Nintendo GameCube: Difference between revisions

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{{articleabout|the video game system|the Battle mode stage in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' of the same name|[[Nintendo GameCube (battle course)|here]]|the treasure based off the system from ''Wario World''|[[Wario World Treasures#Pecan Sands|here]]}}
{{about|the video game system|the Battle mode stage in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' of the same name|[[Nintendo GameCube (battle course)]]|the treasure based off the system from ''Wario World''|[[List of treasures in Wario World#Pecan Sands|List of treasures in Wario World § Pecan Sands]]}}
{{System-Infobox
{{distinguish|Nintendo Cube}}
|Image=[[File:GameCube+controller.png|250px]]
{{system infobox
|Rel={{releasedate|Japan|September 14, 2001|USA|November 18, 2001|Europe|May 3, 2002|Australia|May 17, 2002}}
|image=[[File:Nintendo GameCube console.png|250px]]
|Dis={{releasedate|Japan|October 28, 2007|USA|June 15, 2009|Europe|May 17, 2008|}}
|generation=Sixth
|Pre=[[Nintendo 64]]
|release={{flag list|Japan|September 14, 2001<ref>{{cite|author=|date=September 14, 2001|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1543848.stm|title=GameCube launches in Japan|publisher=BBC News|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117054316/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1543848.stm|accessdate=July 1, 2024}}</ref>|USA|November 18, 2001<ref>{{cite|author=David Becker|date=August 23, 2001|url=http://news.cnet.com/Nintendo-delays-U.S.-launch-of-GameCube/2100-1040_3-272053.html|title=Nintendo delays U.S. launch of GameCube|publisher=CNET News|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402105211/http://news.cnet.com/Nintendo-delays-U.S.-launch-of-GameCube/2100-1040_3-272053.html|accessdate=July 1, 2024}}</ref>|Europe|May 3, 2002<ref>{{cite|author=|date=May 2, 2002|title=GameCube gets midnight launch|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1963749.stm|publisher=BBC News|language=English|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502211811/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1963749.stm|accessdate=July 1, 2024}}</ref>|Australia|May 17, 2002<ref>{{cite|author=Nadia Cameron|date=May 20, 2002|url=https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/22321/gamecube_launch_rounds_console_troika/|title=GameCube launch rounds out console troika|publisher=PC World Australia|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410234818/https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/22321/gamecube_launch_rounds_console_troika/|accessdate=July 1, 2024}}</ref>|South Africa|November 2002<ref>{{cite|author=Rogers, Joshua Alexander|date=April 16, 2020|url=www.linkedin.com/pulse/video-games-around-world-south-africa-joshua-rogers|title=Video Games around the World|publisher=LinkedIn|archive=web.archive.org/web/20220925153658/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/video-games-around-world-south-africa-joshua-rogers|accessdate=March 23, 2024}}</ref>|ROC|November 21, 2002<ref>{{cite|url=multiplayer.it/notizie/il-gamecube-arriva-a-taiwan.html|title=Il GameCube arriva a Taiwan|language=it|publisher=multiplayer.it|accessdate=May 12, 2024}}</ref>|South Korea|December 14, 2002<ref>{{cite|url=gccontrollerlibrary.com/emerald-blue-gamecube-controller|title=Emerald Blue GameCube Controller|publisher=The GCC Library|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref>}}
|Suc=[[Wii]]
|discontinued={{flag list|Japan|October 28, 2007{{ref needed}}|USA|2007<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20121002170342/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/nintendo-ends-gamecube-support|title=Nintendo ends GameCube support|author=Parfitt, Ben|date=February 22, 2007|accessdate=May 12, 2024|language=en}}</ref>|Europe|May 17, 2008{{ref needed}}}}
|predecessor=[[Nintendo 64]]
|successor=[[Wii]]
}}
}}
{{LLQuote|Who are you?|The GameCube slogan}}
{{quote|Born to Play.|The GameCube slogan}}
[[File:GCN Logo.svg|left|100px]]
[[File:GCN Logo.svg|left|125px|Logo of the GameCube]]
The '''Nintendo GameCube''' is a home console system developed by [[Nintendo]], and released late in the year of 2001 as the successor of the [[Nintendo 64]]. The console's preproduction codename name was "Project Dolphin" and was originally a console that used cartridges, as noted references appear in games such as ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]''. The Nintendo GameCube has six ports on its front: four controller ports and two memory card ports. It has three buttons on top: Open, Reset, and Power. On the bottom are two serial ports and one hi-speed port for add-on expansions. The system uses game discs based on a [[wikipedia:MiniDVD|MiniDVD]] that are the size of an MP3 disc, able to hold up to 1.35 GB (1,459,978,240 bytes), making it the first Nintendo console to use optical discs as the primary storage medium. The Nintendo GameCube was officially discontinued in 2009 due to the leaving of [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]]. It sold about 22 million units during its lifetime.
The '''{{wp|GameCube|Nintendo GameCube}}''', or simply the '''GameCube''', is a home video game console developed by [[Nintendo]] and released in late 2001 as the successor to the [[Nintendo 64]]. The Nintendo GameCube has six ports on its front: four controller ports (like the Nintendo 64) and two memory card ports. It has three buttons on top: Open, Reset, and Power. On the bottom are two serial ports and one high-speed port for add-on expansions. The Nintendo GameCube was released in five colors: Indigo, Black, Orange (outside America), Silver (since 2003), and Gold, though indigo is the standard color, as shown from its few appearances in the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]] and other Nintendo media in general. The system uses proprietary 8-cm Game Discs based on the {{wp|MiniDVD}} format that are able to hold up to 1.5 GB (1,459,978,240 bytes), making it the first Nintendo console to use optical discs as the primary storage medium.


The Nintendo GameCube was released in four colors: Indigo, Black, Orange, and Silver. Indigo is the original color seen in advertisements, the trophy in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', and other places. Silver was released after the first three colors. Orange was not available in the United States, but controllers matching its color were.
During pre-production, the console was codenamed "Project Dolphin," a name alluded to in several early Nintendo GameCube games, such as ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'', where its main setting, [[Isle Delfino]], is shaped like a dolphin. Since ''Super Mario Sunshine'' did not release alongside the Nintendo GameCube at launch, the Nintendo GameCube is the first Nintendo home console since the [[Family Computer]] to not have a game from the [[Super Mario (series)|''Super Mario'' series]] as a launch title.


[[File:Gamecube_Startup_Screen.gif|thumb|The start-up animation.]]
In Japan, the GameCube is abbreviated as both "NGC" and "GC," as "NGC" is also an abbreviation used by the Japanese electronics company NGC Corporation.<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20200922164837/https://ngc.co.jp/company/company-profile|title=Company Profile|publisher=NGC|language=ja|accessdate=May 12, 2024}}</ref> In {{wp|Western world|Western}} regions, the GameCube is abbreviated as "GCN," notably for [[classic course]]s in the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' games, because the abbreviation "NGC" is trademarked by the {{wp|National Geographic Global Networks|National Geographic Channel}}.
The original version of the [[Wii]], the successor of the Nintendo GameCube, is mostly compatible with Nintendo GameCube hardware and software. Like the Nintendo GameCube the Wii has 4 controller ports and 2 memory card slots which support all controllers, like the dance mat and microphone, though it does not support add-ons that attach to the console. Later revisions of the Wii, such as the Wii Family Edition and Wii Mini, would remove Nintendo GameCube support. The [[Wii U]] is also not compatible with any Nintendo GameCube games, but ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' is compatible with the controllers through a special adapter.
 
