@@nirgunawish Yes. DOL-001 supports the HDMI adapter and SD2SP2. I don't care much one way or the other about the SD2SP2, but true digital HDMI is quite nice compared to the much cheaper Analog to Digital converters.
@@i4NiLeon11 No, but once you get into Swiss it's very very very simple - you just put .dol and .iso files on the SD card and run / play them. Outside of emulators and ISOs (which are covered in this video), there's not much else to do for the typical casual gamer.
Straight to the point. I like you presentation. While I'm not old to the entire homebrew scene I'm a little new to the GC-HB Scene. You definitely cleared up some questions I had regarding a bunch of certain things. Thanks!
I've installed the Xeno chip in a few systems. Burned discs always worked no problem without any lens adjustments. So not all systems will need laser tweaking.
I was thinking of ordering a xeno from aliexpress, but when he mentioned the laser thing I got turned off, on aliexpress it has the SD2SP2 and the xeno chip and a mini DVD disc in the listing my question is what is that disc? if you have the xeno do you need to use a boot disc and is that what that is? or is just a disc with software for your PC like swiss etc, does using the xeno with a SD2SP2 require me to rely on a boot disc and the laser being tuned righ?
@@andreamitchell4758 that disk must just be extra software to use other things. I know that with a xeno chip you should just be able to burn whatever game to a disk and have it load without the use of an extra boot disk. Like I mentioned before, I haven't had to make any lens adjustments but depending on the type of disks being used a minor lens adjustment might be needed
@@Chris-Courage thanks but I meant if you want to load a backup from an SD gecko or an SD2SP2 with swiss ,do you need a boot disc for that? or would the xeno chip just automatically look for the swiss boot file and if it finds it on the D gecko or SD2SP2 then load it ,or is there a button combo or something I assumed that the disc was a boot disc for loading swiss from an SD /gecko/SD2SP2 I just watched a tutorial about the POT mod and the guy said that it's because the DVD-R discs are darker on the laser side and the laser needs to be turned up brighter to compensate to read the darker colored discs, but a pressed disc would be the same color so it might not be an issue then I suppose
This is such a great video; it's short, sweet, and to the point. I learned everything I had been looking for, in just under seven minutes. Thanks a bunch. For the other thing that shouldn't be mentioned, there's a big thread with lots of info on Reddit.
Okay this was VERY helpful but I am gonna need to go back and watch this again with a pen and paper as it was SO condensed. But seriously, that’s a good thing. Thank you for keeping it so trim and for also including the times in the description! I can’t wait to get started. I haven’t dealt with games console homebrew since the PSP.
2024 update: FlippyBoot is the way to go. 2023 update: At this point, I think that every single thing that I personally ever used GameCube Homebrew for can now be done on the Switch. The gamecube is still awesome, but... I don't know if I'll ever need to boot it up again. Bittersweet.
2 mins in and it’s information overload already. Excellent video with a wealth of information. ❤️ I’ll have to watch this a few times over ….I’m a lot slower…kinda like the slow memory card 😅
GCLoader looks awesome, but it's too expensive for me to justify buying one. If my laser ever starts to burn out, I'll seriously consider it. If you have the money for it, definitely go for it. The tech is solid - it's an excellent solution.
Your post on the web really helped me work my way through the process. My biggest mistake was not buying a 2 GB non-HC micro SD right off the bat. If you use ANYTHING ELSE on the Smart Media Launcher it’s crap.
Something to keep in mind is a lot of this is pre-boom of people wanting to access these things. You're bound to not understand everything reference here. Plus you need to keep in mind this is intended to be a comprehensive video from multiple resources to explain things. Alternatives likely exist and you should seek em out (homebrew is neat and there's lotta resources out there).
I'm surprised you didn't mention the GC Loader for enabling homebrew. It replaces the entire dvd assembly with a pcb and sd card. Load your backups onto an sd card and good to go. No soldering required.
That didn't exist yet when I scripted the video. Also, it's still a bit pricey, DIY-ish, and not yet fully compatible with Swiss and other homebrew (i.e. emulators) - you can't update config or write save files to the inserted card. If you're going to take the whole thing apart you might as well put in the XenoGC. That said, I think GC Loader is your best option if your laser is starting to fail. Once everything is updated and made compatible I may get one - by that time they may also be cheaper and manufactured versions (rather than 3d printed fittings) may exist - just like what happened with the Carby / Kaico.
@@ketchup901 You can play backups of your games. DVDs don’t last forever. Load times are faster. And it’s a non-destructive mod, no soldering involved. You can easily make it stock again.
Thanks - just be warned that most of it isn't about games and most of it I didn't spend 30+ hours to produce. I wanted this to literally be the best GameCube homebrew overview on the Internet, and I did my best to make it so. I probably spent twice as much time on this as I've even spent on any video project.
Without a doubt the best homebrew video I've come across for any console. No fluff, no fat, and targeted at people who have already done their own research but gotten a bit lost.
@@coolaj86 I continued to do some research to make sure I was doing things right and found the pi pico to be by far the best loader. It wasn't out when you made the video but worth adding to the description or a comment. The sd2sp2 also has a "pro" model for only a few bucks more that rotates the card 90° and makes it accessible from the side for those using a Gameboy player. Lastly my fan was very loud so I used a fan mount adaptor from lazer bear industries to use regular 50mm fans. It also mounts the pico.
I don't believe in messing with it at all personally. I use Action Replay with Gecko's and a 2 GB SD formatted to FAT in port two. I run all my stuff of SD Card or original disk because you can also use the Action Replay as a Freeloader. I never use fake disks and I just run my Gameboy Player off the 2GB SD.
I do prefer Swiss for loading backups. I load the compressed Swiss autoexec.dol from Action Replay to load backups from the SD2SP2 (though at the time of the video I was using Wind Waker because I found swapping between a memory card loaded with GCI and Swiss convenient). It's definitely better for the laser's lifespan load backup NKIT.ISOs rather than to use burned discs, or originals.
Excellent video. What's the issue with 7-zip? No cost to download (free as in cash), open license (LGPL), lzma2 compression and available on just about any platform. Ssome older homebrew or emulators may only read into zip archives but you can also extract and re-zip with 7-zip as well. On embedded systems with a limited CPU you might use zip to avoid taxing the system or using more memory.
Virtually nothing supports 7z aside from 7zip, which is Windows-only and p7zip, which requires a 400mb download on Mac. If after 20+ years it still hasn't caught on, it's just time to let it die. See coolaj86.com/articles/re-7z-ditch-the-underground-use-xz-instead/
@@coolaj86 You've converted me. It's humorous that 7-Zip on Windows is still useful if for no other reason than to extract xz files with a gui. The windows pre-built binaries for xz utils also conveniently give you a zip or 7z binary download choice. I've not yet been in any barroom fights over 7-Zip's superiority but will keep the guns holstered for the xz shootout.
@@coolaj86 hum I just uncompressed the .7z for swiss on my mac running on Catalina 10.15.7 without any special utility (using the standard Archive utility)
@@Mystic-Voyager And so it is. Nice find. Unfortunately I can't find anything that gives me hope it could be used via CLI: stackoverflow.com/a/7829044/151312
Thank goodness I'm getting into this now that picoboot is an option. Although I had to solder a little, I got it even with no prior experience and shaky hands lol. Lost a component but all it did was prevent me from using the SP2 port so I had to get an SD Gecko, but all in all, not a hard mod to run Swiss.
Yes. GC Loader / Lite was *just* released around this time. I still think that's a better choice than Picoboot, but KunaiGC is new to me - I'll have to look that up.
This was an extremely informative video and I am in the same spot you were in when you started this journey. I'm looking for a way where I can play GameBoy and GameBoy Advanced Games on my Gamecube using the GameBoy Player but without the disc. Even after watching this video (which helped a lot with understanding things) I'm not 100% confident in my ability. If I wanted to play GBA games using the GameBoy Player without the disc, is there a way I can do that using the memory slot on the GameCube? I know I can do it if I have another game like Wind Waker but due to a fire all I have is Crash Tag Team and NHL 07 so thats not an option for me and GC games are pricey right now :P Right now all I have is an SD card and MicroSD card from previous electronics, my GameCube, and the above mentioned games. I don't have a Wii but I can get the SD to GC memory slot adapter if i need too, what would be the best option for me to simply play GBA games using the GameBoy Player and are there easy to follow tutorials anyone recommends? Thank you for reading this and thank you for any help provided!
Shhh! Don't tell... but I'm working on my follow-up video to answer exactly your question. Here's my research material so far: gchomebrew.com/gamesave-exploits
If you just want gbi and nothing else, you can buy memory cards on ebay that are preloaded with save exploits and the GBI software so all you need to do is plug the memory card into slot a and insert a game disc from a list of compatible gamecube games that would be included in the listing. When the gamecube tries to load the hacked save it will instead boot into GBI.
it's not necessary to create a memory card if you already have action replay at hand. just put swiss on there, launch it and then replace your small 2GB SD card with a bigger one that holds all of your games.
I'd put the likelihood of that somewhere between 0 and None. HOWEVER, now that it's gone perhaps it will stir up motivation to make a Swiss disc that uses the same hack. An order of 1000 mini DVDs would cost less than $1000, so if someone can replicate the copy protection it can probably be manufactured and distributed. In the meantime you might consider the GC Loader or GC Loader Lite. I have a few for sale: github.com/GameCubeHomebrew/GameSave-Exploits/issues/8
Hey AJ. Dug up my old GC from my parents' place and it still purrs like a kitten, after thousands upon thousands of hours. I want to backup/digitize all my GC save data from my childhood, while everything is still functional, so that I can use the saves in emulation if my memory cards or my GC eventually stop working. Unfortunately, Datel is no longer stocking the SD Media Launcher - what would be your recommendation and shopping list for my use-case? I have an original copy of Wind Waker, SSB:M, a Gameboy player add-on, and an original unmodded GC from launch, if that helps any. Much thanks. 😎🙏 PS - I sincerely appreciate how much time and effort you've clearly put into this video. It's incredibly dense, and I'm a little overwhelmed by all the info, admittedly. New to the Homebrew world but I'm pretty technical otherwise.
