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Game Boy Advance architecture: a practical analysis

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The internal design of the Game Boy Advance is quite impressive for a portable console that runs on two AA batteries.

This console will carry on using Nintendo’s signature GPU. Additionally, it will introduce a relatively new CPU from a UK company that will surge in popularity in years to come.

The Game Boy Advance has some of the best Castlevania titles after Symphony of the Night, and I’ve always been amazed that the developers managed to squeeze those impressive games out of this tiny device.

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Thom Holwerda

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2 Comments

  1. 2020-12-29 8:31 pm
    Anonymous

    I have no idea how people in Finland felt after Nokia phones were gutted but I’m still reeeling from ARM being sold off then one of the usual suspects making a grab. For me this has taken the shine off anything to do with ARM.

    Programming for the GBA was similar to the SNES with the addition of all the advantages of developing games in the early 2000s: Standardised high-level languages, better compilers, faster RISC CPUs, non-proprietary computers for development, comparatively better documentation and… Internet access!

    Games are mostly written in C with critical sections in assembly (ARM and Thumb) to save cycles. Nintendo provided a SDK with libraries and compilers. BIOS calls were available to simplify I/O access and reduce cartridge size.

    Game data is stored inside a new proprietary cartridge called GamePak.

    I find this kind of optimisation and economy very interesting. It makes me feel old that this kind of approach has fallen by the wayside.

  2. 2021-01-04 6:37 am
    GraceSkinner

    Now a game boy advance architecture has a fan network. Every famous personality has a fan network. There are many fan pages of every personality on Instagram and Facebook by telemedicine mobile app support. Where they can communicate with their friends. WHere they can communicate with their fans. Talk with them. Tell them about the latest update.