Hacking Flash2Advance ULA-GP

[ExoMemphiz]

Hi,

Does anyone here have the ULA-GP software that can be used to connect the GBA as a joypad to the computer? It may be called ULA_GP_V2, or ULA-GPHost.exe or something similiar, it's hard to get info on, as 95% of sites are in japanese/jumbled random characters, and basically the rest are websites that are down.


Best Regards,

ExoMemphiz

 

[DanTheManMS]

Heyo, it's that guy who made the Youtube video. You're right, the website is down. Not to worry though, Archive.org has a solid copy right here! https://web.archive.org/web/20131129175646/http://www.teamknox.com/ula/ula.html

You want the download for "ULA_GP_V2_20030731(build 20030731)"

For anyone who doesn't know what we're talking about, on this page here there's mention of a way to use your GBA as a USB joypad for your computer. It works with a special "ULA" cable which that page has instructions on how to create one, or if you happen to have a Flash2Advance USB cable, you can use that instead with a minor file rename. I made a video of it a few years ago, for anyone who cares to see it in action.

 

[ExoMemphiz]

Perfect! Thank you soo much!
Found out everything needed and got it working ^^

 

[DanTheManMS]

Glad to hear it! If you don't mind me asking, are you doing this on an actual WinXP computer or are you using a more recent version of Windows with a Virtual Machine setup?

In any case, happy gaming! I myself really love the feel of the original GBA in my hands, moreso than the GBA SP anyway, so using it as a joypad is a fun experience.

 

[ExoMemphiz]

Using a GBA SP, I like the feel of that one
And I'm using VirtualBox, but when I set it all up and stuff, apparently Windows 7 can detect it as a joypad, which is nice, so after doing the setup stuff on the virtual one, I could play (And I streamed a little ) using Windows 7

 

[ExoMemphiz]

An update:

If people want to play on their Windows 7 machine 64bit it is now possible by doing the following steps:

-- Initial setup --

1) Set up VirtualBox with Windows XP
2) Plug in Flash2Advance with GB turned off
3) Install USB Driver on VB and run JoyToKey on both host and VB computer

-- VB Steps --

1) VB menu: Devices -> USB Devices -> Unknown device, click to make VB recognize it as a usb for it
2) Open Flash2Advance folder and find folder: ULA_GP_V2_20030730
3) Run ULA_GP_v2.exe -> Press "Install", the VB should now "eject" the usb from the system
4) Wait for USB to be ejected
5) Devices -> USB Devices -> Unknown device
6) Continue ULA_GP_V2 process, following onscreen commands
7) Close down VB computer, but because JoyToKey is running on host computer, you can now control/play on the host

 

[tekwarfare]

I'm using Windows XP 32-bit in VMWare running on Windows 10 64-bit. I can't for the life of me get ULA_GP_V2.exe to pass the multiboot file to the GBA (i've tried my original GBA and GBA SP). The cartridge isn't in. I press install, wait for the disconnected sound and then the connected sound and press OK to the message saying "Turn off GBA !!". Then I turn on the GBA whilst holding down select and start as per the instructions, but nothing happens. Just the Gameboy logo on my screen.

Now, I can launch F2APowerWriter cancelling the startup link and hit "Run *.mb", navigate over to the ULA_GP_V2_20030730 folder and select "ula_gp_gba.mb.gba" after choosing "All files(*.*)" as the "File of type". This will launch ULA GamePad Ver2.0 by TeamKNOx and I can see my inputs being registered on the GBA (OFF becomes ON). However, the Virtual Machine won't see the GBA as a gamepad, launching JoyToKey before or after this process makes no difference. Also renaming the file to ula_gp_gba.mb makes no difference (It still boots the file, but I can't get the PC to see the GBA as a controller).

I don't really understand this, but it seems that F2APowerWriter just passes the multiboot file to the GBA, it doesn't have anything else to listen and decode inputs so I think I need to get ULA_GP_V2.exe working. I've tried tricking it by passing the file with F2APowerWriter and then launching ULA_GP_V2.exe but no dice.

Any ideas?

Thanks