Check out ua-cam.com/video/lUTk3ARrltA/v-deo.html There may also be some newer videos that are better. There's also a new plug 'n' play no-solder swappable drive.
I hope this doesn't sound harsh -- why do you recommend the Datel) Action Replay SD Media Launcher disc even though it is, in your words, "outdated and very slow" - wouldn't buying a card pre-loaded with Swiss just make more sense? Also, that disk is sold out on the CodeJunkie's website.
This _is_ a few years old - obviously I can't back-edit the video to account for what's happened since - and I do have a video on GameSave Exploits (ua-cam.com/video/lUTk3ARrltA/v-deo.html), but the reason I prefer the Datel disc is that you can't accidentally format it, and you can use it to make Hacked Game Saves, so it's a win-win. Also, the Datel Disc turns out to be just as fast as anything else with the compressed Swiss binaries that came out after the video.
@@coolaj86 Hey, thanks for the reply! So from my gathering of knowledge, is buying a memory card pre-loaded with Swiss, a copy of Wind Waker and/or Smash Bros Melee, and then 1 or 2 SD Gecko cards (for storing game saves) the best way to go today?
@@tylergoodwin9408 There are some new options. One of them is a drive replacement called GC Loader (Lite) - which is pretty plug-and-play, no soldering. Another is the Wii U - which we previously thought wasn't a GC, but it is, it turns out!
I have a question about the SD Media Loader. If I order from the website with the EU region as described in the video, does it still work on any GameCube regardless of region? Just wanted to confirm before purchasing. Love the video and really want to homebrew my GameCube!
Sadly, no. There's no such thing as a region-free disc. Since the US versions are sold out you'll need to do a GameSave hack (such as WWHack for Wind Waker) or you'll need to solder in a XenoGC. :-/
@@coolaj86 I appreciate you getting back to me so quickly! That is sad to hear. So I have no soldering knowledge but I also don't have the money to drop on Windwaker. How difficult would it be for someone with no experience to Solder the XenoGC Chip?
@@jacklamont6722 I'd suggest watching some tips and tricks vids and testing your skills on a practice board. Here are some of my vids: SMD Soldering with the WORST iron: ua-cam.com/video/KG_UNtElOlY/v-deo.html Soldering Kit: ua-cam.com/video/amVGkEuQc3U/v-deo.html Soldering Tips: ua-cam.com/video/on1nD6lmgu4/v-deo.html
Here are some fun practice boards: Amazon: amzn.to/2ZIpwiK BangGood: www.banggood.com/search/diy-soldering.html?from=nav You can also find them on DX and AliExpress. I recommend going straight for the most difficult SMD boards with a terrible iron. It may take you an hour or two to get the hang of it, but once you do then doing the GameCube will be easy in comparison.
Pretty much the video I was looking for but something I don't understand, how do I gamesave directly to my sd card instead of getting a gamecube memory card? It's not even expensive so that's not an issue but surely there's a way to save directly to the sd card? I'm using the sd media launcher to use swiss to play games, but is there a way I can emulate a memory card in the other slot, so that it'll save and read progress from the sd card that I already have in there for games? I'm talking about the bigger sd card that can actually hold games and not the slow 2gb card needed to boot into swiss.
Point 1: The GameCube doesn't have an Operating System. The entire software aside from the IPL (the boot loader) lives on the game DVD. Therefore, you can't hack the OS to rewrite gamesaves to the SD card because there is no OS to hack. The game contains the software that writes to the card, directly on the DVD / ISO. To get around this, each game would individually have to be hacked to write to the SD card.
Point 2: You can use any size card with Swiss. Even booting Swiss via Action Replay you can still use a large size card in the SD2SP2 and Swiss will prefer that over the card in Slot B (I think this is configurable in the swiss.ini).
@@coolaj86 yes, I understand why writing to an sd card isn't practical, but then does that mean there's no way around emulating a memory card? like for example having an sd gecko or something in the other slot. My main point was trying to avoid getting more hardware but I suppose that point is moot haha if I would have to go out and get an sd gecko if it was even possible to do it that way
@@HearMeLearn The Game Card slot is a protocol similar to USB, but it's specific to the Game Cube and called EXI. In the same way that you can't plug in a USB printer and expect it to take pictures, you can't plug in an SD card and expect it to store Game Saves. Kinda crude analogy, but does that help make sense of it?
What do you think about GCPlug? this is much cheaper than carby and has the same GC Video implemented iirc? This way i could play up to 576p right? Adding a mClassic is the only way to upscale to 1080p and further?
There were some issues with build quality in many of the 3D printed ones that could cause a short that bricks the GameCube. To me it's worth it to pay for the manufactured connector. That said, if the reviews look good and you the price is right for you, do it. It's all the same stuff inside. Also, I don't think that GCPlug specifically existed back when I filmed this, or perhaps it was more expensive back then.
@@kar0ttenp0wer83 I remember seeing one, but I don't remember where or what. Many of the other options are more expensive: www.retrorgb.com/upscalers.html
I wish the video discussed how to create hacked save files using a wii. I recall seeing it laid out in painstaking detail(using windwaker and an sd card) but I can’t find it now. Additionally, I remember checking a year ago on code junkies and the US version of the sd memory card adapter was discontinued/unavailable then just as it still is today.
@@jacklamont6722 You'd be surprised how durable electronics are. Yes, you can easily kill something dead-dead with just a touch of a stray wire, but you can also abuse them. It all depends on *what* component you happen to "kill". Try unsoldering and cleaning with fresh flux. I think that general area of the board is pretty safe as it's mostly debug signals at low voltages. I plan to do a XenoGC walkthrough sometime in March or April.
Yes. Hacked GameSave Card + SDGecko (or SD2SP2) + SD. I don't have the ebay store set up yet, but if you email me I can get you whatever you need: github.com/GameCubeHomebrew/GameSave-Exploits/issues/8 Thanks.
@@coolaj86 Forgot to thank you. Took a while to get to setting this up but did it :). I already used a WW hacked save to run GBi for a while but it had its limitations. You couldn't save settings and get features like zooming in working. Having your main MC to boot into Swiss and an SD on slot 2 for everything else works for me. Thanks!
Thank you! Did you somehow install the Super Nintendo Ninja Turtle Game on the Gamecube through Swiss (Turtles in Time I think). How did you do that?!?!?
@@coolaj86 Thanks. Is there no way to play a Super Nintendo game on the gamecube or can the site that shouldn't be named be used for Super nintendo games that can be played on gamecube?
So the easiest way to my understanding is to buy a Swiss card off of eBay and windwaker because it’s dol and then I have access to all the games that’s already on the purchased memory card ? , does it have all GameCube games
The GameCube Memory Card wouldn't have any games on it. You'd put the games onto a Micro SD Card and put that into the SD2SP2 Adapter, which you can also get on eBay. Some sellers offer both in the same purchase. Just make sure you have the needed serial port. I think later models of the GC removed it...?
How does Pico boot factor into all of this? Is it relatively new? Also, I have a very specific use case that I'm hoping one of y'all might be able to help with: what method lets me get from a hard reset (aka powering the gamecube down and back on) into GBI/the Gameboy Player the fastest/with the fewest button pressed required? Is it WindWaker with a hacked memory card?
I've briefly looked into Pico boot, but I don't understand why people are so excited about it. I think GC Loader / Lite is a better option for a simple hardware mod. WindWaker with a GBI as boot.dol is pretty darn fast (and easy). Maybe GC Loader would be faster. Maybe pico boot would be faster. But WWHack is so easy that unless I was building a dedicated gameboy console, I'd just use that.
I used to mod cubes back in the day and ALL of them could read burned discs without tweaking the POT. You just had to use quality discs. Made in Japan Maxells worked just like factory pressed discs.
Do you have an ebay or Amazon link for the ones you recommend? It's been hit and miss for me. I've had the same disc not work in one GameCube, but work fine in another.
@@coolaj86 You'd have to buy them from a brick and mortar store. So you can physically check they are made in Japan. That or an online shop that specializes in media. Those types of stores will often tell you the exact disc you are buying. Companys just put their brands on discs. None of them actually manufacture them. Most recordable media is really crappy. Some of it is quite good. Back when the cube was current gen, made in Japan Maxell mini DVDs always worked for me. I modded at least 8 cubes and burnt hundreds of discs. I actually forget who manufactured the discs for Maxell. But i still have some. If i can find them i will open one and check.. if i can find a DVD drive to put it in lol. (you can see who made the disc with certain programs)
Hi there! Great video man, let me tell you, I got my Gamecube with a Xeno chip, I also have the laser adjusted, the Swiss on a DVD burned and a SD Gecko (with a 128gb Micro SD). So currently I'm launching the Swiss from the burned DVD and reading my ISOs from the SD Gecko on the Memory Card Slot B and everything works fine, however, my question is, can I load the Swiss directly from the Gecko SD without the burned DVD? I want to preserve my laser. Also, I'm having issues launching the Snes emulator, it freezes as soon as ii launch it from the Swiss (i got Snes9xGX 4.4.6 , do you have a video on emulating with my current homebrew specs?
There's a setting in Swiss to turn off the laser on boot. Since the GameCube doesn't have an operating system or any built-in software to speak of, everything you interact with is loaded from a disc. The only other option is the GC Loader, which will run you about $90+shipping and you'll never need the laser again. Interestingly, the GC Loader is a Xilinx chip just like the Carby, but uses an SD card slot to emulate the DVD drive.
@@coolaj86 Hey, thanks for the ultra quick reply!! Unfortunately, the GC Loader (Black Dog Technology) is around $150 USD + shipping in my country :( i don't think it's worth it. Regarding the Snes emulator, do you think it is failing because I have it with all the roms on the SD Gecko?