__TOC__
The GameCube is Nintendo's first home console to support digital audio and video output, albeit through analog component cables; this feature was also used to display standard definition video through {{wp|progressive scan}}ning rather than conventional {{wp|Interlaced video|interlacing}}. Progressive scan is also supported when playing GameCube games on a Wii through component cables. All but two games related to the ''Super Mario'' franchise for the GameCube support progressive scan, which can be enabled by holding down {{button|GCN|B}} while booting up a game; the sole exceptions are ''[[NBA Street V3]]'' and ''[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!]]''
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The GameCube is also Nintendo's first home console to be distributed in South Korea without the aid of {{wp|SK Hynix|Hyundai Electronics}}, who sold rebranded versions of the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Nintendo 64]], and [[Game Boy]] as the Comboy line of products; instead, the GameCube and its titles were distributed through {{wp|Daewon Media}}, who also handled the South Korean releases of the [[Game Boy Advance]] and [[Nintendo DS]]. Only 27 titles were officially released in the region, including ''[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]'', ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', ''[[Mario Party 4]]'', ''[[Mario Party 5]]'', ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'', and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''.<ref>{{cite|author=Dentifritz|language=en|url=scanlines16.com/en/blog-3/retro-gaming/game-cube/gamecube-korean-master-list|title=Gamecube : Korean Master-List !|publisher=Scanlines16.com|archive=https://archive.ph/kYrao|accessdate=January 5, 2024}}</ref>


In 2006, the Nintendo GameCube was succeeded by the [[Wii]]. The original version of the Wii is mostly compatible with Nintendo GameCube hardware and software. Like the Nintendo GameCube, the Wii has four controller ports and two memory card slots that support all controllers and accessories, like the dance mat and microphone, though it does not support add-ons that attach to the console, like the [[Game Boy Player]]. Later revisions of the Wii, such as the [[Wii#Wii Family Edition|Wii Family Edition]] and [[Wii#Wii mini|Wii Mini]], would remove Nintendo GameCube support. The [[Wii U]] and [[Nintendo Switch]] are also not compatible with any Nintendo GameCube games, but ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' and most Nintendo Switch games are compatible with the controllers through a special adapter. The GameCube controller is compatible with more consoles than any other Nintendo controller, with a total of four: GameCube, Wii, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch (as of its 4.0.0 update).
{{br|toc=1}}
==Accessories and peripherals==
==Accessories and peripherals==
===Nintendo GameCube Controller===
===Nintendo GameCube Controller===
[[File:GCN Controller.png|thumb|The '''Nintendo GameCube Controller'''; The standard controller for playing [[Nintendo GameCube]] games. The color shown here is indigo.]]
{{main-wiki|NWiki|Nintendo GameCube Controller|NintendoWiki}}
The '''Nintendo GameCube Controller''' is the system's standard controller. In addition to the standard buttons seen on the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] and the control stick, introduced with the Nintendo 64, the Nintendo GameCube is also the first Nintendo system to feature a second analog stick, on the bottom right side of the controller. The controller also features two analog triggers on both sides of its back and a single shoulder button. The controller also features built-in rumble motor, carried over from the Nintendo 64's [[Rumble Pak]] add-on.
[[File:GCN Controller.png|thumb|An indigo Nintendo GameCube Controller]]
The '''Nintendo GameCube Controller''' is the system's standard controller. In addition to standard {{button|GCN|A}}, {{button|GCN|B}}, and {{button|GCN|Start}} buttons and a {{button|gcn|Stick}} control stick, the Nintendo GameCube is the first Nintendo system to include a second analog stick known as the {{button|GCN|C}} C-Stick, located on the bottom right side of the controller. This analog stick replaces the C-buttons found on a Nintendo 64 controller. The controller features analog triggers {{button|GCN|L}} {{button|GCN|R}} on the left and right sides of its back, and a single small shoulder button {{button|GCN|Z}} on the right. The controller features a built-in rumble motor, carried over from the Nintendo 64's [[nwiki:Rumble (feature)#Nintendo 64)|Rumble Pak]] accessory. Unlike the Nintendo 64 controller, the GameCube Controller features {{button|GCN|X}} and {{button|GCN|Y}} buttons, as well as only two grips instead of three. The {{button|gcn|Pad}} directional pad on the Nintendo GameCube Controller has the same size and shape as the directional pad on the original [[Game Boy Advance]].
 
[[File:GCN Wavebird.jpg|thumb|left|A Wireless Version of the controller]]
A wireless variant of the Nintendo GameCube controller, known as the '''[[nwiki:WaveBird Wireless Controller|WaveBird Wireless Controller]]''', was released in 2002. It connects to the system via a radio sensor that plugs into one of the system's controller ports. However, the WaveBird does not support the rumble feature that the standard controllers have.
 
[[File:LodgeNet-Nintendo-GameCube-Controller.jpg|thumb|A LodgeNet GameCube Controller]]
Another variant, as part of the [[LodgeNet]] service, was exclusive to hotels.<ref>{{cite|url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK_EPiRkFew|date=August 15, 2018|title=LodgeNet Game Controllers - Nintendo's Hotel Rental Service!|author=Nintendrew|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=May 12, 2024}}</ref>
 
The Nintendo GameCube controller can also be used to play several Wii titles, including ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' as well as most [[Virtual Console]] titles. In addition, through use of the GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U, the controller can be used to play ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U''. The accessory was released alongside an official ''Super Smash Bros.''-themed GameCube controller. As of update 4.0.0, the GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U and the controller itself can be used on the [[Nintendo Switch]], the latter of which is treated as a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller except within certain games that specifically detect it; unlike on the Wii U, however, the controller can be used in all Switch games.
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If the player holds {{button|gcn|A}} during the startup of the console, the cube itself and the tiles will rotate, and the player gains rapid access to the main menu even if there is a disc in the console. Holding down {{button|GCN|Z}} on one controller causes a xylophone to play, followed by a "BOING" and the laughter of a child. Holding down {{button|GCN|Z}} on all four controllers causes a kabuki shout to play, followed by woodblocks, and then a whoop, followed by a triangle's "ding".
===Memory Card===
{{main-wiki|NWiki|Memory card|NintendoWiki}}
[[File:Gamecube mcard.jpg|thumb|A 1019-block memory card]]
The Nintendo GameCube used proprietary '''memory cards''' to save data for games, and had no internal memory, making the GameCube the first (and as of May 2024 the only) Nintendo console that required memory cards to save game data. Nintendo released three color variants, each of which contain varying block capacities (one block on GameCube memory cards being 8 KB):
*Gray - 59 blocks (0.47 MB)
*Black - 251 blocks (2.0 MB)
*White - 1,019 blocks (8.1 MB)
Games played without a memory card inserted act as if they were being played for the first time, and data cannot be saved. The Nintendo GameCube and the Nintendo Wii have two slots for GameCube memory cards, allowing content from one card to be copied to another card.
 
The boxes for GameCube games have memory card holders inside which can be used to place a memory card along with the Game Disc.
 
Below is a list of the different ''Super Mario'' games and their respective block size, and conversion to kilobytes.
 
{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"style="text-align:center"
|-
!<br>Game
!<br>Blocks
!<br>Kilobytes (KB)
|-
|''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]''
|7
|56
|-
|''[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!]]''
|4
|32
|-
|''[[Mario Party 6]]''
|5
|40
|-
|''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''
|8
|64
|-
|style="background-color:#DDD"|''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' (each Time Trial ghost)
|style="background-color:#DDD"|5
|style="background-color:#DDD"|40
|-
|''[[Super Mario Strikers]]''
|5
|40
|-
|''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]''
|17
|136
|-
|''[[Mario Party 7]]''
|6
|48
|-
|''[[Mario Power Tennis]]''
|3
|24
|-
|''[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]''
|13
|104
|-
|''[[Donkey Konga 3 JP]]''
|5
|40
|-
|''[[Wario World]]''
|10
|80
|-
|''[[Nintendo Puzzle Collection]]''
|6
|48
|-
|''[[Mario Party 4]]''
|2
|16
|-
|''[[Mario Party 5]]''
|5
|40
|-
|''[[Luigi's Mansion]]''
|3
|24
|-
|''[[Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix]]''
|2
|16
|-
|''[[Mario Superstar Baseball]]''
|10
|80
|-
|''[[Donkey Kong Jungle Beat]]''
|3
|24
|-
|''[[SSX on Tour]]''
|59<ref>The PAL and JP releases instead state 7 blocks. The reason for this discrepancy is not yet known.</ref>
|472
|-
|''[[NBA Street V3]]''
|15
|120
|}
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A wireless variant of the Nintendo GameCube controller known as the WaveBird Wireless Controller is also available. It connects to the system via a radio sensor that plugs into one of the system's controller ports. However, the WaveBird does not support the rumble feature that the standard controllers have.
===Nintendo GameCube–Game Boy Advance Link Cable===
{{main-wiki|NWiki|Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance Cable|NintendoWiki}}
[[File:GCN-GBA Cable.jpg|thumb|The cable]]
The '''Nintendo GameCube–Game Boy Advance Link Cable''' allows for a [[Game Boy Advance]] to be connected to the Nintendo GameCube, similar to the [[Transfer Pak]] released for the [[Nintendo 64]]. The cable can be used in numerous GameCube games to unlock special content, such as ''[[Wario World]]'', which utilizes the cable for sending microgames from ''[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!]]'' to the Game Boy Advance. The cable is also compatible with the [[Game Boy Player]], with which the Game Boy Advance can be used as a controller for Game Boy Advance games being played on the GameCube.


