Gamecube me!

o1s1n

Okay odd thread title, but thought you guys might be of some help.

So I picked up an NTSC Gamecube from Ciderdude and am trying to figure out how to proceed with it.

One Japanese game came with the console - I've never seen a Japanese game for these before, and the box presentation is absolutely lovely! None of this generic DVD game box thing going on (oh god how I hate them) - it's a lovely little box which suits the small disc perfectly. A collection of them would look the business.

Anyway, I've read that to get a US Gamecube running Japanese games, it's as easy as a 1 switch mod - would I be mad to consider building a Japanese collection?

Any other suggestions to a Gamecube noob? (I've only played about 5 or so games for the thing) - I'm also trying to see if it's possible to mod it to output RGB.

Myrddin

Here's the NTSC Region MOd - http://mmmonkey.co.uk/console/nintendo/gc-region.htm

The NTSC doesn't output RGB on the analogue port, but it can be gotten via the digital out & a composite cable which I think Cidey was offering with it

PAL Game Cubes have an official RGB lead which connect to the analogue port, NTSC Game Cubes do not output RGB through the analogue port (instead they support S-Vid which PAL Cubes do not).

It is possible to make an RGB cable for NTSC Cubes, you will need the official Nintendo Digital Video cable (part number DOL-009), a Nintendo composite video cable and a Scart plug (you could just use a cheap PAL RGB cable), a 10K resistor and a 75Ohm resistor and a very short piece of thin wire (Kynar is best)

Info of process here - http://mmmonkey.co.uk/console/nintendo/gc-rgb.htm

o1s1n

Interesting, looks like the hard part of that RGB hack is finding a Gamecube digital cable. Seems like something Dealextreme would have copped on to buy there are no clones available on their site unfortunately!

Jack burton

Yeah and they are some expensive shizz to get right?

Personally I would be for getting some Japanese games, all my GC games are PAL which is good because I can read the text but I'd say its the same for any system, get Japanese for the non text heavy games!

Myrddin

Or what about something like this - http://www.amazon.com/INNOVATION-TECHNOLOGIES-GameCube-VGA-Box/dp/B0001YM06W

80s Synth Pop

For good video output, your only option is the component cable on the USA model. Expect to pay around 100 though :eek:

It's great to have the actual Cube console but...... if you have an older model Wii with the component cable it's the same thing. Plus you can try before buy with DIOS MIOS or the new Devolution apps.

kevin2me

I Loved the Gamecube no matter what anyone had against it at the time.
I love how latest nintendo Consoles have been so compact
and dont have a Fan pumping out enough hot air to heat the sitting room.
At one stage I even had one of those GC LCD Screens attached and used it on Nightshifts

Gamecube was one of my first Consoles I got on launch day outside of Ireland.
The buzz of getting a NTSC Gamecube months before was out in Ireland was unreal.
I got a PAL Gamecube on launch too and a Panasonic Q Gamecube,
its Region Free and GBA player too (fav Console ever).

Some cracking Games from Smash Bros, RE4, M Primes, Eternal darkness, Mario Sunshine, WindWaker.
Loved FZero, Star Wars: Rouge Squadron 2 and IIS. Only one disappointment I had Was MarioKart DD, Hated it.
Some reason just felt wrong compared to all other in the Series.

For Jap Games, there's few different versions, But freeloader worked great when I used it, saved need to mod the Console.
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-28-49-en-70-1ssh.html

Myrddin

80s Synth Pop wrote: »

For good video output, your only option is the component cable on the USA model. Expect to pay around 100 though :eek:

I could be wrong, but I think Cidey bundled in a component cable with it?

Edit - My bad, it was a composite cable

K.O.Kiki

I only borrowed a GameCube from my friend once, and I still regret not buying it off him
Plus it has a near-perfect controller, designed by someone who understands ergonomics (too bad the Wii Classic reverts to SNES-style).

o1s1n

Thanks for the info lads.

Regarding the Wii, I've tried playing GC games on it via component and while it looks great and works, it's just no the same you know? Any collection of games I have need to be played on their original console. More the fool me really, but that's just the way I am!

Freeloader discs are something similar. Disc swapping, while it works, just doesn't 'feel' right. Tis a bit of a pain too.

First game I think I need to get is F Zero GX. Simply because Retr0 bangs on about it so much :pac:

I reckon that's probably one I could go with a Japanese copy of too.

Myrddin

o1s1n wrote: »

Regarding the Wii, I've tried playing GC games on it via component and while it looks great and works, it's just no the same you know? Any collection of games I have need to be played on their original console. More the fool me really, but that's just the way I am!

