Nintendo GameCube accessories
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of Nintendo GameCube accessories.
[edit] First-party/officially licensed
- Controller (standard colors include Indigo, Black, Spice (orange), Emerald Blue (green, only available in Japan), Platinum, and Indigo-clear). There are also limited edition controllers available such as a split blue and red, with the Mario "M" logo replacing the regular GameCube logo seen on standard controllers (there have also been green and blue Luigi "L" controllers and similarly yellow and pale blue Wario "W" controller). There are also specially colored controllers bundled with systems, such as the Mobile Suit Gundam Edition (Red), Symphonic Green Edition (Turquoise Green) and the Final Fantasy Crystal White Edition (Pearl White). The controller can also be used to play certain games on the Wii system.
- WaveBird — RF wireless controller.
- Memory Card 59 (4MB), 251 (16 MB), 1019 (64 MB) or 2043 (128MB) blocks, with a maximum of 127 files can be stored on a single card (Memory Card 59 bundled with Animal Crossing). Each card requires 5 blocks of system data meaning that the actual size of cards are 64, 256, 1024 and 2048 respectively.
- Nintendo GameCube-Game Boy Advance cable — for games that support connectivity between the GameCube and the Game Boy Advance (bundled with some games).
- Modem or Broadband adapter — for internet or LAN play (both of which connect to the Serial Port 1).
- Game Boy Player — to play Game Boy games on the television, using either a GameCube controller or a connected Game Boy Advance (which connects to the Hi Speed Port).
- AV cables — included with the GameCube. Provides noticeably clearer and sharper picture quality and clearer audio than an RF Switch, identical to and compatible with earlier Nintendo (N64 and first generation SNES) AV cables.
- S-Video Cable — provides a better quality picture than composite RCA cables, although not up to that of the Component Cable, identical to and compatible with earlier Nintendo (N64 and 1st generation SNES) S-Video cables. Only NTSC GameCubes can use the S-Video cable.
- Component video cable (for progressive scan (480p) support) which requires a GameCube with Digital Video Output. This cable was not only a cable, but actually a tiny video card as well, using the Macronix CMPV-DOL video chip (a digital to analog converter). This was needed in order to convert the YCbCr digital video coming from the console to the YPbPr analog format used by component video equipment. While CMPV-DOL's reconfigurability allows it to carry out unusual functions such as YCbCr to RGBHV conversion, the component video cable does not take advantage of the digital audio from the console’s digital port. This means that one must use an analog cable in the other port to get audio.
- D-Terminal Video Cable — allows Progressive Scan mode to be enabled through a D-Terminal port on a TV. It was sold in Japan only. Identical to the Component Video Cable but for its connector, it also requires a digital AV port and needs a separate analog cable for audio.
- RGB Cable — provides a better quality picture than composite cables. It utilizes the SCART connector standard and is sold in Europe only.
- RF Switch/RF Modulator — for connection to older televisions, identical to and compatible with earlier Nintendo RF modulators.
- DK Bongos for use with the music games Donkey Konga, Donkey Konga 2 and Donkey Konga 3, and the Donkey Kong platform title Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. A racing game, DK Bongo Blast, was cancelled on the GameCube in favor of the Wii – however, the game no longer supports the Bongos. (Donkey Konga and Donkey Kong Jungle Beat are bundled with DK Bongos compatible games.)
- Microphone, which plugs into memory card slot, for use with Mario Party 6, Mario Party 7, and Karaoke Revolution Party. Odama also includes a microphone clip to clip on to the controller. Commands are issued when you hold the X button on the controller. The microphone bundled with Mario Party 6 and 7 and Odama is grey, while the mic bundled with KRP is black.
- SD Card Adapter', for games exhibiting the SD Card logo like Animal Forest e+. This official Nintendo accessory was sold in Japan only. Ironically, just like the SD Gecko adapter, this has been used for playing homebrew software such as emulators and other hacks.
- Action Pad, included with Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix. It has 4 arrows.
- Beat Pad, made by Mad Catz and officially licensed by Nintendo, included with the game MC Groovz Dance Craze. Also sold separately. It has 8 arrows.
- ASCII keyboard controller, resembling a standard GameCube controller pad stretched to accommodate an alphanumeric keyboard in the center. The keyboard requires the use of two controller ports, and contains both Roman and Japanese hiragana characters. It is useful for Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II but is difficult, though not impossible, to acquire outside of Japan.
- Hori Game Boy Player Controller — A controller designed to play with the Game Boy Player. It comes in the colors Indigo and Jet Black. The controller is in the shape of a Super Nintendo control pad. It does not include the Control Stick or C-Stick, and the R and L buttons lack a range of pressure sensitivity; thus, only uses the D-Pad for movement and the usual buttons for playing. Although meant for the Game Boy Player, this pad can still be used with certain 2D GameCube games, such as Alien Hominid, Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO, Mega Man Anniversary Collection, Sonic Mega Collection, Sonic Gems Collection, or a few 3D GameCube games that support D-pad movement, like Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex and Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance for example.