The Nintendo GameCube controller can also be used to play several Wii titles, including ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' as well as most [[Virtual Console]] titles. In addition, through use of the GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U, the controller can be used to play ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U''. The accessory was released alongside an official ''Super Smash Bros.''-themed GameCube controller.
The following games involve compatibility with a game from the ''Super Mario'' franchise:
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!GameCube game
![[Game Boy Advance]] game
!Features
|-
|[[Game Boy Player]]
|N/A
|The GBA can be used as the controller instead of the GameCube controller.
|-
|''[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]''
|''[[Mario Golf: Advance Tour]]''
|Unlocks new content and transfers game progress.
|-
|''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!|Mario Kart Double Dash!! Bonus Disc]]''
|''[[FireEmblem:Fire Emblem (GBA)|Fire Emblem]]''
|Unlocks exclusive items that can be obtained only from the bonus disc. Also unlocks the soundtracks 99 & 100.<br>The GBA link option is absent in the European version of ''[[FireEmblem:Fire Emblem (GBA)|Fire Emblem]]'', since the ''Bonus Disc'' was not released in Europe.
|-
|''{{wp|Nintendo GameCube Preview Disc}}''
|N/A
|Used to play downloadable games ''[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!]]'' and ''[[Dr. Mario (game)|Dr. Mario]]''.
|-
|''[[Nintendo Puzzle Collection]]''
|N/A
|Used as a controller. Can also be used to download the NES versions of ''[[Dr. Mario (game)|Dr. Mario]]'' and ''[[Yoshi's Cookie]]'' to the GBA, along with a GBA port of ''{{wp|Puzzle League (series)|Panel de Pon}}''.
|-
|''[[Wario World]]''
|N/A
|Sends a demo version of ''[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!]]'' to the GBA.
|-
|''[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!]]''
|N/A
|The GBA can be used as the controller instead of the GameCube controller.
|}


===Nintendo GameCube Action Pad===
===Nintendo GameCube Action Pad===
[[File:Dancemat.jpg|left|thumb|The second version of the '''Nintendo GameCube Action Pad'''.]]
[[File:Dancemat.jpg|left|thumb|The second version of the Nintendo GameCube Action Pad]]
The '''Nintendo GameCube Action Pad''' is a dance pad controller released by [[Konami]] and packaged with ''[[Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix]]'', the only game it is compatible with on the system. The pad only features eight buttons: the directional inputs, the A and B buttons next to the up button, and the Z and Start buttons on the top corners of the pad. Two versions of the pad were released.
The '''Nintendo GameCube Action Pad''' is a dance pad controller released by [[Konami]] and packaged with ''[[Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix]]'', the only game it is compatible with on the system. The pad only features eight buttons: the directional inputs, the {{button|GCN|A}} and {{button|GCN|B}} buttons next to the up button, and the {{button|GCN|Z}} and {{button|GCN|Start}} buttons on the top corners of the pad. Two versions of the pad were released.
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====Names in other languages====
{{foreign names
|ChiT=跳舞墊<ref name="TCNWiiIwataAsk">{{cite|url=www.nintendo.com.hk/wii/wii_interview_vol2_01.html|title=社長提問 Ｗｉｉ 企劃 - Vol.2 Ｗｉｉ 遙控器篇|publisher=Nintendo HK|accessdate=September 26, 2021}}</ref>
|ChiTR=Tiàowǔ Diàn
|ChiTM=Dancing Mat
}}
{{br}}
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===Nintendo GameCube Microphone===
===Nintendo GameCube Microphone===
[[File:Microphone.jpg|200px|thumb|The microphone plugged into a Nintendo GameCube.]]
{{main-wiki|NWiki|Nintendo GameCube Microphone|NintendoWiki}}
The '''Nintendo GameCube Microphone''' is a special accessory used for Nintendo GameCube games on the GameCube or a backwards-compatible [[Wii]]. It is unusual in that it is plugged into a [[Memory Card]] slot rather than a controller slot. It has been used in ''[[Mario Party 6]]'' and ''[[Mario Party 7]]'' as a tool for playing mic [[minigame]]s and making [[Mic Space]]s functional. As the mic was intended to be used specifically with the GameCube, it is not compatible with any Wii games.
[[File:Microphone.jpg|200px|thumb|The microphone plugged into a Nintendo GameCube]]
The '''Nintendo GameCube Microphone''' is a special accessory used for Nintendo GameCube games on the GameCube or a backwards-compatible [[Wii]]. It is unusual in that it is plugged into a Memory Card slot rather than a controller slot. It has been used in ''[[Mario Party 6]]'' and ''[[Mario Party 7]]'' as a tool for playing Mic [[minigame]]s and making [[Mic Space]]s functional. As the Mic was intended to be used specifically with the GameCube, it is not compatible with any Wii games.
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===DK Bongos===
===DK Bongos===
[[File:DK_Bongos.jpg|left|thumb|220px|A pair of '''DK Bongos'''.]]
[[File:DK Bongos.png|left|thumb|220px|A pair of DK Bongos]]
The '''DK Bongos''' are bongo-like controllers for the Nintendo GameCube, primarily for use with the [[Donkey Kong (series)|''Donkey Kong'' series]]. Each side of the controller is shaped like a classic Donkey Kong barrel with a rubber drum skin fastened on top. It also has a built-in microphone to detect clapping (although hitting the sides of it also functions well). The DK Bongos detect left and right hits, and clapping. The DK Bongos were primarily used for the [[Donkey Konga (series)|''Donkey Konga'' series]], though they are also the recommended controller for ''[[Donkey Kong Jungle Beat]]'', and had ''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]'' been released for the Nintendo GameCube it would have also used the DK Bongos.
The '''DK Bongos''' are bongo-shaped GameCube controllers primarily intended for use with the [[Donkey Konga (series)|''Donkey Konga'' series]] and ''[[Donkey Kong Jungle Beat]]''. The controller is symmetrical, and each side is shaped like [[Barrel]] with a rubber drum skin fastened on top. It has a Start/Pause button in the center, along with the "DK" logo. DK Bongos even have a built-in microphone to detect clapping (although hitting the sides of it also functions). Each Barrel represents left or right on the GameCube's directional stick, based on how [[Donkey Kong]] moves left and right in ''Donkey Kong Jungle Beat''. The DK Bongos are backward-compatible from the GameCube controller ports of the Wii. They are also usable from the GameCube Controller Adapter for the [[Wii U]] and [[Nintendo Switch]].
 
In Japan, the controller is called the 「タルコンガ」''TaruKonga'' (or "TaruConga") controller. The name is a multilayered pun, combining ''taru'' (the Japanese word for "barrel"), ''kon'', or "con" (a suffix used by Namco when naming their original peripherals, such as the "GunCon", or the "TaTaCon"), and "Konga" (or "{{wp|Conga}}").


In Japan, the controller is called the TaruKonga (or "TaruConga") controller. The name is a multilayered pun, combining "Taru" (the Japanese word for "barrel"), "Kon", or "Con" (a suffix used by Namco when naming their original peripherals, such as the "GunCon", or the "TaTaCon"), and Konga (or Conga).
Before ''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]''{{'}}s release on the [[Wii]], it was originally developed for the GameCube with the title ''DK Bongo Blast''. It would have been the fifth title to use the DK Bongos (fourth if excluding the Japan-exclusive ''[[Donkey Konga 3]]''). The DK Bongos are also incompatible with ''[[New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat]]'', a port of ''Jungle Beat'' on the Wii.


