Editing GameCube emulators

{{Infobox console
|title = Nintendo GameCube
|logo = GameCube-logo.png
|image = GameCube-Console-Set.png
|developer = [[:Nintendo]]
|type = [[:Category:Home consoles|Home video game console]]
|generation = [[:Category:Sixth-generation video game consoles|Sixth generation]]
|release = 2001
|discontinued = 2007
|predecessor = [[Nintendo 64 emulators|Nintendo 64]]
|successor = [[Wii emulators|Wii]]
|emulated = {{✓}}
}}

{{for|emulators that run on the Nintendo GameCube|Emulators on GameCube}} 

The '''[[gametech:Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]''' ('''GCN'''/'''NGC''') is a 32-bit, sixth-generation console released by [[wikipedia:Nintendo|Nintendo]] on November 18, 2001, for {{inflation|USD|199|2001}}. It has an IBM PowerPC Gekko CPU at 486 MHz with a ATI Flipper GPU. Nintendo, Namco, and Sega later designed the '''[https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=Triforce Triforce]''' arcade board based on the GameCube, releasing titles for it the following year. Unlike [[PlayStation_2_emulators#Hardware_Features_and_Accessories|PlayStation 2]] or [[Xbox_emulators#Hardware_features_and_peripherals|Xbox]] DVD playback support, the GameCube didn't have playback support for [https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=249677 mini-DVD movies]. However, a special version of the GameCube that could play DVD-Video, audio CDs and VCDs was released by Nintendo and Panasonic, called the [[#Hardware_variants|Panasonic Q]].

Nintendo released the successor, the [[Wii emulators|Wii]], in 2006, which was revealed to have very similar (albeit more powerful) hardware and compatible interfaces. This meant the Wii could run GameCube games natively rather than via emulation. While this was removed in later revisions, as well as the vWii mode in the Wii U, the hardware is still similar enough that GameCube games can be run via certain homebrew programs, most namely [[Nintendont]].

==Emulators==
<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"
! scope="col"|Name
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! scope="col"|[[#Hardware_variants|Hardware<br/>variants]]
! scope="col"|[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]
! scope="col"|[[#Hardware_features_and_peripherals|Hardware features<br/>and peripherals]]
! scope="col"|Compatibility
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>
! scope="col"|Active
! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]
|-
!colspan="11"|PC / x86
|-
| [[Dolphin]]
| align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
| [https://dolphin-emu.org/download/#download-dev Dev]<ref group=N name=dolphinstable>The stable versions are years out-of-date and missing countless features and bug fixes. '''Beta or development versions are a better choice for almost all users'''; the stable versions should only be used if you have a specific need for them.</ref><br/>[https://dolphin-emu.org/download/#download-beta Beta]<ref group=N name=dolphinstable></ref><br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ ''libretro core'']<ref group=N name=DolphinRA>Dolphin libretro core is currently at Alpha release and has bugs that are not present on standalone Dolphin. Similar to PPSSPP, Citra and melonDS libretro cores, the standalone version of Dolphin is highly recommended over the libretro core as the libretro core version is outdated and can be slow and unstable.</ref>
|{{~}}<ref group=N name=triforce>No support for Panasonic Q variant. Efforts to add Triforce emulation to Dolphin have stagnated at the upstream level, and current support requires a third-party fork. See [[#Triforce]] section for further details.</ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||[https://dolphin-emu.org/compat/ 97%] ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
|[[Ishiiruka-Dolphin]] (いし海豚)
| align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
| [https://forums.dolphin-emu.org/Thread-unofficial-ishiiruka-dolphin-custom-version Dev]
|{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}
|-
| [https://github.com/emu-russia/pureikyubu Pureikyubu] (PlayCube)
| align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
| [https://github.com/emu-russia/pureikyubu/releases {{PureikyubuVer}}]
|{{✗}} ||{{~}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{~}} ||{{✗}} <small>(WIP)</small>
|-
| [[Dolphin (Nintendo)|Dolphin <small>(Nintendo)</small>]]
| align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
| [http://www.emuparadise.me/sdk/Installers/Nintendo/GameCube/NINTENDO%20GameCube%20PC%20Dolphin%20Emulator%20e2.8%20(Installer).7z e2.8]
|{{✗}} ||{{?}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
!colspan="11"|Mobile / ARM
|-
| [[Dolphin]]
| align=left|{{Icon|Android|Linux}}
| [https://dolphin-emu.org/download/list/master Dev]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<ref group=N name=DolphinRA></ref>
|{{~}}<ref group=N name=triforce /> ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||[https://dolphin-emu.org/compat/ 97%] ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
| DolphiniOS
| align=left|{{Icon|iOS}}
| [https://dolphinios.oatmealdome.me Release]<br/>[https://dolphinios.oatmealdome.me/beta Beta]
|{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
| [[Dolphin MMJR|Dolphin MMJR]]<sup>&Dagger;</sup>
| align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
| <strike>[https://github.com/Bankaimaster999/Dolphin-MMJR git]</strike><sup>&Dagger;</sup>
|{{✗}} || ? ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|-
!colspan="11"|Consoles
|-
| Hagi
| align=left|{{Icon|NX}}
| Patch-based
|{{✗}} ||? ||{{✗}} ||<small>[[Official_emulators#GameCube_.2F_Wii|Only for selected titles]]</small> ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
| Dolphin
| align=left|{{Icon|XB1|XboxSXS}}
| [https://github.com/SirMangler/dolphin/releases 1.1.5]<ref group=N>Use these builds until [https://github.com/dolphin-emu/dolphin/pull/11339 this PR merge].</ref><br />[https://buildbot.libretro.com/stable/1.14.0/windows-msvc2019-uwp/x64/ libretro core]<ref group=N name=DolphinRA></ref>
|{{✗}}||{{✓}} ||{{Y}} ||[https://dolphin-emu.org/compat/ 97%] ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|}
</div>

