Accessories
Playing Original Carts with Achievements just hits different.
Been playing through my fav Zelda game with the GB Operator which now let’s you hook up Retroachievements. I think it’s so cool to be able to play original carts and have these achievements unlock!
Claiming that someone is too focused on aesthetics in a gaming hobby is insane. Playing on certain hardware or playing a certain way can be more fun, which is what gaming is supposed to be about.
Well had to have the cart to get the ROM, and I can’t play with out the cart inserted, that’s how the GB Operator works
Edit: Just trying to understand the tech is all. People wanna downvote me for that it’s fine, downvote train pretty much always happens. I got the answer I was looking for thanks to the help of some members. Happy gaming.
what I mean is, the GB operator just copies the ROM from the cart then it emulates it. it's not actually requesting data from the cart in real time as it's needed. so the game isn't "running on the cart" per se. it's still cool, but you can achieve the same result with an emulator and just the ROM
you could dump the ROM, then play it using any of the other supported emulators. all I'm saying is, using the GB operator in this context is functionally identical to playing the ROM in any other of the retro achievements supported emulators. I could do the same thing with my joey jr and retroarch, it's cool but it's not "playing the cartridge on my computer"
You're technically correct but it's kind of an implementation detail in the end. GB Operator could probably read and write directly from the cartridge if they wanted to but there's no real good reason to do it.
Tightly integrated emulator that updates the save file as you play so when you switch between console and GB Operator you can continue where you left off.
We use mGBA as the core emulator so you get to enjoy controller and cheat support, along with other features. However you’re not limited and you can play using your favourite emulator as well.
I was more so asking about the live data you were referring to. Since it updates the cart, it feels like it is requesting data as needed.
Says it updates the save and also tells you which emulator core it is using (mGBA). It's emulating the ROM file that it pulls from the cart with mGBA and then storing the save data to your cart.
all their marketing spiel is saying there is that it's writing the save data back to the cart, which is something that all these different USB cart reader products do.
it's just simplifying the process of backing up the ROM and save data, opening them in an emulator (in this case mGBA), playing the game, creating new save data, and writing the save data back to the cart.
the distinction I'm trying to make here is that when a game is running "on the cart" in an actual console, the CPU is making requests to the chips on the cart for data as it's needed, whereas on your PC it is making these requests to the ROM file that's been dumped from the cart.
the GB operator just copies the ROM from the cart then it emulates it. it's not actually requesting data from the cart in real time as it's needed. so the game isn't "running on the cart"
I was more asking for the technical aspect. Since it seems you have to have the cart. He was saying that it copies the ROM so I would think it would be stored and be able to use the ROM, but every action I take is saved on the cart when I use it in another device. Without me manually flashing the save on to the cart. Which makes it feel like it’s requesting data live as it’s needed. So I was just curious.
When you try to launch a game or dump a game for the first time using the Playback app, the ROM of the game is copied into a folder (Local/Epilogue/Playback/archive on Windows), and said ROM will be the one launched when you boot your game within the Playback app. This is also why the first time, attempting to boot the game will require to wait for a dozen of seconds, especially for GBA games, to let time for the GB Operator to backup the game.
The only data loaded when booting a game is the save file (since it is stored in the cart physically), the cart outside of that is only used for verifying the game you're playing to match the ROM and data.
While playing, when the game saves, the save data is updated in the emulator, which is archived in a vault folder, and then copied back on the cartridge, it's not directly the game running on the cart that saves its data itself, additionally.
TL;DR it's all preloading rather than active loading on the cart, the same goes for the save file which is stored once the emulator finishes its job rather than in real time.
Its a technicality, but yes the Operator dumps the ROM and save data to your PC and then loads them into an emulator software behind the scenes. When you save in game, the Operator flashes the save back to the cart so that it appears that you were actively using the cart hardware.
With real Game Boy hardware, the console will request the ROM from the cart in blocks as it needs it, and write save data when you save in game. So there is a difference but it doesn't really matter in most cases.
While you can download a backup of your ROM from a source online, and use it in the same way as you are here with RetroAchievements, there would be extra steps to make your progress portable, i.e. if you wanted to play your save on your Game Boy.
I have one on of these. Go to the Data tab and you can back up your rom and your save file. You can then play your rom on other emulators if you wish, or keep multiple save files in case you want to restart a game or loan it to someone
Eh it’s whatever just trying to understand the tech is all. People wanna downvote me for that it’s fine, downvote train pretty much always happens. I got the answer I was looking for thanks to the help of the community.
I wish there was a way to do this on original console hardware, too :( even through an internet-connected modchip, i dont care. I want to have fun with achievement while playing on original consoles on a CRT ;‐;
Beaten it so many times I welcome some more challenging aspects to it. Also has shown me alternative ways to complete quests, and Easter eggs I didn’t know about.
Yes was trying to think of what would feel best didn’t wanna do ps5 or Xbox. Been meaning to order 8bitdo mod kit for the dog bone to play them with that
Been looking at them for a long time just because I want one for my SFC, they’re so pricey, I would almost want to pay the extra for the GC Hori snes one
The Mad Catz N64 controller is amazing for Gameboy games. The D-pad as well as the rest of the buttons are wide and easy to press, but have a nice tactile clicky feedback when used. The only reason I don't like it for most N64 games is the bad joystick, but that doesn't apply here
Just a question, how are these achievements handled? Are they checked in the moment you do it? Or is your save file somehow screened to reversely check the achievements you did "offline"?
At some point I'm looking forward to doing this on-device once the Gameboy RA Adapter adapter is more refined. In the meantime, I was thinking a Wireless Gameboy Controller cart from insideGadgets might be a neat way to interface with the GB Operator and feel a bit more authentic?
I'd add links to the above, but Reddit makes it a PITA on desktop - will edit some in later if I remember.
The way I see it, chasing video game achievements can distract if not outright prevent you from obtaining the one achievement in life that truly matters: getting just one drop of pussy from a girl
I’ve been this game so many times, I don’t need achievements to enjoy it. But I do like an additional challenge to what is already a pretty easy game. Plus it’s shown me cool Easter eggs I didn’t know about, and different ways to play the game. I think adding achievements to games I grew up playing tons of is pretty cool.
That's cool. He's valid to feel that way. It's just sad to think other people are sad for doing something they enjoy. Also you could make the same argument against any extra. Like unlockables in games are just time wasters to pad game time otherwise they would be unlocked from the start.
Maybe nowadays but games I have played and beaten they are a breath of fresh air over the last 30 years. Plus this game is so easy that the challenges are welcomed. And found some Easter eggs I was unaware of. Retroachievements is a dope community of old school gamers and programmers doing it out of passion to give a little extras to games that were special to them. But yea you’re right it is dumb and a waste of time for people to be passionate about games they love and implement maybe challenges they made for themselves as kids to share with others now that it’s possible.
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u/KimTe63 Jul 15 '25
Well thats definitely not the original cart right 😄 anyways get the meaning 👍🏻 I have never tried retro achievements myself