VBA-M

A native GBA emulator for Chrome

What is VBA-M?

VBA-M is a Chrome extension that acts as a GameBoy Advance emulator. Designed to work offline and on Chromebooks, it also offers save states and screen captures sync option via Google Drive. It has gamepad support under advanced settings, tested to work with an Xbox 360 controller. It offers a variety of control options for both keyboard and gamepad. Functions like opening a ROM, saving and loading states, resetting, speeding up the game, and reducing/increasing volume are all assigned specific keyboard keys. In addition to its gaming features, VBA-M allows import and export of saves and screen captures.

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Stats

This extension was removed from Chrome Web Store on 2024-02-15

By: nik3daz

Users: 37,339+

Rating: 3.53 (966)

Version: 1.3.7 (Last updated: 2014-06-05)

Creation date: 2014-06-04

Risk impact: Very low risk impact

Risk likelihood: High risk likelihood

Manifest version: 2

Permissions:

syncFileSystem
fileSystem
storage
unlimitedStorage

Size: 2.90M

Stats date:

Other platforms

Not available on Firefox

Not available on Edge

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Summary

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A GBA Emulator as a Packaged App! (will work offline and on Chromebooks)

This is a PNaCl port of the VBA-M project (http://sourceforge.net/projects/vbam/). A patch has been opened at http://sourceforge.net/p/vbam/patches/48/ .

For users signed into chrome, save states and screen captures will sync upwards via Drive! (experimental and probably flaky) To access and manage these files, go to Drive > All Items > Chrome Syncable Filesystem. However, these files won't be downsynced.

Saves can now be imported. This will copy the given file verbatim into the filesystem so it must be named correctly to be loaded when playing a rom.

Gamepad support now available under the Advanced Settings! It should be plug and play, you can check your gamepad works with this at http://www.html5rocks.com/en/tutorials/doodles/gamepad/gamepad-tester/tester.html. You need to mash all your buttons after the game starts to detect the gamepad. Enabling this will disable keyboard controls. Tested on an XBox 360 controller.

Controls:

Open Rom: Ctrl + O
D-pad: Arrow keys
A: Z
B: X

User reviews

User reviews summary

These summaries are automatically generated weekly using AI based on recent user reviews. Chrome Web Store does not verify user reviews, so some user reviews may be inaccurate, spammy, or outdated.

Pros

The emulator runs smoothly with no lag or glitches
It can emulate games perfectly on Chrome OS
Allows the use of a controller
Compatible with a wide range of games, including GB and GBC games
Can be a good option for playing old-school games on better hardware

Cons

Users find it difficult to save game states
Some users experience issues with sound volume control
Certain games, especially Pokemon titles, tend to not work or lead to crashes
The extension lacks a keymapper function and the ability to enter cheats
Some users report unresponsive or non-customizable controls

Most mentioned

Problems with saving games or understanding how to save
Inability to play Pokemon games or issues with particular ROMs
Desire for keymapper functionality and cheat code entry
Positive feedback on performance and lack of lag
Difficulties with configuring or using controls

Recent reviews

i don't know how to save/load state, i know it had been said in the menu but it doesn't work for me, help? ( i used a controller to play the games )

haziq, 2024-01-08

does anyone know how to turn up the volume i was trying the plus and minus signs on keyboard and it said it was turning up but i couldnt hear anything