@@rainerquintela9125 The NES/SNES/etc emulators are pretty old and not always updated with the latest Homebrew methods. I'd suggest using a 2gb card in the SD gecko, freshly formatted (no deleted files), and making sure that all of the folders for game saves, etc are created ahead of time. Worse, some of them are partially updated and you have to pick a version that supports either the Gecko or SD2SP2. I'd say search through the Github issues for Snex9xGX and open a new one to ask your question there if you don't find an answer. Also check that you're loading the GameCube version and not the Wii version. That matters.
You can't load swiss directly from the sdgecko, but you can load a memory card with savegame exploits and swiss (or buy a preloaded one from ebay) and have your backups on an sd2sp2
Is there anywhere to get a manufactured DVD with Swiss on it instead of a burned copy? Could I use XenoGC with a copy of Action Replay to launch Swiss? Should I just use my WiiSD and AR to boot games off my SD2SP2?
You can get manufactured Swiss discs on ebay. I think it's called NickDisc, IIRC. If you could copy Action Replay, then you would be able to copy any other game as well. WiiSD is an SD Gecko. I use AR + Gecko + Swiss + SD2SP2. That seems to be the fastest boot to me.
@@coolaj86 Thank you so much for mentioning the NickDisk, I hadn't heard anyone else talking about it. That is exactly what I've been hoping to find. If I wanted to use a newer version of Swiss than what's on that disc, could I switch to that version on the SD in my gecko after booting from the drive? Another video I looked at clued me into how active Swiss development is right now.
Sweet spot for Potentiometer 173.5 perfect without burning your laser eye up and good compatibility with disks. I love exploiting the system with Action Replay. New Swiss has Memory card Emulation as well if you want to get a second Gecko for port 1. I would format a 128 GB SD to Fat 32 and put my Gamecube games on it if you can't use a SD2SP2. I like Retro Arch Atari 800 Centipede 5200 conversion just put your bios in before loading or you will have to erase the configuration and restart the app again. Put the bios in System. TG-16 CD ROM bios as well. Ninja Jajamarukun is great for Wonderswan and Makaimura as well.
Keep in mind each Potentiometer is different - so there's not a specific value that will work for everyone - unless my research is wrong. I don't remember what I had to use for mine, but I'm pretty sure it was different than the person who was doing the tutorial.
I am frantically trying to find a way to be able to simply burn the ISO to an 8cm and play from there. You mentioned tweaking the laser, do you have a video on this?
I do not. It's a bit of trial and error due to the variances between consoles. You can find an image of the board and just try small 1/8 or 1/4 turns until the laser is able to read the disc. If you get lucky it'll work without modification. HOWEVER, you MUST have the mod chip to read them. You may prefer GC Loader (no soldering) or the new PicoBoot.
Keka is a very nice unzipping program for the Mac if you haven't tried it. You can put it on your doc and configure it to auto extract to a location like your desktop when you drag your file to it. It'll even delete the original file for you.
📅 Jan 2021 UPDATE: My Preferred Setup 👌 I've tried a few new things and so I've updated my recommendations: 📀 Action Replay SD Loader **Update Feb 2021**: US Version sold out :'( 🦎 + 1GB SD in Gecko Slot B 🇨🇭w/ autoexec.dol (Swiss compressed) 🕹️ w/ NES/SNES/GBA library (kilo/megabytes each) 📁 + 128GB SD2SP2 🎮 w/ GameCube library (~gigabyte each) 📺 (and the Carby v2 OR Kaico HDMI Adapter) 🛍️ Updated kit at kit.co/coolaj86/the-ultimate-gamecube-experience The biggest change is that now I use the Action Replay exclusively, rather than Wind Waker because the new compressed Swiss autoexec.dol loads nice and snappy. Also, the Kaico, which is available on Amazon in multiple countries, is a true competitor to the Carby v2 (similar quality, similar price, better availability). I keep all of my retro emu on the 1gb SD in the Slot B Gecko and I keep my Nintendo GameCube library on a 128gb in the SD2SP2. Still haven't found a great solution for the N64, but would love some ideas. :)
@@Soplox It's not possible to make a region free disc, as I understand it. However, it is relatively simple to change the region of your GameCube if you're willing to open it up: duckduckgo.com/?q=gamecube+region+switch. I say "relatively" because it still requires a soldering iron, but it doesn't require too much skill and isn't very tedious.
@@coolaj86 I have a DOL 101 US gamecube, I was going to purchase the action replay but the US seems to be out of stock for good, if I hack my memory card with a buddies homebrewed wii, and purchase an SD gecko, along with wind waker. would I only be able to have 2gbs worth of games on the SD card at a time? Would there be any work around?
@@sleeppppp Once you load Swiss the world is your oyster. It doesn't matter which method you use to load it - AR, XenoGC, WWHack - as long as you get to Swiss you can use all other homebrew software. Some emulators require the 2gb card in the Gecko. More of them are getting support for large cards and for the SD2SP2.
A full-size SD Gecko is $1.99 with free shipping. But the datel media launcher isn't available anymore. This was years ago. Game saves are still pretty easy. See: ua-cam.com/video/lUTk3ARrltA/v-deo.html
The serial port SD is just a neat convenience and lets you use both memory slots at all times, but it doesn't really matter. The HDMI port is pretty nice though. I think the simplest method right now is either a hacked game save or the no-solder whole drive replacement.
Could you please give me a thorough explanation of how I have to place nkit files and if I need to rename or convert or compress. I dont know what I'm doing wrong honestly. I have multiple nkit files and I'm trying to test them on my hacked wii before going to the gamecube but I dont see my nkit games on nintendont. I dont know where and how the files are supposed to be placed and if I have to add .iso after .nkit
I’ve done my own test backups, but I’m on a Mac and I couldn’t get the nkit tools to work so I ended up just using publicly available nkit archives rather than creating all of my own from scratch. Since most games only had one edition, there’s almost never any variance between what you have on disc and what’s in the vault. Plus it takes longer to create a backup than it does to download one in most cases.
Absolutely not. That's one of those old things that just don't matter anymore. Unless you can somehow get it cheaper than the XenoGC or for some reason it tickles your fancy and you gotta have it, no. :D
Ok.. so given that the SD Media Launcher is out of stock now... if I want to run GBI (and I do) I need: A WWHack Memory card (with a US copy of Wind Waker) An SDGecko (or SD2SP2) A SDXC Micro SD Card (with an adaptor for the SD Gecko if I go that way?) The GBI software to installed on the SD card
Yes, and you can even use your Swiss Boot Card to create a GBI Boot Card to go direct to GBI without Swiss. You also can buy cheaper games and get the whole thing for about $30. Check out my teaser video (pinned comment) and in the description is a link to all of the exploits, how much they cost, how simple or complex they are, etc.
@@coolaj86 See... I like the sound of being able to just boot into GBI... I will wait to see your upcoming video to learn more about these things before buying anything. Thanks!
It doesn't have to be wind waker specifically, there are several gamecube games that can work, although wind waker, twilight princess, and mario sunshine will boot into homebrew fastest. With those games all you have to do is press start on the title screen, all the other games require you to press start then select a save or do even more like load into the game and start a minigame or access a certain menu.
I really only want to homebrew for the GBI but Loading swiss is confusing me so I have a few questions if you don't mind. So with the memory card hack will it ruin my smash brothers game disc? and to start swiss would I need a gecko or can I just use the sd2sp2 to start it from? Would leaving the sd2sp2 in the console get in the way with me trying to play games normally? I saw that on amazon their are Swiss boot discs with the sd2sp2 do those work at all on an unmodded gamecube?
1. No hacks will ruin a disc. This is not physically possible AFAIK. 2. For Game Save hacks Swiss is directly on the Game Card. It does NOT load from SD. Once Swiss is loaded it can read from either the SD Gecko or the SD2SP2 just fine. 3. You can use GCMM exactly as demonstrated in the video for creating a backup card, but load GBI instead of loading Swiss. Then you can boot directly to GBI without Swiss. 4. SD2SP2 has nothing to do with modded or unmodded. It's an accessory just like a controller or memory card or network adapter. If you can load Swiss - by any means - then you can use the SD2SP2. 5. You can think of all of the Memory Card and Serial Port slots on a GameCube much like modern day USB. You can plug anything into any of them, it's up to the software (on the game disc, or Swiss, or other homebrew) to decide what to do with them. Unless a game says on the box that you're supposed to plug something into SP2 to play it, then it will ignore SP2. However, I don't think that they ever created a game that actually used SP2, which is why it was removed in the 2nd revision of the GameCube DOL-101. Does that help?
For method 2a can I use games other than wind waker like smash melee or 4 swords? I looked it up and it seems that there are on a working list but I don't know whether those games might have different Procedures. does it mess up the game in anyway that makes it unplayable? Also do I still need a memory card if I use sd2sd2? Method 2b question. Once you have the hacked save file can the memory card still be used properly or do I need a second
FAQ: ** Compatible Games & Procedure gchomebrew.com/gamesave-exploits/ ** Will a hacked card ruin my game disc? github.com/GameCubeHomebrew/GameSave-Exploits/issues/15 ** SD Gecko, SD2SP2, Memory Card: What lives where? github.com/GameCubeHomebrew/GameSave-Exploits/issues/18 ** SD2SP2 vs SD Gecko github.com/GameCubeHomebrew/GameSave-Exploits/issues/19
Edit: Hmmm.... that’s an excellent question. There’s a WindWaker demo on the disk, yeah? Do you have it in hand? Does it allow you to save? Original: Nope. The game save hacks are specific to the game. Furthermore, the collection disk actually runs emulators, not teal GameCube games.
Does the action replay ( the one that works for the Wii too ) also works for the dol-101 ? Because I can’t find anything on the internet that this works
I have swiss installed, but where do people go to get games? What websites?! Is it just as easy as dragging the downloaded files to the sd card? My computer is pretty full.. Can I download straight to the sd or an external hard drive and drag?
