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| data2 = [[Dolphin SDK]]
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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 mid-1998<ref>A Dolphin’s Tale: The Story of GameCube - https://web.archive.org/web/20140108044600/http://www.dromble.com/2014/01/07/dolphin-tale-story-of-gamecube/</ref> to 2001.
==Hardware Notes==
==Hardware Notes==
The GameCube has three main components; a [[Gekko|CPU]] (Gekko), a [[GX|GPU]] (GX), and a [[Flipper|system ASIC]] (Flipper).
The GameCube has three main components; a [[Gekko|CPU]] (Gekko), a [[GX|GPU]] (GX), and a [[Flipper|system ASIC]] (Flipper).
The CPU is a semi-custom derivative of the PowerPC 750, also notably used (under the marketing name "PowerPC G3") in several late 90s-early 2000s Macs. It is a superset of later PPC750 variants, with additional instructions for accelerated media and graphics processing. Some newer PowerPC 750-based Macs can also use these instructions if the correct HID register bits are set.
The CPU is a semi-custom derivative of the PowerPC 750, which was also notably used (under the marketing name "PowerPC G3") in several late 90s-early 2000s Macs. It is a superset of later PPC750 variants, with additional instructions for accelerated media and graphics processing. Some newer PowerPC 750-based Macs can also use these instructions if the correct HID register bits are set.
The GPU is fully custom; it was developed by ArtX, a startup which spun off from the [[Silicon Graphics]] Nintendo 64 hardware development team. ArtX was bought out by [[ATI]] in 2000, just as the GPU design was being completed; as such, the GameCube has ATI branding, although its hardware has no relation to ATI products preceding it. After purchasing ArtX, ATI used their GPU technology in Radeon video cards starting with the acclaimed R300 series, making the GameCube's GPU an ancestor of modern PC GPUs.
The GPU is fully custom; it was developed by ArtX, a startup which spun off from the [[Silicon Graphics]] Nintendo 64 hardware development team. ArtX was bought out by [[ATI]] in 2000, just as the GPU design was being completed; as such, the GameCube has ATI branding, although its hardware has no relation to ATI products preceding it. After purchasing ArtX, ATI used their GPU technology in Radeon video cards starting with the acclaimed R300 series, making the GameCube's GPU an ancestor of modern PC GPUs.
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.
== Controller ==
==Controller==
[[File:PrototypeGameCubeController.jpg|alt=A prototype GameCube controller with no D-pad.|thumb|A prototype GameCube controller with no D-pad.]]
[[File:PrototypeGameCubeController.jpg|alt=A prototype GameCube controller with no D-pad.|thumb|A prototype GameCube controller with no D-pad.]]
''Main article: [[GameCube Controller]]''
''Main article: [[GameCube Controller]]''
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.
The main board of the GDEV is known as "Orca"; Orcas are particularly strong Dolphins.
======NPDP-GBOX======
======NPDP-GBOX======
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.
====== Nintendo Test Discs ======
======Nintendo Test Discs======
[[File:NintendoTestDiscs.jpg|alt=Two Nintendo Test Discs.|thumb|Two Nintendo Test Discs.]]
[[File:NintendoTestDiscs.jpg|alt=Two Nintendo Test Discs.|thumb|Two Nintendo Test Discs.]]
The Nintendo Test Discs were test-pressing discs created around 1999, when Nintendo was planning to use a full-size disc format for the GameCube.2 of these discs are known to contain test video files which consist entirely of a colour bar pattern.
The Nintendo Test Discs were test-pressing discs created around 1999, when Nintendo was planning to use a full-size disc format for the GameCube. 2 of these discs are known to contain test video files which consist entirely of a colour bar pattern.
=====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 "Marlin" and "Walrus" are also known to be the names of GameCube development hardware, but it is currently unknown what these devices are.
Marlins attack Dolphins.
Marlins attack Dolphins.
