Phoinix, the free Gameboy emulator for PalmOS
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Frequently asked questions (F. A. Q.)
Index
- 1. General:
- 1.1. When I launch Phoinix, there are no games!
- 1.2. I did as you said, but still there are no games!
- 1.3. Where do I find those famous games like "Tetris"?!
- 1.4. Phoinix is sooo slooowww! What could I do?
- 1.5. There is this prominent warning about possible data corruption. How much should I take care of it?
- 1.6. Why is there no sound?
- 1.7. How can I get colour?
- 2. Converting:
- 2.1. Now I've got some GB files - how to get them into Phoinix?
- 2.2. When I start the converter it just flashes shortly in a window but I can't read the output. How do I use it?
- 2.3. The converter says it can't open the file...
- 2.4. When I try to convert "XXX" the converter complains about the cartridge, why?
- 2.5. When I try to run the converter it just replies with error messages like "Permission denied" or "Command not found."
- 3. Usage:
- 3.1. For some reason I have to press the keys "Start" and "Select" at the same time. How can I do that?
- 3.2. How can I save the state of a game?
- 3.3. I'd like to change the game, but quitting and relaunching brings me back to the old game!
- 3.4. The game refuses to run because it expects a Gameboy Color. How could I make it run?
- 3.5. While playing the game stops and doesn't respond any more. What happended?
- 4. Miscellaneous:
1. General
- 1.1. When I launch Phoinix, there are no games!
- Phoinix only emulates the Gameboy's hardware, to play a game requires the game's binary data. You'll find these as files, commonly with a "*.GB" file extension. After obtaining a game's file, it must be converted to a Palm database ("*.PDB"). This is achieved with the converter "gb2pdb" on your personal computer.
- 1.2. I did as you said, but still there are no games!
- You used the wrong converter. Please download the correct one and try again.
- 1.3. Where do I find those famous games like "Tetris"?!
- Oh, I don't know! If you don't own the cartridge you aren't allowed to play the game on emulators, anyway. Please try some free games, provided in the archive "freegame.zip", or search the web!
- 1.4. Phoinix is sooo slooowww! What could I do?
- At first try the frameskip options. If that doesn't help, get some overclock utility and try again. If that doesn't help either, buy a real Gameboy!
- 1.5. There is this prominent warning about possible data corruption. How much should I take care of it?
- That much you like - you're the one who is responsible for the safety of your data. The chance for destroying data exists not only with Phoinix, it may be a bad set of batteries, or a trojan horse, too. If something goes wrong in Phoinix you'll probably notice it. So if everything's fine with your favourite game, you don't have to worry.
- 1.6. Why is there no sound?
- The sound system of the Gameboy uses four generators in stereo, including something like a WAV player. I'm sure you don't want this emulated, first because it will slow down the emulation a lot, and second because the beeper of the most handhelds can't generate adequate output.
- 1.7. How can I get colour?
- Oh, I'm sorry, you can't. Phoinix emulates only the standard Gameboy. Supporting the Gameboy Color will slow down the emulation quite much, because about three times the screen data have to be handled.
2. Conversion
- 2.1. Now I've got some GB files - how to get them into Phoinix?
- Read the text about conversion. Before any data can be hotsynced into your device, it has to be put into a PDB (Palm DataBase) file.
- 2.2. When I start the converter it just flashes shortly in a window but I can't read the output. How do I use it?
- You are surely a Windows-only user. Please open a DOS box where you can enter commands, refer to your documentation. Then read the text about conversion. I have plans about a Java based converter that will run on any PC with a graphical user interface. Please try the Tcl/Tk frontend in the meantime.
- 2.3. The converter says it can't open the file...
- Apparently this affects only Windows users. Please make sure that you're naming a real file, not a link.
- 2.4. When I try to convert "XXX" the converter complains about the cartridge, why?
- There are only some cartridge types supported. Maybe your special game will never be supported, maybe some next version will support it.
- 2.5. When I try to run the converter it just replies with error messages like "Permission denied" or "Command not found."
- This was only reported from Mac OS X users. Please ensure that the attributes of the executable file have the "execute" permission set for you.
3. Usage
- 3.1. For some reason I have to press the keys "Start" and "Select" at the same time. How can I do that?
- Tap and hold one of the buttons. Then drag over to the other one, the first one will remain pressed. For Zelda users: try starting with A and B so you wont come into the wrong menus.
- 3.2. How can I save the state of a game?
-
You have three choices:
- Saving with cartridges which have RAM in their original hardware works, tested with "Zelda, Link's Awakening" and "Final Fantasy II". To learn how to execute this operation, read the game's manual.
- Enable the option "Auto save state" to save the current state when you leave the game. On return the game will continue where you left it.
- Save the current state of the game through the menu command or its shortcut. This is independent of the option mentioned before.
- 3.3. I'd like to change the game, but quitting and relaunching brings me back to the old game!
- Just open the menu; use the "Menu" silk button below the "Home" (or "Arrow") left of the Graffiti area, or tap in the title area of the screen. There is a "Quit" command in the menu.
- 3.4. The game refuses to run because it expects a Gameboy Color. How could I make it run?
- You can't. See 1.7. How can I get colour?
- 3.5. While playing the game stops and doesn't respond any more. What happended?
- As an emulator running on a device with limited resources Phoinix can't be perfect. You found something that is not emulated correctly. Perhaps the game can be patched, see " How to make cartridges run."
4. Miscellaneous
- 4.1. With Phoinix my life is now full of joy! How could I thank you?
-
Take a pack of your favourite cookies and send it to my address:
Bodo Wenzel, Saarbrückener Straße 210, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
At least go and tell your friends about the fun you have with Phoinix... - 4.2. I want Phoinix to run on my "XXX"! How could I make you work on this all your time?
- That's simple: spend me a "XXX", address see above.