The DK Bongos are also compatible with the [[Wii]].<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pl%C3%A4ttchen_Twist_'n'_Paint Wikipedia] (Accessed on 5-16-08)</ref>
The DK Bongos are the main feature of [[Konga Beat]], which is [[Donkey Kong]]'s [[Final Smash]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U|Wii U]]''.
{{br}}
====Names in other languages====
{{foreign names
|ChiT=康加鼓<ref name="TCNWiiIwataAsk"/>
|ChiTR=Kāngjiāgǔ
|ChiTM=Konga
}}
{{br}}
{{br}}


===Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter===
===Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter===
[[File:GC Adapter.jpg|thumb|150px|The '''Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter'''.]]
[[File:GC Adapter.jpg|thumb|150px|The Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter]]
{{main|Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter}}
{{main-wiki|NWiki|Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter|NintendoWiki}}
The '''Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter''' is an add-on that allows players to connect their consoles via a local area network for system-to-system multiplayer. The device connects to the Nintendo GameCube by plugging into the bottom of the system. Only a few games are compatible with the adapter, including ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''.
The '''Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter''' is an attachment that allows the console to connect via {{wp|Local area network|LAN}} with another Nintendo GameCube console. A few games can employ this connection for multiplayer purposes, such as ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'' To connect, owners of this device must register their network cards and configure the systems for the DHCP server. Some games can support up to eight consoles connected if each system has its GameCube discs.
{{br}}
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===Game Boy Player===
===Game Boy Player===
[[File:GB Player.jpg|thumb|150px|left|The '''Game Boy Player'''.]]
[[File:GB Player.jpg|thumb|150px|The Game Boy Player]]
{{main|Game Boy Player}}
{{main|Game Boy Player}}
The '''Game Boy Player''' is an add-on peripheral released in 2003 and allowing players to play [[Game Boy]], [[Game Boy Color]], and [[Game Boy Advance]] titles on their television screen through their Nintendo GameCube. The peripheral attaches to the bottom of the system, and requires a special disc in order to play any handheld titles. It is also capable of linking up to Game Boy systems and accessories, including the [[e-Reader]] and [[Game Boy Camera]], and players can connect their Game Boy Advance systems to the Nintendo GameCube by use of the Nintendo GameCube - Game Boy Advance Cable to use their systems as a controller, though some games support the rumble feature included with the standard controller. During gameplay, players can bring up a menu with the {{button|GCN|Z}} button that allows them to scroll through various options, including setting the screen size, changing the border surrounding the game, changing the button mapping for a Nintendo GameCube controller, changing the screen filter, and setting a timer. Players can also select to change the cartridge from this menu without turning off the system.
The '''Game Boy Player''' is an add-on peripheral released in 2003 and allowing players to play [[Game Boy]], [[Game Boy Color]], and [[Game Boy Advance]] titles on their television screen through their Nintendo GameCube. Most ''Super Mario'' games across the three systems are compatible with the Game Boy Player. However, those with tilt functionality, including ''[[Yoshi Topsy-Turvy]]'' and ''[[WarioWare: Twisted!]]'', are prohibitively difficult to play via the Game Boy Player due to the games using gyroscopes built into the cartridges, requiring the player to tilt the GameCube itself. The peripheral attaches to the bottom of the system, and requires a special disc in order to play any handheld titles. It is also capable of linking up to Game Boy systems and accessories, including the [[e-Reader]] and [[Game Boy Camera]], and players can connect their Game Boy Advance systems to the Nintendo GameCube by use of the Nintendo GameCube–Game Boy Advance Cable to use their systems as a controller, though some games support the rumble feature included with the standard controller. During gameplay, players can bring up a menu with the {{button|GCN|Z}} button that allows them to scroll through various options, including setting the screen size, changing the border surrounding the game, changing the button mapping for a Nintendo GameCube controller, changing the screen filter, and setting a timer. Players can also select to change the cartridge from this menu without turning off the system.
{{br}}


==Appearances in [[Mario (series)|''Mario'' games]]==
==Appearances in the ''Super Mario'' franchise==
===''Super Smash Bros. Melee''===
===''Super Smash Bros. Melee''===
The Nintendo GameCube is a trophy in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. It also appears as the only platform for [[Luigi]]'s Target Test.
The Nintendo GameCube in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' appears in one ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]''-related capacity, as a platform for [[Luigi]]'s [[smashwiki:Target Smash!|Target Test]]. Besides this, it is also a [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]], and can be seen in the background of the trophy room along with numerous other Nintendo consoles.


===[[Mario Party (series)|''Mario Party'' series]]===
===''Mario Party'' series===
Though a Nintendo GameCube doesn't actually appear in ''[[Mario Party 4]]'', the [[Party Cube]] is a reference to the GameCube, and the rumble machine in the options screen is clearly based on the system. Additionally, a Nintendo GameCube can be seen inside the shops of ''[[Mario Party 6]]'' and ''[[Mario Party 7]]''.
The Nintendo GameCube has a few minor appearances in the [[Mario Party (series)|''Mario Party'' series]]. The Nintendo GameCube in ''[[Mario Party 4]]'' is referenced in the form of the [[Party Cube]], and the rumble machine in the options screen is clearly based on the system. A Nintendo GameCube in ''[[Mario Party 6]]'' and ''[[Mario Party 7]]'' can be seen inside the [[Orb hut]]s; Additionally, a GameCube can be seen in [[E. Gadd's Garage]] on the bottom-left corner of the board in ''Mario Party 6''.
{{br|left}}


===''Wario World''===
===''Wario World''===
One of [[Wario's Treasures]] in ''[[Wario World]]'' is a Nintendo GameCube, found in a pink chest in [[Pecan Sands]].
[[File:WW GameCube.png|frame|left]]
The Nintendo GameCube in ''[[Wario World]]'' appears as a [[treasure (Wario franchise)|treasure]], and is found in pink chest at [[Pecan Sands]].
{{br|left}}


===''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''===
===''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''===
[[File:NintendoGameCube-ShineSprite-MKDD.png|thumb|right|The console as a battle arena in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]].]]
[[File:NintendoGameCube-ShineSprite-MKDD.png|thumb|The console as a battle arena in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'']]
The [[Nintendo GameCube (battle course)|Nintendo GameCube battle course]] in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'' is just a GameCube. This Nintendo GameCube logo can also appear at the bottom of the word "Mario Kart" on the five pointed star in [[Mario Circuit (GCN)|Mario Circuit]] and [[Sherbet Land (GCN)|Sherbet Land]]. The logo can also be seen on the billboards at [[Mushroom City]].
The Nintendo GameCube in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'' appears in the form of a [[Nintendo GameCube (battle course)|Nintendo GameCube battle course]]. The Nintendo GameCube logo can appear at the bottom of the word "Mario Kart" on the five pointed star in [[GCN Mario Circuit|Mario Circuit]] and [[GCN Sherbet Land|Sherbet Land]], and on the logo seen on the billboards at [[Mushroom City]].
 
===''Paper Mario'' series===
[[File:SPM Francisroomright.png|thumb|left|''Super Paper Mario'']]
The Nintendo GameCube in ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' will have its internal clock mentioned by [[Lucky]], the brown Bulky Bob-omb that runs the [[Happy Lucky Lottery|lottery]] in the west side of [[Rogueport]], if the player attempts to cheat the lottery by changing the time. The [[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch)|Nintendo Switch remake]] has a new badge, Nostalgic Tunes, with the appearance of the Nintendo GameCube, and mentions in its badge description that it changes the soundtrack to the GameCube version of the game.
 
A Nintendo GameCube in ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'' is one of the game consoles that [[Francis]] keeps in his room.
{{br|left}}


===[[Paper Mario (series)|''Paper Mario'' series]]===
===''WarioWare'' series===
In ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'', [[Lucky]], the brown Bulky Bob-omb that runs the [[Happy Lucky Lottery|lottery]] in the west side of [[Rogueport]], will mention the system's internal clock if the player attempts to cheat the lottery by changing the time.
====''WarioWare: Touched!''====
In ''[[WarioWare: Touched!]]'', a Nintendo GameCube can be seen in the [[microgame]] [[Game On]], along with its controller cable and a [[nwiki:Game Disc|Game Disc]], and one of the falling objects during the credit reel is a Nintendo GameCube logo. A Nintendo GameCube is also used by [[9-Volt]] and [[18-Volt]] to play a fictional video game, ''[[36-Volt Man]]''.


In ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'', [[Francis]] owns a GameCube which he keeps in his room with several other game systems.
====''WarioWare: Get It Together!''====
[[File:WWGIT-Nintendo-12.png|thumb|right]]
In ''[[WarioWare: Get It Together!]]'', a Nintendo GameCube appears in Level 1 of the microgame [[WarioWare (microgame)|WarioWare]]. Three GameCubes also can be seen in [[9-Volt]]'s room.


===''Super Mario 64 DS''===
===''Super Mario Galaxy''===
In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', the Nintendo GameCube logo appears in the botton screen minimap of the castle courtyard (the back area with the [[Boo]]s, not the front garden).
The Nintendo GameCube in ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'' has its logo used as a texture on [[Kamella]]'s wand.


