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The '''GameCube''' (marketed as '''Nintendo GameCube''', codenamed '''Dolphin''') was a home video game console developed by Nintendo and [[ArtX]] from approximately 1997<ref>While most sources report that the GameCube's development began in 1998, version control info from [[Dolphin SDK]] header files indicates that development began in late 1997 or earlier.</ref> to 2001.
The '''GameCube''' (marketed as '''Nintendo GameCube''', codenamed '''Dolphin''') was a home video game console developed by Nintendo and [[ArtX]] from approximately 1997<ref>While most sources report that the GameCube's development began in 1998, version control info from [[Dolphin SDK]] header files indicates that development began in late 1997 or earlier.</ref> to 2001.
== Hardware Notes ==
==Hardware Notes==
''More information: [[Gekko]], [[GX]], [[Flipper]], [[wikipedia:GameCube_technical_specifications|GameCube technical specifications (Wikipedia)]]''
''More information: [[Gekko]], [[GX]], [[Flipper]], [[wikipedia:GameCube_technical_specifications|GameCube technical specifications (Wikipedia)]]''
[[File:Gekko.jpg|alt=Gekko|thumb|Gekko]]
[[File:Gekko.jpg|alt=Gekko|thumb|Gekko]]
The GameCube's architecture would later evolve into that of the [[Wii]] and [[Wii U]].
The GameCube's architecture would later evolve into that of the [[Wii]] and [[Wii U]].
== Software Notes ==
==Software Notes==
''More information: [[Dolphin SDK]], [[GameCube Boot Process]], [[NROM]]''
''More information: [[Dolphin SDK]], [[GameCube Boot Process]], [[NROM]]''
[[File:GameCubeMenu.png|alt=The GameCube boot program's menu.|thumb|The GameCube boot program's menu.]]
[[File:GameCubeMenu.png|alt=The GameCube boot program's menu.|thumb|The GameCube boot program's menu.]]
The GameCube has no proper operating system; the boot program does not keep executing after it launches a game or expose any "BIOS" functions, and all code which runs once a game has been started is loaded from the game disc. The Dolphin SDK includes an "OS" library with some basic functions for system features such as thread/memory management.
The GameCube has no proper operating system; the boot program does not keep executing after it launches a game or expose any "BIOS" functions, and all code which runs once a game has been started is loaded from the game disc. The Dolphin SDK includes an "OS" library with some basic functions for system features such as thread/memory management.
== Development Hardware ==
==Development Hardware==
=== Development Consoles ===
===Development Consoles===
At least 8 GameCube development consoles were made.
At least 8 GameCube development consoles were made.
==== Arthur ====
====Arthur====
''Main article: [[Arthur]]''
''Main article: [[Arthur]]''
This is mentioned in [[Dolphin SDK]] header files as being a GameCube development platform. Since this was the codename of the PowerPC 750 processor itself, this was likely a generic name for PowerPC 750 development boards used during very early development.
This is mentioned in [[Dolphin SDK]] header files as being a GameCube development platform. Since this was the codename of the PowerPC 750 processor itself, this was likely a generic name for PowerPC 750 development boards used during very early development.
====== Minnow ======
======Minnow======
''Main article: [[Minnow]]''
''Main article: [[Minnow]]''
[[File:DolphinDevelopmentHardware.jpg|alt=A DDH console.|thumb|A DDH console.]]
[[File:DolphinDevelopmentHardware.jpg|alt=A DDH console.|thumb|A DDH console.]]
====== Dolphin Development Hardware (DDH) ======
======Dolphin Development Hardware (DDH)======
''Main article: [[Dolphin Development Hardware]]''
''Main article: [[Dolphin Development Hardware]]''
DDH consoles were used starting in 1999-2000, and are believed to have been the first GameCube development console distributed outside of Nintendo. The DDH console resembles a small PC tower. It has an internal hard drive which can be attached to a PC with a special SCSI interface to copy games for debugging. Later DDH consoles were rebadged with the name "Nintendo GameCube Development System".
DDH consoles were used starting in 1999-2000, and are believed to have been the first GameCube development console distributed outside of Nintendo. The DDH console resembles a small PC tower. It has an internal hard drive which can be attached to a PC with a special SCSI interface to copy games for debugging. Later DDH consoles were rebadged with the name "Nintendo GameCube Development System".
====== NPDP-GDEV ======
======NPDP-GDEV======
''Main article: [[NPDP-GDEV/GBOX]]''
''Main article: [[NPDP-GDEV/GBOX]]''
The NPDP-GDEV (Nintendo Pseudo Disc Pack-GDEV, with GDEV possibly being "GameCube Dev") console was used from around 2000. It has a slot to load games from [[NPDP]] cartridges, as well as the ability to load games directly from a PC with optical disc emulation. The GDEV has 48MB of main RAM, while a standard GameCube has 24MB.
