Pokemon Emerald Ported to WebAssembly (100k FPS)

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Project nature & performance

  • Port runs Pokémon Emerald itself compiled to WebAssembly, not a generic GBA emulator; derived from a community decompilation/recompilation project.
  • Linked GitHub repos show the WASM port and original decompiled/expanded codebase.
  • Users report very high framerates (into thousands of FPS) on various devices using the speed slider, though some initially see low FPS until adjusting it.

Legal / IP and hosting concerns

  • Multiple comments question how long this can stay up before a DMCA, especially since the web version appears to ship the full assets and does not require a ROM.
  • Contrast is made with the original decomp projects, which require users to supply their own ROM and aim not to distribute assets directly.
  • Detailed discussion of how some projects embed assets in proprietary formats to make DMCA enforcement harder, but this is characterized as a shortcut and legally murky.
  • Suggestions to host such work on self‑hosted or decentralized platforms in friendlier jurisdictions.
  • Broader criticism of long copyright terms and their effect on cultural works.

PWA / deployment

  • Some attempt to run it as a PWA on mobile; it currently lacks a proper web app manifest and offline support, though commenters note this would be straightforward to add.
  • Need for an app icon is mentioned as a blocker for a “proper” PWA.

Controls, UX, and requested features

  • Default keyboard controls use classic emulator mappings (Z/X, arrows); several ask for on‑screen hints and configurable keybinds (WASD, alternative Start key).
  • Requests for more intuitive touch controls on mobile.
  • Popular request for a normal vs sped‑up mode and a dedicated “fast‑forward” key.
  • Export/import of save files is requested to guard against browser data clearing.

Audio, bugs, and stability

  • Current version lacks audio; multiple forks are working on adding sound with varying accuracy.
  • Users confirm saving works but report numerous crashes: opening the Pokémon menu, using items, first battle evolutions, and specific battle animations.
  • Text/logic bugs are noted (items shown as numbers, incorrect stat messages).
  • Some find the D‑pad behavior and name entry navigation glitchy; a few cannot get past the start screen.
  • One commenter calls the current build “horribly bugged” and suggests using a more mature emulator/ROM setup instead.