==Compatibility layers [[Compatibility layers|(...)]]==
<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"
! scope="col"|Name
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! scope="col"|[[#Hardware_variants|Hardware<br/>variants]]
! scope="col"|[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]
! scope="col"|[[#Hardware_features_and_peripherals|Hardware features<br/>and peripherals]]
! scope="col"|Compatibility
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>
! scope="col"|Active
! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]
|-
!colspan="11"|Consoles
|-
|[[Nintendont]] (任天堂NT)
| align=left|{{Icon|WiiU|Wii}}<ref group=N>Works on Wii U via its [[Wii_emulators#Native|Wii Mode]].</ref>
| [https://github.com/FIX94/Nintendont git]
|{{~}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}} ||[https://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/Nintendont_Compatibility_List 99%]<br/><small>1020 out of 1024 reported titles</small> ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|-
| DIOS MIOS (Lite)
| align=left|{{Icon|Wii}}
| [https://code.google.com/archive/p/diosmios/ 2.11]
|{{✗}} ||{{?}} ||{{✗}} ||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
|}
</div>
==Native==
<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"
! scope="col"|Name
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
! scope="col"|Latest version
! scope="col"|[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]
! scope="col"|[[#Hardware_features_and peripherals|Hardware features<br/>and peripherals]]
! scope="col"|Compatibility
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>
! scope="col"|Active
! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]
|-
!colspan="11"|Consoles
|-
|-
| [[Wii_emulators#Hardware_features_and_peripherals|Wii Backwards Compatibility]]
| align=left|{{Icon|Wii}}
| 
| {{?}}
| {{✓}}
| No documented issues
| {{✗}}
| {{✗}}
| {{✓}}
|}
<references group=N />

==Comparisons==
;Emulators
:;[[Dolphin]]: The emulator of choice for the GameCube and the first Wii emulator. It's updated on a near-daily basis and has very good emulation of almost every game, though some games have known bugs on their issue trackers. It is the first emulator to [https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/2016/09/06/booting-the-final-gc-game/ boot the full game catalog of a sixth-generation home console] (Before any emulator for the same generation rivals like the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, and Xbox) and did so on September 2016. The developers maintain a wiki containing known bugs, tips, user-provided tests, and much more for every game.

:;[[Ishiiruka-Dolphin]]: A fork of Dolphin optimized towards performance at the cost of accuracy and stability in the process.

:;Pureikyubu: An open-source Nintendo GameCube emulator which initially started development under the name Dolwin in 2004; it could boot and run some commercial games and demos. Nowadays, Pureikyubu is designed to be a research emulator for developers, with accuracy being a priority.

:;[[Dolphin (Nintendo)]]: Nintendo made an emulator for Windows that was also called Dolphin. This official program does not run commercial games and has no connection to the open-source project.

:;Hagi: An [[Official emulators|official]] GameCube/Wii emulator developed by Nintendo European Research & Development (NERD). Hagi has been used primarily for re-releases [[Emulators on Switch|on the Switch]], such as ''Super Mario Sunshine'', ''Super Mario Galaxy'', ''Pikmin'', and ''Pikmin 2''.

;Compatibility layers
:;[[Nintendont]]: While not technically an emulator, Nintendont is a [[compatibility layer]] that allows you to play GameCube games on the Wii and even the Wii U. It's compatible with nearly all GameCube titles (and Triforce games, too) and supports extra features such as memory card emulation along with support for additional controller input options such as the USB GameCube controller adapter, Classic Controller Pro, Wii U Pro Controller, and even the Wii U GamePad.

