Difference between pages "Strange and forgotten consoles" and "GameCube emulators"

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(Fifth generation: added the Precomputer Unlimited, a Console-Computer hybrid from 1998.)
 
m (removed reduntant triforce info and updated nintendont info)
 
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{{Consoles}}
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{{Infobox console
Beneath the clean and successful exterior of gaming giants like the [[Super Nintendo emulators|Super Nintendo]] and [[PlayStation emulators|PlayStation]] lies the '''Gap of Vidya''': a realm populated by unwanted and forgotten consoles of old, immortal in their plasticity. Here we may receive knowledge of their eternal fate. Not everything on this page can or will be emulated.
+
|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 = {{✓}}
 +
}}
 +
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 a 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 next year.
  
If it's a video game console from the [[wikipedia:History_of_video_game_consoles_%28third_generation%29|third generation]] and beyond, it's on this page for your viewing pleasure.
+
Nintendo released the successor, the [[Wii emulators|Wii]], in 2006 where it was revealed to have very similar (albeit more powerful) hardware and compatible interfaces. This meant that the Wii could handle GameCube games natively rather than use 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]].
  
See also [[First and Second Generations of video game consoles|Console Boom emulators]] for the 70s and 80s consoles.
+
==Emulators==
 
 
==Consoles==
 
 
 
=== Third generation ===
 
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 
! scope="col"|Name
 
! scope="col"|Name
! scope="col"|[[MAME]] support
+
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
! scope="col"|ROMs
+
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! scope="col"|Description
+
! scope="col"|Wii
 +
! scope="col"|Triforce
 +
! scope="col"|[[libretro|Libretro Core]]
 +
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>
 +
! scope="col"|Active
 +
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
 
|-
 
|-
|[[wikipedia:Action_Max|Action Max]]
+
!colspan="10"|PC / x86
|None
 
|None
 
|VHS tape console released in 1987 by Worlds of Wonder. It relied on a light gun and score counter for all of its 5 games, which could not really be lost. There's an add-on for the multi-[[Arcade LaserDisc emulators|arcade LaserDisc emulator]] [[DAPHNE]] called [https://web.archive.org/web/20150512114240/http://www.singeengine.com/cms/node/6 SINGE.] We're in murky waters here, so run this at your own risk. 
 
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj498-wkOz4 Cinemassacre Demonstration]
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[wikipedia:Amstrad_GX4000|Amstrad GX4000]]
+
|[[Dolphin]]
|Good
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
|[https://archive.org/details/Amstrad_GX4000_TOSEC_2012_04_23 TOSEC]/[https://archive.org/details/gx4000_library ✓]
+
|[https://dolphin-emu.org/download/ Dev]
|A consolized version of the [[Amstrad CPC emulators|Amstrad CPC]].
+
|{{✓}} ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=triforce>Requires the [https://dolphin-emu.org/download/list/Triforce/1/ Triforce branch] to work. It is very old and unsupported.</ref> ||{{✓}}<ref group=N>Currently at Alpha release and has bugs that are not present on standalone Dolphin.</ref> ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Atari_8-bit#Atari_XEGS|Atari XEGS]]
+
|[[Ishiiruka-Dolphin]]
|Preliminary
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
|Yes
+
|[https://forums.dolphin-emu.org/Thread-unofficial-ishiiruka-dolphin-custom-version Dev]
|A repackaging of the [[Atari 8-bit]] computer line marketed as a game console. Notable for having possibly the worst physical design ever. It has preliminary support in MAME, as does the 65XE computer it's based on. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2gF5wWns0E Overview] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IVK3ukQmMA CGR Review]
+
|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{~}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[[wikipedia:BBC_Bridge_Companion|BBC Bridge Companion]]
+
|[https://github.com/ogamespec/dolwin/ Dolwin]
|[http://www.progettoemma.net/mess/system.php?machine=bbcbc Good]
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}
|Yes
+
|[https://github.com/ogamespec/dolwin/releases {{DolwinVer}}]
|
+
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[[wikipedia:PV-1000|Casio PV-1000]]
+
|[[Dolphin (Nintendo)|Dolphin <small>(Nintendo)</small>]]
|Good
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
|[https://archive.org/details/CasioPV1000 No-intro]
+
|[http://www.emuparadise.me/sdk/Installers/Nintendo/GameCube/NINTENDO%20GameCube%20PC%20Dolphin%20Emulator%20e2.8%20(Installer).7z e2.8]
|A 1983 console pulled from shelves very quickly. Like many others, its titanic failure makes it a rarity nowadays.
+
|{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[[wikipedia:Commodore_64_Games_System|Commodore 64 Games System]]
+
!colspan="10"|Mobile / ARM
|Good
 
|Yes
 
|A hacked up console version of the regular [[Commodore 64 emulators|Commodore 64]], released only in Europe. Failed hilariously due to its outdated tech (1984 hardware in 1990!), the fact that the normal Commodore 64 was already sufficient, and a bad case of the 'no games'.
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[wikipedia:Dendy_(console)|Dendy]]
+
|[[Dolphin]]
|Decent
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|Linux}}
|Yes
+
|[https://dolphin-emu.org/download/list/master Dev]
|The [[Nintendo Entertainment System emulators|NES]], but for slavs. (TCRF COMEDY!) Only [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kne6AKyYUuM Kinaman] can properly explain this one (turn on CC). Has decent support in MAME, and its status as an NES clone means its "exclusives" can be played on NES emulators that support broken pirate carts.
+
|{{✓}} ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=triforce /> ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[[wikipedia:Dina_(video_game_console)|Dina]]
+
|[[Dolphin MMJR (Unofficial)|Dolphin MMJR]]
|Good
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
|Yes
+
|[https://github.com/Bankaimaster999/Dolphin-MMJR/releases git]<br/>[https://github.com/Gamer64ytb/Dolphin-360-Definitive-/releases git]<small> (360)</small>
|Hybrid clone of both the [[SG-1000 emulators|SG-1000]] and [[ColecoVision emulators|ColecoVision]]. Sold by Telegames as the Telegames Personal Arcade, allegedly with permission from Coleco themselves. The console's build quality leaves a lot to be desired, not to mention that games for the aforementioned platforms can be played on most [[ColecoVision emulators]] anyway.
+
|{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Video_Buddy Family Driver]/[https://segaretro.org/Video_Driver Video Driver]
+
!colspan="10"|Consoles
|None
 
|None
 
|Sega also had a go with the VHS-Based console market with the Family Driver from 1988 and unlike most of these type of consoles, this did not play Light-gun games but instead played driving games. Only three games were released for the system; it's unknown when Sega discontinued it.
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[wikipedia:LJN Video Art|LJN Video Art]]
+
|[[Nintendont]]
|None
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Wii|WiiU}}
|None
+
|[https://github.com/FIX94/Nintendont 2021-07-12]
|A notorious "educational" console made by the notorious LJN released in 1985. It was meant as a paint program type system that was meant to compete against television rather than mainstream consoles at the time. It flopped hard. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neURIc_A3js Commercial] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-zEhhTqdvg AVGN Review]
+
|{{✗}} ||{{~}} ||{{Na}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[[wikipedia:My Vision|My Vision]]
+
|}
|[http://www.progettoemma.net/mess/system.php?machine=myvision Good]
+
 