2:16 thats actually not true. I'm using the media launcher and put a 2GB microSDSC (not HC) in it, which i just bought from amazon for 5€. Launching swiss works completely fine with it.
I know. I intentionally oversimplified because there were no reliable 2GB MicroSD on the market at the time and it's confusing to explain. I'm not sure why, but Sandisk has started producing non-HC micro SDs again.
I have smash bros melee and gamecube, so all I need to buy is the swiss memory card, sd gecko with a 2gb sd card (can the SD card be bigger or does it have to be 2gb?)and another gamecube memory card to save. Is this correct?
The newer Swiss and other homebrew can use up to 2TB (that's Terabytes). But I imagine that when the bigger cards come out they'll get updated to support those too. Yep. Hacked Save Card + SD Gecko (or SD2SP2) + Regular Save Card should be all you need.
@@flyingcat9125 No. It's just different. I prefer the SD Gecko, but I sell the SD2SP2 because I can't source the SD Gecko cheap enough to sell it. Just make sure to get the "upgraded" "better fit" SD2SP2.
You need Action Replay SD Media Launcher, but you can't get it anywhere now. Either use WWHack or XenoGC. However, if you don't mind entering a 384-digit code by hand, there are some versions of Action Replay cheat code discs that allow you to do "SD Load". But I have little faith in myself being able to enter in a 384-digit hex code correctly....
Been wondering if this is a thing if you happen to know but is there a way to play a Japanese GameCube disk and get the language to play in English if it has a translation?
So I have my hacked gamesaves on a real gamecube memory card and I can boot Swiss. Can I then use the SD Gecko to run my back up roms? If so what's the largest size of SD card that I can use to put my Roms on? I don't have many games to back up in the first place but I rather buy the largest capacity SD card right now.
2TB is the largest SDXC. Swiss + SD Gecko supports that. I'm willing to bet that in the future when there are larger cards available that the Swiss devs will figure out how to make the next gen cards work.
Now I have information overload & I just don’t seem to be able to find a complete plug and play option that doesn’t require any soldering and is not already sold out 🤦♂️ If I’m wrong I would love to hear from you any positive feedback would be nice ✊💫🎮
There is a drive replacement that doesn't require soldering. It's called GC Loader. I think I still have one for sale, or you could find them on ebay. There are 2 versions. I don't remember the difference (maybe the more expensive one supports writing back to the card for virtual game saves), but I think the cheaper one will still be everything you need. Also, you could check out ua-cam.com/video/lUTk3ARrltA/v-deo.html and pick one of those games, which is probably cheaper.
I just bought a GameCube Memory Card 251 that has Swiss and a hacked save file on it on eBay, and an SD2SP2 Adapter (also on eBay). I don't know what exactly you're trying to do, but I can play all the GC games I downloaded, and all the GBA games via my EverDrive GBA Mini. All I gotta do is start up The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and it'll boot into Swiss. Were you trying to do something else?
Check my kit links. I only recommend Silicon Power and Samsung EVO because they're the most consistent and cheapest. Sandisk used to be a top brand, but they've been riding on their name too long and don't provide as good of a product compared to SP and Samsung.
Yes, with the caveat that you may need to retweak because you can't really know if your tweak worked or not until you try with the discs that you burn.
Is there a way to optimize an SD card with files on it so that I don’t have to reformat every time I want to delete files? I’m a developer so being able to replace ISOs and other files would be nice.
@@coolaj86 does that work on a high-capacity FAT32 SD card? I know windows doesn’t really play nice with FAT32 on high capacity volumes. I’ll try it though.
@@devy2 Try and see. Have you been having problems just deleting files? I think it's really only a problem on old cards with old homebrew. I think new cards with new homebrew will be fine even if they're logically fragmented.
@@coolaj86 I had some level load crashes on an SD card with deleted files and reformatting seemed to do the trick. I couldn't tell you why, but it seems to work. I'll take your advice moving forward and try the defrag path.
@@coolaj86 so on this note, if I have a PAL Gamecube in the UK, can I use the AR Disc I can buy here to just boot Swiss off the sd adapter and play my games from the SD2SP2? Without the need for a game save exploit? Thanks I’m advance if you manage to get back to me, you’re doing an incredible job helping people out here!
Swiss is what lets you use the SD card slots. I recommend getting Action Replay SD Launcher to load Swiss (the autoexec.dol version). That will let you run GBI.
@@mattjrk5679 The only thing the XenoGC does is put the DVD drive in debug mode so that it can read non-authenticated discs. All the cool stuff you care about happens through Swiss. Swiss is what reads the SD and loads the other homebrew, such as GBI. If you have a XengoGC and you burn Swiss onto a mini-DVD and tune the laser (or use a NickDisk), you'll boot into Swiss and that will get you to all of the other things.
@@coolaj86 and if I can’t find a Action replay disk my next best option would be to use the wind waker disk and the gecko memory card,but how big can I go with the SD card for it? Ik the SD2SP2 was up to 1TB,but idk about the Gecko one.
@@mattjrk5679 You can still buy the AR disc directly from their website. It's in my kit link. Don't buy from ebay or Amazon because you most likely will pay too much or won't get the right version. Stay at 2gb or less for the Gecko. Technically you can use 1TB there too with the latest Swiss, but not all of the emulators and other homebrew support it yet. If you're primary concern is playing nkit.iso game backups and GBI, and you're not using AR, then the size doesn't matter for the Gecko.
🥳 🚀I've now got GameSave cards, GC Loader Lite, Xeno GC, SD2SP2, and more up for sale 💸: github.com/GameCubeHomebrew/GameSave-Exploits/issues/8
@@nirgunawish Yes. DOL-001 supports the HDMI adapter and SD2SP2. I don't care much one way or the other about the SD2SP2, but true digital HDMI is quite nice compared to the much cheaper Analog to Digital converters.
Do you have a tutorial video for GameCube Swiss and how to do things with it?
@@i4NiLeon11 No, but once you get into Swiss it's very very very simple - you just put .dol and .iso files on the SD card and run / play them. Outside of emulators and ISOs (which are covered in this video), there's not much else to do for the typical casual gamer.
Just use a Wii to write the save to a normal memory card
I very much appreciated this video but my goodness, I need an aspirin.
I think he used NKit before uploading LOL
Yes its a mess. Just make a freaking matrix/chart and post it since can so the options.
Check the linked blog article and website. That has everything in written form.
Why?
god, with a comprehensive rundown like this, I actually wish I was into homebrewing!
Awesome video!!
Fantastic video! Most helpful gamecube homebrew video I’ve ever seen.
I'm glad to hear that. :D
I’ve been modding consoles for years so and this is a superb starter video for newcomers.
Thank you!
How did you start? Asking for a friend
Straight to the point. I like you presentation. While I'm not old to the entire homebrew scene I'm a little new to the GC-HB Scene. You definitely cleared up some questions I had regarding a bunch of certain things. Thanks!
You're welcome!
I've installed the Xeno chip in a few systems. Burned discs always worked no problem without any lens adjustments. So not all systems will need laser tweaking.
List of compatible discs improves with turning, but some do not need changing.
I was thinking of ordering a xeno from aliexpress, but when he mentioned the laser thing I got turned off, on aliexpress it has the SD2SP2 and the xeno chip and a mini DVD disc in the listing
my question is what is that disc? if you have the xeno do you need to use a boot disc and is that what that is? or is just a disc with software for your PC like swiss etc,
does using the xeno with a SD2SP2 require me to rely on a boot disc and the laser being tuned righ?
@@andreamitchell4758 that disk must just be extra software to use other things. I know that with a xeno chip you should just be able to burn whatever game to a disk and have it load without the use of an extra boot disk. Like I mentioned before, I haven't had to make any lens adjustments but depending on the type of disks being used a minor lens adjustment might be needed
@@Chris-Courage thanks but I meant
if you want to load a backup from an SD gecko or an SD2SP2 with swiss ,do you need a boot disc for that? or would the xeno chip just automatically look for the swiss boot file and if it finds it on the D gecko or SD2SP2 then load it ,or is there a button combo or something
I assumed that the disc was a boot disc for loading swiss from an SD /gecko/SD2SP2
I just watched a tutorial about the POT mod and the guy said that it's because the DVD-R discs are darker on the laser side and the laser needs to be turned up brighter to compensate to read the darker colored discs, but a pressed disc would be the same color so it might not be an issue then I suppose
This is such a great video; it's short, sweet, and to the point. I learned everything I had been looking for, in just under seven minutes. Thanks a bunch.
For the other thing that shouldn't be mentioned, there's a big thread with lots of info on Reddit.
Okay this was VERY helpful but I am gonna need to go back and watch this again with a pen and paper as it was SO condensed. But seriously, that’s a good thing. Thank you for keeping it so trim and for also including the times in the description! I can’t wait to get started. I haven’t dealt with games console homebrew since the PSP.
Heyo! Be sure to check out the latest video on GC GameSave Exploits as well! ua-cam.com/video/lUTk3ARrltA/v-deo.html
Fantastic video! This puts so many "explainer" videos about consoles hacks to absolute shame. Great job!
2024 update: FlippyBoot is the way to go.
2023 update: At this point, I think that every single thing that I personally ever used GameCube Homebrew for can now be done on the Switch. The gamecube is still awesome, but... I don't know if I'll ever need to boot it up again. Bittersweet.
Just visited this guide again to mod a friends GameCube - thanks for posting this !! Still the most concise guide in 2023
Haha the end really got me. Thanks AJ .
Loved the video! Honestly pot tweaking is simple. But still, subscribed good sir 😁
Not even a minute in and I've already learned something. I got hope again!
2 mins in and it’s information overload already. Excellent video with a wealth of information. ❤️
I’ll have to watch this a few times over ….I’m a lot slower…kinda like the slow memory card 😅
who would even dislke your video? It's beautiful !!
Amazing video! I hope to see one reviewing the gcloader
GCLoader looks awesome, but it's too expensive for me to justify buying one. If my laser ever starts to burn out, I'll seriously consider it. If you have the money for it, definitely go for it. The tech is solid - it's an excellent solution.