:;DIOS MIOS (Lite): Another compatibility layer for the Wii (but NOT Wii U) that allows you to play GameCube games. The main version allows users to load games off of a USB device, while the "Lite" version loads games from an SD card. Nintendont serves as a direct successor to this project, making DIOS MIOS entirely obsolete.

==Hardware features and peripherals==
<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;width:100%"
|- style="font-weight:bold;"
! Name
! Dolphin
! Nintendont
! DolphiniOS
! Dolphin MMJR
|-
| [[#Main_Menu|Main Menu]]
| {{Y}}
| {{Y}}[https://old.reddit.com/r/WiiHacks/comments/lq4f8e/how_to_put_the_gamecube_intro_into_nintendont/ *]
| {{N}}
| {{N}}
|-
| [[#GC/GBA Cable|GC/GBA Cable]]
| {{✓}}
| {{~}}<ref group=N2>Nintendont includes support for the GBA link cable hardware, but only on the original Wii (model RVL-001).</ref>
| {{✗}}
| {{✗}}
|-
| [https://www.mobygames.com/attributes/attribute/206/ Dolby Surround as Dolby Pro Logic II]
| {{y}}[https://github.com/dolphin-emu/dolphin/pull/5235 *]
| {{y}}
| {{?}}
| {{?}}
|-
| [[Early_Online_Services#Broadband_Adapter_.28Gamecube.29|Broadband Adapter]]
| {{✓}}
| {{✓}}
| {{✗}}
| {{✗}}
|-
| [[Early_Online_Services#The_GameCube_Modem_Adapter_.28Gamecube.29|Modem Adapter]]
| {{✓}}[https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/2024/04/30/dolphin-progress-report-february-march-and-april-2024/#50-21253-implement-modem-adapter-by-fuzziqersoftware *]
| {{?}}
| {{?}}
| {{?}}
|-
| [[#Microphone|Microphone]]
| {{✓}}
| {{~}}
| {{✗}}
| {{✗}}
|-
| [[#Bongos|Bongos]]
| {{✓}}
| {{~}}
| {{✗}}
| {{✗}}
|-
| [[#GameCube Game Disc|GameCube Game Disc]]
| {{N}}
| {{?}}
| {{?}}
| {{?}}
|-
| [[#Game Boy Player|Game Boy Player]]
| {{✗}}
| {{✗}}
| {{✗}}
| {{✗}}
|-
| [[List_of_games_with_keyboard_and_mouse_support#Nintendo_GameCube_Emulation|ASCII Keyboard]]
| {{?}}
| {{?}}
| {{?}}
| {{?}}
|}
</div>
<references group=N2/>
===[https://tcrf.net/GameCube Main Menu]===
Initial Program Loader (IPL) of the GameCube and its top level interface, allowing the player to load discs, change settings, and manage up to two memory cards at once.

:To boot the GameCube's BIOS and IPL, you need a dump from real hardware. Dolphin does not require it to load games but can be set to use it if desired. Current development builds have introduced a feature allowing users to load the BIOS directly from the interface in the Tools list without needing to load a game. If you're on the current stable release, use XFB Virtual and disable "Skip BIOS" in the GameCube options. You will have to load a GameCube title so that the startup animation begins, and like on the original console, you hold the first controller's A-button down and the system will send you to the main menu instead of booting the game. You can then switch to another game with Change Disc, or you can explore the BIOS.

===GameCube Game Disc===
The GameCube Game Disc (DOL-006) is the game medium for the GameCube, created by Matsushita/Panasonic, one of the ten founders of the DVD Forum, and later extended for use in the backward compatibility mode of the first model of Wii. The GameCube is Nintendo's first optical disc console, after mainly ROM cartridge based platforms. The GameCube Game Disc is a 1.46 GB, 8 cm miniDVD-based technology which reads at a constant angular velocity (CAV). It was chosen by Nintendo to prevent copyright infringement of its games, to reduce manufacturing costs compared to Nintendo 64 Game Paks, and to avoid licensing fees to the DVD Forum. GameCube Game Discs do not use the Content Scramble System found on normal DVD-Video discs, as Nintendo was not satisfied with its level of security.

