Well, I finally got my hands on a 64mBit Flash Card and it was definitely worth the wait, even though it does have a few problems. For those of you who don't know, a Flash Linker will allow you to transfer ROMs from your computer to a cartridge that is playable in GBA.

So here's what you get in the package: One 64mBit cartridge, one Flash Linker with an instruction manual and a diskette with the send utility on it, and a 1m cable that plugs into your printer port.

Linker:

Don't even try to use the Flash Linker until you buy a decent adapter. Without a good power source, you'll probably get an error message when transferring ROM data. You have the option of buying an adapter or using 6 AAA batteries. The batteries wouldn't last very long and I guarantee that once they start to lose power you'll get errors transferring data. It's also picky about the type of adapter you use. I tried using my old NES 9V adapter and it wouldn't have it. So, I ran to RadioShack and picked up a 9V 300mA Power Adapter with a type "M" Adaptaplug and a negative center. It set me back $10.47 with tax and works perfectly. This adapter is a must if you buy a Flash Linker.

As for the Flash Linker itself, it's in a clear, grayish case, which is a little bit smaller than a GBC, with the transfer cable and adapter plugging into one end and the cartridge going into the other. There is an on/off switch on the side that turns on a bright red light on the front of it.

The linker takes about 313 seconds to transfer an 8MB (64Mbit) ROM and about 156 seconds to transfer a 4MB (32Mbit) ROM. This will probably vary with the type of computer you have. It does take a while to transfer files, but it really depends on the person as to whether or not this will be a problem. If you like to switch between games a lot, this could get annoying, but if you like playing games all the way through, this is perfect.

Cartridge:

The cartridge I got is the same color as the Linker and is as big as a GBC cartridge. So it sticks out a little bit. It also has a warning sticker for anyone stupid enough to try using it in their GB or GBC. There is a newer, smaller cartridge out there that is almost the size of the regular GBA games, but this isn't the one I received. Besides the different sizes, I think the only other difference is the fact that you don't need crash patches with the newer one, which I'll get to in a second.

You are able to put up to 8MB (64Mbit) on this cart, which isn't very big. Most games are 8MB and a few are 4MB. Right now there aren't any games over 8MB, but I suspect there will be in the future. You can put two games on it without any trouble. There's a small file that you have to load before transferring multiple ROM files which will let you select either game by pressing "A" or "B" when GBA starts up. If you really want to put multiple ROMs on one cart, I suggest getting the 128Mbit cart. I don't know how the 128Mbit cart handles more than two games, but once I can get my hands on one, I'll let you know.

The only other problem with this cart is that you need patches for some games. One type of patch you might need is a crash patch. For some reason, GBA will sometimes crash because it cannot load from the cart fast enough. Although I haven't needed one yet, crash patches prevent this from happening. Like I said before, this should be fixed in the newer 64Mbit cart and the 128Mbit cart. Another patch you probably will need is a save patch. There are a couple ways to save: EEPROM and SRAM. This cart only supports SRAM; therefore any games using EEPROM to save game data will need a save patch converting it to SRAM. I've heard there are problems incorporating EEPROM into flash carts, so I doubt any future carts will support it. Having to use these patches is very annoying, but they're easy to get. http://www.gbaroms.net and http://advanced.subport.org have all of the patches you'll need.

Software:

The send utility you get with this package comes on a black floppy and will probably be outdated. You can easily get the newest version from http://www.visoly.com. It's pretty easy to use. You have the option of choosing which speed (1-4 being the highest) to transfer and then it gives you the options of either uploading or downloading ROM/save data. When you transfer ROM data, it will first send it and then verify it, which you can cancel. There's also a progress bar at the bottom. Here's a picture of it:

Should you get it?

If you want a flash cartridge for GBA, this is your only choice. I'm happy with it and haven't had one problem with any games yet. There are downsides; the size is pretty small, transfer times can be long for the impatient, and you need patches. You could solve some of these problems if you're willing to shell out the cash for the 128Mbit cart, which is probably your best bet right now. I'll try to get a review up ASAP. So if you're still undecided about whether or not you should get one, I'll tell you this - it will save you a lot of money in the long run, if you know what I mean. ; )

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