Very good video. Loved the ending.
Great video, thank you!
Your post on the web really helped me work my way through the process. My biggest mistake was not buying a 2 GB non-HC micro SD right off the bat. If you use ANYTHING ELSE on the Smart Media Launcher it’s crap.
I'm glad it helped!
Something to keep in mind is a lot of this is pre-boom of people wanting to access these things. You're bound to not understand everything reference here. Plus you need to keep in mind this is intended to be a comprehensive video from multiple resources to explain things. Alternatives likely exist and you should seek em out (homebrew is neat and there's lotta resources out there).
that ending gave new meaning to the term "sneaky link" lol Awesome video.
I'm surprised you didn't mention the GC Loader for enabling homebrew. It replaces the entire dvd assembly with a pcb and sd card. Load your backups onto an sd card and good to go. No soldering required.
That didn't exist yet when I scripted the video. Also, it's still a bit pricey, DIY-ish, and not yet fully compatible with Swiss and other homebrew (i.e. emulators) - you can't update config or write save files to the inserted card.
If you're going to take the whole thing apart you might as well put in the XenoGC.
That said, I think GC Loader is your best option if your laser is starting to fail.
Once everything is updated and made compatible I may get one - by that time they may also be cheaper and manufactured versions (rather than 3d printed fittings) may exist - just like what happened with the Carby / Kaico.
What's the point of the GC Loader? You're basically gutting your Gamecube making it impossible to play original discs anymore.
@@ketchup901 The laser WILL burn out eventually. I think GC Loader is a really awesome idea, I just want to see it mature a bit more first.
@@ketchup901 You can play backups of your games. DVDs don’t last forever. Load times are faster. And it’s a non-destructive mod, no soldering involved. You can easily make it stock again.
Definitely got a sub man i love content like this, will be watching your other stuff today
Thanks - just be warned that most of it isn't about games and most of it I didn't spend 30+ hours to produce.
I wanted this to literally be the best GameCube homebrew overview on the Internet, and I did my best to make it so.
I probably spent twice as much time on this as I've even spent on any video project.
@@coolaj86 well regardless of the content i can see the level of effort you put in for sure and you deserve more subs 🙌
This was very helpful in my quest to stream Pokemon Emerald. Thank you.
Without a doubt the best homebrew video I've come across for any console.
No fluff, no fat, and targeted at people who have already done their own research but gotten a bit lost.
🔨 Nailed it.
@@coolaj86 I continued to do some research to make sure I was doing things right and found the pi pico to be by far the best loader. It wasn't out when you made the video but worth adding to the description or a comment.
The sd2sp2 also has a "pro" model for only a few bucks more that rotates the card 90° and makes it accessible from the side for those using a Gameboy player.
Lastly my fan was very loud so I used a fan mount adaptor from lazer bear industries to use regular 50mm fans. It also mounts the pico.
The ultimate way to go would be the sdsp2 adapter and picoboot to launch Swiss and load games. It's fantastic but it does require some soldering.
4:30 Ff5: you cut me deep, Shrek.
You are amazing my friend, thank you
I appreciate the information fellow sir
Now I'm more confused than when I started 😐
Wow that was thorough. You did a lot of work on this. It's not your fault, but I'm still confused lol
0.75x speed is your friend. And the accompanying website.
I don't believe in messing with it at all personally. I use Action Replay with Gecko's and a 2 GB SD formatted to FAT in port two. I run all my stuff of SD Card or original disk because you can also use the Action Replay as a Freeloader. I never use fake disks and I just run my Gameboy Player off the 2GB SD.
I do prefer Swiss for loading backups. I load the compressed Swiss autoexec.dol from Action Replay to load backups from the SD2SP2 (though at the time of the video I was using Wind Waker because I found swapping between a memory card loaded with GCI and Swiss convenient).
It's definitely better for the laser's lifespan load backup NKIT.ISOs rather than to use burned discs, or originals.
This video is helpful, i got jnfo quick. Mine is 3c.
Excellent video. What's the issue with 7-zip? No cost to download (free as in cash), open license (LGPL), lzma2 compression and available on just about any platform. Ssome older homebrew or emulators may only read into zip archives but you can also extract and re-zip with 7-zip as well. On embedded systems with a limited CPU you might use zip to avoid taxing the system or using more memory.
Virtually nothing supports 7z aside from 7zip, which is Windows-only and p7zip, which requires a 400mb download on Mac. If after 20+ years it still hasn't caught on, it's just time to let it die.
See coolaj86.com/articles/re-7z-ditch-the-underground-use-xz-instead/
@@coolaj86 You've converted me. It's humorous that 7-Zip on Windows is still useful if for no other reason than to extract xz files with a gui. The windows pre-built binaries for xz utils also conveniently give you a zip or 7z binary download choice. I've not yet been in any barroom fights over 7-Zip's superiority but will keep the guns holstered for the xz shootout.
@@coolaj86 hum I just uncompressed the .7z for swiss on my mac running on Catalina 10.15.7 without any special utility (using the standard Archive utility)
@@Mystic-Voyager And so it is. Nice find.
Unfortunately I can't find anything that gives me hope it could be used via CLI: stackoverflow.com/a/7829044/151312
Nice vid!
OMG I LOVE THIS CHANNEL! Could you please do a video of how to put cheats on swiss?
Greetings from Brazil!
Thank goodness I'm getting into this now that picoboot is an option. Although I had to solder a little, I got it even with no prior experience and shaky hands lol. Lost a component but all it did was prevent me from using the SP2 port so I had to get an SD Gecko, but all in all, not a hard mod to run Swiss.
My Gamecube has a Xeno chip in it and all I do is pop a burned copy of Swiss into the tray so it boots lol, reads my SD2SP2 just fine as well
Luck has been a lady to you.
Incredible video. Thank you!
This was pretty good. Was it made before Picoboot and KunaiGC ?
Yes. GC Loader / Lite was *just* released around this time. I still think that's a better choice than Picoboot, but KunaiGC is new to me - I'll have to look that up.
This was an extremely informative video and I am in the same spot you were in when you started this journey. I'm looking for a way where I can play GameBoy and GameBoy Advanced Games on my Gamecube using the GameBoy Player but without the disc. Even after watching this video (which helped a lot with understanding things) I'm not 100% confident in my ability.
If I wanted to play GBA games using the GameBoy Player without the disc, is there a way I can do that using the memory slot on the GameCube? I know I can do it if I have another game like Wind Waker but due to a fire all I have is Crash Tag Team and NHL 07 so thats not an option for me and GC games are pricey right now :P
Right now all I have is an SD card and MicroSD card from previous electronics, my GameCube, and the above mentioned games. I don't have a Wii but I can get the SD to GC memory slot adapter if i need too, what would be the best option for me to simply play GBA games using the GameBoy Player and are there easy to follow tutorials anyone recommends?
Thank you for reading this and thank you for any help provided!
Shhh! Don't tell... but I'm working on my follow-up video to answer exactly your question. Here's my research material so far:
gchomebrew.com/gamesave-exploits
(I've been working on it privately, but I published the current draft just for you ;-)
@@coolaj86 You are too awesome! Thank you!
@@barbosacool That's what the A stands for! =D
If you just want gbi and nothing else, you can buy memory cards on ebay that are preloaded with save exploits and the GBI software so all you need to do is plug the memory card into slot a and insert a game disc from a list of compatible gamecube games that would be included in the listing. When the gamecube tries to load the hacked save it will instead boot into GBI.
Would never convert 7z format to zip to unzip it. Just use the software 7zip for free as many of us use it since dacades. No problem!
it's not necessary to create a memory card if you already have action replay at hand. just put swiss on there, launch it and then replace your small 2GB SD card with a bigger one that holds all of your games.
I really hope Datel brings back the SD media launcher.
I'd put the likelihood of that somewhere between 0 and None. HOWEVER, now that it's gone perhaps it will stir up motivation to make a Swiss disc that uses the same hack. An order of 1000 mini DVDs would cost less than $1000, so if someone can replicate the copy protection it can probably be manufactured and distributed. In the meantime you might consider the GC Loader or GC Loader Lite. I have a few for sale: github.com/GameCubeHomebrew/GameSave-Exploits/issues/8
More Homebrew coming soon... (teaser) gchomebrew.com/gamesave-exploits
UPDATE: And now it's here! ua-cam.com/video/lUTk3ARrltA/v-deo.html
Hey AJ. Dug up my old GC from my parents' place and it still purrs like a kitten, after thousands upon thousands of hours. I want to backup/digitize all my GC save data from my childhood, while everything is still functional, so that I can use the saves in emulation if my memory cards or my GC eventually stop working. Unfortunately, Datel is no longer stocking the SD Media Launcher - what would be your recommendation and shopping list for my use-case? I have an original copy of Wind Waker, SSB:M, a Gameboy player add-on, and an original unmodded GC from launch, if that helps any. Much thanks. 😎🙏
PS - I sincerely appreciate how much time and effort you've clearly put into this video. It's incredibly dense, and I'm a little overwhelmed by all the info, admittedly. New to the Homebrew world but I'm pretty technical otherwise.
Check out ua-cam.com/video/lUTk3ARrltA/v-deo.html There may also be some newer videos that are better. There's also a new plug 'n' play no-solder swappable drive.
I hope this doesn't sound harsh -- why do you recommend the Datel) Action Replay SD Media Launcher disc even though it is, in your words, "outdated and very slow" - wouldn't buying a card pre-loaded with Swiss just make more sense? Also, that disk is sold out on the CodeJunkie's website.
This _is_ a few years old - obviously I can't back-edit the video to account for what's happened since - and I do have a video on GameSave Exploits (ua-cam.com/video/lUTk3ARrltA/v-deo.html), but the reason I prefer the Datel disc is that you can't accidentally format it, and you can use it to make Hacked Game Saves, so it's a win-win.