|None
+
<references group=N />
|
+
 
|-
+
===Comparisons===
|[[wikipedia:Philips_Videopac_%2B_G7400|Philips Videopac + G7400]]
+
;[[Dolphin]]: is the emulator of choice for the GameCube and the first and only emulator for the Wii. 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 catalogue 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. System requirements are high, more so for Wii games than GameCube. As of May 2021, Dolphin's compatibility is at 96% of the games being playable or perfect.
|[http://www.progettoemma.net/mess/system.php?machine=g7400 Imperfect]
+
 
|[https://mega.co.nz/#!MRMCGKSJ!x8Mk78ClxL5y2Js3IdRts0GiY8U9TS46JcuXbTx9S1c No-intro]
+
;[[Ishiiruka-Dolphin]]: is a fork of Dolphin optimized towards performance at the cost of accuracy and stability in the process. Its most important features are:
|
+
:* Async shader compilation (Avoiding shader compilation time)
|-
+
:*Galop's DX11 Texture Encoder/Decoder (Improve Texture decoding specially EFB TO RAM)
|[[RDI Halcyon]]
+
:*Pre-compiled Vertex loader & Optimized vertex decoding using SSSE3 and SSE4
|None
+
:*Dolby Pro Logic II support for XAudio and OpenAL
|None
+
:*Custom Texture improvements to allow directly compressed texture loading including mipmaps
|A terrifying machine based on HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey, featuring voice-recognition and AI learning. Its failure bankrupted RDI. There are currently no known emulators for the Halcyon, as mankind has yet to fully comprehend its awesome power.  
+
:*DSP - Time Stretching Option (Improve sound output to avoid sound skipping on slow machines)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeI5zKeGELA Demonstration]
+
:*DX9 support for old machines
|-
+
:*Modified Post Processing interface to support:
|[[wikipedia:Super_Cassette_Vision|Super Cassette Vision]]
+
::*Multiple Stages allowing more complex effects.
|Decent
+
::*Depth and native gamma as inputs.
|[https://archive.org/details/Epoch_Super_Cassette_Vision_TOSEC_2012_04_23 TOSEC]/[https://archive.org/details/supercassettevision_library ✓]
+
::*Custom version of DolphinFX that work under dx11 and ogl
|1984 successor to the original Cassette Vision. Much easier to emulate as the hardware is similar to some other obscure systems. The graphical quality is somewhere between the ColecoVision and NES. Was actually fairly successful in Japan until the Famicom came along and kicked its ass. Then [http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/11/117006/1757950-ladycassettevision.jpg this] [https://www.svg.com/94780/bizarre-console-flops-gaming-history/ happened]. It has a homebrew scene that is still alive with some cool stuff like [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MudYEDUK3Nw a port of Super Mario Bros] and was the first console with a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWPapt33UgQ Dragon Ball] videogame.
+
::*SSAO and DOF.
|-
+
::*Texture Scaling Support
|[http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=2&c=1294 Soundic SD-290]
+
::*Bump Mapping with advanced material properties
|None
+
::*Phong Specular reflection to improve lighting quality
|None
+
::*Tessellation and Displacement Mapping
|Released by Soundic in 1983, the SD-290 was designed to undercut the competition but the lack of compelling games and dated hardware drove customers away from it. Only 11 of the 16 games planned for the system were released. It's unknown how many units were sold or when it was discontinued.
+
::*Rim Lighting
 +
::*Bump auto-generation to improve lighting
 +
 
 +
;Dolwin: an open-source Nintendo GameCube emulator which initially started development in 2004. It went into hiatus but is now active. With that in mind, it's not the most advanced but has interesting features and can boot and run some commercial games and demos...
 +
 
 +
;[[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.
 +
 
 +
;[[Nintendont]]: Is not actually a GameCube emulator, only emulating certain peripherals. Heavily relies on the hardware similarities between the Gamecube/Wii/Wii U to work. Included here due to its partial Triforce compatibility.
 +
<!--
 +
==Emulation issues==
 +
-->
 +
 
 +
==Running BIOS==
 +
To boot the GameCube's original BIOS, 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, as well as hybrid XFB. If you're on the 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 into the main menu instead of booting the game. You can then switch to another game with Change Disc, or you can explore the BIOS.
 +
 
 +
==Peripherals==
 +
 
 +
===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 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.
 +
 
 +
Dolphin includes a GBA core based on [[mGBA]] that is tied to GameCube emulation, which allows for a very stable connection that works with features such as save states and netplay. Dolphin can also connect to standalone versions of mGBA; this is necessary for some less commonly used features such as [[GBA e-Reader emulators|e-Reader]] support or cases where the GBA has to be disconnected from the GameCube. Both of these 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.
 +
 
 +
===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 had support for 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.
 +
 
 +
No emulator currently supports the Game Boy Player hardware and its features. With [[mGBA]] now integrated into Dolphin, support for it has been hinted as coming in the future.<ref>https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/2021/07/21/integrated-gba/#conclusion</ref>
 +
 
 +
===Broadband Adapter===
 +
This shouldn't be confused with [[netplay]], which synchronizes emulation over an internet connection.
 +
 
 +
This was an add-on that allowed the console to use LAN technology over [[Wikipedia:Ethernet|ethernet]]. ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' used it to play on a local network with up to eight other GameCubes while ''Phantasy Star Online'' took it a step further to allow an internet connection for Sega's now-offline official game servers. ''Kirby Air Ride'' and ''1080° Avalanche'' also support this adapter. This feature was unavailable on the [[Wii emulators|Wii]] despite having 802.11 b/g connectivity built-in and an official USB LAN adaptor.
 +
 
 +
It's possible to hook up zero or more of each of these configurations on one networked game:
 +
*A GameCube with the broadband adapter (of course)
 +
*A soft modded Wii with [https://gbatemp.net/threads/330554 Devolution]
 +
*A recent version of Dolphin with OpenVPN
 +
 
 +
[[Dolphin]] has support for the Broadband Adapter on Windows and Linux. Go to <code>Config</code> > <code>GameCube</code>. A drop-down for <code>SP1</code> will have the <code>Broadband Adaptor</code> or <code>BBA</code>, depending on the version of Dolphin you're running. [https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=Broadband_Adapter#How_to_use_the_BroadBand_Adapter Their wiki contains up to date instructions on setting up a VPN.]
 +
 
 +
[[Nintendont]] also has partial BBA emulation for certain games.
 +
 
 +
===Bongos===
 +
This is a special controller used with ''Donkey Konga'' and other ''Donkey Kong'' games released for the GameCube. Dolphin supports this controller.
 +
 
 +
===Microphone===
 +
This was an accessory bundled with ''Mario Party 6 & Mario Party 7'' that 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.
 +
 
 +
==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, as well as a custom IPL.
  