- Logitech Speed Force Racing Wheel — An officially licensed force feedback steering wheel made exclusively for the GameCube. It is supported by a number of games, including F-Zero GX, R: Racing Evolution, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Burnout 2, and the Need for Speed series, among others. There is also an optional accessory pack which includes foot pedals and a lap attachment.
- ProDG — An officially licensed development tool for the GameCube. In a photo from the product's homepage (SNSYS: ProDG), the cable appears to be protruding from the left side of the case where the Serial Port 2 should be. If this does connect to that port, this would be the only accessory known to do this.
- Panasonic LCD Screen — An officially licensed monitor screen for the GameCube by Panasonic that was used on the GameCube display models at the 2002 Electronic Entertainment Expo. It connected into the GameCube's digital AV out port. The screen had a brace like an easel to prop it up snugly on top of the GameCube. It was released in 2002 at an original price of $150.
- Carrying Cases - There exist official carrying cases for both game discs and the GameCube itself in various size and shapes. They are all manufactured by A.L.S. Industries INC and goes by a NGC model number. [1]
[edit] Third party
- Action Replay — A cheat device made by Datel, allowing gamers to enter codes to cheat at games. A FreeLoader is also included with the software. It contains a boot disc with the codes and startup, and a dongle that connects into memory card slot B. The dongle can only be used for saving codes.
- Action Replay MAX — An Action Replay with a bigger dongle. The dongle can save codes and be used as a 64 Mb card with 1019 blocks.
- FreeLoader — Made by Datel, this disc disables the regional lockout in the GameCube, allowing games from any region (PAL, NTSC, NTSC-J, etc.) to be played on a console from any region. Some Freeloaders are compatible with the Wii, allowing out of region GameCube games on it.
- Advance Game Port — Datel's version of the Game Boy Player. This dongle connects to memory card slot B and is booted up with the included boot disc. Some models have code generators for built in cheat devices. The advantage is that no removal of plates on the bottom, nor tools, are needed to install it. There are a few problems with the audio and video framerate and it is not 100% compatible with GBA games.
- Pelican Bongos — These bongos made by Pelican Accessories are a much darker color and have a 10% larger surface than the Nintendo bongos.
- MAX Drive — This device consists of a dongle, USB cable, and a PC software disc, which allows the user to upload game saves from a memory card to a PC to be stored there or sent over the Internet. However, there have been reports of this device corrupting save files, not always connecting to a PC, and sometimes refusing to receive information from the PC.
- Powerboard — A USB keyboard by Datel with a GameCube matching unit that could be used with the online Phantasy Star games. It could also be used to edit/add codes to the Action Replay.
- MAX Memory — This 128 Mb dongle by Datel contains up to 2043 blocks of data and is the largest memory card for the GameCube to date.
- Innovation INNOV3102 Controller Adaptor — This matching unit allows PlayStation and PS2 controllers to be used on the GameCube.
- Cube Joybox — This converter by Mayflash also allows PlayStation and PS2 controllers to be used on the GameCube.
- Hais GameCube Smart Joy (HS2125C) — This adapter allows the connection of PlayStation 1 and 2 controllers to be used on the GameCube.
- Controller Extension — An extension cable for the controller, allowing the user to be farther away from the GameCube.
- LCD Screen — LCD screens made by a variety of manufacturers (Intec, Mad Catz, Zenith) that snap onto the GameCube and thus allow you to play it without a television. This would make it somewhat portable for taking it on trips or in the car. The screen piggy backed onto the GameCube's power supply for its power and connects to the digital AV out.
- Battery Pack — This battery pack made by Intec attaches securely to the bottom of the gamecube with its provided screws and offers about two hours worth of game time on a charge. It was designed to work with an LCD screen.
- SD Media Launcher — Allows homebrew games to be played on the GameCube. The dongle connects into the memory card slot and contains a removable SD card which holds the games. Also has a boot disc for starting the unit up, a 1 GB SD card, and a USB SD card adaptor for uploading games from your PC to your GameCube. Will also work on Wii systems in GameCube mode with firmware versions before 3.0.
- MAX Media Player — Allows videos and other downloadable media to be played on a Game Cube. Movies and media are transferred to the included 1 GB Micro SD card, that is then inserted into a dongle for the Game Cube and into memory card slot B. The kit also includes boot disc, SD adapter (for use on the Wii in GameCube mode), USB micro SD Card adaptor, and a small remote control for easy management.
- Hip Screen — By Hip Gear, this is a controller that features a small full color LCD screen on it. Its size was roughly that of the Game Boy Advance, so games that had very fine text could not be well read on it.
- VGA Adapter — created from modified component and d-terminal cables, allows GameCube play on a standard computer monitor in full 480p.