Also, the Datel Disc turns out to be just as fast as anything else with the compressed Swiss binaries that came out after the video.
@@coolaj86 Hey, thanks for the reply! So from my gathering of knowledge, is buying a memory card pre-loaded with Swiss, a copy of Wind Waker and/or Smash Bros Melee, and then 1 or 2 SD Gecko cards (for storing game saves) the best way to go today?
@@tylergoodwin9408 There are some new options. One of them is a drive replacement called GC Loader (Lite) - which is pretty plug-and-play, no soldering. Another is the Wii U - which we previously thought wasn't a GC, but it is, it turns out!
I have a question about the SD Media Loader. If I order from the website with the EU region as described in the video, does it still work on any GameCube regardless of region? Just wanted to confirm before purchasing. Love the video and really want to homebrew my GameCube!
Sadly, no. There's no such thing as a region-free disc.
Since the US versions are sold out you'll need to do a GameSave hack (such as WWHack for Wind Waker) or you'll need to solder in a XenoGC. :-/
@@coolaj86 I appreciate you getting back to me so quickly! That is sad to hear. So I have no soldering knowledge but I also don't have the money to drop on Windwaker. How difficult would it be for someone with no experience to Solder the XenoGC Chip?
Also If I did solder a XenoGC Chip. Would I be able to use the Euro Version of The SD Media Loader Then?
@@jacklamont6722 I'd suggest watching some tips and tricks vids and testing your skills on a practice board.
Here are some of my vids:
SMD Soldering with the WORST iron:
ua-cam.com/video/KG_UNtElOlY/v-deo.html
Soldering Kit:
ua-cam.com/video/amVGkEuQc3U/v-deo.html
Soldering Tips:
ua-cam.com/video/on1nD6lmgu4/v-deo.html
Here are some fun practice boards:
Amazon: amzn.to/2ZIpwiK
BangGood: www.banggood.com/search/diy-soldering.html?from=nav
You can also find them on DX and AliExpress.
I recommend going straight for the most difficult SMD boards with a terrible iron. It may take you an hour or two to get the hang of it, but once you do then doing the GameCube will be easy in comparison.
Pretty much the video I was looking for but something I don't understand, how do I gamesave directly to my sd card instead of getting a gamecube memory card? It's not even expensive so that's not an issue but surely there's a way to save directly to the sd card? I'm using the sd media launcher to use swiss to play games, but is there a way I can emulate a memory card in the other slot, so that it'll save and read progress from the sd card that I already have in there for games? I'm talking about the bigger sd card that can actually hold games and not the slow 2gb card needed to boot into swiss.
Point 1: The GameCube doesn't have an Operating System. The entire software aside from the IPL (the boot loader) lives on the game DVD.
Therefore, you can't hack the OS to rewrite gamesaves to the SD card because there is no OS to hack. The game contains the software that writes to the card, directly on the DVD / ISO.
To get around this, each game would individually have to be hacked to write to the SD card.
Point 2: You can use any size card with Swiss. Even booting Swiss via Action Replay you can still use a large size card in the SD2SP2 and Swiss will prefer that over the card in Slot B (I think this is configurable in the swiss.ini).
Does that help?
@@coolaj86 yes, I understand why writing to an sd card isn't practical, but then does that mean there's no way around emulating a memory card? like for example having an sd gecko or something in the other slot. My main point was trying to avoid getting more hardware but I suppose that point is moot haha if I would have to go out and get an sd gecko if it was even possible to do it that way
@@HearMeLearn The Game Card slot is a protocol similar to USB, but it's specific to the Game Cube and called EXI. In the same way that you can't plug in a USB printer and expect it to take pictures, you can't plug in an SD card and expect it to store Game Saves. Kinda crude analogy, but does that help make sense of it?
What do you think about GCPlug? this is much cheaper than carby and has the same GC Video implemented iirc?
This way i could play up to 576p right? Adding a mClassic is the only way to upscale to 1080p and further?
There were some issues with build quality in many of the 3D printed ones that could cause a short that bricks the GameCube. To me it's worth it to pay for the manufactured connector.
That said, if the reviews look good and you the price is right for you, do it. It's all the same stuff inside.
Also, I don't think that GCPlug specifically existed back when I filmed this, or perhaps it was more expensive back then.
Oh, and there is an mClassic competitor now. I don't remember the name, but just know that they're starting to appear in the market.
@@coolaj86 you still don't know the name? Mclassic a bit too expensive for me. Do you know if there is a "copy" on Aliexpress?
@@kar0ttenp0wer83 I remember seeing one, but I don't remember where or what. Many of the other options are more expensive: www.retrorgb.com/upscalers.html
I wish the video discussed how to create hacked save files using a wii. I recall seeing it laid out in painstaking detail(using windwaker and an sd card) but I can’t find it now. Additionally, I remember checking a year ago on code junkies and the US version of the sd memory card adapter was discontinued/unavailable then just as it still is today.
Is there a list of most of the homebrew apps available, somewhere out there? Or at least a list of a lot of the popular homebrew apps?
Yes: www.gc-forever.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Homebrew_Software
Tried soldering on definitely isn’t working. Any tips you could give me I would appreciate it
Error Message on Startup, No Glowing LEDS
If you torch the silicon is it basically over at that point? That’s my suspicion
@@jacklamont6722 You'd be surprised how durable electronics are. Yes, you can easily kill something dead-dead with just a touch of a stray wire, but you can also abuse them. It all depends on *what* component you happen to "kill". Try unsoldering and cleaning with fresh flux. I think that general area of the board is pretty safe as it's mostly debug signals at low voltages.
I plan to do a XenoGC walkthrough sometime in March or April.
@@coolaj86 thank you! I’ll definitely try that! And I look forward to that video! 😀
@@jacklamont6722 so did it work out for you?
If I boot Swiss through the GCMM trick, all I need in order to run backups through SD would be an SDGecko? Also, great video!
Yes. Hacked GameSave Card + SDGecko (or SD2SP2) + SD.
I don't have the ebay store set up yet, but if you email me I can get you whatever you need:
github.com/GameCubeHomebrew/GameSave-Exploits/issues/8
Thanks.
@@coolaj86 Forgot to thank you. Took a while to get to setting this up but did it :). I already used a WW hacked save to run GBi for a while but it had its limitations. You couldn't save settings and get features like zooming in working. Having your main MC to boot into Swiss and an SD on slot 2 for everything else works for me. Thanks!
🔥 April 2021 Update: FULL TUTORIAL on GameSave Exploits!! 🥳
🎮 💾 ua-cam.com/video/lUTk3ARrltA/v-deo.html
Thank you! Did you somehow install the Super Nintendo Ninja Turtle Game on the Gamecube through Swiss (Turtles in Time I think). How did you do that?!?!?
Snes9xGX, and the-site-which-shall-not-be-named (end of video).
@@coolaj86 Thanks. Is there no way to play a Super Nintendo game on the gamecube or can the site that shouldn't be named be used for Super nintendo games that can be played on gamecube?
@@travishunter8940 Snes9xGX is the GameCube (GX) homebrew app for SNES games.
really well done video
So the easiest way to my understanding is to buy a Swiss card off of eBay and windwaker because it’s dol and then I have access to all the games that’s already on the purchased memory card ? , does it have all GameCube games
The GameCube Memory Card wouldn't have any games on it. You'd put the games onto a Micro SD Card and put that into the SD2SP2 Adapter, which you can also get on eBay. Some sellers offer both in the same purchase. Just make sure you have the needed serial port. I think later models of the GC removed it...?
I see how much the picoboot has simplified this process
you really went to a website to open a 7z file that's funny as hell. 7-zip had you cover , right click open
7z is for nerds. Homebrew is for... geeks... which are *waaaay* better!
How does Pico boot factor into all of this? Is it relatively new?
Also, I have a very specific use case that I'm hoping one of y'all might be able to help with: what method lets me get from a hard reset (aka powering the gamecube down and back on) into GBI/the Gameboy Player the fastest/with the fewest button pressed required? Is it WindWaker with a hacked memory card?
I've briefly looked into Pico boot, but I don't understand why people are so excited about it. I think GC Loader / Lite is a better option for a simple hardware mod. WindWaker with a GBI as boot.dol is pretty darn fast (and easy). Maybe GC Loader would be faster. Maybe pico boot would be faster. But WWHack is so easy that unless I was building a dedicated gameboy console, I'd just use that.
@@coolaj86 Thanks for the info an quick response! I've been using the Melee hack but it's kinda slow so I'll be on the lookout for a Windwaker Disc
I used to mod cubes back in the day and ALL of them could read burned discs without tweaking the POT. You just had to use quality discs. Made in Japan Maxells worked just like factory pressed discs.
Do you have an ebay or Amazon link for the ones you recommend? It's been hit and miss for me. I've had the same disc not work in one GameCube, but work fine in another.
@@coolaj86 You'd have to buy them from a brick and mortar store. So you can physically check they are made in Japan. That or an online shop that specializes in media. Those types of stores will often tell you the exact disc you are buying. Companys just put their brands on discs. None of them actually manufacture them. Most recordable media is really crappy. Some of it is quite good. Back when the cube was current gen, made in Japan Maxell mini DVDs always worked for me. I modded at least 8 cubes and burnt hundreds of discs. I actually forget who manufactured the discs for Maxell. But i still have some. If i can find them i will open one and check.. if i can find a DVD drive to put it in lol. (you can see who made the disc with certain programs)
Hi there! Great video man, let me tell you, I got my Gamecube with a Xeno chip, I also have the laser adjusted, the Swiss on a DVD burned and a SD Gecko (with a 128gb Micro SD). So currently I'm launching the Swiss from the burned DVD and reading my ISOs from the SD Gecko on the Memory Card Slot B and everything works fine, however, my question is, can I load the Swiss directly from the Gecko SD without the burned DVD? I want to preserve my laser. Also, I'm having issues launching the Snes emulator, it freezes as soon as ii launch it from the Swiss (i got Snes9xGX 4.4.6 , do you have a video on emulating with my current homebrew specs?
