Proto:Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire

This page details one or more prototype versions of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.

The first debug version of Pokémon Ruby to circulate on the internet (and therefore the one on which these pages and most other websites discussing them are based on) is, surprisingly, German. Its filename as released was pokemon_ruby_german_final_d.bin, with the "d" allegedly standing for "debug" or "development". The "final" suggests that there may be prototypes around as well.

Download Pokémon Ruby (German Debug Version) File: Pokemon Ruby (German Debug ROM).7z (4.2 MB or so) (info)

Be sure to set the Save Type to Flash 128K, and the ROM should run in most emulators/flash carts.

Only a decade later, when debug builds in every language surfaced in mid 2020, it became clear these debug versions are "only" the commercial versions compiled with different options.

To do: Someone more familiar with the game and/or the German language will have to replace some of the German names with their English translations. A work-in-progress English patch can be found here.

Sub-Pages

Test Menu Test Menu

Debug Menu Debug Menu

General Info

See also: Proto:Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Proto:Pokémon Emerald

Menus

The debug functions mostly use the game's existing menu system, but lack the polish of a finished product. Some menu items are in Japanese (which displays as gibberish due to font changes), some are in English, and most of the text is in German. Most submenus don't return to their parent menu when closed but just return to the game entirely, sometimes leaving textboxes or cursors on the screen. Some don't make any cursor movement sound, etc. Many options don't give any indication that they've done anything.

Some menus have multiple pages; press Left/Right to switch pages. A activates, B cancels. Some have other controls shown on the screen.

Items described as "???" don't have any apparent effect.

Debug Functions

During any battle, press R + Select to instantly win.

Link Debug

While waiting for a link to be established, numbers appear on screen related to link information.

Build Date

This string is present at offset 0x2084D0:

$Name: debug-Euro-2003-05-09-A $

Message Translations

In-Game (German/Japanese/Corrupted Text)	Translation	Remarks
Ja/Nein	Yes/No
PokéRIEGEL	Pokéblock
Es existiert kein Speicherstand. Uhrzeit kann nicht eingestellt werden.	There is no save point. Time can not be set.
Verbindungsfehler... Die Kabelverbindungen überprüfen und die Geräte aus- und wieder einschalten.	Connection error... Check the cable connections and switch the devices off and on.
Du kannst ohne MÜNZKORB nicht spielen.	You can not play without a Coin Case.	The Coin Case is item #260.

Japanese Conversion Table

Since the Japanese font was partially replaced, some Japanese letters display incorrectly. This table lists what Japanese letters are displayed as what symbols (when they differ).

Symbol	À	Á	Â	Ç	È	É	Ê	Ë	Ì	Í	Î	Ï	Ò	Ó	Ô	Œ	Ù	Ú	Û	Ñ	ß
Letter	あ	い	う	え	お	か	き	く	け	こ	さ	し	す	せ	そ	た	ち	つ	て	と	な
Symbol	à	á	â	ç	è	é	ê	ë	ì	í	î	ï	ò	ó	ô	œ	ù	ú	û	ñ/ǹ	º	ª	ᵉʳ	&	+
Letter	に	ぬ	ね	の	は	ひ	ふ	へ	ほ	マ	み	む	め	も	や	ゆ	よ	ら	り	る	れ	ろ	わ	を	ん
Symbol	¿	¡	PK	MN	PO	KÉ	RIE	GE	L	,	%	(	)							↑	↓	←	→
Letter	ア	イ	ウ	エ	オ	カ	キ	ク	ケ	コ	サ	シ	ス							ル	レ	ロ	ワ
Symbol	Lv.	=	;		ʳᵉ		ᵉ	<	>
Letter	ゃ	ゅ	ょ		ッ		ャ	ュ	ョ