The NPDP-GDEV (Nintendo Pseudo Disc Pack-GDEV, with GDEV possibly being "GameCube Dev") console was used from around 2000. It has a slot to load games from [[NPDP]] cartridges, as well as the ability to load games directly from a PC with optical disc emulation. The GDEV has 48MB of main RAM, while a standard GameCube has 24MB.
====== NPDP-GBOX ======
======NPDP-GBOX======
''Main article: [[NPDP-GDEV/GBOX]]''
''Main article: [[NPDP-GDEV/GBOX]]''
The NPDP-GBOX console is similar to the NPDP-GDEV, without the ability to load games from a PC.
The NPDP-GBOX console is similar to the NPDP-GDEV, without the ability to load games from a PC.
====== NR Reader ======
======NR Reader======
''Main article: [[NR/NPDP Reader]]''
''Main article: [[NR/NPDP Reader]]''
[[File:NPDPReader.jpg|alt=A NPDP Reader console.|thumb|A NPDP Reader console.]]
[[File:NPDPReader.jpg|alt=A NPDP Reader console.|thumb|A NPDP Reader console.]]
====== NPDP Reader ======
======NPDP Reader======
''Main article: [[NR/NPDP Reader]]''
''Main article: [[NR/NPDP Reader]]''
The NPDP Reader console is similar to the NR Reader, but in a red colour and with the disc drive entirely replaced by an NPDP cartridge slot.
The NPDP Reader console is similar to the NR Reader, but in a red colour and with the disc drive entirely replaced by an NPDP cartridge slot.
====== TDEV ======
======TDEV======
''Main article: [[TDEV]]''
''Main article: [[TDEV]]''
The TDEV (Tiny Dev<ref>[[wiidump.7z]]/RVL_NDEV-0_33-patch-060304.en/RVL_EMU_QuickStart.en.pdf</ref>) console is similar to the NR Reader, but in a brown colour and with additional functionality to connect to a host PC for debugging and optical disc emulation. It also has 48MB of main RAM.
The TDEV (Tiny Dev<ref>[[wiidump.7z]]/RVL_NDEV-0_33-patch-060304.en/RVL_EMU_QuickStart.en.pdf</ref>) console is similar to the NR Reader, but in a brown colour and with additional functionality to connect to a host PC for debugging and optical disc emulation. It also has 48MB of main RAM.
=== Other Development Hardware ===
===Other Development Hardware===
[[File:Barnacle2.png|alt=A Barnacle2 device used during early Wii development. While no pictures of the Barnacle are available, this is likely similar.|thumb|A Barnacle2 device used during the development of the [[Wii]] console. While no pictures of the Barnacle are available, this is likely similar.]]
[[File:Barnacle2.png|alt=A Barnacle2 device used during early Wii development. While no pictures of the Barnacle are available, this is likely similar.|thumb|A Barnacle2 device used during the development of the [[Wii]] console. While no pictures of the Barnacle are publicly available, this is likely similar.]]
====== Barnacle ======
======Barnacle======
''Main article: [[Barnacle]]''
''Main article: [[Barnacle]]''
The Barnacle is a device which attaches to one of the GameCube's [http://hitmen.c02.at/files/yagcd/yagcd/chap10.html EXI] channels, and causes the system to boot from it rather than the internal ROM chip. It was used within Nintendo during development and testing of the GameCube's boot program. It also supports serial debug output. A Barnacle is something which you might find in the sea, attaching to a host Dolphin.
The Barnacle is a device which attaches to one of the GameCube's [http://hitmen.c02.at/files/yagcd/yagcd/chap10.html EXI] channels, and causes the system to boot from it rather than the internal ROM chip. It was used within Nintendo during development and testing of the GameCube's boot program. It also supports serial debug output. A Barnacle is something which you might find in the sea, attaching to a host Dolphin.
===== Memory Card Emulator =====
=====Memory Card Emulator=====
''Main article: [[Memory Card Emulator]]''
''Main article: [[Memory Card Emulator]]''
The Memory Card Emulator is a device which attaches to a Memory Card slot and emulates the functionality of a Memory Card. It was used by game developers to verify that their game could pass Nintendo's certification requirements for Memory Card handling.
The Memory Card Emulator is a device which attaches to a Memory Card slot and emulates the functionality of a Memory Card. It was used by game developers to verify that their game could pass Nintendo's certification requirements for Memory Card handling.