I'm exactly the same, I can't rationally explain it because the Wii shares a lot with the Gamecube...but I just can't get into this thing of backwards compatibility. It 'feels' different, we are sick man

Steve X2

EnterNow wrote: »

I'm exactly the same, I can't rationally explain it because the Wii shares a lot with the Gamecube...but I just can't get into this thing of backwards compatibility. It 'feels' different, we are sick man

I'm the same, it doesn't feel the same at all to me playing a GC game on the Wii.

.

Myrddin

Steve SI wrote: »

I'm the same, it doesn't feel the same at all to me playing a GC game on the Wii.

.

Im like that with all consoles, PS1/2 on the PS3, Xbox on Xbox360 etc etc

o1s1n

I'd been playing all my PS1 games on a pS2 until you modded that PSone for me Enternow. Have been using that now instead and the experience is much more enjoyable.

I think it has something to do with the startup screen and jingle when the console boots. It gets you in the mood for playing a game on that particular console

80s Synth Pop

Like you, I too appreciate a lot of those systems "emulate" the old hardware which is not the same. But with the Wii/Cube it's the same hardware. When in "Cube mode", the wii CPU drops to the original cube speed and limits the ram. It really is the exact same.

You've got a nerd hard decision to make..
-do you play cube on cube hardware with inferior video quality?
-fork out €100 for a Cube component cable?
-play it on a wii with the wii component cable?

And don't forget that NTSC cube games are best to use as only NTSC games support component progressive scan (hold B when booting) and they look amazing in that mode. PAL games don't support it at all.

o1s1n

I think what myself and the lads mean though is more the 'feel'. (as hippy dippy as that sounds)

With a Wii I'm not pressing a chunky Gamecube button down to open the flip up lid, I have to sit through all the Wii menu screens etc. You 'feel' like you're playing a Gamecube game on a Wii.

It defies all logic and sense, but that's just the way we are in here :pac:

I'll probably try to hunt down one of those component cables. I guess if I really want great picture quality I can play the games on the Wii for the moment if needs be.

Myrddin

I think going the Component cable is the right way to go. Like you said, when you play it on the Wii, you know your playing on a Wii. It's not rational at all, but like all enthusiasts, we tend to go the whole hog

o1s1n

Just looking on ebay now and they do all sell for crazy prices. 48 sterling minimum. And that's if you're really lucky.

You think a third party manufacturer would see that and jump on the opportunity - think how cheaply you could make that cable in todays market. You'd be making a fortune selling it at a massive markup even if it was going for half the price of the current ones.

Must send Dealextreme an email about it!

o1s1n

The Gamecube supports S Video too right? I've never run S video out of anything, but isn't it somewhere in between composite and RGB for quality? Might be another cheap option until I find a component one for a good price.

Myrddin

o1s1n wrote: »

Just looking on ebay now and they do all sell for crazy prices. 48 sterling minimum. And that's if you're really lucky.

You think a third party manufacturer would see that and jump on the opportunity - think how cheaply you could make that cable in todays market. You'd be making a fortune selling it at a massive markup even if it was going for half the price of the current ones.

Must send Dealextreme an email about it!

From my limited reading on the subject, the Gamecube outputs the digital signal at logic level, meaning a tv won't understand the signal. There's an encoder circuit in the cable which will turn the signal into an understandable one for your tv...so it's much more than just a cable. Also, it's possible the logic signals are encrypted & encoding them may not be something a 3rd party can do without cracking the signal.

Myrddin

o1s1n wrote: »

The Gamecube supports S Video too right? I've never run S video out of anything, but isn't it somewhere in between composite and RGB for quality? Might be another cheap option until I find a component one for a good price.

Yep I've an N64 NTSC running through S-video and the difference between that and my PAL composite is huge. It's not quite RGB level, but it's damned close to my ete - close enough that I've no interest in RGB modding it

o1s1n

EnterNow wrote: »

From my limited reading on the subject, the Gamecube outputs the digital signal at logic level, meaning a tv won't understand the signal. There's an encoder circuit in the cable which will turn the signal into an understandable one for your tv...so it's much more than just a cable. Also, it's possible the logic signals are encrypted & encoding them may not be something a 3rd party can do without cracking the signal.

Ahhh, that would explain why there aren't any 3rd party versions alright. It did seem odd to have something as simple as a cable which went uncloned.

Bloody hell! The lengths you have to go through to get a good picture.

Nintendo - for the love of ****e, just include RGB out on all your damn consoles.

blag

I got a Jap GC at launch and had it modded to play US games too ,although the majority of my games are Jap. I love the boxes the Jap games came in and so many came with free memory cards I didn't know what to do with them all :pac:

I'd recommend picking up P.N.03 if you get the chance, one of my favourite cube games.

