A short while back, we reported on a new optical drive emulator option for the Sega Saturn and Sega Dreamcast, and we've since been made aware of another product which does very much the same thing – but for the Nintendo GameCube.
The GC Loader is GameCube DVD drive replacement that allows you boot games (ones you've ripped form your own personal collection, of course) and homebrew titles on DOL-001 and DOL-101 model GameCube consoles. The device acts exactly like an original DVD drive, but uses memory cards to store games – it even reduces load times.
Cards between 4GB and 1TB are supported, and installation is simple – you disassemble the console, remove the DVD drive and replace it with the GC Loader. A 4.5mm gamebit screwdriver is required to tackle those pesky bespoke screws on the console's case, but there's no soldering needed.
We've been sent one of these for review, so keep an eye out for that. Stock is pretty limited at present, but the units tend to sell for around £99 when they're available.
Let us know if this is something you're interested in by posting a comment.
Comments 84
If I had an HD modded Game Cube yes all the way.
Looks really cool, but is there any way to set it to not skip the GameCube BIOS? I don't want to turn my GameCube on only to not see that classic BIOS!
Ripping games is illegal and not authorized by Nintendo. You do not own the rights to the games you buy, read your tos. Something Nintendo Life should know. We expect better journalism from your writers Nintendo Life. Please do better.
"Are Game Copying Devices Illegal?"
"Yes. Game copiers enable users to illegally copy video game software onto floppy disks, writeable compact disks or the hard drive of a personal computer. They enable the user to make, play and distribute illegal copies of video game software which violates Nintendo's copyrights and trademarks. These devices also allow for the uploading and downloading of ROMs to and from the Internet. Based upon the functions of these devices, they are illegal."
https://www.nintendo.com/corp/legal.jsp#providers
I would love this.
@mesome713 You might want to check this out - it's by no means a solid open-and-shut case, but most right-minded people would consider ripping a game you already own 'fair use' - just like people rip CDs to iTunes or create copies of their DVD collection so they can use it with a home media server, like Plex:
https://www.howtogeek.com/262758/is-downloading-retro-video-game-roms-ever-legal
"A common argument online is that extracting a ROM from a cartridge you own is perfectly legal, but downloading ROMs from the web is a crime. Devices like the $60 Retrode let anyone extract a Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis game over USB, and state their legality over downloads as a key selling point. After all, ripping a CD you own with iTunes or other software is broadly considered legal, at least in the United States. So is ripping a ROM you own any different than downloading one? Probably not, says Bambauer: “In both cases what you’re doing is creating an additional copy.”
We all know Nintendo's stance on this, but Nintendo doesn't make the law
@mesome713
That's about devices - the GC loader doesn't rip games. You can use your Wii to rip your GameCube games and that is not illegal unless you deem the Wii an illegal copying device
Of course distributing a dumped GC game is illegal, but I'm glad I dumped wind waker because my disc stopped working at some point. Memory card too.
I can do whatever I want with the games I own. Of course I can't distribute them.
@mesome713 Marketing claims are not laws. Backups are legal in the USA. Check your countries laws, not what some company says.
@mesome713
EULAs and all that sort of thing are legally unenforceable in Europe. Also, in the US there are stats with a "First Sale" doctrine which means once you've bought something it's yours to do with as you wish.
Ripping games in itself isn't illegal. Selling copyrighted content that you're not licensed to sell is illegal.
Also, from a moral (not legal) standpoint all the GC games have been sold already. No rights-holders are losing out on money at this point because of people sharing Gamecube ROMs.
The morale high grounder shot down and no reinforcements from the holier than thou brigade.
Today was a good day on nintendo life.
Has anyone tried it ? Is it good ?
I did get the very recent Fenrir for Saturn and the result is awesome, especially as my CD drive was dead. There are still some sound bugs to fix but there are ways to "fix" them until the firmware is updated.
I remember reading somewhere that it is illegal to rip your CDs and put them on an iPod back in the day. How would anyone know you are doing it unless they spot checked iPods or computers? Same with backing up your games. As soon as you download or upload it is easier to spot. More or less impossible if you are doing it for personal use. Can you imagine someone seeing you playing Super Mario Sunshine through a window leading to someone knocking on your door and asking to see you playing on your unmodded GameCube or it's the gallows?
I totally want one of these!
I played GC games on my modded Wii U. Thank you, but no thank you.
Too bad the Gamecube has no DVD drive. 🤷♂️
@mesome713 Why don’t you just ignore the article?
“We expect better journalism from Nintendolife”
Isn’t the whole point of the free press the ability to document a wide range of subjects and topics? Obviously you disagree with these devices, which is entirely up to you, but why should others be denied the articles?