===''WarioWare: Touched!''===
===''Yoshi's Woolly World''===
In ''[[WarioWare: Touched!]]'', one of the falling objects during the credit reel is a Nintendo GameCube logo. In the microgame [[Game On]], a Nintendo GameCube, its controller cable and a game disc can be seen.
The Nintendo GameCube in ''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]'', there is a Yoshi design called GameCube Yoshi.


==Hardware specifications==
===''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''===
*MPU ("Microprocessor Unit")*: Custom IBM Power PC "Gekko"
The Nintendo GameCube in ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'' has its startup jingle featured as the ringtone of [[Luigi]]'s phone. On the website [[SMBPlumbing.com]] created to promote the film, clicking on the phone number plays the GameCube startup jingle.
*Manufacturing process: 0.18 micron IBM copper wire technology
*Clock frequency: 485 MHz
*CPU capacity: 1125 Dmips (Dhrystone 2.1)
*Internal data precision : 32-bit Integer & 64-bit floating-point
*External bus: 1.3GB/second peak bandwidth (32-bit address space, 64-bit data bus 162 MHz clock)
*Internal cache L1: instruction 32KB, data 32KB (8 way) L2: 256KB (2 way)
*System LSI: Custom ATI/Nintendo "Flipper"
*Embedded frame buffer: Approx. 2MB sustainable latency : 6.2ns (1T-SRAM)
*Embedded texture cache: Approx. 1MB sustainable latency : 6.2ns (1T-SRAM)
*Texture read bandwidth: 10.4GB/second (Peak)
*Main memory bandwidth: 2.6GB/second (Peak)
*Pixel depth: 256-bit color, 128-bit Z buffer
*Image processing functions: Fog, subpixel anti-aliasing, 8 hardware lights, alpha blending, virtual texture design, multi-texturing, bump mapping, environment mapping, MIP mapping, bilinear filtering, trilinear filtering, anisotropic filtering, real-time hardware texture decompression (S3TC), real-time decompression of display list, HW 3-line deflickering filter.


==Trophy information from ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''==
==Profiles==
{| cellspacing=0 border=1 cellpadding=4 style="border-collapse:collapse;"
===''Super Smash Bros. Melee''===
! width=11% | Type
{{SSBM trophy
!Image
|name=Nintendo GameCube
!Description
|image=[[File:Trophy290.png|100px]]
|-
|game=Nintendo GameCube<br>Hardware
| align=center | '''Nintendo GameCube'''
|unlock=Random
|[[File:Trophy290.PNG|100px]]
|desc=Nintendo's latest bundle of joy arrived in North America on November 18, 2001, and video-game fans rejoiced. This little beauty is sleek, compact and full of cutting-edge technology. Incorporating optical media for the first time, the Nintendo GameCube was truly born to play. Rumor has it that Super Smash Bros. Melee is a software title for this wondrous device.
|align=center | Nintendo GameCube<br>Hardware
|desc2=Nintendo's latest bundle of joy arrived in Europe in May 2002, and video-game fans rejoiced. This little beauty is sleek, compact and full of cutting-edge technology. Incorporating optical media for the first time, the Nintendo GameCube was truly born to play. Rumor has it that Super Smash Bros. Melee is a software title for this wondrous device.
|''Nintendo's latest bundle of joy arrived in North America on November 18, 2001, and video-game fans rejoiced. This little beauty is sleek, compact and full of cutting-edge technology. Incorporating optical media for the first time, the Nintendo GameCube was truly born to play. Rumor has it that Super Smash Bros. Melee is a software title for this wondrous device.''
}}
|}
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Nintendo GameCube logo alternate.svg|Alternate logo
Nintendo GameCube logo monochrome.svg|Monochrome logo
Nintendo GameCube symbol.svg|The logo's symbol
Gamecube Startup Screen redux.png|The startup animation
Gamecube Main Menu.png|The main menu
GCN Memory Card Screen.png|Memory card mangement
Gamecube.jpg|Silver color
Orange Gamecube.jpg|Orange color
Black Gamecube With Controller.jpg|Black color with controller
SpaceWorld 2000 Gamecube Models.jpg|Five color designs of the GameCube, including the unreleased Hot Pink variant
GBA connected GCN.png|How the cable connects to a Game Boy Advance
NintendoGameCubeIcon-MKDD.png|The Nintendo GameCube battle course in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''
SM3DAS Artwork Nintendo GameCube.png|The GameCube icon used to promote ''[[Super Mario 3D All-Stars]]''
Nostalgic Tunes PMTTYDNS icon.png|The Nostalgic Tunes badge in the Nintendo Switch remake of ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch)|Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]''
</gallery>
 
==Media==
{{media table
|file1=GCN Default Boot.oga
|title1=Default boot jingle
|file2=GCN 1Z Boot.oga
|title2=Holding {{button|gcn|z}} on P1 during boot
|file3=GCN 4Z Boot.oga
|title3=Holding {{button|gcn|z}} on all four controllers during boot
|file4=GCN Main Menu.oga
|title4=Main menu
|file5=GCN Main Menu Sped Up.oga
|title5=Main menu (sped up 16x)
|file6=TSMBM GCN Jingle.oga
|title6=Jingle from SMBPlumbing.com website
}}


==Game gallery==
==Game gallery==
Line 119: Line 323:
Dkk.jpg|[[Donkey Konga]]
Dkk.jpg|[[Donkey Konga]]
Dkk2.jpg|[[Donkey Konga 2]]
Dkk2.jpg|[[Donkey Konga 2]]
Donkeykonga3.jpg|[[Donkey Konga 3: Tabehōdai! Haru Mogitate 50 Kyoku|Donkey Konga 3]]
Donkeykonga3.jpg|[[Donkey Konga 3 JP]]
Luigi's Mansion Box.png|[[Luigi's Mansion]]
Luigi's Mansion Box.png|[[Luigi's Mansion]]
ToadstoolTour.PNG|[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]
Mario Golf Toadstool Tour.jpg|[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]
Mk_doubledash.jpg|[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]
Mario Kart Double Dash!!.jpg|[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]
Mpp4.JPG|[[Mario Party 4]]
Mario Party 4 Cover.jpg|[[Mario Party 4]]
MP5BOX.PNG|[[Mario Party 5]]
Mario Party 5 box art.png|[[Mario Party 5]]
MP6_Cover.jpg|[[Mario Party 6]]
MP6 - Box NA.jpg|[[Mario Party 6]]
MP7BOX.PNG|[[Mario Party 7]]
MP7 - Box NA.jpg|[[Mario Party 7]]
MarioPowerTennisBox2.jpg|[[Mario Power Tennis]]
MarioPowerTennisBox2.jpg|[[Mario Power Tennis]]
MarioBaseball.jpg|[[Mario Superstar Baseball]]
MarioBaseball.jpg|[[Mario Superstar Baseball]]
File:NBA Street V3 Cover.jpg|[[NBA Street V3]]
NBA Street V3 Cover.jpg|[[NBA Street V3]]
NPC.jpg|[[Nintendo Puzzle Collection]]
Nintendo Puzzle Collection cover.jpg|[[Nintendo Puzzle Collection]]
PMTTYD.jpg|[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]
PMTTYD.jpg|[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]
File:Ssxontour.jpg|[[SSX on Tour]]
Ssxontour.jpg|[[SSX on Tour]]
SuperMarioStrikers.JPG|[[Super Mario Strikers]]
Super Mario Strikers box.jpg|[[Super Mario Strikers]]
Box NA - Super Mario Sunshine.png|[[Super Mario Sunshine]]
Box NA Super Mario Sunshine.png|[[Super Mario Sunshine]]
Super_Smash_Bros_Melee_Players_Ch.jpg|[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]
SSBM cover art.jpg|[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]
Wario_World_game_cover.jpg|[[Wario World]]
Wario World game cover.jpg|[[Wario World]]
Megapartygames.jpg|[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!]]
Megapartygames.jpg|[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!]]
</gallery></i>
</gallery></i>
''[[Super Paper Mario]]'' and ''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]'' (while under the working title of ''DK Bongo Blast'') were [[Beta elements|originally going to be]] released for the Nintendo GameCube; they were moved to the Wii due to the Nintendo GameCube reaching the end of its lifespan.


