Game Boy Controller Kensa Cartridge

The Game Boy Controller Kensa Cartridge (Game Boy Controller Test Cartridge) allowed Nintendo Service Representatives to test the buttons on the Game Boy unit (or an SNES controller, if plugged into a Super Game Boy). This cartridge appears to be a modified version of the standard Game Boy Test Cartridge, starting at the Controller Test section.

What do you call a bunch of Nintendo Service Representatives trapped inside an elevator? A Famicom Box

Download Game Boy Controller Kensa Cartridge File: Game Boy Controller Kensa Cartridge.rar (11 KB) (info)

Unused Music#

Two unused songs were likely used to test the Game Boy audio system as part of the DMG test. Game Genie code ??7-01A-E6A will play either of the two during the Controller Test, while GameShark code 01??E8DF will play the unused music anywhere. In both cases, replace ?? with one of the below song IDs:

Song ID: 01

Song ID: 02

Unused DMG Test#

Game Genie code 072-D4F-80E will start a DMG hardware test. Raccoon Marios (from Super Mario Bros. 3) (which have no tails for some reason) will march around a giant pillar, followed by a palette test sequence, and title screens from Super Mario Land and Alleyway will scroll away, resetting back to the DMG Test screen. This test is a leftover from the DMG Aging Cartridge.

The Japanese text reads "CPU Inner RAM .... OK" and "Timer Error".

Aging Test Message#

Game Genie code 0D2-D4F-80E will display a message upon starting up. Translates to "Aging Test complete". Likely refers to the internal name of the Test Cartridge, which is "DMG AGING TEST". This message is also a leftover from the DMG Aging Cartridge.

Unused Graphics#

Several graphics are found within the Test Cartridge; some are familiar, others are anyone's guess. None of the graphics are visible during the final sequence of the DMG Test where the title screens scroll.

Game Boy Controller Bank#

Present in the first tile bank are graphics for an unused font set, a man with a pellet gun, and several bald Mario sprites. It's not certain why the bald Mario sprites exist, though it is possible that they may have been used during the planning stages of Mario's appearance in Alleyway given the graphic style that was used for the cameo, as opposed to the fuller look that Mario has in Super Mario Land.

	Bald Mario
	Unknown man
	Hands
	Air horn

Alleyway#

All of the graphics from Alleyway are present in the Test Cartridge, although they have been split since the ending graphics are used for the Controller Test completion screen. Additional unused graphics were moved into the third and fourth banks.

	Life counter
	Stage rail
	Unbreakable block
	Stage frame pieces
	Mushroom
	Flower
	Star
	Special stage

Super Mario Land#

A few unused graphics from the title screen are scattered about the third and fourth banks occupying space with Alleyway graphics.

	Coin counter
	Mushroom
	DMG test bank

Development-Related Text#

Present at 0x02F1B. Text for the DMG Hardware test can also be found at 0x02F53.

O K

Present at 0x03071:

STAT .......STAT .... .......P1....... .......GND ERROR