There are plenty of things I disagree with, however, it doesn’t mean that I would agree with surprising the exposure for others who agree (within reason, obviously)
You should rightly voice your opinions but you shouldn’t be “policing” the journalism of Nintendolife and dictating what they can/can’t report on. Also you shouldn’t be so narrow-minded as to view any article you disagree with as “bad journalism”.
@tofarawaytimes @MrBlacky A DVD1 (which the gamecube uses) is still a DVD.
@smashboy2000 I have a gc loader and it's awesome!! you run the homebrew program SWISS to act as your menu and games boot instantly. I have the very first GC Loader that you had to solder on but its an awesome device. I have a fenrir, as well, and that works pretty damn nicely too!
I have one of these in my GCN with a Carby HDMI connection. Works very well, my drive was about to die. GameCube saved this way!
@Menchi
It's developed by Matsushita/Panasonic and based on MiniDVD, but it is no DVD.
@retroking Thanks for the feedback !
@MrBlacky It adheres to the DVD standard and is considered a DVD in every sense of the tech.
4GB limit? So you can put like 4-10 games per SD?
Would be interesting if it could support 128GB+ cards.. Given that, I'd rather use my Wii+WODE to play off an HDD.
@Menchi
No, it does not.🙄
From the Wikipedia article: "... and to avoid licensing fees to the DVD Forum."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_optical_discs
@gonzilla
It says 4GB to 1 TB in the article.
@mesome713 Please kindly cease and desist such drivel. This is such a smart idea, and I hope they make it for the Saturn and PSX because replacing a dead disc reader is awful. This looks like a fabulous solution for extending the life of the console, while still being a great compromise, legally.
@Damo If backing up your device was legal, then third party would legally sell backup devices to people and make a fortune. Yet they can't cause it's illegal. Backing up movies and music is illegal also unless the artist states otherwise.
Any full content reproduction of an artists content is illegal. Just look at NBA, NFL, Soccer, MLB, etc. Look at Disney movies or any other movies. It's clearly illegal.
Would love for yall to find a law that states you can legally backup full original content from an artist.
@Grot I’m intrigued, what mod is that? Also, you’re talking about the Wii that dropped GC backwards compatibility, right?
@mesome713 Backing up data has been and will always be legal. DISTRIBUTING certain data among torrent and file sharing sites is illegal. If you’re going to argue this dead point, at least do it right.
@TG16_IS_BAE I backed up my proof it's illegal. Not a signal user backed up their opinion with facts. Every single movie, sports event, video game, etc states it's illegal. It's clear as day.
@Enigk I’m glad you brought up the iPod ripping question. You’re in luck though. Ripping a CD you own is so LEGAL, that iTunes will do it for you within the program. Now, distributing your rips is another story, as that will infringe copywrite.
@DevlinMandrake I just wanted to throw in an opinion:
I completely agree with you, but I feel otherwise on the moral standpoint of sharing ROM's considering that creators can port their work from gamecube to a new system. If the game isn't made available for purchase (either a port or just hold over of new stock still being sold for gamecube) then I think it's understandable to share.
@mesome713 Nobody has gone to jail or has been fined for making a backup for their own personal usage. People who distribute backups on the internet, especially for their own personal monetary gain, have been fined and in some extreme cases, been given jail time.
Your “proof” is from Nintendo’s website. Link something from a 3rd party.
I don’t need to link proof for something that is common knowledge lol
@TG16_IS_BAE Read the disclaimer on movies you watch. It’s stated any reproduction of this content is unauthorized. Same with sports.
@MrBlacky Derp, totally misread that 😅
@MrBlacky Yes, licensing for a specific use of it. It is still a Digital Versatile Disc.
@smashboy2000 Man, I’m glad I read the comments because I didn’t know there was such a device for the Saturn! You just made my day!
@mesome713 You better call Best Buy and Amazon then, and tell them to stop selling DVD copiers and devices that stream and record TV.
Might want to call iTunes too, and tell them to remove native functionality for their program to rip and copy CDs to your iPhone/iPod.
No, you sent a link to a POLICY from Nintendo, and policy is not law.
@TG16_IS_BAE @Damo Here's your third party company that also states it's illegal.
https://en.softonic.com/articles/rip-dvd-bluray-legal
Is it legal to rip your own DVDs and Blu-Rays?
DVDs and Blu-Rays
While you’re most likely going to be fine ripping DVDs here and there, there are some key things you should know about the law.
Ripping copy-protected DVDs is illegal… technically
Laws are kind of all over the place when it comes to ripping DVDs for personal use. See, it’s perfectly legal to rip DVDs that are not copies of copyrighted work. But chances are, most of the movies you’re planning on digitizing have several layers of copyright protections.