Furthermore, it's important to note that Soundic sold SD-290 motherboards to various companies to rebrand them as their own consoles.
+
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 it can still be used, albeit with some difficulty.
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Terebikko|Terebikko\Video Phone]]
 
|None
 
|None
 
|The Terebikko is a VHS-Based edutainment console released in Japan by Bandai in 1988 and in the US by Mattel in 1989, The Japanese version had less then 10 games made for it but most of them are based on high profile properties such as Super Mario, Sailor Moon, Doraemon and Dragon Ball Z, Meanwhile, Only 2 games are known to of been released for the US version, both were discontinued in 1994 and it's unknown how many units were sold.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Video Challenger|Video Challenger]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|None
 
|Released in 1987 by Select Merchandise and licensed to 4 companies in different regions, this VHS-Based console only had around 8 games released for it and like most systems of this type, it only played Light-gun games. It's unknown how many units were sold or when it was discontinued.
 
|-
 
|[http://www.christopherjhopkins.com/videosmarts-the-interactive-video-learning-system.html Videosmarts]
 
|None
 
|None
 
|Released around 1986 by the Connor Toy Corporation, the Videosmarts is VHS edutainment console that taught Preschool to Second Grade Subjects, It's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:View-Master_Interactive_Vision|View-Master Interactive Vision]]
 
|None
 
|None
 
|1988 edutainment VHS console that used two audio tracks on each tape, the player choosing one of two options on the screen, to create interactivity. Also had short mini-game segments with ColecoVision-like graphics. Unlike the other VHS systems, the games were actually decent. No known emulators.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:VTech_Socrates|VTech Socrates]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|Yes [https://archive.org/details/socrates_library ✓]
 
|Old edutainment console released in 1988. It featured a robot-type character called Socrates and had wireless infrared controllers. The same company would later release the V.Smile and V.Flash systems many years later.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Zemmix|Zemmix Series]]
 
|Good
 
|Yes
 
|Korean system that was simply an MSX/MSX 2, depending on the model, in console form. Mostly just existed as a way to play MSX games. Though there were a few games made specifically for it, they were playable on the MSX as well. Any MSX emulator should work for its games.
 
|}
 
  
=== Fourth generation ===
+
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, with many having 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 (public) good 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.
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
+
To use the Triforce branch, certain settings must be modified:
! scope="col"|Name
+
* Under Config/GameCube, SP1 and Port 1 need to be assigned to AM-Baseboard.
! scope="col"|[[MAME]] support
+
* 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].
! scope="col"|ROMs
 
! scope="col"|Internet Archive
 
! scope="col"|Description
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Commodore_CDTV|Commodore CDTV]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|[https://archive.org/details/Amiga_CDTV_TOSEC_2009_04_18 TOSEC] // [https://archive.org/details/RedumpCommodoreAmigaCDTV redump]
 
|
 
|A console version of the Amiga 500. Can be emulated in [[WinUAE]] like other [[Amiga emulators|Amiga hardware]].
 
|-
 
|[https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%94%E3%82%AF%E3%83%8E Konami Picno]
 
|None
 
|None
 
|
 
|Released in Japan by Konami in 1992, the extremely rare Picno is an odd hybrid of a Video Game Console and a Drawing Tablet that used cartridges similar to [[wikipedia:HuCard|HuCard's]] and [https://segaretro.org/Sega_Pico Sega Pico]. It's unknown how many units were sold, when it was discontinued or how many games were released. [http://videogamesdensetsu.tumblr.com/post/142354502350/the-konami-picno-%E3%83%94%E3%82%AF%E3%83%8E-1992-a-drawing-tablet Software & sources lists].
 
|-
 
|[http://videogamekraken.com/%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%85%D0%B0-by-skb-kontur-%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B1-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80 Krokha]
 
|None
 
|None
 
|
 
|The Krokha (Кроха) is an unreleased Russian console by SKB Kontur (СКБ Контур). The console was only in development for a short time in 1990 before Kontur pulled the plug on the project. They made 200 units for internal testing and, after it was cancelled, the 200 units were given to the people who worked on the system.
 
  
Furthermore, A former employee that worked on the Krokha back in the day has released Photos, Schematics and Rom Dumps for the system on his [http://alemorf.ru/comps/kroha/index.html Website]
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Tandy_Video_Information_System|Memorex VIS]]
 
|Imperfect
 
|None
 
|
 
|A beautiful monster sold only at RadioShack in the early 90s. The software may be playable on Windows 3.x emulators, as the console's OS was an altered version of that.
 
|-
 
|[[Philips CD-i emulators|Philips CD-i]]
 
|Imperfect
 
|Yes
 
|[https://archive.org/details/redumpPhilipsCdi ✓]
 
|Thanks to working with Nintendo to develop a CD add-on for the SNES, the CD-i is notorious for having egregiously terrible Mario and Zelda games, so much so that the Big N ''disowned'' their existence and considered it a blank space in their official history. Aggressively promoted and held on for multiple years with multiple different models (targeted at everything from gamers to pharmaceutical companies), but couldn't compete with mainstream consoles and computers of the time.
 
|-
 
|[[Pioneer LaserActive]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|[https://archive.org/details/Pioneer_Laseractive_TOSEC_2012_04_23 TOSEC]
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Sega_Pico|Sega Pico]]
 
|Good
 
|[https://archive.org/details/Sega_Pico_TOSEC_2012_04_13 TOSEC]/[https://archive.org/download/No-Intro-Collection_2015-03-03 No-intro]
 
|
 
|Child's edutainment console released in 1993. Was actually fairly successful. Has good support in [[MAME]].
 
|-
 
|[[Super A'Can]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|[https://archive.org/details/No-Intro-Collection_2016-01-03 No-intro]
 
|[https://archive.org/details/superacan_library  ✓]
 
|An extremely rare Taiwan-only console released in 1995.
 
|}
 
  
=== Fifth generation ===
+
Triforce games can also be ran through [https://github.com/FIX94/Nintendont Nintendont].
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
+
==Panasonic Q==
! scope="col"|Name
+
[[File:Panasonic Q.png|210px|thumb|left|The Panasonic Q GameCube console.]]
! scope="col"|[[MAME]] support
+
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 Xbox and 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.
! scope="col"|ROMs
+
Initially, the Panasonic Q was only able to 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.
! scope="col"|Description
+
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, 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.
|-
 
|[[3DO emulators|3DO]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|[https://archive.org/details/3DO_2017_Reference_Set_Redump_Validated_ROMs Redump 2017]
 
|
 
|-
 
|[[Amiga_emulators#Amiga CD32|Amiga CD32]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|[https://archive.org/details/Amiga_CD32_TOSEC_2009_04_18 TOSEC] // [https://archive.org/details/RedumpAmigaCD32 redump]
 
|A console version of the Amiga 1200. Can be emulated in [[WinUAE]] like other [[Amiga emulators|Amiga hardware]].
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Apple_Bandai_Pippin|Apple Bandai Pippin]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|[https://archive.org/details/BandaiApplePippin-GamesRoms Yes]
 
|Apple's attempt at being relevant to games. It failed.
 