====== EXI-to-USB Adapter ======
======EXI-to-USB Adapter======
''Main article: [[GameCube EXI-to-USB Adapter]]''
''Main article: [[GameCube EXI-to-USB Adapter]]''
The EXI-to-USB Adapter is a device which provides a connection from a GameCube development console's memory card slot to a PC for debugging.
The EXI-to-USB Adapter is a device which provides a connection from a GameCube development console's memory card slot to a PC for debugging.
====== NR Disc ======
======NR Disc======
NR Discs (possibly "Nintendo Recordable") are blank [[NROM]] discs with a special authentication key which makes them only compatible with NR Reader and NR Writer drives. They were used by game developers as blank discs (equivalent to a DVD-R) to burn disc images onto so that they could be tested on an NR Reader.
NR Discs (possibly "Nintendo Recordable") are blank [[NROM]] discs with a special authentication key which makes them only compatible with NR Reader and NR Writer drives. They were used by game developers as blank discs (equivalent to a DVD-R) to burn disc images onto so that they could be tested on an NR Reader.
[[File:NPDPCartridge.jpg|alt=An NPDP Cartridge.|thumb|An NPDP Cartridge.]]
[[File:NPDPCartridge.jpg|alt=An NPDP Cartridge.|thumb|An NPDP Cartridge.]]
====== NPDP Cartridge ======
======NPDP Cartridge======
NPDP Cartridges are hard drives contained in a special casing which are compatible with the NPDP-GDEV/GBOX and NPDP Reader. They serve the same purpose as NR Discs, but can be rewritten and password-protected (a special boot program created by [[Nintendo IRD]] was used on NPDP cartridges). The hardware which reads NPDP Cartridges emulates them as standard GameCube discs.
NPDP Cartridges are hard drives contained in a special casing which are compatible with the NPDP-GDEV/GBOX and NPDP Reader. They serve the same purpose as NR Discs, but can be rewritten and password-protected (a special boot program created by [[Nintendo IRD]] was used on NPDP cartridges). The hardware which reads NPDP Cartridges emulates them as standard GameCube discs.
====== NR Writer ======
======NR Writer======
The NR Writer is a modified DVD-R burner which can write to NR Discs.
The NR Writer is a modified DVD-R burner which can write to NR Discs.
====== NPDP Writer ======
======NPDP Writer======
The NPDP Writer is a special device which can write to NPDP Cartridges. At least two variants of the NPDP Writer exist; the NPDP-SW variant which writes a single NPDP Cartridge, and the NPDP-GW variant which can write up to eight.
The NPDP Writer is a special device which can write to NPDP Cartridges. At least two variants of the NPDP Writer exist; the NPDP-SW variant which writes a single NPDP Cartridge, and the NPDP-GW variant which can write up to eight.
===== Unknown Devices =====
=====Unknown Devices=====
The names "Orca", "Marlin", and "Walrus" are also known to be the names of GameCube development hardware, but it is currently unknown what these devices are.
The names "Orca", "Marlin", and "Walrus" are also known to be the names of GameCube development hardware, but it is currently unknown what these devices are.
Walruses are water-loving animals, like Dolphins.
Walruses are water-loving animals, like Dolphins.
== Gallery ==
==Gallery==
[[File:NintendoGameCubeDevelopmentSystem.jpg|alt=A "Nintendo GameCube Development System" rebadged DDH console.|left|thumb|300x300px|A "Nintendo GameCube Development System" rebadged DDH console.]]
[[File:NintendoGameCubeDevelopmentSystem.jpg|alt=A "Nintendo GameCube Development System" rebadged DDH console.|left|thumb|300x300px|A "Nintendo GameCube Development System" rebadged DDH console.]]
[[File:NPDP-GDEV.jpg|alt=A NPDP-GDEV console and the GameCube EXI-to-USB Adapter. The "Beta release" sticker on both the console and adapter indicates that they have or had pre-final internals.|center|thumb|A NPDP-GDEV console and the GameCube EXI-to-USB Adapter. The "β release" sticker on both the console and adapter indicates that they have or had pre-final internals.]]
[[File:NPDP-GDEV.jpg|alt=A NPDP-GDEV console and the GameCube EXI-to-USB Adapter. The "Beta release" sticker on both the console and adapter indicates that they have or had pre-final internals.|center|thumb|A NPDP-GDEV console and the GameCube EXI-to-USB Adapter. The "β release" sticker on both the console and adapter indicates that they have or had pre-final internals.]]
[[File:NPDP-GW.png|alt=A NPDP-GW model NPDP Writer.|center|thumb|A NPDP-GW model NPDP Writer.]]
[[File:NPDP-GW.png|alt=A NPDP-GW model NPDP Writer.|center|thumb|A NPDP-GW model NPDP Writer.]]
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