Does anyone know any more on the Wii's Gamecube compatibility?

[Spanky Deluxe]

I know this is a long shot but some people have played with real world Wiis on here.

Specifically I'd like to know if anyone's had the opportunity to play a GC game on a Wii and also whether the gamecube games can use the Wii's wireless network card as if it were the GC broadband adapter - For 8 player mariokart for example.

Like I said, I doubt anyone knows yet but I might as well ask. :)

[zap2]

I have no idea...but it would rock if Nintendo gave some NGC games online support!(If its even possible,) or online support for some Virtual Console games

[MacRumorUser]

Also any one from the US/Canada who gets one, if you have Freeloader could you give it a try and see if it loads...

[Spanky Deluxe]

If the Wiis can use the wireless adapter to play Gamecube games with a Gamecube that has a broadband adapter that's on the same network then I will be even *more* tempted to get myself a Wii on launch.

Student House of 5 + one Gamecube = fights for who gets to play Mariokart.
Student House of 5 + one Gamecube, broadband adapter + Wii = awesome fun for the house + friends!

[GFLPraxis]

I know this is a long shot but some people have played with real world Wiis on here.

Specifically I'd like to know if anyone's had the opportunity to play a GC game on a Wii and also whether the gamecube games can use the Wii's wireless network card as if it were the GC broadband adapter - For 8 player mariokart for example.

Like I said, I doubt anyone knows yet but I might as well ask. :)

This would be a great thing to ask IGN in their mailbag.

I'm one of the ones that has had multiple hands-on experiences with the Wii; but everyone here who has played a Wii had to do it with the actual system behind glass. None of us have been able to put a GameCube game in it.

[GFLPraxis]

I have no idea...but it would rock if Nintendo gave some NGC games online support!(If its even possible, which I think it is because they promised online for Melee at E3 05 but we never got it) or online support for some Virtual Console games


No, they promised online for Brawl at E3 05, not Melee.

[zap2]

No, they promised online for Brawl at E3 05, not Melee.

Oh...I'd still like Nintendo to allow online play for some NGC titles on the Wii..it would be a good hold over until Brawl comes out, same idea for Mario Kart.

Fixed it in my first post

[GFLPraxis]

Oh...I'd still like Nintendo to allow online play for some NGC titles on the Wii..it would be a good hold over until Brawl comes out, same idea for Mario Kart.

Fixed it in my first post

It would only work for games that already had LAN support (it's called tunnelling).

It might, however, be possible to add online play in NES and SNES games though (so much extra processing power...you could have two Wii's playing the same game and constantly syncronizing each other and tricking the game into thinking there is only one game running with two controllers in).

[Spanky Deluxe]

I wouldn't need any kind of tunneling, all I'd want is for the Gamecube game to see the wireless card of the Wii as a broadband adapter allowing it to play its LAN games with any other Gamecube or Wii on the same IP network range. It wouldn't be very hard for them to enable, its just a matter of if they'll bother because most people wouldn't care.
Although who knows, maybe Nintendo are keeping a big secret from us which is that the 512MB on board memory comes loaded with some mods that add extra gameplay (specifically online multiplayer) ability to existing gamecube games such as Mariokart. That would rock!

[jdechko]

Also any one from the US/Canada who gets one, if you have Freeloader could you give it a try and see if it loads...

I'll see if it boots up and lets me select a region. Beyond that, I really can't help you out, as I have no imported games.

[MacRumorUser]

I'll see if it boots up and lets me select a region. Beyond that, I really can't help you out, as I have no imported games.

Thanks jdechko...

as long as freeloader works and ejects itself and asks for the other disc I assume I'll be safe :D

[mrbrown]

It would only work for games that already had LAN support (it's called tunnelling).

It might, however, be possible to add online play in NES and SNES games though (so much extra processing power...you could have two Wii's playing the same game and constantly syncronizing each other and tricking the game into thinking there is only one game running with two controllers in).

This certainly doesn't require a lot of extra processing power. Does Catapult's XBAND ring a bell? Did the exact same thing you're suggesting with a 2400 baud modem in 1995...

[beerad72]

Will game cube games work on the Wii? :confused:

[jdechko]

Yes, Gamecube games will work on the Wii with no emulation. 4 controller ports, 2 memory card ports. In fact, it's probably the number 2 or 3 feature being touted on the Wii.

1) Controller
2/3) Virtual Console, fully compatible with Gamecube

[beerad72]

Yes, Gamecube games will work on the Wii with no emulation. 4 controller ports, 2 memory card ports. In fact, it's probably the number 2 or 3 feature being touted on the Wii.

1) Controller
2/3) Virtual Console, fully compatible with Gamecube


Thanks! :D

[aidanpendragon]

Joystiq says GC games can't interact with the system memory or SD cards. (http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/12/are-wii-saves-portable-manual-says-yes-system-says-no/)

[MacRumorUser]

Joystiq says GC games can't interact with the system memory or SD cards. (http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/12/are-wii-saves-portable-manual-says-yes-system-says-no/)


not surprising. hence the reason they include GC memory card slots.

[Spanky Deluxe]

Ok, now that some people on here have got their Wiis, do any of you have MarioKart for the Gamecube? If you do then could you drop it in and on the main screen see if it says "Lan Mode" or something along those lines. That will basically tell us if the Gamecube mode can use the Wii's wireless as a broadband adapter.