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ln_CmNtbvQ Vintage review] Currently, there is only preliminary [[MAME]] support, but some of its games may be playable on other Apple emulators.
 
|-
 
|[http://videogamekraken.com/arcadia-skeet-shoot-by-toymax Arcadia Skeet Shoot]
 
|None
 
|None
 
|Released in October of 1998 by Toymax (The makers of the Creepy Crawlers and My Pet Monster toys), this Projector-based console, that only [http://kevinisblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/arcadia-electronic-skeet-shoot-game.html played Light-gun games], sold 435,000 units in the first 18 months before being recalled after reports of projectors overheating, melting, smoking and in a few rare cases, causing burn injuries (Faulty cartridges were to blame). After about three revisions, the system was discontinued sometime between 2000 and 2001 with only 5 out of the 9 games advertised known to have been released. It's unknown how many units were sold once the console was relaunched after the recall.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:CP_System#Capcom_Power_System_Changer|Capcom Power System Changer]]
 
|Good
 
|None
 
|A console version of the Capcom CPS arcade board. Compatible with SNES controllers.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Casio_Loopy|Casio Loopy]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|[https://archive.org/download/No-Intro-Collection_2016-01-03 No-intro]
 
|A Japan-only game console designed for girls focused on printing stickers. A '''Magical Shop''' add-on allowed for the printing of any screenshot, not just Loopy games. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaW6EB1poxM Drunken Printing Demonstration] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNWGVtwTkiM Ashens overview]
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:FM_Towns_Marty|FM Towns Marty]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|Trurip
 
|An early fifth-generation console released by Fujitsu in 1993. It failed due to its astronomical price. Another version called the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQs7zyn4uVQ Car Marty] was also released, designed to be a GPS for automobiles. Preliminary MAME support for both.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Playdia|Playdia]]
 
|None
 
|[https://archive.org/details/BandaiPlaydia_Redump.org_2018-01-22 Yes]
 
|A disc-based system released in Japan by Bandai in 1994. Notably, it had a wireless controller and all of its titles were interactive movies like Dragon's Lair. No known emulators.
 
|-
 
|Precomputer Unlimited (PCU)
 
|None
 
|None
 
|Released in 1998 by VTech, The Unlimited is a Console-Computer hybrid akin to something like the Coleco Adam or the Odyssey 2.  the Precomputer brand dates back to 1988 with the Modal 1000, and was your typical educational computer of the era. The Unlimited's main OS was heavily influenced by Windows 3.1 and the system it self included 45 programs built-in. it also had cartridge slot for more programs and games. Features and oddities that came standard on all late 90s VTech educational computers can be found on the PCU as well. this includes a parallel port for printing and an odd mouse that plugged into an RJ11 port. It is unknown how many units were sold, how many game were made for it or when it was discontinued
 
|-
 
|[https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Video_Buddy Video Buddy]
 
|None
 
|None
 
|Released in November of 1999 by the Interactive Learning Group, this VHS-based console was designed for children aged 3 to 7 years old and had about 20 games released for it. A revision of the Video Buddy that used DVD's instead of VHS's was released in 2003 and while both versions were initially successful, a crowded "Children" console market led to its downfall. The [http://videogamekraken.com/category/vhs-based other company] that made the DVD-based console shut down in 2006. It's unknown how many units were sold.
 
|}
 
  
=== Sixth generation ===
+
The Q system was licensed by Nintendo, released on December 13, 2001, and was discontinued on December 18, 2003, due to low sales.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 
! scope="col"|Name
 
! scope="col"|[[MAME]] support
 
! scope="col"|ROMs
 
! scope="col"|Description
 
|-
 
|Buzztime Home Trivia System
 
|None
 
|None
 
|Released around 2004, the system is the result of a partnership between Cadaco Toys and NTN Buzztime; and, as the name implies, the console was designed around playing trivia with family and friends. It's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Nuon_%28DVD_technology%29|Nuon]]
 
|None
 
|Trurip<br />[https://archive.org/details/Nuon.7z Images?]
 
|A hybrid DVD player/game console with enhanced movie-viewing tools, from a bunch of former Atari personnel. Only a few games were made for the system, as the cheaper PS2 slaughtered it. There was a closed-source emulator in production called [http://www.nuon-dome.com/files/Nuance_051.zip Nuance], but its author died and he didn't release the source code himself. Though it became [http://atariage.com/forums/topic/254444-nuon-game-system-talk-discussion/page-3#entry3564288 publicly] [http://www.dragonshadow.com/ available.]
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:V.Smile|V.Smile]]
 
|Imperfect
 
||Yes [https://archive.org/details/VTechV.Smile ✓]
 
|An educational game machine by VTech. It derived from Sunplus' 16-bit SPG-series CPU architecture, which had similar peers including most [http://pnp-info.angelfire.com/ Jakks Pacific TV games] and Vii. The XaviXPORT was similar but had its own custom XaviX CPUs.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:XaviXPORT|XaviXPORT]]
 
|[https://github.com/mamedev/mame/blob/master/src/mame/drivers/xavix.cpp Preliminary]
 
|None
 
|A fitness based system, employing the usage of motion controls in an effort to get players off of the couch - beating Nintendo's [[Wii_emulators|Wii]] by more than 2 years! Each game cart came with a dedicated controller and an own CPU (not in the system, similar to Super FX chips in some SNES carts). The XaviXPORT was actually developed by eight of the engineers who worked on the original development of the [[Nintendo_Entertainment_System_emulators|NES]]. An upgraded version with a 16-bit "Super XaviX" CPU compared to the original 8-bit CPU came in 2005. Also of note is the fact that Jackie Chan partnered with SSD Company Limited in order to bring his likeness to the console, which resulted in two licensed games. [https://mamedev.emulab.it/haze David Haywood] is particularly working on reverse-engineering the XaviX technology for MAME.
 
|}
 
  
=== Seventh generation ===
+
==Resources==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
+
*[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.
! scope="col"|Name
 
! scope="col"|[[MAME]] support
 
! scope="col"|ROMs
 
! scope="col"|Description
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Game Wave|Game Wave]]
 
|None
 
|[https://archive.org/details/ZAPiT_GameWave_Redump_2017-12-23 Redump]
 
|A failed attempt to steal sales from the upcoming Nintendo Wii, the Game Wave was an obscure console released in 2005 by ZAPiT Games that only had trivia games. It also had a VeggieTales family party game.
 