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*The GameCube menu music is actually a slowed-down version of the [[Famicom Disk System]] startup tone.
*When the main menu theme is sped up to at least 16 times its normal speed, the theme is revealed to be a much slower version of the [[Family Computer Disk System|Famicom Disk System]] startup fanfare.<ref>{{cite|url=tcrf.net/GameCube#Menu_Music_Reference|title=GameCube Main Menu Music Reference|publisher=The Cutting Room Floor|accessdate=May 12, 2024|author=TCRF contributors}}</ref>
*The DK Bongos are featured in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U]]'' as [[Donkey Kong]]'s [[Final Smash]], [[Konga Beat]].
*The initial edition of the Japanese instruction booklet contained a screenshot showing "Super Mario 2001" with a description of Luigi, Peach, Bowser and Toad joining forces to save the kidnapped Mario from someone. This was made up as an example for showing the Game Play Screen and was replaced in reprints with the screenshot showing ''[[Luigi's Mansion]]''.<ref>{{cite|author=kikai|date=September 22, 2004|title=''「スーパーマリオ2001」って何！？ニンテンドーゲームキューブの説明書に記された謎のタイトルとは''|url=https://www.ndw.jp/gamecube-column-240922/|publisher=NDW|accessdate=October 20, 2024}}</ref>
*The directional pad on the Nintendo GameCube Controller had the same size and shape as the original [[Game Boy Advance]].
*The GameCube is often abbreviated as "GCN", although in reality this would be an incorrect abbreviation as it would stand for "GameCube Nintendo". A correct abbreviation would be "NGC", which is also the Japanese version of the abbreviation.<ref>[[bulbapedia:Nintendo GameCube|Bulbapedia]]</ref>
*The GameCube is currently the latest home console to receive an entry of the ''[[Mario Golf (series)|Mario Golf]]'' series. It was the latest console to receive a game in the series, up until the 2014 release of ''[[Mario Golf: World Tour]]'' for the [[Nintendo 3DS]].


==References==
==References==
{{NIWA|Bulbapedia=1|FZeroWiki=1|FireEmblem=1|LylatWiki=1|MetroidWiki=1|NWiki=1|Nookipedia=1|Pikipedia=1|SmashWiki=1|StarfyWiki=1|StrategyWiki=Category:Nintendo GameCube|WiKirby=1|WikiBound=1|ZeldaWiki=1}}
<references/>
<references/>
{{NIWA|NWiki=1|SmashWiki=1|Bulbapedia=1}}
 
{{boxTop}}
{{GCN}}
{{Consoles}}
{{Systems}}
{{GC}}
[[Category:Systems]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. Trophies]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. Melee trophies]]
[[de:Nintendo GameCube]]
[[de:Nintendo GameCube]]
[[it:Nintendo GameCube]]
[[it:Nintendo GameCube]]

Latest revision as of 05:24, October 20, 2024

This article is about the video game system. For the Battle mode stage in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! of the same name, see Nintendo GameCube (battle course). For the treasure based off the system from Wario World, see List of treasures in Wario World § Pecan Sands.
Not to be confused with Nintendo Cube.
Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube console & controller
Generation Sixth generation
Release date Japan September 14, 2001[1]
USA November 18, 2001[2]
Europe May 3, 2002[3]
Australia May 17, 2002[4]
South Africa November 2002[5]
ROC November 21, 2002[6]
South Korea December 14, 2002[7]
Discontinued Japan October 28, 2007[citation needed]
USA 2007[8]
Europe May 17, 2008[citation needed]
Predecessor Nintendo 64
Successor Wii
“Born to Play.”
—The GameCube slogan
Logo of the GameCube

The Nintendo GameCube, or simply the GameCube, is a home video game console developed by Nintendo and released in late 2001 as the successor to the Nintendo 64. The Nintendo GameCube has six ports on its front: four controller ports (like the Nintendo 64) and two memory card ports. It has three buttons on top: Open, Reset, and Power. On the bottom are two serial ports and one high-speed port for add-on expansions. The Nintendo GameCube was released in five colors: Indigo, Black, Orange (outside America), Silver (since 2003), and Gold, though indigo is the standard color, as shown from its few appearances in the Super Mario franchise and other Nintendo media in general. The system uses proprietary 8-cm Game Discs based on the MiniDVD format that are able to hold up to 1.5 GB (1,459,978,240 bytes), making it the first Nintendo console to use optical discs as the primary storage medium.

During pre-production, the console was codenamed "Project Dolphin," a name alluded to in several early Nintendo GameCube games, such as Super Mario Sunshine, where its main setting, Isle Delfino, is shaped like a dolphin. Since Super Mario Sunshine did not release alongside the Nintendo GameCube at launch, the Nintendo GameCube is the first Nintendo home console since the Family Computer to not have a game from the Super Mario series as a launch title.

In Japan, the GameCube is abbreviated as both "NGC" and "GC," as "NGC" is also an abbreviation used by the Japanese electronics company NGC Corporation.[9] In Western regions, the GameCube is abbreviated as "GCN," notably for classic courses in the Mario Kart games, because the abbreviation "NGC" is trademarked by the National Geographic Channel.

The GameCube is Nintendo's first home console to support digital audio and video output, albeit through analog component cables; this feature was also used to display standard definition video through progressive scanning rather than conventional interlacing. Progressive scan is also supported when playing GameCube games on a Wii through component cables. All but two games related to the Super Mario franchise for the GameCube support progressive scan, which can be enabled by holding down B Button while booting up a game; the sole exceptions are NBA Street V3 and WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!

The GameCube is also Nintendo's first home console to be distributed in South Korea without the aid of Hyundai Electronics, who sold rebranded versions of the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy as the Comboy line of products; instead, the GameCube and its titles were distributed through Daewon Media, who also handled the South Korean releases of the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. Only 27 titles were officially released in the region, including Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Mario Party 4, Mario Party 5, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Smash Bros. Melee.[10]

In 2006, the Nintendo GameCube was succeeded by the Wii. The original version of the Wii is mostly compatible with Nintendo GameCube hardware and software. Like the Nintendo GameCube, the Wii has four controller ports and two memory card slots that support all controllers and accessories, like the dance mat and microphone, though it does not support add-ons that attach to the console, like the Game Boy Player. Later revisions of the Wii, such as the Wii Family Edition and Wii Mini, would remove Nintendo GameCube support. The Wii U and Nintendo Switch are also not compatible with any Nintendo GameCube games, but Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and most Nintendo Switch games are compatible with the controllers through a special adapter. The GameCube controller is compatible with more consoles than any other Nintendo controller, with a total of four: GameCube, Wii, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch (as of its 4.0.0 update).

Accessories and peripherals[edit]

Nintendo GameCube Controller[edit]

NintendoWiki article: Nintendo GameCube Controller
A Nintendo GameCube controller
An indigo Nintendo GameCube Controller

The Nintendo GameCube Controller is the system's standard controller. In addition to standard A Button, B Button, and START/PAUSE Button buttons and a Control Stick control stick, the Nintendo GameCube is the first Nintendo system to include a second analog stick known as the C Stick C-Stick, located on the bottom right side of the controller. This analog stick replaces the C-buttons found on a Nintendo 64 controller. The controller features analog triggers L Button R Button on the left and right sides of its back, and a single small shoulder button Z Button on the right. The controller features a built-in rumble motor, carried over from the Nintendo 64's Rumble Pak accessory. Unlike the Nintendo 64 controller, the GameCube Controller features X Button and Y Button buttons, as well as only two grips instead of three. The +Control Pad directional pad on the Nintendo GameCube Controller has the same size and shape as the directional pad on the original Game Boy Advance.

WaveBird Wireless Controller for the Nintendo GameCube
A Wireless Version of the controller

A wireless variant of the Nintendo GameCube controller, known as the WaveBird Wireless Controller, was released in 2002. It connects to the system via a radio sensor that plugs into one of the system's controller ports. However, the WaveBird does not support the rumble feature that the standard controllers have.

A LodgeNet GameCube Controller

Another variant, as part of the LodgeNet service, was exclusive to hotels.[11]

The Nintendo GameCube controller can also be used to play several Wii titles, including Mario Kart Wii and Super Smash Bros. Brawl as well as most Virtual Console titles. In addition, through use of the GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U, the controller can be used to play Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The accessory was released alongside an official Super Smash Bros.-themed GameCube controller. As of update 4.0.0, the GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U and the controller itself can be used on the Nintendo Switch, the latter of which is treated as a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller except within certain games that specifically detect it; unlike on the Wii U, however, the controller can be used in all Switch games.