The GameCube is not able to be used as a general DVD player, except for the [[#Panasonic_Q|Panasonic Q]] which is a uniquely customized GameCube with DVD capability that was released only in Japan.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_optical_discs#GameCube_Game_Disc]

*Dolphin has support for GameCube Game Disc dumps/[[Save_disk_space_for_ISOs#GameCube_.2F_Wii|images]]. But unfortunately most regular optical drives for PCs are unable to read Gamecube & Wii discs, so you need to rip your discs. However you can use some out-of-print models of DVD drives which may read GC and Wii discs but even then you'll need a compatible software tool to dump it. See [[Ripping_games]] page for more information.
*See [[Home_Media_Player#Emulators|this dedicated page]] for more information about home media playback support for emulation softwares.
*See [[Ripping_games]].

===GC/GBA Cable===
Nintendo produced a [[Wikipedia:Nintendo GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable|special cable]] (<code>DOL-011</code>) that allowed connectivity with the [[Game Boy Advance emulators|Game Boy Advance]] in [https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Game_Boy_Advance_to_Nintendo_GameCube_Link_Cable#List_of_Supported_Games '''specific games''']. Up to four ports could be taken up for the game. While the third-generation Pokémon games are the prime example of it being used in conjunction with Colosseum, XD, or Pokémon Box, they aren't the only games to do so.<ref>[https://old.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/16ethk2/i_think_ive_reached_the_limits_of_what_dolphin/k00l1d8/ GBE+ Dev Shonumi's comment about GCN<->GBA connection].</ref>

Dolphin includes a GBA core based on [[mGBA]] that is tied to GameCube emulation, allowing for a very stable connection that works with features such as save states and netplay. Dolphin can also connect to standalone versions of mGBA or [[VisualBoyAdvance-M]]; this is necessary for some less commonly used features or cases where the GBA has to be disconnected from the GameCube. Both can be enabled by going into the controller settings and assigning the GBA to one or more ports. The general config menu also allows you to specify a GBA ROM to be used if using the built-in GBA core.

Nintendont includes support for the GBA link cable hardware, but only through the GC controller ports on the original Wii (model RVL-001). It is currently '''not''' supported through any USB adapters.

===Microphone===
This accessory, bundled with ''Mario Party 6'' and ''Mario Party 7'', allowed the GameCube to receive audio from the memory card slot. There were also other games known to support it.

In Dolphin, set slot B in the emulator settings to the microphone. In the operating system, you then make your default recording device available.

Nintendont includes support for the GameCube microphone hardware, but only through the GC memory card slots on the original Wii (model RVL-001). Using this accessory on other consoles will likely '''never''' be supported given the lack of adapters for the memory card connector; however, there is microphone-enabled hardware for these consoles (Wii Speak, Wii U GamePad, etc.) that Nintendont could someday use to emulate the GameCube microphone.

===Bongos===
This special controller is used with ''Donkey Konga'' and other ''Donkey Kong'' games released for the GameCube.

Dolphin supports this controller, via the GameCube controller adapter.

Nintendont is known to support this controller through the GC controller ports on the original Wii (model RVL-001). It's '''currently unclear''' whether or not the controller is supported through any USB adapters.

===Game Boy Player===
This add-on plugged into the bottom of the GameCube and allowed it to play Game Boy / Game Boy Advance games on a standard television; it had provisions against [[Wikipedia:Game Boy Advance Video|Game Boy Advance Video]] cartridges by returning an error after booting them. The launcher even supported the GBA-GCN link cable, where the Game Boy Advance would serve as the controller. Some GBA games like ''Super Mario Advance 4'' and ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' took advantage of the add-on by adding rumble support. The hardware is essentially a peripheral containing Game Boy Advance hardware, which means that recreating it would require simultaneous emulation of a GameCube and a GBA, including BIOS files for both.

No emulator currently supports the Game Boy Player hardware and its features. The Dolphin developers have hinted at adding support for it in the future, made possible by the aforementioned mGBA integration (see the previous section of this page).<ref>https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/2021/07/21/integrated-gba/#conclusion</ref>