Giga Pets Explorer TV Game System
 
|-
 
|GoGo TV Video Vision
 
|None
 
|None
 
|Released in sometime between 2005 and 2006 by Manley, the GoGo is Another PS2 Eye-Toy turned into edutainment console and like the Ion, it flopped and has since fallen into obscurity, it's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued.
 
|-
 
|Hasbro Ion
 
|None
 
|None
 
|Released in time for the 2005 Holiday season, the Ion is basically a PS2 Eye-Toy turned into edutainment console for preschoolers and at the time, the Ion was turning heads at toy fairs, hype was building and the console looking to be real hit for Hasbro but for whatever reason, the console flopped and disappeared into obscurity faster then the refunds could be made, it's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:HyperScan|Mattel Hyperscan]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|[https://archive.org/details/MattelHyperscan_Redump_2014-12-14 Redump]
 
|Something you would expect to see under a bargain bin at Wal-mart, the Mattel Hyperscan was a card/disc based system released in 2006 to appeal to some poor child's aunt at Christmas. It ran on a 32-bit Sunplus system-on-a-chip CPU, a successor to the 16-bit CPUs used to run consoles such as the V.Smile, many Jakks Pacific TV games and Vii. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv2-M78m_qI CGR Review].
 
|-
 
|Interac TV
 
|None
 
|None
 
| Released by Fisher-Price in 2006. The Interac TV  was designed to turn any DVD Player into an educational console. just sync the custom wireless controller to your DVD Player and put a game disk in. Unfortunately incompatibly issues resulted in most people been unable to sync the controller to their player and some even said that their DVD player couldn't even read the disks.  it's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued.
 
|-
 
|Smart Cycle
 
|None
 
|None
 
|Released in 2007 by Fisher-Price and not to be confused with their later phone\tablet controller of the same name. the Smart Cycle is a hybrid between an exercise bike and a edutainment console. it's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued.
 
|-
 
|Story Reader Video +
 
|None
 
|None
 
|Release in 2006 by Publications International. The Video + turns the Story Reader electronic book into one of many educational consoles of the 2000s. It's unknown how many units were sold or when it was discontinued. Around 7 games were released for the system,
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Telestory Interactive Storybook System
 
|None
 
|None
 
|Release in 2006 by Jakks Pacific for kids aged 3 and up, The Telestory is yet another edutainment console from 2000s and all the games are exactly what the console name would suggest, it's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Vii|Vii]]
 
|[http://www.progettoemma.net/mess/system.php?machine=vii Preliminary]
 
|Yes
 
|A rather poor excuse of a response to the [[Wii emulators|Wii]], made by JungleTac, KenSingTon, and a dozen or so manufacturers churning out shoddy variants of it. Emulators have recently been made for the platform, with several projects aiming to provide support for Sunplus' rather oddball architecture, such as [http://www.maxconsole.com/maxcon_forums/threads/280551-MuchimeX-v0-5-has-been-released! MuchimeX for the original Xbox], and [http://hackmii.com/2010/04/sunplus-the-biggest-chip-company-youve-never-heard-of/ Unununium], the latter being the basis for a [[MESS]] core. The same goes for VTech's [http://www.progettoemma.net/mess/system.php?machine=vsmile V.Smile], the [[wikipedia:Xavix|XaviXPORT]] and most [http://www.progettoemma.net/mess/system.php?machine=batmantv Jakks Pacific] TV games including those [http://www.progettoemma.net/mess/system.php?machine=walle Disney tie-in ones].
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Zeebo|Zeebo]]
 
|None
 
|None
 
|An obscure Brazilian console released in 2009. It was based on the BREW platform, and its games were delivered via a 3G mobile network. It was only sold in Brazil, Mexico, and China.
 
|}
 
  
=== Eighth generation ===
+
==References==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
+
<references/>
! scope="col"|Name
 
! scope="col"|[[MAME]] support
 
! scope="col"|ROMs
 
! scope="col"|Description
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Ouya|Ouya]]
 
|None
 
|None
 
|
 
|-
 
|Funtastic TV Adventures
 
|None
 
|None
 
|Released in 2015 by Wal-Mart under their Kid Connection brand, the Funtastic is an educational console made for preschoolers and the only games known to have been released for the system are the two pack-in games. It's unknown how many units were sold or when it was discontinued.
 
|-
 
|[https://www.clementoni.com/it/myclembox/ My Clem Box]
 
|None
 
|None
 
|Released in 2018 by Italian toy company Clementoni and sold exclusively in Italy, My Clem Box is an educational console with Wii-like motion controls. Because it's still being sold, it unknown how games will be made for it and when it well be discontinued. Info on how many units have been sold so far have not been released to the public.
 
|-
 
|Smart TV Consoles
 
|None
 
|None
 
|Launched sometime in the early 2010s by Italian toy company Clementoni, Smart TV is series of educational consoles sold exclusively in Italy. The controllers of these console ranged from traditional to the gimmicky with some having motion and PS2 EyeToy-like controls. It's unknown how many games were released for these systems.
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
==Handhelds==
+
{{Nintendo}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 
! scope="col"|Name
 
! scope="col"|[[MAME]] support
 
! scope="col"|ROMs
 
! scope="col"|Description
 
|-
 
!colspan="4"|Before 1991
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Digi Casse|Bandai Digi Casse]]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Originally released in Japan by Bandai in 1984, another short-lived console from the early 80s. Only had around 4 to 6 games released for it. The console was released in Europe by an unknown company and in Russia as the Elektronika NM 26, both sometime in the late 80s.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Epoch_Game_Pocket_Computer|Epoch Game Pocket Computer]]
 
|Good
 
|Yes
 
|Only 5 games exist for this handheld (Released in 1984). All can be found [http://www.theoldcomputer.com/roms/index.php?folder=Epoch/Game-Pocket-Computer/Cartridges here].
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Grandstand_(game_manufacturer)#Projector-based_'Light'_games|Grandstand Light Games]]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Have you every played a poor Game & Watch clone and said to yourself "I Would Love to Play This On The Big Screen"? Then the Light Games from 1988 is for you. It has a built-in projector and less then 10 games released for it. It's unknown how many units were sold or when it was discontinued.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Game_Master_(console)|Hartung Game Master]]
 
|Decent
 
|Yes (No-intro)
 
|A German Game Boy knockoff released in 1990. Also distributed in the UK as the '''Systema 2000''' and under alternate names in other countries, including '''Super Game''' and '''Game Tronic'''. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay9dZ-RBpQA Demonstration]
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Palmtex Portable Videogame System|Palmtex PVS / Super Micro]]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in 1984, Super Micro was a handheld console similar to the Milton Bradley Microvision in design. Bad timing, a lack of advertising, and issues with its design and quality (the plastic body is vary fragile) resulted in failure. Palmtex sold less then 37,000 units and discontinued the console the same year it was released. Only three of the eight games announced were released.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Romtec Colorvision|Romtec Colorvision]]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in 1984, The Colorvision was another cheaply made console released during the Video Game Crash. It's unknown how many units were sold or when it was discontinued. Only 5 games were released for it.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:VTech 3D Gamate|VTech 3D Gamate]]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|An extremely rare console released in 1983 by VTech, it's unknown how many units were sold and was likely discontinued shortly after released. While six games were announced, only 3 are known to have been released.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:VTech Variety|VTech Variety]]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Another extremely rare console released from VTech in 1983, like the 3D Gamate. It's unknown how many units were sold and was also likely discontinued shortly after released. Only six games are known to have been released for it.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:List_of_VTech_Handheld_electronic_games|VTech ProScreen]]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Yet another extremely rare console from VTech, The ProScreen was released in 1984 and only three games are known to have been released.
 