Memory Card[edit]

NintendoWiki article: Memory card
Nintendo GameCube memory card
A 1019-block memory card

The Nintendo GameCube used proprietary memory cards to save data for games, and had no internal memory, making the GameCube the first (and as of May 2024 the only) Nintendo console that required memory cards to save game data. Nintendo released three color variants, each of which contain varying block capacities (one block on GameCube memory cards being 8 KB):

  • Gray - 59 blocks (0.47 MB)
  • Black - 251 blocks (2.0 MB)
  • White - 1,019 blocks (8.1 MB)

Games played without a memory card inserted act as if they were being played for the first time, and data cannot be saved. The Nintendo GameCube and the Nintendo Wii have two slots for GameCube memory cards, allowing content from one card to be copied to another card.

The boxes for GameCube games have memory card holders inside which can be used to place a memory card along with the Game Disc.

Below is a list of the different Super Mario games and their respective block size, and conversion to kilobytes.


Game
Blocks
Kilobytes (KB)
Super Mario Sunshine 7 56
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$! 4 32
Mario Party 6 5 40
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! 8 64
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (each Time Trial ghost) 5 40
Super Mario Strikers 5 40
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door 17 136
Mario Party 7 6 48
Mario Power Tennis 3 24
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour 13 104
Donkey Konga 3 JP 5 40
Wario World 10 80
Nintendo Puzzle Collection 6 48
Mario Party 4 2 16
Mario Party 5 5 40
Luigi's Mansion 3 24
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix 2 16
Mario Superstar Baseball 10 80
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat 3 24
SSX on Tour 59[12] 472
NBA Street V3 15 120

Nintendo GameCube–Game Boy Advance Link Cable[edit]

NintendoWiki article: Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance Cable
GCN-GBA Cable
The cable

The Nintendo GameCube–Game Boy Advance Link Cable allows for a Game Boy Advance to be connected to the Nintendo GameCube, similar to the Transfer Pak released for the Nintendo 64. The cable can be used in numerous GameCube games to unlock special content, such as Wario World, which utilizes the cable for sending microgames from WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! to the Game Boy Advance. The cable is also compatible with the Game Boy Player, with which the Game Boy Advance can be used as a controller for Game Boy Advance games being played on the GameCube.

The following games involve compatibility with a game from the Super Mario franchise:

GameCube game Game Boy Advance game Features
Game Boy Player N/A The GBA can be used as the controller instead of the GameCube controller.
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour Mario Golf: Advance Tour Unlocks new content and transfers game progress.
Mario Kart Double Dash!! Bonus Disc Fire Emblem Unlocks exclusive items that can be obtained only from the bonus disc. Also unlocks the soundtracks 99 & 100.
The GBA link option is absent in the European version of Fire Emblem, since the Bonus Disc was not released in Europe.
Nintendo GameCube Preview Disc N/A Used to play downloadable games WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! and Dr. Mario.
Nintendo Puzzle Collection N/A Used as a controller. Can also be used to download the NES versions of Dr. Mario and Yoshi's Cookie to the GBA, along with a GBA port of Panel de Pon.
Wario World N/A Sends a demo version of WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! to the GBA.
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$! N/A The GBA can be used as the controller instead of the GameCube controller.

Nintendo GameCube Action Pad[edit]

The second version of the Nintendo GameCube Action Pad

The Nintendo GameCube Action Pad is a dance pad controller released by Konami and packaged with Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, the only game it is compatible with on the system. The pad only features eight buttons: the directional inputs, the A Button and B Button buttons next to the up button, and the Z Button and START/PAUSE Button buttons on the top corners of the pad. Two versions of the pad were released.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Chinese (traditional) 跳舞墊[13]
Tiàowǔ Diàn 		Dancing Mat

Nintendo GameCube Microphone[edit]

NintendoWiki article: Nintendo GameCube Microphone
The microphone plugged into a Nintendo GameCube

The Nintendo GameCube Microphone is a special accessory used for Nintendo GameCube games on the GameCube or a backwards-compatible Wii. It is unusual in that it is plugged into a Memory Card slot rather than a controller slot. It has been used in Mario Party 6 and Mario Party 7 as a tool for playing Mic minigames and making Mic Spaces functional. As the Mic was intended to be used specifically with the GameCube, it is not compatible with any Wii games.

DK Bongos[edit]

A pair of DK Bongos
A pair of DK Bongos

The DK Bongos are bongo-shaped GameCube controllers primarily intended for use with the Donkey Konga series and Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. The controller is symmetrical, and each side is shaped like Barrel with a rubber drum skin fastened on top. It has a Start/Pause button in the center, along with the "DK" logo. DK Bongos even have a built-in microphone to detect clapping (although hitting the sides of it also functions). Each Barrel represents left or right on the GameCube's directional stick, based on how Donkey Kong moves left and right in Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. The DK Bongos are backward-compatible from the GameCube controller ports of the Wii. They are also usable from the GameCube Controller Adapter for the Wii U and Nintendo Switch.

In Japan, the controller is called the 「タルコンガ」TaruKonga (or "TaruConga") controller. The name is a multilayered pun, combining taru (the Japanese word for "barrel"), kon, or "con" (a suffix used by Namco when naming their original peripherals, such as the "GunCon", or the "TaTaCon"), and "Konga" (or "Conga").

Before Donkey Kong Barrel Blast's release on the Wii, it was originally developed for the GameCube with the title DK Bongo Blast. It would have been the fifth title to use the DK Bongos (fourth if excluding the Japan-exclusive Donkey Konga 3). The DK Bongos are also incompatible with New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, a port of Jungle Beat on the Wii.

The DK Bongos are the main feature of Konga Beat, which is Donkey Kong's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Chinese (traditional) 康加鼓[13]
Kāngjiāgǔ 		Konga

Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter[edit]

The Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter
NintendoWiki article: Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter

The Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter is an attachment that allows the console to connect via LAN with another Nintendo GameCube console. A few games can employ this connection for multiplayer purposes, such as Mario Kart: Double Dash!! To connect, owners of this device must register their network cards and configure the systems for the DHCP server. Some games can support up to eight consoles connected if each system has its GameCube discs.

Game Boy Player[edit]

Nintendo GameCube being attached to Game Boy Player.
The Game Boy Player
Main article: Game Boy Player

The Game Boy Player is an add-on peripheral released in 2003 and allowing players to play Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance titles on their television screen through their Nintendo GameCube. Most Super Mario games across the three systems are compatible with the Game Boy Player. However, those with tilt functionality, including Yoshi Topsy-Turvy and WarioWare: Twisted!, are prohibitively difficult to play via the Game Boy Player due to the games using gyroscopes built into the cartridges, requiring the player to tilt the GameCube itself. The peripheral attaches to the bottom of the system, and requires a special disc in order to play any handheld titles. It is also capable of linking up to Game Boy systems and accessories, including the e-Reader and Game Boy Camera, and players can connect their Game Boy Advance systems to the Nintendo GameCube by use of the Nintendo GameCube–Game Boy Advance Cable to use their systems as a controller, though some games support the rumble feature included with the standard controller. During gameplay, players can bring up a menu with the Z Button button that allows them to scroll through various options, including setting the screen size, changing the border surrounding the game, changing the button mapping for a Nintendo GameCube controller, changing the screen filter, and setting a timer. Players can also select to change the cartridge from this menu without turning off the system.

Appearances in the Super Mario franchise[edit]

Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]

The Nintendo GameCube in Super Smash Bros. Melee appears in one Super Mario-related capacity, as a platform for Luigi's Target Test. Besides this, it is also a trophy, and can be seen in the background of the trophy room along with numerous other Nintendo consoles.

Mario Party series[edit]

The Nintendo GameCube has a few minor appearances in the Mario Party series. The Nintendo GameCube in Mario Party 4 is referenced in the form of the Party Cube, and the rumble machine in the options screen is clearly based on the system. A Nintendo GameCube in Mario Party 6 and Mario Party 7 can be seen inside the Orb huts; Additionally, a GameCube can be seen in E. Gadd's Garage on the bottom-left corner of the board in Mario Party 6.

Wario World[edit]

The Nintendo GameCube treasure from Wario World

The Nintendo GameCube in Wario World appears as a treasure, and is found in pink chest at Pecan Sands.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!![edit]

A Shine Thief battle at Nintendo GameCube.
The console as a battle arena in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

The Nintendo GameCube in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! appears in the form of a Nintendo GameCube battle course. The Nintendo GameCube logo can appear at the bottom of the word "Mario Kart" on the five pointed star in Mario Circuit and Sherbet Land, and on the logo seen on the billboards at Mushroom City.