==Enhancements==
<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;width:100%"
|- style="font-weight:bold;"
! colspan=2 | Name
! Dolphin
! pureikyubu
|-
| rowspan=8 | Graphics
| [[Resolution|Resizable Internal Resolution]]
| {{Y}}
| {{Y}}
|-
| [[Wikipedia:24-bit_color#True_color_(24-bit)|True Color]] Rendering<br/><small>This is an enhancement that reduces banding by forcing the emulated hardware to the highest bitdepth possible. [https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/2024/02/10/dolphin-progress-report-november-and-december-2023-january-2024/#50-20849-videocommon-apply-force-24-bit-color-to-efb-copies-by-flacs Read this] for more information. It is useful especially on non-CRT [[Displays|displays]], producing nicer looking gradients.</small>
| {{Y}}
| {{?}}
|-
| [[Widescreen_hacks#GameCube.2FWii|Widescreen and ultrawide hack]]<br/><small>To get full native widescreen, try [[Homebrew_and_hack_Roms|Swiss]].<br/>This can even run on a real GameCube/Wii if you wish.
| {{Y}}
| {{Y}}
|-
| [[Texture packs]]
| {{Y}}<ref group=N2>Dolphin lets you dump game textures and also replace game textures with new custom ones.{{Main|Texture packs#GameCube/Wii}}</ref>
| {{?}}
|-
| Ray-tracing<br/><small>([https://devblogs.microsoft.com/directx/announcing-microsoft-directx-raytracing/ DXR], [https://www.khronos.org/blog/ray-tracing-in-vulkan VRT] and [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/metal/metal_sample_code_library/accelerating_ray_tracing_using_metal MRT])</small>
| colspan=2 | <small>Implementing ray-tracing in an emulator is unfortunately quite challenging and unlikely to be feasible in the near future.<br/>However you can try "[[Shaders_and_filters#Notable_ReShade_shaders|Screen-Space Ray Traced Global Illumination]]" shader using ReShade.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IlqfrJwKr4][https://reshade.me/forum/general-discussion/5442-release-misc-emulators-with-depth-buffer-access#35113]</small>
|-
| Pre-rendering AA<br/><small>(MSAA, SSAA)</small>
| {{Y}}
| {{?}}
|-
| Super-resolution techniques<br/><small>([https://github.com/NVIDIA/DLSS/blob/main/doc/DLSS_Programming_Guide_Release.pdf DLSS], [https://github.com/intel/xess/?tab=readme-ov-file XeSS] and [[Wikipedia:GPUOpen#FidelityFX_Super_Resolution|FSR 2+]])</small>
| colspan=2 | <small>Requires access to the depth buffer and temporal data like motion-vectors so it's quite challenging and unlikely to be feasible in the near future.<br/>Besides, any GPU that can use DLSS can run Dolphin at 8k native with ease anyway.</small>
|-
| [https://github.com/NVIDIAGameWorks/rtx-remix/wiki RTX Remix]
| colspan=2 | <small>Implementing RTX Remix technology in an emulator is unfortunately quite challenging and unlikely to be feasible in the near future.<br/>Besides, Dolphin already supports most of RTX Remix features such as access to assets, texture replacement and post-processing effects etc.[https://www.reddit.com/r/DolphinEmulator/comments/xn6p21/is_it_possible_to_use_rtx_remix_on_emulated/]<br/>On top of that you can use ReShade.</small>
|-
| rowspan=5 | Performance
| [[Overclocking|Overclock]]
| {{Y}}
| {{?}}
|-
| [[30/60_FPS_cheat_codes#GameCube.2FWii|Internal Framerate Hack]]
| {{Y}}
| {{?}}
|-
| [https://blurbusters.com/frame-generation-essentials-interpolation-extrapolation-and-reprojection/ Frame generation technologies]<br/><small>([https://store.steampowered.com/app/993090/Lossless_Scaling/ LSFG], [https://github.com/NVIDIAGameWorks/Streamline/blob/main/docs/ProgrammingGuideDLSS_G.md DLSS-G], [https://www.techpowerup.com/316835/extrass-framework-paper-details-intels-take-on-frame-generation ExtraSS] and [https://community.amd.com/t5/gaming/amd-fluid-motion-frames-is-out-now-on-amd-radeon-rx-7000-series/ba-p/634372 AFMF])</small>
| colspan=3 | <small>Implementing frame generation technology in an emulator is unfortunately quite challenging and unlikely to be feasible in the near future, however post-processing techniques such as [[Wikipedia:Motion_interpolation|motion interpolation]] is quite possible. [[Input_lag|Input latency]] will be a crucial factor, but its impact likely varies depending on the specific technique employed, it's recommended to use '''after applying the "Internal Framerate Hack" and "skip presenting duplicate frames option"'''.<br/>While '''[https://youtu.be/5mbUTfCRIF0 AFMF]''' or '''LSFG''' can be used with Dolphin, please be aware that some visual glitches and artifacts may occur at this time.
|-
| Preload [[Wikipedia:Template:Disk_images|optical disc image]] to RAM<br/><small>For users with sluggish multi-platter HDDs or plagued by horrible seek times, this enhancement '''might''' offer smoother experience, potentially reduced power consumption; it also shines when disc images reside on a network drive.<br/>Although keep in mind that preloading image would take some time, and it will require additional amount of RAM capacity.</small>
| {{N}}[https://bugs.dolphin-emu.org/issues/11876 *]
| {{N}}
|-
| Rendering latency reduction technologies<br/><small>([https://github.com/ishitatsuyuki/LatencyFleX LatencyFleX], [https://developer.nvidia.com/performance-rendering-tools/reflex Reflex] and [https://www.amd.com/en/products/software/adrenalin/radeon-software-anti-lag.html Anti-Lag'''+'''])
| colspan=4 | <small>While most emulators offer frame pacing or framebuffer latency control options, implementing rendering latency reduction technologies isn't currently feasible. This is '''likely''' doesn't offer enough benefit to justify the development effort.</small>
|-
| rowspan=6 | Post-Processing
| [[Wikipedia:Category:Anti-aliasing_algorithms|Post-rendering AA]]<br/><small>(FXAA, TXAA and MLAA/SMAA)</small>
| {{Y}}
| {{?}}
|-