In the U.S., it is still illegal to rip DVDs of copyrighted work for personal use, though there are several groups working to change this law.
Title 17 of the U.S. State Code explicitly states that it is illegal to reproduce a copyrighted work. So, just about anything that comes with a label indicating copyright, which includes basically any movie you can think of.
Most DVDs and Blu-Rays come with encryption attached and breaking that encryption is illegal. If you happen to come across an unencrypted DVD, ripping it for personal use is A-OK.
@mesome713 Good luck enforcing title 17, which I am aware about. They must be so concerned about it that iTunes natively allows CD ripping, and electronics stores are selling (right now) DVD copiers, devices that stream and save TV programs to a backup, etc.
The main thing governments are concerned with is distribution of copy written material, which is much easier to enforce. If Title 17 is to be effective, law enforcement agencies would need to be able to directly monitor your actions from your home.
Do you want that, or do you want to let this dead argument die?
@Damo Downloading a game off of the internet without the permission of the copyright holder is always piracy. (At least according to EU law) Because this is a new distribution of the copyrighted work. Making a backup is legal though, except if you need to break an anti-copy protection. Then it becomes illegal again. Any publisher is allowed to place a copy protection on their media.
For example; say you buy a game through Steam. That does not give you any right to go to The Piratebay (for example) and download a torrented version of that same game. The thing you bought is an exclusive license to download and play that game through the Steam client using your own Steam account. This also applies to physical media. If you buy a game in store. You actually never buy the game. You buy a physical medium containing a digital copy of the game which you are allowed to play on your device. But only that copy and only on a device that is officially supported.
@TG16_IS_BAE You're welcome
4 devices exists to my knowledge :
PS : Rhea, Phoebe & Fenrir work with SD cards.
MODE works with sd cards, 3"5 hard drive disks, 2"5 hard drive disks, SSD (!) and external disks via USB.
@smashboy2000 That is very exciting news! I was considering a Polymega but this is an infinitely better solution. Thanks so much for the information!
@sanderev I don’t think what @Damo is arguing for is the letter of the law, but more the heart of the law. Yes, we all know the letter of the law from everyone blithering about it at every opportunity, but the heart of the law should be talked about too. Copying something for personal backup, without the intent to distribute, should be protected by law. Just giving my two cents.
@mesome713 A third-party company doesn't make the law, either. If you read the article I sent you, which has input from someone who is versed in such legal matter, it's actually the case that there's no legal precedent for this kind of thing... yet. But, going on what the music and video industries have done, it's reasonable to assume that ripping your own games is fine, as it would be covered by fair use. If anyone tried to make it law that this wasn't the case, then you wouldn't be able to rip CDs to iTunes or anything like that, either.
@sanderev What @TG16_IS_BAE said. I'm talking about ripping games you own, which would be covered by fair use. Put it this way; I can't imagine any company is going to chase you down for making a back-up copy of a game you have sitting on your shelf. If you're not comfortable with that, that's fine - it doesn't mean that others won't find this kind of device useful.
@Damo Exactly, plus the government is mainly concerned with policing distribution on the internet. I CERTAINLY don’t want the government being able to snoop in our homes to see if we are copying things for personal use or not!
@TG16_IS_BAE Totally agree with you. Replacing the disc drive with a SD or DD reader is a far better solution than the PolyMega. It's as simple as a game in its original form VS emulation.
You have similar solutions for Megadrive/Genesis, Super Nes, Nes, Master System, GB, GBC, GBA, Game Gear, ... it's called "Everdrive".
They are the creation since a decade of Krikzz, an ukrainian little genius. Every retrogamer loves his products !
And for the record, he did also built the best wireless controller for Genesis : the Joyzz. It's far better than an 8bitdo product
@Menchi
This is getting silly. Sorry, but I am out of this. 👋 😐
@MrBlacky (good call)
@smashboy2000 Oh yeah, I remember the Everdrive. Good stuff!
@TG16_IS_BAE The last ones are awesome.
FXPAK Pro reads every Snes game.
Megadrive Pro reads Mega CD games 😱
@smashboy2000 People who are wrong usually do that, so I agree.
No matter how many years pass some games will never get ports or remakes, some will get worse ports like Tales of Symphonia and Sonic Heroes. Heck, I still find the interface in Sonic Mega Collection the best out of ALL the Genesis re-releases, but it's ONLY on GameCube.
Luckily the GameCube isn't the only way to play GC games but if it were this thing would be worth every penny.
... but it's not.