[GFLPraxis]

I have a Wii but no Mario Kart :(

[Spanky Deluxe]

I have a Wii but no Mario Kart :(

After turning the Wii on, plug in a Gamecube controller and pres "AABBBAAZAASECRETCODEBBZZ" and it should start Double Dash. :o

[bobber205]

Ok, now that some people on here have got their Wiis, do any of you have MarioKart for the Gamecube? If you do then could you drop it in and on the main screen see if it says "Lan Mode" or something along those lines. That will basically tell us if the Gamecube mode can use the Wii's wireless as a broadband adapter.

I'll try it asap.

[technocoy]

I tried them both for those wondering...

On MarioKart, I don't see anything that says "LAN mode" or the equivalent, unfortunately.

And the real letdown is that the freeloader doesn't appear to work and thats a bummer since I will want to play my irukaga!!!!

Hopefully someone will come up with a similar thing for the wii (maybe on an SD card or something).

The MarioKart thing can hopefully be done with an update if enough people talk about it.. Of course they may bethinking they just want to do that on the next version of mariokart.

If i can test anything else, let me know.

[Spanky Deluxe]

:( That's such a shame! Thanks for trying though!!

I really hope they don't wait until the next Mariokart to enable some form of multiplayer on a larger scale. All I'd want is like I said an ability to emulate the broadband adapter of the Wii. It wouldn't be hard for Nintendo to do, it would just mean piping through the IP traffic from the 'cube emulator through to the network which the wireless is connected to. I'm not asking for any form of official tunelling network or anything.
Nintendo must realise that a lot of people who are getting the Wii currently have a Gamecube. Some of them would be willing to buy a broadband adapter and an extra copy of Mariokart:DD which would be a small amount of bonus revenue to Nintendo. Small yes but enough to warrant one of the programmers who did the Wii compatability to spend an hour or two writing a simple network bridge for it.

[takao]

a friend wrote me that only some versions of freeloader work (he said v1.06b works)

[topgunn]

I had a similar question. I have a GameCube but it's just me playing. If I got a Wii, would I have any reason to keep the GameCube?

[jdechko]

Nope. Almost anything the Gamecube can do, the Wii can do. Not sure about network compatible games (but who are we kidding, how many network games actually are there :)) and maybe the gameboy player. Other than that, you'll have 4 gamecube controller ports and 2 memory card slots.

[Motley]

I had a similar question. I have a GameCube but it's just me playing. If I got a Wii, would I have any reason to keep the GameCube?

Not really.

[seenew]

I don't get why people would sell their old systems.. At most you'll get $50 for it. I keep all my systems. Kinda like a history of my gaming days. :D

[evilgEEk]

I don't get why people would sell their old systems.. At most you'll get $50 for it. I keep all my systems. Kinda like a history of my gaming days. :D

I just don't see a reason to keep the 'Cube around since the Wii will do everything the 'Cube can.

And it's funny you mention $50, cause that's exactly what I'm getting for it. Of course I'm selling it to my in-laws for a birthday present for my little sister-in-law. That girl just loves Harvest Moon! ;)

[topgunn]

Personally, I would rather have $50 than start a console museum.

[DavidLeblond]

I don't get why people would sell their old systems.. At most you'll get $50 for it. I keep all my systems. Kinda like a history of my gaming days. :D

My wife does not like my packrat ways, so if I have something I don't play I sell it right away.

Sold my gamecube to help pay for my DS.

[Antares]

Don't do it! You'll regret it later.

Back in the day, I sold my original NES and about 37 games, at EB (or one of the other used game stores) all for a single copy of Super Mario Allstars for the Super Nintendo...the original version too (without Super Mario World). I think I remember getting something like $19 for the NES and maybe $20 for the games. Heh, I clearly remember only getting $0.50 for some of the games. Bah! And eveything was in perfect condition with the original boxes, too. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Go on eBay and price it out. All of the equipment and games, in the same condition that I had them in, would cost well over $200.

Don't do it!

But yes, the Wii can do everything your Gamecube did. Why not keep the Cube in a spare bedroom/guest room?

[BurtonCCC]

Joystiq says GC games can't interact with the system memory or SD cards. (http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/12/are-wii-saves-portable-manual-says-yes-system-says-no/)

Joystiq is a bunch of idiots. To use the SD Card, you have to get the first software update. Morons.

Daniel.

[danny_w]

I haven't followed the Wii that much (although I probably will) but newer systems many times are missing things that the older system can do, so you may just want to hang onto that Gamecube. For example, when I was deciding between the newest GBA and the DS Lite, I found out that the DS could play GBA games but not the older GB games, and also could not connect to other GBA's using the cable. I don't know if the Wii has any such limitations, I just wanted to throw that out there.

[Spanky Deluxe]

I haven't followed the Wii that much (although I probably will) but newer systems many times are missing things that the older system can do, so you may just want to hang onto that Gamecube. For example, when I was deciding between the newest GBA and the DS Lite, I found out that the DS could play GBA games but not the older GB games, and also could not connect to other GBA's using the cable. I don't know if the Wii has any such limitations, I just wanted to throw that out there.

Yeah, it seems the Wii can't emulate the Gamecube's Broadband adapter, which is *really* irritating. Kids in dorms could have played up to 16 player Mario Kart: Double Dash if they'd done that, only needing to buy MK:DD disks. That could have been easy money for Nintendo for very little effort.