| [[Wikipedia:Comparison_gallery_of_image_scaling_algorithms|Post-rendering scaling]]<br/><small>(Sharp bilinear, Lanczos and [[Wikipedia:GPUOpen#FidelityFX_Super_Resolution|FSR 1]])</small>
| {{Y}}
| {{?}}
|-
| [[Shaders_and_filters|Filters]]
| {{Y}}
| {{?}}
|-
|[[Shaders_and_filters#AI-powered filters|AI-powered filter compatible]]<br/><small>([https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/gfecnt/nvidia-freestyle-ansel-enhancements-geforce-experience-article/ Freestyle])</small>
| {{?}}
| {{?}}
|-
| [[Shader_Presets|Shader Chain]]
| [https://github.com/dolphin-emu/dolphin/pull/10362 WIP]<ref group=N2>Dolphin had a [https://forums.dolphin-emu.org/Thread-dolphinfx-post-processing-suite-for-the-opengl-backend?pid=497374#pid497374 DolphinFX] project for OpenGL backend, but it's now obsolete.</ref>
| {{?}}
|-
|[[High_dynamic_range#Inverse_tone_mapping|Inverse tone mapping compatible]]
| {{Y}}[https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/2024/04/30/dolphin-progress-report-february-march-and-april-2024/#hdr-enhancements-50-19931-add-autohdr-post-process-shader-by-filoppi-and-50-21232-add-hdr-to-metal-perceptual-hdr-by-samb *]
| {{?}}
|-
| rowspan=5 | [https://tasvideos.org/Emulatorresources/Features TAS features]
| [[Wikipedia:Macro_(computer_science)|Macros/Scripts]]/[https://tasvideos.org/LuaScripting Lua]
| {{Y}}
| {{?}}
|-
| Rewind
| {{N}}
| {{?}}
|-
| Fast-Forward/Turbo Speed
| {{Y}}
| {{?}}
|-
| Savestates
| {{Y}}
| {{?}}
|-
| [https://tasvideos.org/Movies Movie recording/playback]
| {{Y}}
| {{N}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | Controls
| [[Controllers#Mouse_Injectors_for_Emulators|Mouse Injector Compatible]]
| {{Y}}[https://github.com/garungorp/MouseInjectorDolphinDuck *]
| {{N}}
|-
| [[Input_lag|Input lag-mitigating technique]]
| {{N}}
| {{N}}
|-
| rowspan=9 | Quality of life
| [[Save_disk_space_for_ISOs#GameCube_.2F_Wii|Streamable compression format]]
| {{Y}}
| {{N}}[https://github.com/emu-russia/pureikyubu/issues/249 *]
|-
| Built-in [[Mods,_hacks_and_fan-translations#Built-in_graphics_mod_editor.2Fmanager_for_emulators|Graphics mod editor/manager]]
| {{~}}<ref group=N2>There is a pull request for adding [https://github.com/dolphin-emu/dolphin/pull/12280 graphics mod editor/manager] to Dolphin. In the meantime, you can use [https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=Graphics_Mods Graphics Mods]; an exciting new feature introduced in 5.0-16763 that allows users to modify games through a method of defining targets and then applying actions to those targets.  Currently, Dolphin supports three actions: Skip, Move, and Scale. These are modifications to the target groups. In addition to this, Dolphin has some built-in Graphics Mods that apply to certain target groups. These include "Native Bloom" - scaling the "Bloom" target group down to the correct resolution, "No Bloom" - skipping any texture labeled in the "Bloom" target group, and "No HUD" - skipping any textures under the target group of "HUD". You can define these or your own Target Groups in any game through using Dolphin's Texture Dumping tool or EFB dumping tools.</ref>
| {{N}}
|-
| Built-in [[Cheats_and_patches|Cheat Manager]]
| {{Y}}
| {{N}}
|-
| Built-in [http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,106405 Custom resolution/CRTSwitchRes]<br/><small>For using this on Windows OS you need [http://geedorah.com/eiusdemmodi/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1009#p1009 CRT Emudriver].<br/>Another option is using EDID editor tool such as "Custom Resolution Utility".</small>
| colspan=7 | <small>Exclusive to [https://docs.libretro.com/guides/crtswitchres/ libretro core] at the moment.<br/>Also there is a [https://github.com/psakhis/Groovy_MiSTer project] for achieving software emulators like libretro cores and GroovyMAME send the raw RGB data over a network to a core running on MiSTer, it basically turns the MiSTer into a GPU for the emulator allowing for easy setup and use with CRT TVs/Arcade monitors.</small>
|-
| Per-Game Profiles
| {{Y}}
| {{?}}
|-
| Command Line Options
| {{Y}}
| {{?}}
|-
| On-Screen Display<br/><small>Showcases messages, controller input state which is useful for speedrunners, performance data, active settings, and various notifications.</small>
| {{Y}}
| {{?}}
|-
| [[Wikipedia:Variable_refresh_rate|Variable Refresh Rate compatible]]
| {{N}}[https://forums.dolphin-emu.org/Thread-question-about-gsync-vrr *]
| {{?}}
|-
| [[Frontends#Graphical_User_Interfaces_.28GUIs.29|Big Picture Mode]]
| [https://forums.dolphin-emu.org/Thread-possible-to-add-a-big-picture-menu-screen-like-pcsx2-has WIP]
| {{?}}
|-
| rowspan=5 | Misc
| [https://retroachievements.org/gameList.php?c=16 RetroAchievements]
| [https://github.com/dolphin-emu/dolphin/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Aopen%2Bclosed+retroachievements+ WIP]
| {{N}}
|-
| [[Virtual_reality#VR_game_room_simulations|EmuVR support]]
| colspan=2 |  Exclusive to [https://www.emuvr.net/wiki/Installation_Guide#Downloads libretro cores] at the moment.
|-
| AI Service<br/><small>With the help of <abbr title="optical character recognition">OCR</abbr> and other techniques, the AI service can provide a live translation of a game, or text-to-speech capabilities for the visually impaired among other things, either on demand or automatically.</small>
| colspan=11 | Exclusive to [https://docs.libretro.com/guides/ai-service/ libretro cores] at the moment.
|-
| Free Look<br/><small>Free Look is a enhancement feature that allows manipulation of the in-game camera.</small>
| {{Y}}[https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=Free_Look *]
| {{N}}
|-
| [[Wikipedia:Category:Debugging|Debug Features]]
| {{Y}}
| {{Y}}
|}
</div>
<references group=N2/>