There's a setting in Swiss to turn off the laser on boot. Since the GameCube doesn't have an operating system or any built-in software to speak of, everything you interact with is loaded from a disc.
The only other option is the GC Loader, which will run you about $90+shipping and you'll never need the laser again.
Interestingly, the GC Loader is a Xilinx chip just like the Carby, but uses an SD card slot to emulate the DVD drive.
@@coolaj86 Hey, thanks for the ultra quick reply!! Unfortunately, the GC Loader (Black Dog Technology) is around $150 USD + shipping in my country :( i don't think it's worth it. Regarding the Snes emulator, do you think it is failing because I have it with all the roms on the SD Gecko?
@@rainerquintela9125 The NES/SNES/etc emulators are pretty old and not always updated with the latest Homebrew methods. I'd suggest using a 2gb card in the SD gecko, freshly formatted (no deleted files), and making sure that all of the folders for game saves, etc are created ahead of time. Worse, some of them are partially updated and you have to pick a version that supports either the Gecko or SD2SP2.
I'd say search through the Github issues for Snex9xGX and open a new one to ask your question there if you don't find an answer.
Also check that you're loading the GameCube version and not the Wii version. That matters.
You can't load swiss directly from the sdgecko, but you can load a memory card with savegame exploits and swiss (or buy a preloaded one from ebay) and have your backups on an sd2sp2
now we have picoboot which is best option now
Is there anywhere to get a manufactured DVD with Swiss on it instead of a burned copy? Could I use XenoGC with a copy of Action Replay to launch Swiss? Should I just use my WiiSD and AR to boot games off my SD2SP2?
You can get manufactured Swiss discs on ebay. I think it's called NickDisc, IIRC.
If you could copy Action Replay, then you would be able to copy any other game as well.
WiiSD is an SD Gecko.
I use AR + Gecko + Swiss + SD2SP2. That seems to be the fastest boot to me.
@@coolaj86 Thank you so much for mentioning the NickDisk, I hadn't heard anyone else talking about it. That is exactly what I've been hoping to find.
If I wanted to use a newer version of Swiss than what's on that disc, could I switch to that version on the SD in my gecko after booting from the drive? Another video I looked at clued me into how active Swiss development is right now.
@@Conchobhar Yes. Once you boot into any Swiss, you can load any homebrew from there, even other versions of Swiss.
0:29 I wish you compared Swiss Cheese to Swiss instead of Pizza
I see where you're coming from.
Sweet spot for Potentiometer 173.5 perfect without burning your laser eye up and good compatibility with disks. I love exploiting the system with Action Replay. New Swiss has Memory card Emulation as well if you want to get a second Gecko for port 1. I would format a 128 GB SD to Fat 32 and put my Gamecube games on it if you can't use a SD2SP2. I like Retro Arch Atari 800 Centipede 5200 conversion just put your bios in before loading or you will have to erase the configuration and restart the app again. Put the bios in System. TG-16 CD ROM bios as well. Ninja Jajamarukun is great for Wonderswan and Makaimura as well.
Keep in mind each Potentiometer is different - so there's not a specific value that will work for everyone - unless my research is wrong. I don't remember what I had to use for mine, but I'm pretty sure it was different than the person who was doing the tutorial.
I would redo this video now since the Pico IPL is a thing ! Would hightly recommend
I am frantically trying to find a way to be able to simply burn the ISO to an 8cm and play from there. You mentioned tweaking the laser, do you have a video on this?
I do not. It's a bit of trial and error due to the variances between consoles. You can find an image of the board and just try small 1/8 or 1/4 turns until the laser is able to read the disc. If you get lucky it'll work without modification. HOWEVER, you MUST have the mod chip to read them. You may prefer GC Loader (no soldering) or the new PicoBoot.
Keka is a very nice unzipping program for the Mac if you haven't tried it. You can put it on your doc and configure it to auto extract to a location like your desktop when you drag your file to it. It'll even delete the original file for you.
Turns out that the latest version of macOS has built in GUI support for 7z... but still no CLI support. Strange times we live in.
@@coolaj86 Oh cool! I’m going to have to check that out
Quick question how come Final Fantasy 2 and 5 won't be in full HDMI glory ?
📅 Jan 2021 UPDATE: My Preferred Setup 👌
I've tried a few new things and so I've updated my recommendations:
📀 Action Replay SD Loader **Update Feb 2021**: US Version sold out :'(
🦎 + 1GB SD in Gecko Slot B
🇨🇭w/ autoexec.dol (Swiss compressed)
🕹️ w/ NES/SNES/GBA library (kilo/megabytes each)
📁 + 128GB SD2SP2
🎮 w/ GameCube library (~gigabyte each)
📺 (and the Carby v2 OR Kaico HDMI Adapter)
🛍️ Updated kit at kit.co/coolaj86/the-ultimate-gamecube-experience
The biggest change is that now I use the Action Replay exclusively, rather than Wind Waker because the new compressed Swiss autoexec.dol loads nice and snappy.
Also, the Kaico, which is available on Amazon in multiple countries, is a true competitor to the Carby v2 (similar quality, similar price, better availability).
I keep all of my retro emu on the 1gb SD in the Slot B Gecko and I keep my Nintendo GameCube library on a 128gb in the SD2SP2.
Still haven't found a great solution for the N64, but would love some ideas. :)
Is the SD Media Launcher Region Free? My GC is JPN
@@Soplox It's not possible to make a region free disc, as I understand it. However, it is relatively simple to change the region of your GameCube if you're willing to open it up: duckduckgo.com/?q=gamecube+region+switch.
I say "relatively" because it still requires a soldering iron, but it doesn't require too much skill and isn't very tedious.
@@coolaj86 I have a DOL 101 US gamecube, I was going to purchase the action replay but the US seems to be out of stock for good, if I hack my memory card with a buddies homebrewed wii, and purchase an SD gecko, along with wind waker. would I only be able to have 2gbs worth of games on the SD card at a time? Would there be any work around?
I am planning on mainly playing GameCube isos on it with a big SD card, and maybe other emulators on the 2gd SD. Is this possible?
@@sleeppppp Once you load Swiss the world is your oyster. It doesn't matter which method you use to load it - AR, XenoGC, WWHack - as long as you get to Swiss you can use all other homebrew software.
Some emulators require the 2gb card in the Gecko. More of them are getting support for large cards and for the SD2SP2.
We can and should buy the datel media launcher eventhough the micro sd gecko for it is unusable?
How are we supposed to launch swiss with it then?
A full-size SD Gecko is $1.99 with free shipping. But the datel media launcher isn't available anymore. This was years ago. Game saves are still pretty easy. See: ua-cam.com/video/lUTk3ARrltA/v-deo.html
Which method is best for an DOL-101 model GameCube since it doesn't have the second serial port
The serial port SD is just a neat convenience and lets you use both memory slots at all times, but it doesn't really matter. The HDMI port is pretty nice though. I think the simplest method right now is either a hacked game save or the no-solder whole drive replacement.
Could you please give me a thorough explanation of how I have to place nkit files and if I need to rename or convert or compress. I dont know what I'm doing wrong honestly. I have multiple nkit files and I'm trying to test them on my hacked wii before going to the gamecube but I dont see my nkit games on nintendont. I dont know where and how the files are supposed to be placed and if I have to add .iso after .nkit
It should be game-name.nkit.iso and I’d recommend that you test with one of the files from The GameCube Vault on vimm.net
I’ve done my own test backups, but I’m on a Mac and I couldn’t get the nkit tools to work so I ended up just using publicly available nkit archives rather than creating all of my own from scratch. Since most games only had one edition, there’s almost never any variance between what you have on disc and what’s in the vault.
Plus it takes longer to create a backup than it does to download one in most cases.
Is .nkit.gcz any different from .nkit.iso? All of my games are in the .nkit.gcz format
Nick Baker gcz is compressed gcm. Those are for emulators only. They will not work on official hardware.
So theres no easy way to convert from my nkit.gcz. to nkit.iso. you're saying I'm better off downloading 1 game a day off of vimms lair
I can’t find the action reply disc anywhere
crazy how much things have changed since this video. I modded my GC with $5 pico lol
Would you recommend getting hands on a qoob if possible?
Absolutely not. That's one of those old things that just don't matter anymore. Unless you can somehow get it cheaper than the XenoGC or for some reason it tickles your fancy and you gotta have it, no. :D
Ok.. so given that the SD Media Launcher is out of stock now... if I want to run GBI (and I do) I need:
A WWHack Memory card (with a US copy of Wind Waker)
An SDGecko (or SD2SP2)
A SDXC Micro SD Card (with an adaptor for the SD Gecko if I go that way?)
The GBI software to installed on the SD card
Yes, and you can even use your Swiss Boot Card to create a GBI Boot Card to go direct to GBI without Swiss. You also can buy cheaper games and get the whole thing for about $30. Check out my teaser video (pinned comment) and in the description is a link to all of the exploits, how much they cost, how simple or complex they are, etc.
@@coolaj86 See... I like the sound of being able to just boot into GBI... I will wait to see your upcoming video to learn more about these things before buying anything. Thanks!
It doesn't have to be wind waker specifically, there are several gamecube games that can work, although wind waker, twilight princess, and mario sunshine will boot into homebrew fastest. With those games all you have to do is press start on the title screen, all the other games require you to press start then select a save or do even more like load into the game and start a minigame or access a certain menu.
@Cooper Cummings On that note: Here's my update list of all compatible games: gchomebrew.com/gamesave-exploits
I just dropped my GameSave Exploits video: ua-cam.com/video/lUTk3ARrltA/v-deo.html
I really only want to homebrew for the GBI but Loading swiss is confusing me so I have a few questions if you don't mind.
So with the memory card hack will it ruin my smash brothers game disc?
and to start swiss would I need a gecko or can I just use the sd2sp2 to start it from?