Myrddin

Actually speaking of memory cards o1s1n, they are both formatted differently so if you do mod it you will need one for each region

o1s1n

EnterNow wrote: »

Yep I've an N64 NTSC running through S-video and the difference between that and my PAL composite is huge. It's not quite RGB level, but it's damned close to my ete - close enough that I've no interest in RGB modding it

Perfect! That's the way I'll go so. I'm pretty sure I saw an S Video input on the front of the Trinitron beast

EnterNow wrote: »

Actually speaking of memory cards o1s1n, they are both formatted differently so if you do mod it you will need one for each region

Interesting, I wonder why that is? Thanks for the heads up!

Steve X2

EnterNow wrote: »

Actually speaking of memory cards o1s1n, they are both formatted differently so if you do mod it you will need one for each region

I wonder could you use one of those multi memory cards? The ones you press a button to switch cards on, format one partition as Euro and another as JAP etc.

.

o1s1n

blag wrote: »

I got a Jap GC at launch and had it modded to play US games too ,although the majority of my games are Jap. I love the boxes the Jap games came in and so many came with free memory cards I didn't know what to do with them all :pac:

I'd recommend picking up P.N.03 if you get the chance, one of my favourite cube games.

The boxes are so much nicer alright arent they? Really really stylish. Like they were made for a collector.

I really am veering towards a Japanese collection alright. Just trying to figure out how many games don't really require any reading.

Never heard of P.N.03, will definitely give it a look

Myrddin

Steve SI wrote: »

I wonder could you use one of those multi memory cards? The ones you press a button to switch cards on, format one partition as Euro and another as JAP etc.

.

As long as the partitions are separate, I don't see why it wouldn't work

CiDeRmAn

Maybe this will do as a stand in AV cable, til you sell that kidney for the Component one!
http://www.amazon.com/Gamecube-S-Video-Cable/dp/B000P6R46W/ref=pd_sim_e_1

penev10

I used to run my GC through S-Video and it looked well nice.

Freeloader disc is very handy, no shenanigans just disc in/out. However there are a small minority of games that have issues with it. F-Zero GX being one. The glitch removes the HUD during races which some people actually prefer! (There was a magazine that ran cheat discs for the GC and it released a disc specifically for running the JAP F-Zero which solves the problem.)

The JAP boxes are the business! Pyongyang nearly jizzed when he saw my (small) collection!

Retr0gamer

I'd recommend Chibi Robo because it gets over looked so much. It's a really great game and has surprisingly mature themes, like the family in the house yo live in being on the verge of divorce. Also has a great Toy Story vibe to it.

penev10

I have an almost new Hori Arcade stick for the GC, boxed and all, if anyone's looking to buy one. Never knew how much to put it on adverts for and kind of forgot about it!

This is the one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GAMECUBE-SOULCALIBUR-II-STICK-CUBE-CONTROLLER-HORI-Wii-/140749755092?pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item20c556d2d4#ht_2554wt_952

CiDeRmAn

Please don't put posts that read like ads in the forum.
If you want to exchange it, put in the appropriate thread, if you want to sell it, pop it into Adverts for free!
I would also caution against eyes and wool pulling as the example given is probably the most expensive example on ebay,
here's another....
Gamecube Hori stick, boxed, for £35
and another
same stick, but for €62 plus €15 postage

penev10

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

Please don't put posts that read like ads in the forum.
If you want to exchange it, put in the appropriate thread, if you want to sell it, pop it into Adverts for free!
I would also caution against eyes and wool pulling as the example given is probably the most expensive example on ebay,
here's another....
Gamecube Hori stick, boxed, for £35
and another
same stick, but for €62 plus €15 postage

Apologies, re-reading it it does look like a shameless hawking of goods. I was just reminded of it when this thread got me thinking about all the GC gear I have and how I've never used the stick.

I knew I should've just put a picture of it up rather than the link to ebay. It was the first return on google and I was just being lazy. Apologies again.

CiDeRmAn

No worries

OwaynOTT

I love GameCube.

CiDeRmAn

I second Chibi Robo, it's bizarre and great.

Also, Mr Driller: Drill Land is amazing, the best of the series and it's the one game I must import.
Class and Japanese only.

Steve X2

OwaynOTT wrote: »

I love GameCube.

.

OwaynOTT

That's exactly who I was channeling.

'in this movie we will be playing witches.'

CiDeRmAn

" Would you like to come to a pants party?"

OwaynOTT

'loud noises!'

Jack burton

Where'd you get your games...the toilet store?