Paper Mario series[edit]

Super Paper Mario

The Nintendo GameCube in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door will have its internal clock mentioned by Lucky, the brown Bulky Bob-omb that runs the lottery in the west side of Rogueport, if the player attempts to cheat the lottery by changing the time. The Nintendo Switch remake has a new badge, Nostalgic Tunes, with the appearance of the Nintendo GameCube, and mentions in its badge description that it changes the soundtrack to the GameCube version of the game.

A Nintendo GameCube in Super Paper Mario is one of the game consoles that Francis keeps in his room.

WarioWare series[edit]

WarioWare: Touched![edit]

In WarioWare: Touched!, a Nintendo GameCube can be seen in the microgame Game On, along with its controller cable and a Game Disc, and one of the falling objects during the credit reel is a Nintendo GameCube logo. A Nintendo GameCube is also used by 9-Volt and 18-Volt to play a fictional video game, 36-Volt Man.

WarioWare: Get It Together![edit]

WarioWare (microgame)

In WarioWare: Get It Together!, a Nintendo GameCube appears in Level 1 of the microgame WarioWare. Three GameCubes also can be seen in 9-Volt's room.

Super Mario Galaxy[edit]

The Nintendo GameCube in Super Mario Galaxy has its logo used as a texture on Kamella's wand.

Yoshi's Woolly World[edit]

The Nintendo GameCube in Yoshi's Woolly World, there is a Yoshi design called GameCube Yoshi.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]

The Nintendo GameCube in The Super Mario Bros. Movie has its startup jingle featured as the ringtone of Luigi's phone. On the website SMBPlumbing.com created to promote the film, clicking on the phone number plays the GameCube startup jingle.

Profiles[edit]

Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]

Trophy
Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
Game/move:
Nintendo GameCube
Hardware
How to unlock: Random
Nintendo's latest bundle of joy arrived in North America on November 18, 2001, and video-game fans rejoiced. This little beauty is sleek, compact and full of cutting-edge technology. Incorporating optical media for the first time, the Nintendo GameCube was truly born to play. Rumor has it that Super Smash Bros. Melee is a software title for this wondrous device. (American English)
Nintendo's latest bundle of joy arrived in Europe in May 2002, and video-game fans rejoiced. This little beauty is sleek, compact and full of cutting-edge technology. Incorporating optical media for the first time, the Nintendo GameCube was truly born to play. Rumor has it that Super Smash Bros. Melee is a software title for this wondrous device. (British English)

Gallery[edit]

  • Alternate logo

    Alternate logo

  • Monochrome logo

    Monochrome logo

  • The logo's symbol

    The logo's symbol

  • The startup animation

    The startup animation

  • The main menu

    The main menu

  • Memory card mangement

    Memory card mangement

  • Silver color

    Silver color

  • Orange color

    Orange color

  • Black color with controller

    Black color with controller

  • Five color designs of the GameCube, including the unreleased Hot Pink variant

    Five color designs of the GameCube, including the unreleased Hot Pink variant

  • How the cable connects to a Game Boy Advance

    How the cable connects to a Game Boy Advance

  • The Nintendo GameCube battle course in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

    The Nintendo GameCube battle course in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

  • The GameCube icon used to promote Super Mario 3D All-Stars

    The GameCube icon used to promote Super Mario 3D All-Stars

  • The Nostalgic Tunes badge in the Nintendo Switch remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

    The Nostalgic Tunes badge in the Nintendo Switch remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Media[edit]

Audio.svg Default boot jingle
File infoMedia:GCN Default Boot.oga
​
Audio.svg Holding Z Button on P1 during boot
File infoMedia:GCN 1Z Boot.oga
​
Audio.svg Holding Z Button on all four controllers during boot
File infoMedia:GCN 4Z Boot.oga
​
Audio.svg Main menu
File infoMedia:GCN Main Menu.oga
​
Audio.svg Main menu (sped up 16x)
File infoMedia:GCN Main Menu Sped Up.oga
​
Audio.svg Jingle from SMBPlumbing.com website
File infoMedia:TSMBM GCN Jingle.oga
​
Help:Media • Having trouble playing?

Game gallery[edit]

Trivia[edit]

  • When the main menu theme is sped up to at least 16 times its normal speed, the theme is revealed to be a much slower version of the Famicom Disk System startup fanfare.[14]
  • The initial edition of the Japanese instruction booklet contained a screenshot showing "Super Mario 2001" with a description of Luigi, Peach, Bowser and Toad joining forces to save the kidnapped Mario from someone. This was made up as an example for showing the Game Play Screen and was replaced in reprints with the screenshot showing Luigi's Mansion.[15]

References[edit]

Nintendo GameCube coverage on other NIWA wikis:
  1. ^ September 14, 2001. GameCube launches in Japan. BBC News. Retrieved July 1, 2024. (Archived January 17, 2015, 05:43:16 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  2. ^ David Becker (August 23, 2001). Nintendo delays U.S. launch of GameCube. CNET News. Retrieved July 1, 2024. (Archived April 2, 2015, 10:52:11 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  3. ^ May 2, 2002. GameCube gets midnight launch. BBC News (English). Retrieved July 1, 2024. (Archived May 2, 2014, 21:18:11 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  4. ^ Nadia Cameron (May 20, 2002). GameCube launch rounds out console troika. PC World Australia. Retrieved July 1, 2024. (Archived April 10, 2022, 23:48:18 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  5. ^ Rogers, Joshua Alexander (April 16, 2020). Video Games around the World. LinkedIn. Retrieved March 23, 2024. (Archived September 25, 2022, 15:36:58 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  6. ^ Il GameCube arriva a Taiwan. multiplayer.it (Italian). Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  7. ^ Emerald Blue GameCube Controller. The GCC Library. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  8. ^ Parfitt, Ben (February 22, 2007). Nintendo ends GameCube support. Archived October 2, 2012, 17:03:42 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  9. ^ Company Profile. NGC (Japanese). Archived September 22, 2020, 16:48:37 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  10. ^ Dentifritz. Gamecube : Korean Master-List !. Scanlines16.com (English). Retrieved January 5, 2024. (Archived via archive.today.)
  11. ^ Nintendrew (August 15, 2018). LodgeNet Game Controllers - Nintendo's Hotel Rental Service!. YouTube. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  12. ^ The PAL and JP releases instead state 7 blocks. The reason for this discrepancy is not yet known.
  13. ^ a b 社長提問 Ｗｉｉ 企劃 - Vol.2 Ｗｉｉ 遙控器篇. Nintendo HK. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  14. ^ TCRF contributors. GameCube Main Menu Music Reference. The Cutting Room Floor. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  15. ^ kikai (September 22, 2004). 「スーパーマリオ2001」って何！？ニンテンドーゲームキューブの説明書に記された謎のタイトルとは. NDW. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
[Edit]
Nintendo GameCube games
Super Mario franchise Luigi's Mansion (2001) • Super Mario Sunshine (2002) • Mario Party 4 (2002) • Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (2003) • Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003) • Mario Party 5 (2003) • Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004) • Mario Power Tennis (2004) • Mario Party 6 (2004) • Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix (2005) • Mario Superstar Baseball (2005) • Mario Party 7 (2005) • Super Mario Strikers (2005)
Donkey Kong franchise Donkey Konga (2003) • Donkey Konga 2 (2004) • Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (2004) • Donkey Konga 3 JP (2005)
Wario franchise Wario World (2003) • WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$! (2003)
Other Super Mario 128 (2000, demo) • Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) • Nintendo Puzzle Collection (2003) • NBA Street V3 (2005) • SSX on Tour (Nintendo Village) (2005) • Donkey Kong Racing (cancelled) • Diddy Kong Racing Adventure (cancelled)
[Edit]
Video game systems and add-ons
Nintendo home consoles Family Computer/Nintendo Entertainment System (Family BASIC, Family Computer Disk System) • Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Satellaview, Super Game Boy) • Nintendo 64 (Nintendo 64DD) • Nintendo GameCube (Game Boy Player) • Wii (Virtual Console, WiiWare) • Wii U (Virtual Console) • Nintendo Switch
Nintendo handhelds Game & Watch • Game Boy • Virtual Boy • Game Boy Color • Game Boy Advance • Nintendo DS (Nintendo DSi, DSiWare) • Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console) • Nintendo Switch
Other MS-DOS • VS. System • Nintendo PlayChoice-10 • Nintendo Super System • Nelsonic Game Watch • Super Mario Bros. Watch • Gamewatch Boy • Philips CD-i • Mini Classics • Triforce • Visteon Dockable Entertainment System • Classics • LodgeNet • Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo
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