The Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter and Modem Adapter are a network adapter and 56k dial-up modem, respectively, for the Nintendo GameCube. They were produced by Conexant and made in the Philippines. The adapters fit flush into "Serial Port 1" on the underside of the GameCube and add a 8P8C (RJ-45) or 6P4C (RJ-11) port to the side of the console.[1]
Contents |
The adapters enable online play for four titles: Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II, Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Plus, and Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution from Sega, and Homeland from Chunsoft, which was only released in Japan.
The broadband adapter allows LAN play with Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Kirby Air Ride, and 1080° Avalanche. Warp Pipe and XLink Kai have created unofficial tunneling software that allows these games to be played over the Internet.
Soon after PSO I & II was released for the GameCube, it was discovered that a PC could be made to simulate the conditions of the server that the game would connect to. This information started as a method of tunneling the online service. When simulating this server, unsigned code can be streamed back to the GameCube, allowing homebrew, or information could be streamed back, allowing one to play copied games. This was also implemented to allow online gameplay in games for which it is not intended. Early dumps of GameCube games were created using this technique. From there, methods of running the games off of a computer through a GameCube were created. Nintendo and Sega responded by releasing the Plus version of the game.