Gameboid: GBA Emulator for Android is one entry into a series of emulators by the ever more popular yongzh labs, who have also brought us apps such as GenSoid, SNesoid and GBCoid.
In writing this review, it must be made clear that you MUST own any commercial games that you play on this emulator, or use it for homebrew purposes only.
Gameboid is a platform that allows you to download ROMS (downloadable GBA games) and take them anywhere with you on your android phone. This provides the android community with enar limitless gaming potential, with classics such as Chu Chu Rocket, Mario, Zelda, Pokemon and Metroid all available on the net.
On first boot, Gameboid will ask you to specify a BIOS file (downloadable easily from several websites on the net with a simple google search) that is on your SD card. From there, you are free to play with the settings (more on that later) or jump into one of your downloaded games.
These come in packages ZIP folders, and are easily found on several websites (no links here, again a simple google search should suffice) and easily opened just by tapping through the folder structure on your SD card and choosing one of these ZIPs. Then you are thrown into the game, just like your GBA counterpart.
In terms of control, the emulator has several (very customisable) options. The first (and best) is through a hardware keyboard, like that found on the Motorola Droid/Milestone. With extensive button configuration, you are sure to find a layout suitable for your needs. The next is the onscreen keypads. The full screen transparent keypad allows full screen gaming with an overlayed keypad. The transparency can be altered, so once your thumbs know where those buttons are, you won't even have to look at them. The other option is to compress the game to the corner of the screen and have the Dpad and buttons separate, so that your view on the game is not obscured.
The third and final option is through the use of specialised bluetooth game controllers, available online. I have not had the opportunity to test this method, but have been told that it is a graceful solution and offers a perfect simulation of the GBA experience.
In terms of other settings, refresh rate, max frame skips, fast forward, sounds and scaling all offer a hugely customisable interface.
However, there are some flaws in the formula. Multitouch still isn't up to scratch, so playing fast games such as Super Street Fighter 2 can be a drag unless using a hardware keyboard, and using an HTC Hero, there was noticeable slowdown while the sound was enabled. This won't be a problem on higher powered devices such as a Milestone or 4G, or those using high performance ROMS for their devices, but this issue may put some people off.
And the final question, what is the difference between this $3.99 (
In writing this review, it must be made clear that you MUST own any commercial games that you play on this emulator, or use it for homebrew purposes only.
Gameboid is a platform that allows you to download ROMS (downloadable GBA games) and take them anywhere with you on your android phone. This provides the android community with enar limitless gaming potential, with classics such as Chu Chu Rocket, Mario, Zelda, Pokemon and Metroid all available on the net.
On first boot, Gameboid will ask you to specify a BIOS file (downloadable easily from several websites on the net with a simple google search) that is on your SD card. From there, you are free to play with the settings (more on that later) or jump into one of your downloaded games.
These come in packages ZIP folders, and are easily found on several websites (no links here, again a simple google search should suffice) and easily opened just by tapping through the folder structure on your SD card and choosing one of these ZIPs. Then you are thrown into the game, just like your GBA counterpart.
In terms of control, the emulator has several (very customisable) options. The first (and best) is through a hardware keyboard, like that found on the Motorola Droid/Milestone. With extensive button configuration, you are sure to find a layout suitable for your needs. The next is the onscreen keypads. The full screen transparent keypad allows full screen gaming with an overlayed keypad. The transparency can be altered, so once your thumbs know where those buttons are, you won't even have to look at them. The other option is to compress the game to the corner of the screen and have the Dpad and buttons separate, so that your view on the game is not obscured.
The third and final option is through the use of specialised bluetooth game controllers, available online. I have not had the opportunity to test this method, but have been told that it is a graceful solution and offers a perfect simulation of the GBA experience.
In terms of other settings, refresh rate, max frame skips, fast forward, sounds and scaling all offer a hugely customisable interface.
However, there are some flaws in the formula. Multitouch still isn't up to scratch, so playing fast games such as Super Street Fighter 2 can be a drag unless using a hardware keyboard, and using an HTC Hero, there was noticeable slowdown while the sound was enabled. This won't be a problem on higher powered devices such as a Milestone or 4G, or those using high performance ROMS for their devices, but this issue may put some people off.
And the final question, what is the difference between this $3.99 (