==Hardware variants==
===Triforce===
The [[wikipedia:List_of_Sega_arcade_system_boards#Triforce|Triforce]] is an [[:Category:Arcade|arcade system board]] developed jointly by [[wikipedia:Namco|Namco]], [[wikipedia:Sega|Sega]], and Nintendo, with the first games appearing in 2002. The system hardware consists of a retail GameCube motherboard, with custom devices interfacing with the EXI, SI and DI, and a custom IPL.

Dolphin used to have Triforce support. However, it was removed several years ago. Nevertheless, [https://dolphin-emu.org/download/list/Triforce/ a branch] remains and can still be used, albeit with some difficulty.

Compatibility is patchy, and while all games boot, many require memory patches via gecko codes to progress beyond error screens. This is further compounded by the abundance of patched or modified dumps floating around. Many of which have patched headers for use with Nintendont, or being renamed versions of their GameCube counterparts. This is most prevalent with Mario Kart Arcade GP 1 & 2, with there being no good (public) dumps at all. The site that previously hosted the gecko codes for Triforce games has since shut down, and the replacement site does not have codes for Triforce games, requiring codes to be manually downloaded from the Wayback Machine. Furthermore, games have multiple revisions, and codes only work on specific revisions.

To use the Triforce branch, certain settings must be modified:
* Under Config/GameCube, SP1 and Port 1 need to be assigned to AM-Baseboard.
* To actually play games, cheats need to be enabled. While the Mario Kart games have patches on their Dolphin Wiki pages, codes for other games should be downloaded from [https://web.archive.org/web/20181024045747/http://www.geckocodes.org/ here].

Triforce games can also be run on a Wii using [https://github.com/FIX94/Nintendont Nintendont]. Patches and gecko codes are not required. Triforce support is essentially unmaintained and lacks features such as LAN connectivity, internal saving (for things such as high scores or F-Zero AX time attack ghosts), and GameCube memory card reading. Mario Cards and F-Zero License Cards can be emulated for the Mario Kart Arcade GP games and F-Zero AX respectively, but linking F-Zero AX to an F-Zero GX save is not possible. Note that this method cannot be used within Dolphin, as Nintendont utilizes the Wii's ARM "Starlet" processor which Dolphin does not emulate.