|-
 
!colspan="4"|1991-2000
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Design Master Senshi Mangajukuu|Bandai Denshi Manga Juku]]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in Japan by Bandai in 1995, the Denshi Manga Juku was a touchscreen-based console that was the predecessor to the WonderSwan. It was discontinued in 1996 and only four games were released for it (including of all things, an exclusive Rockman aka Mega Man game).
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Barcode Battler|Barcode Battler]]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in Japan by Epoch in 1991 and internationally later the same year. The console was basically a digital trading card game, whereas the player used Barcodes to get new characters, enemies and power-ups, Barcode cards were available in packs and the player was even encouraged to use Barcodes found on everyday products around the house. The Barcode Battler was hugely popular in Japan but a major flop everywhere else. It's unknown how many units were sold or how many cards were officially released.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Cybiko|Cybiko/Cybiko Xtreme ]]
 
|Imperfect
 
|[https://archive.org/download/TOSEC_V2017-04-23/Cybiko/ TOSEC]
 
|The Cybiko is a Russian handheld computer introduced in the U.S. by David Yang's company Cybiko Inc. as a retail test market in New York on April 2000, and rolled out nationwide in May 2000. It is designed for teens, featuring its own two-way radio text messaging system. It had over 430 "official" freeware games and applications.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Gamate|Gamate]]
 
|Good
 
|Yes
 
|Another attempt to capture part of the Game Boy market, the Gamate was released in the early 90s by Bit Corporation. The magnitude of its failure makes it and its software obscenely rare today, with prices over 500 dollars for the handheld alone on eBay. It's so obscure that it wasn't until December 2014 when preliminary support for the handheld was added in MAME, and ROM dumps were made.
 
|-
 
|[http://videogamekraken.com/philips-in2it In2it]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|The Philips In2it is an unreleased touchscreen-based console that never matured past internal testing and media press kits. Unfortunately after the failure of the CD-I, the console was cancelled and only 10 out of the few hundred systems manufactured are known to still exist. Furthermore, 10 games are known to have been made for it.
 
|-
 
|Koei PasoGo
 
|None
 
|No
 
|In 1996, Koei released a Game Boy competitor in Japan called the PasoGo, and for some reason Koei decided to market it as being designed specifically to play the traditional Asian board game, Go. The console flopped thanks to its high price tag of 39,800 Yen (about $600 when adjusted for inflation), the size of the device, and the fact that all six launch titles were slightly different versions of Go. It's unknown how many units were sold or when it was discontinued.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Mega_Duck|MegaDuck/CougarBoy]]
 
|Good
 
|Yes
 
|Chinese knockoff Game Boy (Made and released in 1993 by a Hong Kong firm) that was branded with various bizarre names, despite each version being exactly the same. Used cartridges. ROMs are out there, surprisingly.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Pixter|Pixter]]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in 2000 as Fisher-Price's first Video Game Console, the Pixter was one of many consoles from the 2000s sold in the toy aisle and marketed towards children; around 25 to 50 games were released for it before being discontinued in 2007.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Game.com|Tiger Game.com]]
 
|Imperfect
 
|No-intro // [https://archive.org/download/TOSEC_V2017-04-23/Tiger/ TOSEC]
 
|Launched on August 1997. An infamous piece of shit, with quite possibly the worst screen on any handheld ever. Somehow still had a "port" of Resident Evil 2. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfxzVFzvizE CGR review]. Notable milestones in industry: it was the first video game console to include a touchscreen and the first handheld console to include Internet connectivity.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Watara_Supervision|Watara Supervision]]
 
|Good
 
|No-intro // [https://archive.org/download/TOSEC_V2017-04-23/Watara/ TOSEC]
 
|An attempt at making a real competitor for the Game Boy/Color and introduced in 1992.
 
|-
 
!colspan="4"|2001-2010
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:iPod|Apple iPod]]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|In 2006, Apple introduced "iPod games" as there first step into the handheld console market, despite having third party companies like Square Enix, Hudson Soft and EA making games for the iPod, it wasn't the huge hit they hoped it would be, a mix of awkward click wheel controls, controversy over pricing and the lack of an iPod-specific SDK resulted in a lack of interest from developers and a quick decline in game sales, Apple stopped releasing iPod games in 2009 and removed them from the iTunes store in 2011, Around 50 games were released for the iPod.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:List_of_commercial_failures_in_video_gaming#digiBlast|DigiBlast]]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|The DigiBlast is a Linux-based console from 2005 that was meant to compete with both the GameBoy Advance and the VideoNow series of portable video players, Unfortunately despite having a solid launch lineup, The system was a major flop and quickly became one of the worst selling consoles ever released, only selling about 100,000 units in its short lifespan.
 
|-
 
|Fisher-Price iXL
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in 2010 and discontinued in 2012, The iXL is a Touchscreen-based console designed for kids 3 to 7 years of age, it's unknown how many units were sold or how many games were released for it.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Gameking|GameKing]]
 
|[http://www.progettoemma.net/mess/system.php?machine=gameking Preliminary]
 
|Yes
 
|A rather bastardized attempt at making a Gameboy-esque handheld, manufactured and marketed by TimeTop (aka Guangzhou Daidaixing Tec. Electronics Co. Ltd.) in 2003. Strangely enough, this one's even more primitive than the Supervision, Gamate and Mega Duck consoles before it, as it uses a lower-resolution 64x32 screen, and that's despite companies such as Subor (i.e. that Chinese company who gained notoriety for developing an AMD-based gaming PC/console hybrid) releasing workalike clones of the [[Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulators|Game Boy]] and, more recently, GBA clones. MAME support for it is preliminary at best.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Gizmondo|Gizmondo]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|Yes (No-intro)
 
|A disaster of a handheld, the Gizmondo was released in 2005 with a furious marketing campaign. It was ahead of its time in that it (was supposed to have) included built-in advertisements to make the console cheaper. [https://youtu.be/dv6UaHZxUys LGR Review]
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:GP32|GP32]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|Yes (No-intro)
 
|A Korean handheld, it was released on November 23, 2001, in South Korea only. It was the first handheld to use SD cards and had pretty good specs for the time, so everybody ended up just jailbreaking it and using it as an emulator/homebrew platform. The developers later went on to develop the more successful GP2X line, which was designed from the ground up for emulators. An emulator was made for the system in 2002 called "GeePee32" that is known to be able to emulate many commercial games for the system, though some lack sound. However, the project is inactive. It can be found here: [http://users.skynet.be/bk327964/gp32/]
 
|-
 
|Giochi Preziosi My Life
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in Italy in 2007, My Life was marketed towards young girls five to thirteen years of age, A Simple life simulator serves as the built-in game and as the main UI. How many units sold, number of games were released and when it was discontinued is unknown.
 