@Jokerwolf nodded wii u would like to have a word with you
@mesome713 except it isnt illegal. Cry about it. Call the fbi if you so worried
I'd like to get these. Honestly, I'm pretty scared of even using my gamecube at this point. My past one laser scratched some of my discs, and the lens will always fade as the time goes on.
@Zuljaras he talks like he works for Nintendo some how😁
@PickledKong64 True, I could definitely just mod my wii/wii u more.
@mesome713 No one gives a poo, 20+ year old software is fair game, that is plenty of time to make your money, and if you don't that is on you for poor advertising/marketing. At the end of the day video games are art and are meant to be experienced.
@Damo That link gave the US law title 17 which clearly states it's illegal. Fair use law doesn't mean you can back up full original content. DVD rippers you see in store is for non copyright content used for personal use. Like your grandma's wedding, not your copy of the Avengers or Mario Bros. That is government law, not a statement from a company.
I also gave you Nintendo link which states the same. Same as Sony, Disney and any other company. They aren't making up what's legal and illegal.
There's a reason you won't see IGN posting stuff like this.
@mesome713 Thank you so much for posting this article. Just think of all the money Nintendo would lose if people started making copies of their own GameCube games! It would be one thing if they didn't make it easy to access the vast majority of their award-winning back catalog spanning multiple generations of players and hardware, then I could condone this act. But since they have made all of their heavy-hitters of the last nearly 40 years readily accessible, this is just outrageous!!
...Wait a minute.
@mesome713 Then go to IGN and continue to lick their boots.
Damn you are insufferable. Arguing about trivial stuff as ripping DVDs and old games.
I did this with my Saturn and Dreamcast. I'd take this option for the GC if my Wii U weren't a better option for multiple reasons.
@mesome713 You've heard of iTunes, right? 😂
@bahooney That's their choice. Maybe they don't care for the little money they make of such a big task. I'm sure they make way more be remaking a game than selling the old one. That's their choice.
Law is the law, they have the right to protect their full original content from wannabe entitled thieves.
@Damo Like I stated, the law can't stop you from using a device that rips movies, music or other non copyrighted content. But companies do have a US Law that states it's illegal to rip movies, music, games that they own righthe to. I can make music and rip my music from my cd to Itunes.
I can not make a game for Nintendo Switch and than sell a device so people can rip my game I created for the Switch. That's why video game rippers for gaming device is illegal but you can buy cd and DVD rippers.
One is for non copyrighted content. That's why it's legal.
US Law Article 17 states it clear, it's illegal.
@smashboy2000 That's amazing!
@mesome713 Legal =/= right. There's a list of stupid, arbitrary laws that I could point out for you but you've proven to be inconsolable.
@Jokerwolf You dont really need to mod GC to use HDMI. The early models just need an adapter to output clean HDMI signal
@Piyo That's precisely what I mean, the "Plus" port completely removed the nostalgic menu design of the GameCube version.
It's a very different experience overall, not just in presentation but the emulation too is also quite poor.
It's a bad example since collection games usually never get ports, they just change the amount of games and design something different each time.
@abdias I have a still working day one model, and the adapter is more than buying a used GameCube so that is way too much right now.
@Zuljaras they truly are a miserable pile of secrets
@retroking this is the same setup as me. GC loader plus SWISS plus Carby adapter. Last week I also got the mClassic and it works magic on GC games. I force 480p through Swiss and then this is intelligently upscaled to 1080p with mClassic. Most games looks like HD remasters. Same goes for Wii Games. It genuinely takes my breath away.
Man, nothing brings out smug & arrogant attitudes like emulation and rom discussion.
anybody who needs to remind you roms are illegal is probably no fun in real life
And how exactly does one rip games they physically own like this?
Please. Everyone knows this is a piracy device. Although I have a hard time feeling bad about it, when Nintendo refuses to re-release Gamecube games on any modern devices.
The courts have clearly set precedence for allowing copying of games/media you own for "personal use" only. Any other use would be pirating. So this is legitimate as long as you don't rip ROMs from sites for games you do not own.
I have over 60 Gamecube games sitting in my 128gb usb drive connected to the Wii. So nice to play games I never owned without even having to insert a disc or take up much needed comic book and action figure space 😉
@gonzilla It can support SDs up to 1TB
@mesome713 That disclaimer at the start of Televised Sporting Events, as well as on Movies, if you read it carefully, says it is not to be reproduced for Public Exhibition. Mean for the sole use of broadcasting it for other people other than yourself. It does not pertain to personal / private use with no expectation of showing it publicly.
