Ever played an old Game Boy classic on the Wii's Virtual Console and thought, "hey, this is great, but it still doesn't feel quite like it used to in the good old days"? Well, this custom cartridge could well solve that dilemma as it allows players to use any Game Boy system as a controller for your GameCube or Wii. Neat.
The cartridge has been designed by Alex Iannuzzi, who has shared a blog post describing its creation and lists any that he does make for sale. No hacking or modification to the actual systems is required - this is simply a handmade Game Boy cartridge that can both spark your old system to life and wirelessly communicate with a receiver which plugs into your console of choice. Simply pop the cartridge in and play.
If you're interested in the technical genius at work behind the project (which admittedly goes a little over our heads at certain points) you can read the full blog post here. Iannuzzi has also shared a video demonstrating the cartridge in action.
You can pick one up for yourself here (prices range from $14 for the model seen in the video to $23 for a version which instead resembles the smaller Game Boy Advance cart). The cartridges can be used with GameCube, Wii, and PC (Windows/Linux), and a Super Nintendo receiver is also on the way in the future.
What do you think? A clever little homemade project? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
[source gizmodo.com, via insidegadgets.com]
Comments 32
Does it work on a DSi through the GBA slot?
Edit: Can't do the original Gameboy Carts dont work in it so this wouldn't I guess
DSi doesn't have a GBA slot.
@infernogott Sorry I meant DS lite
@Bunkerneath
The game boy TX card wouldn't work on DS, just like a regular game boy cart.
However, the creator seems to be working on a GBA one (with L+R input support). This one should work with a DS.
This would be great for playing gameboy games on the big screen with a pi or something.
I am so weak for stuff like this. I ordered the Clear cart and a GC Receiver.
Logically, the cart and the Gamecube receiver would work with the GC USB Adapter for Switch play. Things are about to get freaky up in my house!
@CptProtonX That means we could play Save Me Mr Tako with gameboy controls? I need to check the buttons for this.
"Ever played an old Game Boy classic on the Wii's Virtual Console"
No; in fact no one has (legally), since there are no Game Boy games on the Wii's Virtual Console.
@neufel It's 2019! Anything is possible!
SMH I shouldn't be this excited to try my GameBoy/GBC/GBA and GBASP as controllers on my Switch.
What has science done? It's beautiful!
...But why?
I mean, cool, someone made a thing. But... why would we want this?
@Heavyarms55 To try and take over the world!
@CptProtonX Seems logical to me.
@scamander I was kind of thinking that myself when I read it.
Think I'm more impressed by the fact he's playing Super Mario Land 2 in colour. As far as I remember that game is only in black and white, even if you use a gameboy colour I don't think it would look like that.
That's cool and all, but can it be used to play smash ultimate?
@Petraplexity Thanks, I should've known it was a ROMhack. Looks cool but since it's likely not legal I won't be playing it unfortunately.
@CptProtonX
It wouldn't be wireless, but wouldn't the gba to gc cable work with the gamecube switch adapter?
@wazlon if you own the game, you can rip the Rom and apply the hack.
I am definitely doing to have to check that out. ML2 was one of my favorite GB games.
@Petraplexity I see, I was wondering why it was in colour.
@scamander adjusts glasses Um, actually, there are at least two Game Boy games on the Wii Virtual Console.
-Kirby's Dream Land
-Kirby's Dream Land 2
It's only available on a disc but is designed under the VC style. Down to including the suspend function and a digital manual, unlike Mario All-Stars which lacked both.
Of course I'm not so sure the writer was thinking about these games anyhow.
@AlienX And that's not the Wii Virtual Console. It's a compilation disc called Kirby's Dream Collection.
This is a beautiful hobbyist project and I tip my hat to the dude, but my interest in buying one is approaching zero.
@Atariboy Except it is, it works 1:1 the same as any other Virtual Console title, it just runs off the disc, which I already stated.
From a technical point of view it's the same, from a branding point of view it's a different thing.
@AlienX Just because it's an emulated classic game on the Wii doesn't mean it's a Virtual Console title that you're playing. The Virtual Console specifically is in reference to a digital service through the Wii Shop that distributed emulated classic games.
You can look all you want in an attempt to find a Virtual Console reference on the outer box for Kirby's Dream Collection, the case insert itself on the Wii case inside, and the paperwork. But you're wasting your time since there isn't any.
Can't wait to play brawl and melee with this.
didn't Nintendo or some other company already create an accessory like this for the original Gameboy and the Gameboy color.
i remember a Gameboy accessory that allows you to connect your Gameboy to your PC via USB. great for allowing you to use your PC as a secondary screen for your Gameboy.
i still have the software for it. its just too bad i can't find a USB cable for the Gameboy color or the Gameboy original. also, i am not sure the software will work since it was designed for windows 95.
@Atariboy I already said I was talking on the technical level.
If you don't recognize it as VC that's fine, but they're both effectively (and evidently, if you look at the code) the same thing.
Wow, now that's a nice idea!
@AlienX They're both emulation, so fair enough.
Hmm, this is kind of interesting. Does it work with the GameCube's Game Boy Player?
Wait a minute! The Game Boy Player already lets you use a GBA as a controller through a GameCube-GBA cable!
@Hams96 Yes, it can! You just plug in a Gamecube receiver into a GC adapter and you plug that into a Switch dock!
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