|-
 
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20170110002414/http://kmagic.kskids.com/ K-Magic]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in 2010 by K's Kids for the 0-6 years market, The K-Magic is an educational handheld console that used cartridges called "Magic Cards" and was overall designed to be as simple as possible. It was discontinued in 2018 with the release of the K-Magic 2. It's unknown how many games were made for it or how many units were sold.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Leapster|Leapster]]
 
|Preliminary
 
|Yes (No-intro)
 
|The Leapster Learning Game System (Released in late 2003) is an educational handheld game console aimed at 4 to 10-year-olds (preschool to fourth grade) and made by LeapFrog Enterprises. Its games teach the alphabet, phonics, basic mathematics (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), art, and animal facts to players. It featured a touchscreen and games from various licenses from Thomas & Friends to Sonic X. Oddly enough it's successors, i.e. the Didj, Leapster Explorer, and LeapPad series of tablets which run on the Pollux and NXP3200 platforms along with a customized Linux distribution has a homebrew scene that even features some emulators.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Pokemon_Mini|Nintendo Pokémon Mini]]
 
|Decent
 
|[https://archive.org/download/TOSEC_V2017-04-23/Nintendo/Pokemon%20Mini/ TOSEC]
 
|A very downgraded Game Boy (But also the tiniest cart-based handheld device made by Nintendo). It was first released in NA and then Japan on late 2001. Only Pokemon related games were released, and its catalog of games is also very limited. It's also very rare nowadays. Decent support in MAME, though there are other choices to play these games on other emulators.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:N-Gage_(device)|Nokia N-Gage]]
 
|None
 
|Yes
 
|Nokia's attempt at making a cell phone/handheld system hybrid, before mobile gaming really took off. Although it was the most powerful handheld in its time and released in October 2003, it failed due to a high price, a terrible button layout, numerous design flaws, and its underdeveloped cell phone component. Had a redesign called the QD, but it was only slightly better. Most of its games were ports, either from the GBA or from the PS1 and Saturn. While it didn't have any standout titles, it still had a few odd original entries from big franchises such as Elder Scrolls Travels: Shadowkey and SSX: Out of Bounds, and was the only system to have an English version of Xanadu Next (before the 2016 global re-release for Windows PCs). There's one emulator called N-GageCool, but it's dead payware that only runs Java games. [[Cellphone_emulators#N-Gage_(Nokia)|Modern open source emulators]] are in the works.
 
|-
 
|[https://bootleggames.fandom.com/wiki/POP_Station POP Station]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|This infamous Game & Watch clone was originally released sometime between late 2004 and 2006 by an Unknown Chinese Manufacturer, the first few modals had a selection of four games and each system only had one built-in game, meaning you would need to buy four of them to get all the games available, later models used interchangeable cartridges. it's unknown if these later models are were made by the same manufacturer that made original systems or if theirs other companies making clones. It's unknown how many units have been sold so far.
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Tapwave_Zodiac|Tapwave Zodiac]]
 
|None
 
|[http://www.theoldcomputer.com/roms/index.php?folder=Tapwave/Zodiac Some]
 
|A handheld released in 2003 that used an enhanced Palm OS. Ahead for its time, even receiving awards. However, the PSP and Nintendo DS killed it. [https://youtu.be/Mz3nNKQRnNQ LGR Review]
 
|-
 
|Teachermate Handheld Educational Computer
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in 2008 by the non-profit company, Teachermate, This educational handheld console was only sold to schools and taught kids in a Kindergarten to Second Grade level,  It's unknown how many games were made for it, how many units sold or when it was discontinued. 
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:VideoNow XP|VideoNow XP]]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in 2003 and underwent 5 total revisions. An often forgotten attempt by Hasbro and their subsidiary Tiger Electronics (of Game.com fame) to use the popularity of their VideoNow portable video players to enter the Video Game market.
 
|-
 
!colspan="4"|2011-2020
 
|-
 
|C2: Color & Card
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in 2015 in China by Baiyi Animation, The extremely rare, C2 was made to bank on the popularity of Roco Kingdom films but ultimately it was a flop. Only 6 games were made for it and was discontinued shortly after released.
 
|-
 
|[https://www.clementoni.com/it-en/16612-clemstation-60/ Clemstation 6.0]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in 2018 by Clementoni, the Clemstation is an "multimedia educational console" only sold in Italy that appears to be on a running custom version of Android. Because it's still being sold, it unknown how games will be made for it and when it well be discontinued, info on how many units have been sold so far not been released to the public.
 
|-
 
|[https://evercade.co.uk Evercade]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Evercade is an upcoming cartridge based handheld that will be released on April 9th, 2020 . The console designed to emulate officially licensed retro games and games from Indie publishers / developers. Since the console has yet to be released, it unknown how games will be made for it, when it well be discontinued or how many units of this system will sell.
 
|-
 
|[https://liliputing.com/2012/11/lg-kids-pad-tablet-hits-south-korea-for-276.html Kids Pad]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in 2012 by LG. The Kids Pad was only sold in South Korea and featured an app store and support for cartridges. How many units sold, number of games were released and when it was discontinued is unknown.
 
|-
 
|[http://kmagic.kskids.com/ K-Magic 2]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released in 2018 by K's Kids for the 0-6 years market, The K-Magic 2 simplifies the original console by having everything already built-in and ready for parents and children to use, Because it's still being sold, when it well be discontinued and info on how many units have been sold so far not been released to the public.
 
|-
 
|M&D Monon Color
 
|Preliminary
 
|No
 
|Like the C2, The Monon Color from 2014 also tried to bank on the popularity of Roco Kingdom films and was only slightly more successful than it; it's unknown how many games (At least 15) were released for it or when it was discontinued. Preliminary support for it was added in MAME [https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/a9i37l/mame_0205/ 0.205] on [https://wiki.mamedev.org/index.php/MAME_0.205 December 2018].
 
|-
 
|[https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/zukanneopad NEO Consoles]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|Released  in 2017.by Takara Tomy. The NEO Series are educational consoles only sold in Japan and appear to be using a custom version of Android. Because it's still being sold, it unknown how games will be made for it and when it well be discontinued, info on how many units have been sold so far not been released to the public.
 