====Recommended builds for Triforce====
Thanks to these builds most games work correctly with minimal amount of patches needed, so these builds are the most recommended right now for Triforce emulation;

*Modified build of the Dolphin Triforce branch known as [http://www.emuline.org/topic/2728-emu-virtua-striker-4-arcade-triforce-windows-pc-dolphin-emulator/ DolphinTriforce-Brodostar], which can run Virtua Striker 4, Virtua Striker Ver 2006 and F-Zero AX (both games crash or run extremely slow normally). It also has all of the Gecko codes/controls preconfigured. You can download it [https://mega.nz/folder/U0tQXYTa#qcVLwmVz3KL9VR_XKMdXCg here].

*Another suggestion is to use the latest builds by Crediar, found [https://mega.nz/file/kg1REZzC#tRfsBXw5kZv1zLo05MgBJIdWbwCnIT21_k9IyhsjDAE here]. '''Additional Gecko codes that provide further fixes (performance fix etc.) for this build can be found [https://ia601606.us.archive.org/7/items/dolphin_tri_x64/Gecko%20Codes.txt here]'''.

====Dolphin Pull Requests for Triforce====

There are 2 pull requests by Zopolis4 to add preliminary support for Triforce back into upstream Dolphin, but the work is very old and unsupported.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://github.com/dolphin-emu/dolphin/pull/10084 |title = Implement preliminary Triforce support}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://github.com/dolphin-emu/dolphin/pull/10207 |title = Implement preliminary Triforce support Pt.2}}</ref>

===Panasonic Q===
[[File:Panasonic Q.png|210px|thumb|left|The Panasonic Q GameCube console.]]
The Panasonic Q  (sometimes referred to as GameQ by Gamecube fans) is a hybrid version of the GameCube with a DVD player manufactured by Panasonic in cooperation with Nintendo. The system was officially released only in Japan. A feature of its main competitors, the Xbox and the PlayStation 2, the GameCube lacked commercial DVD movie playback functionality due to the use of the Nintendo optical discs format for games and the correspondingly small disc tray.
Initially, the Panasonic Q could only play games and DVDs from Japan; however, a modified version, which could play American games and DVDs, began to be sold from Import shops, making it a popular console to import from Japan. The unit was priced at around ¥41,000 JPY, and the modified version was priced at ¥46,000 JPY.
The Panasonic Q is capable of using almost all of the GameCube hardware upgrades. A special version of the Game Boy Player was designed for the Q because the Player was designed to fit onto the bottom of the GameCube, and the Q's different bottom form factor kept the Player from being installed. Other features of the Panasonic Q include a backlit information LCD, a front-loading slot disc tray, an optical sound output supporting Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS, a separate subwoofer jack, DVD remote control, and a stainless steel chassis. These high-end features, as well as the aforementioned multimedia playback capabilities, have made the Panasonic Q a popular console to collect.

The Q system was licensed by Nintendo, released on December 13, 2001, and was discontinued on December 18, 2003, due to low sales.


*Dolphin has no support for this variation.
*See [[Home_Media_Player#Emulators|this dedicated page]] for more information about home media playback support for emulation softwares.

==Emulation issues==
For more information about Nintendo GameCube hardware and reverse engineering;
* MVG: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxjl_kD3imQ How the Nintendo GameCube Security was defeated], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up6Rm1Sw1ps The Nintendo GameCube is still awesome - Games, Homebrew, Modding and More], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJHb3ZJXJfw Dolphin has been ported to the Xbox]
* Dolphin: [https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/ Blog], [https://discord.gg/ZGbGN2mC Discord]
* [https://gamecube.dev/ Awesome GameCube Development]
* [https://www.copetti.org/writings/consoles/gamecube/ Rodrigo Colpetti's GameCube practical analysis]
* [https://www.gc-forever.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page GC-Forever]
* [https://consolemods.org/wiki/GameCube:GameCube_Mods_Wiki ConsoleMods - GameCube]

==Resources==
*[https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=Main_Page Dolphin Wiki] - The most comprehensive wiki for the Dolphin emulator and games. Good for any fixes/tweaks/settings you should know beforehand.

==References==
<references/>

{{Nintendo}}

[[Category:Consoles]]
[[Category:Home consoles]]
[[Category:Sixth-generation video game consoles]]
[[Category:Nintendo consoles]]
[[Category:GameCube emulators|*]]
[[Category:PowerPC-based]]
[[Category:MAME Driver Status: Preliminary]]