We have seen some pretty impressive retro gaming creations over the years here on Nintendo Life. There was the huge, fully-functional DS, the Mario Kart gaming cabinet and a LEGO GBA, but this latest build shared by Macho Nacho Productions might just be the most impressive that we have seen for a long while (thanks, Nintendo Wire).
If the headline or the above video hasn't given it away already, a pair of modders by the names of Wesk Retro-fit and CrazyGadget have developed a device called the GC Nano — the world's smallest working GameCube that is made up of real Nintendo hardware.
As outlined in Macho Nacho's video, the build makes use of the Wii's backwards compatibility, trimming the console's motherboard down to its smallest possible size. The result is a device that (excluding the absence of the working disk drive) is a near identical replica of the GameCube, but one that measures in at around the same size as an original Game Boy cartridge.
All of the details of the build are shared in the presentation video at the top of this article, but we can't leave without stressing that the device offers four-player multiplayer just like the original GameCube and runs all of the games without the need for emulation. Now that's pretty neat.
The creators of the device have detailed every step of the project over on the BitBuilt forum, though it does seem to be a build that requires a fair amount of expertise, so we won't be trying it ourselves for the time being.
What do you make of this pocket-sized project? Let us know in the comments.
[source youtube.com, via nintendowire.com]
Comments 27
Not interested because it cannot play the legit Gamecube disc.
Uses authentic Nintendo hardware, but you can't play the discs.
So what exactly has been achieved here...?! A smaller version of a plastic cube?
I know, I know. Who am I to judge? I'm just not impressed by this. Sorry.
Smol gamecube, must protect
So it's a real Gamecube, but its not!
Really impressive.
@nocdaes you play the games off usb
If it doesn't take the actual physical disks (surely that means any games you play on it are ROM files then), how is this any different to just having an emulated version inside a similarly tiny box, as in what advantage is there to the end user to it using original components here? I mean, it doesn't take the original discs, original memory cards or even the original controllers directly, so it might as well just be some Pi version running ROMs that I can tell.
Oh it's just another mini wii mod... Not even a GameCube. Impressive, but simultaneously not :/
microSD cards ?so they are playing with iLlEgAl iSo rOmZ
Get them, Nintendo.
@RetroGames Emulation isn't as accurate as using the real hardware. This device runs the games exactly as they were meant to be.
I'm a little bit worried that this could overheat easily. I mean, surely the original system was made bigger to allow more air to transfer heat.
Pretty cool and happy they shared the steps to build it for those interested in making one themselves (not me personally, but still)!
@nintendr0ne It is possible to use a softmodded Wii to rip GameCube ISOs for one's own legal use.
It doesn't run the discs? That is not original.
Insert Ian Malcolm "...so pre-occupied with whether or not they could" speech.
Fun, but entirely pointless mod. No clue what problem it's trying to solve or what benefit it has other than causing fleeting curiosity and boosting internet cred for the creators.
Real GameCube... kinda
@KoopaTheGamer Ah, yeah, I see now: It's still running a ROM file, since it can't take the actual discs, but those ROM files are running on basically the original hardware just cut down and shoved into a little box. Not sure they wouldn't have been much better off just using an FPGA then, rather than cutting up a real GC motherboard.
It's dinkily cute. But seems like a super weird set of conditions to set up.
Just give us a Gamecube mini, come on Nintendo, make it happen!!!!!!!
I think some people are missing the point. Perhaps intentionally?
First, imagine a Gamecube emulation box the same size and shape as this. That's pretty cool on its own.
Now, instead of like an FPGA or a Snapdragon Android SOC, imagine it was using the actual chips from a real Gamecube (or Wii).
Bam, real hardware. Flawless accuracy to the original experience. And SD cards instead of discs makes it even better than the original experience. This is the Gamecube mini that people are asking for!
And I thought the Gamecube couldn'tget any cuter.
@RetroGames fpga GameCubes don’t exist sadly
@RetroGames FPGA is great for older consoles, but you would need a very powerful FPGA to run GameCube games. Not sure if such a chip exists yet. But in a few years, sure.
Sooo... no discs. Does it emulate?
Several others beat me to it, but this device is not a GameCube by any definition. It is a GameCube emulation device with at least some authentic GameCube parts.
This is not a knock on Macho Nacho - they do great work and some really impressive mods! I just object somewhat to the suggestion that this is a GameCube. Heck, an Analogue NT has more claim to being a Nintendo Entertainment System, since it uses real hardware and plays original Game Paks.
@RetroGames
Normies dont understand the benefits of FPGA.
Actually, we are getting N64 support soon on the MiSTer but gamecube is likely impossible.
Is this the section where bitter people put down someone elses hobby and projects? Ah yes, it appears so.
Much of the carefully chosen language in the video has been lost in the writing of this article. Anyway, it's a great video of a great community achievement.
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