|-
 
|[https://play.date Playdate]
 
|None
 
|No
 
|The Playdate is an upcoming handheld with a released date of sometime in 2020. The console has a monochrome screen similar to an e-paper display one would find on a Kindle. Game development is aimed mainly at indie studios. Since the console has yet to be released, it unknown how games will be made for it, when it well be discontinued or how many units of this system will sell.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
[[Category:Consoles|*]]
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[[Category:Consoles]]
[[Category:Third-generation video game consoles|*]]
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[[Category:Home consoles]]
[[Category:Fourth-generation video game consoles|*]]
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[[Category:Sixth-generation video game consoles]]
[[Category:Fifth-generation video game consoles|*]]
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[[Category:Nintendo consoles]]
[[Category:Sixth-generation video game consoles|*]]
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[[Category:GameCube emulators|*]]
[[Category:Seventh-generation video game consoles|*]]
 
[[Category:Eighth-generation video game consoles|*]]
 

Revision as of 03:19, 20 October 2021

Nintendo GameCube
GameCube-logo.png
GameCube-Console-Set.png
Developer Nintendo
Type Home video game console
Generation Sixth generation
Release date 2001
Discontinued 2007
Predecessor Nintendo 64
Successor Wii
Emulated

The GameCube (GCN/NGC) is a 32-bit sixth-generation console released by Nintendo on November 18, 2001 for $199. It has a IBM PowerPC Gekko CPU at 486 MHz with a ATI Flipper GPU. Nintendo, Namco, and Sega later designed the Triforce arcade board based on the GameCube, releasing titles for it the next year.

Nintendo released the successor, the Wii, in 2006 where it was revealed to have very similar (albeit more powerful) hardware and compatible interfaces. This meant that the Wii could handle GameCube games natively rather than use 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

Name Platform(s) Latest Version Wii Triforce Libretro Core FLOSS Active Recommended
PC / x86
Dolphin Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD Dev ~[N 1] [N 2]
Ishiiruka-Dolphin Windows Linux macOS Dev ~ ~
Dolwin Windows Linux 1.6
Dolphin (Nintendo) Windows e2.8
Mobile / ARM
Dolphin Android Linux Dev ~[N 1]
Dolphin MMJR Android git
git (360)
~
Consoles
Nintendont Wii Wii U 2021-07-12 ~ N/A ~
  1. 1.0 1.1 Requires the Triforce branch to work. It is very old and unsupported.
  2. Currently at Alpha release and has bugs that are not present on standalone Dolphin.

Comparisons

Dolphin
is the emulator of choice for the GameCube and the first and only emulator for the Wii. 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 boot the full game catalogue 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. System requirements are high, more so for Wii games than GameCube. As of May 2021, Dolphin's compatibility is at 96% of the games being playable or perfect.
Ishiiruka-Dolphin
is a fork of Dolphin optimized towards performance at the cost of accuracy and stability in the process. Its most important features are:
  • Async shader compilation (Avoiding shader compilation time)
  • Galop's DX11 Texture Encoder/Decoder (Improve Texture decoding specially EFB TO RAM)
  • Pre-compiled Vertex loader & Optimized vertex decoding using SSSE3 and SSE4
  • Dolby Pro Logic II support for XAudio and OpenAL
  • Custom Texture improvements to allow directly compressed texture loading including mipmaps
  • DSP - Time Stretching Option (Improve sound output to avoid sound skipping on slow machines)
  • DX9 support for old machines
  • Modified Post Processing interface to support:
  • Multiple Stages allowing more complex effects.
  • Depth and native gamma as inputs.
  • Custom version of DolphinFX that work under dx11 and ogl
  • SSAO and DOF.
  • Texture Scaling Support
  • Bump Mapping with advanced material properties
  • Phong Specular reflection to improve lighting quality
  • Tessellation and Displacement Mapping
  • Rim Lighting
  • Bump auto-generation to improve lighting
Dolwin
an open-source Nintendo GameCube emulator which initially started development in 2004. It went into hiatus but is now active. With that in mind, it's not the most advanced but has interesting features and can boot and run some commercial games and demos...
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.
Nintendont
Is not actually a GameCube emulator, only emulating certain peripherals. Heavily relies on the hardware similarities between the Gamecube/Wii/Wii U to work. Included here due to its partial Triforce compatibility.

Running BIOS

To boot the GameCube's original BIOS, 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, as well as hybrid XFB. If you're on the 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 into the main menu instead of booting the game. You can then switch to another game with Change Disc, or you can explore the BIOS.

Peripherals

GC/GBA Cable

Nintendo produced a special cable (DOL-011) that allowed connectivity with the Game Boy Advance in 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.

Dolphin includes a GBA core based on mGBA that is tied to GameCube emulation, which allows for a very stable connection that works with features such as save states and netplay. Dolphin can also connect to standalone versions of mGBA; this is necessary for some less commonly used features such as e-Reader support or cases where the GBA has to be disconnected from the GameCube. Both of these 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.

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 Game Boy Advance Video cartridges by returning an error after booting them. The launcher even had support for 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.

No emulator currently supports the Game Boy Player hardware and its features. With mGBA now integrated into Dolphin, support for it has been hinted as coming in the future.[1]

Broadband Adapter

This shouldn't be confused with netplay, which synchronizes emulation over an internet connection.

This was an add-on that allowed the console to use LAN technology over ethernet. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! used it to play on a local network with up to eight other GameCubes while Phantasy Star Online took it a step further to allow an internet connection for Sega's now-offline official game servers. Kirby Air Ride and 1080° Avalanche also support this adapter. This feature was unavailable on the Wii despite having 802.11 b/g connectivity built-in and an official USB LAN adaptor.

It's possible to hook up zero or more of each of these configurations on one networked game:

  • A GameCube with the broadband adapter (of course)
  • A soft modded Wii with Devolution
  • A recent version of Dolphin with OpenVPN

Dolphin has support for the Broadband Adapter on Windows and Linux. Go to Config > GameCube. A drop-down for SP1 will have the Broadband Adaptor or BBA, depending on the version of Dolphin you're running. Their wiki contains up to date instructions on setting up a VPN.

Nintendont also has partial BBA emulation for certain games.

Bongos

This is a special controller used with Donkey Konga and other Donkey Kong games released for the GameCube. Dolphin supports this controller.

Microphone

This was an accessory bundled with Mario Party 6 & Mario Party 7 that 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.

Triforce

The Triforce is an arcade system board developed jointly by Namco, 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, as well as a custom IPL.

Dolphin used to have Triforce support, however it was removed several years ago. Nevertheless, a branch remains, and it 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, with many having 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 (public) good 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 here.


Triforce games can also be ran through Nintendont.

Panasonic Q

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 Xbox and 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 was only able to 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, 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.

Resources

  • Dolphin Wiki - The most comprehensive wiki for the Dolphin emulator and games. Good for any fixes/tweaks/settings you should know beforehand.

References