2nd Gen What happens when...

[JonnyPhoenyx]

what happens when the internal battery runs dry? Can u still play the game?

 

[processr]

You will still be able to play the game, but you will not have the ability to save.

 

[jasonresno]

Can someone explain to me exactly what an internal battery is? Why haven't I heard of issues with this and other older GBA games?

 

[processr]

Can someone explain to me exactly what an internal battery is? Why haven't I heard of issues with this and other older GBA games?

The internal battery is used to save the game in the pre-Gen III game cartridges, but only Gold and Silver are affected by the problem of them being drained. This is down to the internal clock being powered by this internal battery (or, at least, I think =/), and it is constantly drained in order to keep the time. After seven years or so with a save file, the internal battery will die. As there was no time function in the Gen I games there is no such problem, and these issues were somewhat rectified in Crystal. In later generations these problems were eradicated.

This is a fair bit of guesswork on my part, though. If this is all/mostly correct it'd explain why my copy of Silver has lasted for over eight years - it hasn't had a save file on it for a few years now, and thus it doesn't have to power the internal clock.

 

[magix7]

my guess is that the newer ones, emerald, saphire, ruby, diamond, pearl, platnum, FR, LG?

 

[Legobricks]

Can someone explain to me exactly what an internal battery is?

It's a button cell inside the game. You can see it through Crystal's case if you have that, it'll most likely have a yellow ring around it.

my guess is that the newer ones, emerald, saphire, ruby, diamond, pearl, platnum, FR, LG?

Your guess is correct.