Battle Chip Gate Homebrew

The Battle Chip Gate Homebrew is a GBA application that can act as a replacement for a real Battle Chip Gate. This homebrew can be run on a GBA flash cart to connect with other GBAs, or on an emulator to connect with other emulators.

What is a Battle Chip Gate?

Battle Chip Gates are external devices which connect to a Game Boy Advance for use with Rockman EXE 4, 4.5, 5, and 6. Unique Battle Chip Gates were released for Rockman EXE 4, Rockman EXE 5, and Rockman EXE 6. They were sold separately and exclusively in Japan, along with physical BattleChips from their respective games which you could slot in for use in-game. However, despite the regional differences, all versions of the games can use the Chip Gate's features.

Each game lets you do certain things with a Chip Gate connected.

What you will need

To connect the Battle Chip Gate Homebrew with real hardware, you will need:

A GBA flash cart
Two Game Boy Advance systems
A GBA Link Cable
A copy of any of the supported games

Quick Start

Connect the GBAs according to the single player diagram or multiplayer diagram.
Start up the Battle Chip Gate Homebrew on one of the GBAs using the flash cart. You may need to set the save type to SRAM in your flash cart or patch it to support saving.
When the Battle Chip Gate Homebrew reaches the title screen, choose the game you will connect to. You should see a connection status message below.
On the other GBA, insert the game you will connect to and start it up.

MegaMan Battle Network 4 and Rockman EXE 4.5 will continuously try to connect at the game's title screen before pressing the START Button.
MegaMan Battle Network 5 will check once at the title screen.
MegaMan Battle Network 6 will also check once at the title screen. You can also connect from the Navi Change table, if you have it unlocked in Tab's Shop.

If done correctly, the Battle Chip Gate Homebrew will proceed to the Main Menu.

What can you do?

In EXE 4, you can play Operation Battle, when selected from the title screen. This lets you slot in a Navi Chip to play a boss rush mode with that Navi. You could only use real chips in this mode. There is also a multiplayer mode.

In EXE 4.5, the main game can be played with the Chip Gate. You can slot in Battle Chips while your Navi dodges attacks for you. You can also unlock Navis by slotting in Navi Chips on the Navi select screen. You can even play multiplayer matches between EXE 4 and EXE 4.5.

In EXE 5, you can also play an Operation Battle boss rush by slotting in a Navi Chip from your game version. This option is selectable from the title screen. In this menu, you can even battle in multiplayer with another player with a Chip Gate. You can also play the main game with the Chip Gate connected, allowing you to switch Navis in the custom screen by slotting in their Navi Chip. This also enables a Team Battle mode from the Network menu, which lets you to play a multiplayer match with someone else using a Chip Gate. You can swap Navis in this mode too.

In EXE 6, having the Chip Gate connected makes MegaMan always start the battle in BeastOut, without a turn limit. You can slot in chips in any battle in the main game with the Chip Gate connected. In the custom screen, Navi Chips can be slotted in to become a CrossCybeast. The Navi Change table is also unlocked in Tab's shop, allowing you to swap to a Navi comptaible with your version of the game. You can also play a multiplayer match with someone else using a Chip Gate.

In MegaMan Zero 3, you can unlock the mini-games with a Chip Gate.

Battle Chip Gate Homebrew features

In addition to the above, the Battle Chip Gate Homebrew has the following features.

Battle Chips are arranged by Library and can be sorted by Name, Attack, and Element
Mark chips that never received a physical release
Mark chips as Favorite for quick access in a dedicated tab
Create up to 16 Chip Folders for managing multiple themed folders or strategies
Favorites and folders are saved
When browsing Chips, switch between Send Mode to send instantly, and Sort Mode to rearrange Chips in the order you want
Send Navi Chips, grouped by compatible game version
Send Program Advance (PA) combinations automatically
For Battle Network 6, send Navi chips in all available levels and even view their stats before sending
Battle in multiplayer battles with real Chip Gates or with other Chip Gate Homebrew players

Upon connecting to a game, or skipping the check by pressing the SELECT Button, you reach the Main Menu. Here, you can access the main features of the Chip Gate Homebrew. You can also press the B Button to go back to the title screen.