Your argument here is very misguided and twisted. Oh and why I know this ... I used to co-own and run a video rental store back in the day, and we fought this crap, which is why places like netflix and amazon prime are able to thrive now, because we laid the foundation fair use with Video and Video Games within the Rental Space, which also cause the affect that personal use cases for the purpose of backing up their legal owned copies of Movies, and Music, as well as Video Games IS legal.
=
Also This:
Section 117 of the Copyright Act allows a user to "copy" the software to the extent of using it on a single computer/console in the sense that you are copying the game data from the disc and that data is being duplicated in the system-- Loading software into a computer's memory, for purposes of infringement analysis, IS copying, even though the resulting "copy" is intangible or electronic; the law obviously makes this form of copying legal.
Beyond the copying permitted in order to use the program on a single computer/console/handheld/etc, Section 117 permits the user to make a copy of the software for backup or archival purposes as a safeguard against damage or destruction.
This is where people get confused, because they think "OK I made a backup of my PS2 discs, now I can play those legally on an emulator without scuffing my original." That is where they are wrong. The backup/archival copy exception is a very narrow limitation relating to a copy being made by the rightful owner of an authentic game to ensure he or she has one in the event of damage or destruction of the authentic. If you have a legal copy of software you are allowed to make a single archival copy of the software for backup purposes. However, the copy can only be used if the original software is destroyed or fails to work. When the original is given away/sold, the backup copy must also be given with the original or destroyed. As for running it on an emulator, you're essentially making a copy of the game in a way that is not authorized --- so the gray area becomes a legal question of whether the "copying" of the game software (ie into the computer, through the emulator software) is an impermissible "copying." That is a question I do not know the answer to, nor do I know if there is legal precedent.
There's another quirk to all this, too, especially in the modern digital/internet world: When you use software, you are granted a license to make "copies" and the terms of that are usually pretty strict. Sometimes that license allows you to run it on multiple computers or accounts if it's like office software; or they allow you to run it on multiple devices through a service like Steam. We can assume that publisher have agreed to allow "copying" software to multiple machines with the caveat that it is only done through 1 account in situations like Steam or XBLA etc. Most of the time though it's far more strict generally speaking.
Certainly downloading a copy of a game someone else made (ie downloading ROMs or ISOs) doesn't come anywhere near the "backup" form of copying. So downloading a ROM or ISO of a game you LEGALLY own and have a copy of is still ILLEGAL. (unless the copyright owner granted permission/license or put their software in public domain etc etc narrow exceptions)
Then you have the DMCA laws; what the DMCA does, through DRM, is make the circumvention illegal, not the actual copying. So now copyright owners can employ DRM; and even if making a "copy" for some thing or another was legal (or not), by circumventing the DRM you are breaking the DMCA. So they gotcha there!
So the laws you are looking for are the US Copyright Act and the DMCA. If you care to pour over thousands of pages of those laws, and thousands more of legal precedent from court cases, you will find... not many helpful answers! Hope that.. helps.
As a side note, I have skipped over the exceptions to copying like fair use, educational purposes/first sale/libraries etc etc, and public domain and expired copyrights.
ALSO I am skipping over the morality question, which is a totally separate topic from the legal question.
Lastly I should say that numerous court cases have determined, after analyzing the Copyright Act, that emulators themselves are legal as long as they don't copy code directly from the source (this is why emulators often come either without a BIOS file [which would have been dumped from the original console and thus an illegal copy] or emulators have their own original non-copied versions of BIOS for the emu). But the gray area becomes whether running a game (ie a copy) through the emulated software is an illegal 'copy.' The answer may lie in the Galoob case, but the thing with law is that just because a preceding case "sort of" answers a question, that doesn't mean that "sort of similar" situations are always OK / not ok.
@mesome713 The argument that this hurts the developers in any way is a laughable one. These games are 20 years old. They are no longer sold. Nintendo, the studio, nor the devs make any money on sales from the thrift shops and eBay. There is absolutely zero argument for damages in emulation. None. Whatsoever.
The only people who might have any claim for damages are scalpers on eBay with their $300 "rare" games, and GameStops. But they have never tried to bring suit.
Nintendo and the rest of the yids that keep attacking emulation for decades out of print titles can spin. Consider it a protest against an unjust law and an abuse of copyright, thanks to Disney buying off politicians and lawmakers.
@mesome713 Nintendo can claim anything they want in the TOS. They also (go ahead and check) will include a line that says that certain provisions do not apply in certain states and countries. In other words they can put whatever they want into the TOS and they and Apple and others regularly do KNOWING full well that they can't enforce it. What they put in the TOS does not have to be legal, ethical, or en-forcible in any way shape or form.
@mesome713 lick those nintendo boots bro! how do they taste???
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