Looks to be based on GBA4iOS.
And it’s gone.
The better version:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/delta-game-emulator/id1048524688
ScummVM has an iOS app
ScummVM is not an emulator. It’s a reimplementation of game engines, but nothing is being emulated. It appeared in the App Store before this rule change.
I should’ve clarified, since the Apple announced this week that they would approve emulators this is the first one to be approved.
Sketchy as heck but it works.
@Ankkuli @QuarterSwede sketchier than you might think. https://mastodon.social/@rileytestut/112268412745806214
I’d imagine it is just a matter of time before Nintendo sends Apple a C&D, before this gets taken down?
Edit: Welp, that didn’t take long. Hopefully anyone who cares got a copy on their phone and don’t change phones for the foreseeable future.
It was not taken down because of Nintendo, xD, the emulator was a copy of GBA4iOS and did not mention that it is based on GBA4iOS.
As long as it doesn’t include a bios file, and is completely free (including no in app purchases), I doubt it. Emulators like igba are all over the Google play store, Nintendo only shows its fangs when they try to make money or contain proprietary code.
And actually, looking at it
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fastemulator.gba&hl=en_US
There are paid android emulators on google play, so if Nintendo hasn’t already taken them down, I can’t see them doing that here
An emulator, even a paid one, would be totally legal in the US as long as:
-
It does not use any patented technologies. I’m not sure if Nintendo has any patents in the emulation space, but regardless the GBA is so simple that it wouldn’t require patented techniques to emulate.
-
It does not contain any proprietary (copyrighted) code. On more modern consoles, this would include the BIOS or Firmware files. Does the GBA even need something like that?
Number 1 is a non-issue for a GBA emulator. Number 2 is more tricky, but it’s always possible to reverse engineer and reimplement the firmware. That’s protected by the Compaq v. IBM case.
The recent drama with the Switch emulator is that they violated the second principle.
What proprietary code did they have?
Stupidly, the decryption key.
Which is probably not copyrightable. A key is just a number, and copyright only applies to creative works. In a court, Nintendo would have to argue that copyright does apply because the key was created via some artistic or creative process by a human. It likely is just the output of a random number generator. Also, we’ve already been through this when people figure out how to decrypt DVDs.
-
That was Apple’s fear.
But this app has no ROMs and the search page only takes you to a public domain homebrew ROM page. You can add and run your own ROMs but they don’t even mention it for fear of crossing Apple or Nintendo.
Why does it need my location?
Because you can charge more for your shady ads if you also hand over user location data
So Nintendo can find you later.
I was about to install the app until I saw that. I’ll just stick to my usual emulation machines for now.
You know you can block that, right? They just collecting data for advertising.
According to one of the the GBA4iOS devs, this is not official https://mastodon.social/@rileytestut/112268412745806214
Please proceed with caution if you choose to use this
Well, why has the dev not submitted the official version? That would have fixed that problem.
He wants to release it in his own app marketplace
To be honest, I support his own app marketplace completely. But I still don’t understand why he doesn’t want to have it on the Apple AppStore as well.
Would it? This would’ve been released with a different name. App Store, Play Store, or no store, people love to take OSS projects, wrap them in ads, and release them to make a buck.
Sure, but then the official one would also be there and hopefully have a better rating and more popularity
Good point.
That said, the reasons the developer hasn’t released this for the App Store is because he’s a small independent developer and has been trying to ship another project.
Isn’t Delta the successor to it? That recently did come out.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/delta-game-emulator/id1048524688
Yep you are right, that was after my comment.
Time for PPSSPP!
I’m totally ignorant to the love that PSP got. What games are worth throwing on my steam deck?
My default go to: Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions.
Just tried it, with a GBA Castlevania game (of course) and it handles beautifully. If this the future of AppStore allowed emulation, I’m a fan.
You’re only over a decade late to mobile phone emu party, iOS users. Welcome!
My first smart phone over ten years ago had a keyboard. I beat the NES Legend of Zelda on that beast. So much easier with actual buttons haha.
Emulators for iOS have existed for years though, just not in the App Store.
True, just a pain in the ass compared to android.
Breh we been side loading the coolaid for years.
Interesting for sure, but it looks like an ad-ridden clone of GBA4iOS, so I may just stick with sideloaded Ignited for now. In my opinion though, this is a big step, as others are probably soon to follow with possibly better ones.
I’m not seeing ads … I do have a network ad blocked though so.
The app has an ad bar at the bottom.
Not if your network is blocking ads it seems … doesn’t show in gameplay either.
I’ll have to try that, here is mine