The Battle Chip menu option takes you to the Battle Chip screen, where you can view and send Battle Chips. The Chips are arranged in Library order and can be rearranged and sorted. You can also set Favorite chips from here.

The Navi Chip menu option takes you to the Navi Chip screen, where you can view and send Navi Chips. Navi Chips are special chips which work differently from normal Battle Chips. They typically enable playable Navis, or additionally act as Crosses in MegaMan Battle Network 6. Navi Chips are grouped by game version in MegaMan Battle Network 5 and MegaMan Battle Network 6.

The Chip Folder menu option takes you to the Chip Folder screen, where you can view and create Chip Folders. Up to 16 folders of 30 Chips can be created. When editing a Chip Folder, Chips can be added by pressing the A Button twice on a Chip or pressing the SELECT Button. When using a Chip Folder, only the Chips you added can be used, but also including any Favorites you've marked.

Battle Chip Screen Overview

Favorite Chips can be set by pressing the SELECT Button. View your Favorites by switching to the star tab on the far left anywhere this tab appears. In the Chip Folder screen, this icon will become a folder, to denote which Chip has been added to that folder.

Chip Libraries are listed across the top. Press left or right on the +Control Pad to switch between libraries.

Number of Uses is a value each Chip has which sets the number of times you can use that Chip in a single battle. It is always either 1 or 3. In EXE 4.5, the use count is not refreshed between battles. Instead, it refreshes when you jack out, or by talking to a special Gold Mr. Prog.

Current Mode is displayed on the bottom. Slot-In Mode allows you to send Chips right away by pressing the A Button. Sort Mode allows you to rearrange the Chip order when you press the A Button. Pressing A again on the same Chip sends it, too.

To switch modes, press the START Button to open the Sort menu, then press left or right on the +Control Pad to switch to the Mode menu.

The Favorite Marker shows you whether a Chip is marked as a Favorite or not. A gold star means it's marked as a Favorite.

Controls

+Control Pad Up/Down: Move the cursor up or down and choose a Battle Chip.

+Control Pad Left/Right: Switch between Library tabs. If an option is not available, it will be grey and not selectable.

A Button: When in Slot-In Mode, sends the currently-selected Chip. When in Move Mode, lets you switch the places of two Chips.

B Button: Exits the menu. In Move Mode, when a Chip is selected, cancels the current selection.

L Button/R Button: Scrolls the current page up or down.

START Button: Opens the Sort Menu. In this menu, you can sort Chips. Pressing left or right on the +Control Pad switches the menu to the Mode menu, where you can switch between Slot-In Mode and Sort Mode.

SELECT Button: Adds the currently-selected Chip to your Favorites, which can be found in the star tab on the left. When editing Chip Folders, adds the currently-selected Chip to the folder.

Connecting for single player

The Battle Chip Gate Homebrew works with a real link cable or by using emulators. When using the Chip Gate Homebrew, make sure the Chip Gate is Player 2 in the connection. With official Link Cables, Player 2 is the grey, wider end of the cable. On emulators, Player 2 is usually the second window opened or the client when connecting over the internet.

For all versions of MegaMan Battle Network 5 and MegaMan Battle Network 6, it is recommended you start the Chip Gate Homebrew first and select the game you are connecting to before starting the game. These games will check for the Battle Chip Gate on the title screen before PRESS START appears and typically won't check again if the Chip Gate is not detected at that point, so it is important to have the game selected before then.

Connecting for multiplayer

When using the Battle Chip Gate Homebrew for multiplayer battles, make sure the Battle Chip Gates are Player 2 and Player 3 in the connection. On official Link Cables, Player 2 is the grey, wider end of the first cable, Player 3 is the first GBA connected to the middle block of the first cable, and Player 4 is the GBA connected to the middle block of the second cable.

Four player link cables typically have the player numbers labeled on the ends of the cable, so the same player numbers may be used.

On emulators, player number is usually determined by the order the windows were opened, or the order the clients connected in when connecting over the internet.