Would leaving the sd2sp2 in the console get in the way with me trying to play games normally?
I saw that on amazon their are Swiss boot discs with the sd2sp2 do those work at all on an unmodded gamecube?
1. No hacks will ruin a disc. This is not physically possible AFAIK.
2. For Game Save hacks Swiss is directly on the Game Card. It does NOT load from SD. Once Swiss is loaded it can read from either the SD Gecko or the SD2SP2 just fine.
3. You can use GCMM exactly as demonstrated in the video for creating a backup card, but load GBI instead of loading Swiss. Then you can boot directly to GBI without Swiss.
4. SD2SP2 has nothing to do with modded or unmodded. It's an accessory just like a controller or memory card or network adapter. If you can load Swiss - by any means - then you can use the SD2SP2.
5. You can think of all of the Memory Card and Serial Port slots on a GameCube much like modern day USB. You can plug anything into any of them, it's up to the software (on the game disc, or Swiss, or other homebrew) to decide what to do with them. Unless a game says on the box that you're supposed to plug something into SP2 to play it, then it will ignore SP2. However, I don't think that they ever created a game that actually used SP2, which is why it was removed in the 2nd revision of the GameCube DOL-101.
Does that help?
Also copying these Q&A to github.com/GameCubeHomebrew/GameSave-Exploits/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aclosed
@@coolaj86 This helps a lot thank you very much!
For method 2a can I use games other than wind waker like smash melee or 4 swords?
I looked it up and it seems that there are on a working list but I don't know whether those games might have different Procedures.
does it mess up the game in anyway that makes it unplayable?
Also do I still need a memory card if I use sd2sd2?
Method 2b question.
Once you have the hacked save file can the memory card still be used properly or do I need a second
FAQ:
** Compatible Games & Procedure
gchomebrew.com/gamesave-exploits/
** Will a hacked card ruin my game disc?
github.com/GameCubeHomebrew/GameSave-Exploits/issues/15
** SD Gecko, SD2SP2, Memory Card: What lives where?
github.com/GameCubeHomebrew/GameSave-Exploits/issues/18
** SD2SP2 vs SD Gecko
github.com/GameCubeHomebrew/GameSave-Exploits/issues/19
This may be a dumb question but does the legend of Zelda collectors edition disk work for WWHack?
Edit: Hmmm.... that’s an excellent question. There’s a WindWaker demo on the disk, yeah? Do you have it in hand? Does it allow you to save?
Original: Nope. The game save hacks are specific to the game. Furthermore, the collection disk actually runs emulators, not teal GameCube games.
Nope. Just Nope. See ua-cam.com/video/wKP6slmHYR8/v-deo.html
Does the action replay ( the one that works for the Wii too ) also works for the dol-101 ? Because I can’t find anything on the internet that this works
Yes. Must be the correct region, but it'll work. The only things missing from the DOL-101 are the digital video and SP2. It's the same CPU, DRM, etc.
I have swiss installed, but where do people go to get games? What websites?!
Is it just as easy as dragging the downloaded files to the sd card? My computer is pretty full.. Can I download straight to the sd or an external hard drive and drag?
Yep, you just copy to the SD card.
I'm unable to manage my swiss virtual memory cards and completely lost about where to search for answers.
7zip file manager is beautiful
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that... Functional, perhaps, ... but it's definitely not beautiful. 🙃
2:16 thats actually not true. I'm using the media launcher and put a 2GB microSDSC (not HC) in it, which i just bought from amazon for 5€. Launching swiss works completely fine with it.
also 4:03 wrong again. It must be formatted FAT(16). FAT 32 will not work.
I know. I intentionally oversimplified because there were no reliable 2GB MicroSD on the market at the time and it's confusing to explain. I'm not sure why, but Sandisk has started producing non-HC micro SDs again.
@@coolaj86 I got one from transcend, but it might be a old one. Still works fine tho
I have smash bros melee and gamecube, so all I need to buy is the swiss memory card, sd gecko with a 2gb sd card (can the SD card be bigger or does it have to be 2gb?)and another gamecube memory card to save. Is this correct?
The newer Swiss and other homebrew can use up to 2TB (that's Terabytes). But I imagine that when the bigger cards come out they'll get updated to support those too.
Yep. Hacked Save Card + SD Gecko (or SD2SP2) + Regular Save Card should be all you need.
My gamecube model is dol-001 with the serial port 2, is the sd2sp2 better than the sd gecko?
@@flyingcat9125 No. It's just different. I prefer the SD Gecko, but I sell the SD2SP2 because I can't source the SD Gecko cheap enough to sell it. Just make sure to get the "upgraded" "better fit" SD2SP2.
Hello ONeal
One question, can I use a Action Replay Greatest Hits disc or should it be the violett one ???
You need Action Replay SD Media Launcher, but you can't get it anywhere now.
Either use WWHack or XenoGC.
However, if you don't mind entering a 384-digit code by hand, there are some versions of Action Replay cheat code discs that allow you to do "SD Load". But I have little faith in myself being able to enter in a 384-digit hex code correctly....
SD Gecko+Pico boot is the cheapest and easiest mod at this point in time. About $20-$40
Been wondering if this is a thing if you happen to know but is there a way to play a Japanese GameCube disk and get the language to play in English if it has a translation?
through some kind of homebrew thing ofc
So I have my hacked gamesaves on a real gamecube memory card and I can boot Swiss. Can I then use the SD Gecko to run my back up roms? If so what's the largest size of SD card that I can use to put my Roms on? I don't have many games to back up in the first place but I rather buy the largest capacity SD card right now.
2TB is the largest SDXC.
Swiss + SD Gecko supports that.
I'm willing to bet that in the future when there are larger cards available that the Swiss devs will figure out how to make the next gen cards work.
@@coolaj86 thanks for the heads up!
Can you play multiplayer
on the Swiss?
Yes. Or at least games play the same way whether you run them from the Swiss launcher or via official disc, or any other method.
Now I have information overload & I just don’t seem to be able to find a complete plug and play option that doesn’t require any soldering and is not already sold out 🤦♂️
If I’m wrong I would love to hear from you any positive feedback would be nice ✊💫🎮
There is a drive replacement that doesn't require soldering. It's called GC Loader. I think I still have one for sale, or you could find them on ebay. There are 2 versions. I don't remember the difference (maybe the more expensive one supports writing back to the card for virtual game saves), but I think the cheaper one will still be everything you need.
Also, you could check out ua-cam.com/video/lUTk3ARrltA/v-deo.html and pick one of those games, which is probably cheaper.
I just bought a GameCube Memory Card 251 that has Swiss and a hacked save file on it on eBay, and an SD2SP2 Adapter (also on eBay). I don't know what exactly you're trying to do, but I can play all the GC games I downloaded, and all the GBA games via my EverDrive GBA Mini. All I gotta do is start up The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and it'll boot into Swiss.
Were you trying to do something else?
What’s the best micro sd card to use with the xeno chip and bottom port?
Check my kit links. I only recommend Silicon Power and Samsung EVO because they're the most consistent and cheapest. Sandisk used to be a top brand, but they've been riding on their name too long and don't provide as good of a product compared to SP and Samsung.
So I just bought a xeno chip. I want to play isos. Already did laser tweak. Am I good to burn disks and play?
Yes, with the caveat that you may need to retweak because you can't really know if your tweak worked or not until you try with the discs that you burn.
Is there a way to optimize an SD card with files on it so that I don’t have to reformat every time I want to delete files? I’m a developer so being able to replace ISOs and other files would be nice.
Just try it and see if it works for you. You could also try running a Windows defrag after a delete.
@@coolaj86 does that work on a high-capacity FAT32 SD card? I know windows doesn’t really play nice with FAT32 on high capacity volumes. I’ll try it though.
@@devy2 Try and see. Have you been having problems just deleting files? I think it's really only a problem on old cards with old homebrew. I think new cards with new homebrew will be fine even if they're logically fragmented.
@@coolaj86 I had some level load crashes on an SD card with deleted files and reformatting seemed to do the trick. I couldn't tell you why, but it seems to work. I'll take your advice moving forward and try the defrag path.
They only have the EU version of action replay left - can I use that on my US system if I'm just looking to run swiss, not use it for cheat codes?
Nope. Region codes must match. Check out the hacked game save video and store link.
@@coolaj86 so on this note, if I have a PAL Gamecube in the UK, can I use the AR Disc I can buy here to just boot Swiss off the sd adapter and play my games from the SD2SP2? Without the need for a game save exploit? Thanks I’m advance if you manage to get back to me, you’re doing an incredible job helping people out here!
Question 🙋♂️ if I use the Xeno chip can I use the gecko memory card with Sd or the Sd2sp2 for the gbi ?
Swiss is what lets you use the SD card slots. I recommend getting Action Replay SD Launcher to load Swiss (the autoexec.dol version). That will let you run GBI.
@@coolaj86ok,but I thought using a Xeno chip with SD2SP2 work for GBi and iOS game files?
@@mattjrk5679 The only thing the XenoGC does is put the DVD drive in debug mode so that it can read non-authenticated discs.
All the cool stuff you care about happens through Swiss. Swiss is what reads the SD and loads the other homebrew, such as GBI.
If you have a XengoGC and you burn Swiss onto a mini-DVD and tune the laser (or use a NickDisk), you'll boot into Swiss and that will get you to all of the other things.
@@coolaj86 and if I can’t find a Action replay disk my next best option would be to use the wind waker disk and the gecko memory card,but how big can I go with the SD card for it? Ik the SD2SP2 was up to 1TB,but idk about the Gecko one.
@@mattjrk5679 You can still buy the AR disc directly from their website. It's in my kit link. Don't buy from ebay or Amazon because you most likely will pay too much or won't get the right version.
Stay at 2gb or less for the Gecko. Technically you can use 1TB there too with the latest Swiss, but not all of the emulators and other homebrew support it yet.
If you're primary concern is playing nkit.iso game backups and GBI, and you're not using AR, then the size doesn't matter for the Gecko.