I've wanted to have a go at model ripping for a while, and the main handheld I've been looking to start on in particular is the GBA. Is there a way to do it?

I'm no expert, so I may be wrong, but from my quick Google research it seems the GBA doesn't use 3D models. Instead, games with 3-Dimensional graphics just use 2D sprite renders of models.

Here's my source if you're interested: http://www.zapotlanejo.info/Nintendopape...=19&t=1424

Sooo.... sorry? *Tries to gracefully end awkward post*

EDIT: Although, you could still just rip the sprites if that's all you want.

Not possible I'm afraid.

IIRC, The GBA doesn't use any 3D models in any game, only sprites.

Wait, really? I mean, somewhere I saw that the GBA had some sort of 3D model engine. Maybe it was something put into the carts, but I found some games that have 3D models...

NFS Games :
Driver 2 & 3 :
Super Monkey Ball Jr. :

Again, maybe the developers put in some software in so the GBA could handle polygons, or the GBA, being a mini SNES as it was called, could render them too?

From what I'm aware, the developers were just really amazing at making their games look 3D. Take a look at this sprite sheet from Super Monkey Ball Jr. It has 3D renders of Aiai facing all directions. It appears to be 3D, but it's not. It's just a 2D sprite. So what appears to be a model of Aiai in-game is just a llooottt of pre-rendered sprites!

Not sure about the actual level, though. That looks pretty 3-Dimensional. But it's probably just a fancy 3D effect like the one used in the original Super Mario Kart. Again, I'm not sure. I'm new to the whole GBA-ripping thing. It just appears it's all a very well done illusion. :/

Welp, I think you guys are right. Quoted from Wikipedia, the GBA has a "Graphics Custom 2D core". I think that it must be some pretty good illusions the developers did.

It might be that trick they used in Sonic Battle.

WAIT!

According to a quote from a site called Thunderbolt Games :
"The GBA was similar to the SNES technologically, so for certain genres representing 3D was a bit tricky. However, unlike the SNES (at least without any added chips), it is capable of rendering texture-mapped, polygonal 3D graphics. It was a 32-bit console after all; and produced far better looking 3D graphics than the supposedly 64-bit Atari Jaguar or the Sega 32X, both intended to introduce 3D gaming on home consoles."

I think I may have found an answer.

Agreed, I'm sure I've seen 3D models be used in places. Certain games definitely use 3D models, like:
Doom


Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam


Kill.Switch


Otherwise they just simply wouldn't work as games.

You'll be hard pressed to find a means of ripping these though, due to obscurity.

I have come back to this subject a bit ago, but still no luck.

However, what if I tried looking at the source code for the games, if there is actually a tool for that?

(08-12-2014, 02:40 PM)Quirby64 Wrote: However, what if I tried looking at the source code for the games, if there is actually a tool for that?

There's a reason it's called source code, Quirby...

Sorry for the late 8-9 year bump, but there is a another game I am aware that uses 3D models.
SSX 3 for the GBA.

Ripping these models will be hard unless you have a GBA ripping tool that lets you do that stuff.