For MegaMan Battle Network 5, the same recommendation from the single player setup applies.

A real Chip Gate can substitute any Chip Gate Homebrew in this setup.

NOTE: When the games and Chip Gates are connected with the multiplayer setup, the Chip Gates will not function for the single player portions of the game.

FAQ

Q: I don't see "Rockman EXE 4" or "Rockman EXE 5" in the game selection. Are they unsupported?

A: The MegaMan Battle Network 4 and MegaMan Battle Network 5 options connect to all regions of their game. Only MegaMan Battle Network 6 is split as separate options because a different chip gate ID is needed.

Q: I want to set up a folder or pick Favorite Chips without starting a game.

A: You can skip the "Waiting for connection..." portion of the title screen by pressing the SELECT Button. A game trying to connect to the Chip Gate will still detect it after skipping the title screen.

Q: The title screen says "Save Disabled". My folders and Favorites aren't saving.

A: This homebrew uses SRAM saves. Refer to your flash cart's instructions to enable saves or steps on how to patch the homebrew for saves of this type.

Q: Why is there no background music?

A: The intent of this homebrew is to be run alongside the game. The audio cues are important for feedback and a feel of responsiveness, but constantly-playing music would disrupt this experience.

Q: I used a DarkChip in MegaMan Battle Network 6, but the regular version of the Chip was used in the game.

A: Using DarkChips in MegaMan Battle Network 6 uses up BugFrags. If you don't have any BugFrags the regular version of that chip is used instead.

Q: I don't see the Navi Change Table in Tab's shop in MegaMan Battle Network 6.

A: To unlock the Navi Change Table in Tab's Shop, you have to have done two things: successfully connected with the Chip Gate at least once from the title screen, and have completed the main story.

Q: Can I use Rockman EXE 6 exclusive chips in MegaMan Battle Network 6?

A: You have access to some Chips which were previously unobtainable. Refer to the following table.

Can be used
Otenko1
DblBeast
CrosOver

Cannot be used
GunDelEX

Crashes the game
HackJack
Django
Gregar
Falzar

Changelog

Update 2 - 9-18-2021

Fixed a bug where Chip Folders would sometimes not be saved.

Update 1 - 10-2-2020

The GBA file is now a few kilobytes smaller.
"GunDelEX" for MMBN6 and EXE6 has been properly categorized as a Standard Chip.
Chip Folders can now be named.
New options menu has been added with the following options:
- Mark Unreleased Chips: Chips that never received a physical release, as well as Program Advances that include them, have a grey icon and name in the Battle Chip screen when this option is enabled. These can still be used, but this makes it easier for players that want to restrict themselves to only legitimate chips to be aware of which chips those are.
- Play Sounds: Enables/Disables all sound effects. If you were not planning on using sounds, disabling them with this option can potentially increase battery life.
- Keyboard Layout: Changes the layout of the keyboard used when naming Chip Folders. You can choose between a QWERTY and alphabetial layout.
- Default Chip Mode: Sets the default mode for the Battle Chip screen. You can choose between Slot-In and Move modes.
- Default Navi Level: Sets the default level for Navi Data Chips sent by pressing the A Button in the Navi Chip screen for EXE6 and MMBN6. You can still press the SELECT Button to choose a specific level when you're on the Navi Chip screen.
This release also includes Battle Chip Gate Homebrew Lite
- Battle Chip Gate Homebrew Lite is a slightly cut-down version of Battle Chip Gate Homebrew. In exchange for missing features such as saving, Chip Folders, chip images, and chip descriptions, the flash cart can be removed after the homebrew has been loaded. This allows you to boot multiple Battle Chip Gate Homebrew Lite instances or another game with a single flash cart.

Credits

Programming: Greiga Master
UI and Graphics: MegaRockEXE
Battle Chip Gate Navi Chip Graphics: MegaRockEXE
Battle Chip Gate Exclusive Chip Graphics: MidniteW
MMBN4.5 Chip Names/Descriptions: MMBN4.5 translation team
Testing: Eurasia_M, MegaRockEXE