 3rd-party adapter?
A: I don't think so.
Q: Is there a product to link GBA's together for older GBAgames?
A: YES! Majesco had a wireless link shown during E3, and TritonLabs
used to sell an "AirLink" product. However, these products arenot
compatible with each other, or the official Wireless Adapter.Scott
Vieth has this to add:
"I did want to let you know as an added thing that theMajesco
Wireless Link is now out. It is $9.99, and I've seen it in BestBuy
and Toys 'R Us stores in somewhat limited quantities, and eachGBA
that wants to get in on the link action needs to have one (soit's
effectively $40 to create a 4-player wireless link-up)"
08 CONTACT/CHANGES/LINKS
------------------------
Version Changes:
1.0 09/08/2004 FAQ started
1.1 09/09/2004 Added new games, and some small updates.
1.2 09/14/2004 Added Wireless Adapter Search Mode section
1.3 09/16/2004 Added Boktai 2 to game list, small updates
1.4 10/25/2004 Added a few questions and answers
1.5 11/23/2004 Removed Zelda: Minsh Cap, cleaned up FAQ
1.6 12/29/2004 Added MegaMan EXE games to list
1.7 01/19/2005 Added info about the Majesco Wireless Link
1.8 09/02/2005 Game Boy Micro info and more games added
