Reflect on previous Nintendo generations, and you might remember mock-ups of portable GameCube handhelds inspired by the Game Boy Advance SP. If you've ever wanted a real version of something like this, well...that's exactly what console modder and YouTuber 'GingerOfOz' has created.
The modder has been able to shrink this mock-up down to a Game Boy Advance SP-style handheld unit. In truth, it's actually running a "trimmed" Wii motherboard inside of it, which obviously supports Nintendo's library of GameCube games.
In an attempt to stay true to the GameCube experience, custom software was added to include the classic boot-up screen. And if you're wondering about the display, it's 480p. There's also headphone support and the whole device was designed with the assistance of graphics software and 3D printing. About the only downside appears to be the battery life - lasting for just an hour and a half.
Oh, and GingerOfMods also got to the bottom of the original concept. Apparently, the individual goes by the name of Demond (known as "gcpguy22" on Instagram), and he made the mock-up just for fun while he was in college. He then posted it online to see if people at the time would think it was legit, and the rest is history.
The same YouTube channel has previously shared videos of portable Wii and PlayStation 2 handhelds. What do you think of this real-life recreation? Leave a comment down below.
[source youtu.be, via twitter.com]
Comments (49)
Nice...but little late is never too late...
Hahaha, I love how he just went and made a fake thing into a reality. Amazing.
Love it. Great work
I've never really understood the fetishisation of the Gamecube, I remember it being a relatively underwhelming console
Amazing work. My hands hurt just by looking at the thing lol
@Matty1988 you remember wrong! Amazing console built for gaming, library, tech and controller (d-pad notwithstanding lol). Also inexpensive, especially in PAL land. Got mine at US launch with Wave Race BS, Rogue Squadron II and Luigi’s Mansion. ‘Twas a cozy gaming Christmas that year, yep!
It's cool that it has a disc drive. If I recall correctly this person's portable wii just played roms.
EDIT: Dang it, the disc drive was a lie! A lie, I tell you!
That's incredible.
Some of the recent portable options like the Steam Deck can emulate GC, but this actually a legit GC player. Amazing work
Now if only someone could make the Wii Phone a real thing.
@Matty1988 Nah, it has just so many quality games. Definitely a console of experimentation, which I personally love. Mario Sunshine, Wind Waker, Pikmin, Luigi’s Mansion etc were all fairly unique and exciting for the time and definitely divisive.
While looking through a very old file folder from an old PC, I found this image saved, and throught about how "portable smash" was such a far out concept.
Kudos to the creator
@DashKappei our GCN Christmas was 4 controllers, SSB Melee, Rogue Squadron II, Luigi’s Mansion and Madden 2002. One of the best ever!
Very well done. And very little compromise - just a bit thicker it seems.
The original mockup had a nice display on the closed clamshell top but that might be too much to ask for:
https://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/gamecube_advance_front2.jpg
(I haven't watched the full video here so they may have addressed that.)
@Matty1988 Glad I wasn’t the only person who felt this way. Besides Metroid Prime and a couple other games, it felt more like a waste of money for me than anything else.
That is something I'd pay money for. It's easy to forget just how good some of the Cube's games were. As good as Breath is, I still think Wind Waker is the high water mark of Zelda games. Tingle is the greatest NPC in the history of all media.
@Matty1988 it's generally a tempered by the console being what someone played either first or in their formative years. I think the N64 is overhyped the same way but there's a ton of gamers who started with it or became a gamer playing it. It'd be better if people could just come to terms with the nostalgic factor instead of trying to come up with supposedly objective arguments. But the same thing happens with music and which era was supposedly the best and way ahead of its time, etc.
This is great. First this, and now I just heard the "fake" videogame on the music video "californication" is now a real videogame. Life imitates art.
Absolutely loved the Gamecube, very fond memories there. Haters, back off!
And Killer7 on the go? Yes please!
Finally, a reason for those small disks!!!👌 Portability!!!
@BloodNinja I remember my most played GC games being Metroid Prime, Tony Hawk 4, and a bonus disc I got from a magazine with 4 Zelda games on it. I had so many short and what I felt were lackluster games that I gravitated to the PS2
GameCube: be still my heart ❤️ The console that solidified my Nintendo love for eternity.
@Coalescence Objectively, the Gamecube was more powerful, and graphically more capable than the PS2.
Just watch for videos of Resident Evil 4 comparisons.
What killed it was that a lot of developers didn't like the mini disc because it was hard for them to fit their games in 1.4GB. So they went with PS2. Resident Evil 4 is also an example of a two-disc Gamecube game.
Had Nintendo gone for standard DVD disc (4.7GB), gaming history would be a lot different.
Only wish he was able to put a OD into it that would be the cherry to the cake topping.
Where can i buy this :'D
I prefer PS2 portable than Gamecube portable since PS2 has better games library than Gamecube in my opinion.
I'm sorry, I played DDR, other BEMANI games, K-1, Bomberman, some 3D platformers, The Sims games, Ratchet & Clank games, Monster Rancher 4, etc from PS2.
Gamecube portable is not the right machine to play DDR Mario Mix since it doesn't have buttons arrangement like DDR panel.
Now this is awesome. But of course, anything that turns a home console into a portable one is the subject of my heavy bias.
I actually remember someone making a sort of “wii laptop”
That plays wii and GameCube games.
@Beeeell mine came with rogue squadron, pikmin, and Luigi's Mansion lol. Not for Christmas, I actually sold my 64 and super Nintendo to get it.
It took me a hot minute to realise what this reminded me of, but this literally looks like a portable DVD player I had when I was a child. Now if only I could play Gamecube games on it, THAT would've been killer.
Well done. Now do the Panasonic Q
Fine to prefer other consoles but you’ll never find a seasoned well rounded industry pundit who feels the GameCube wasn’t good. Saying so says more about the commenter’s lack of understanding. Possibly due to being young at the time & susceptible to console war bias.
@MostHandsieBoy “Wind Waker is the high water mark of Zelda games.”
I see what you did there. 😉
@Matty1988 Damn, that was my exact experience, minus the Tony Hawk!
@DashKappei pretty sure his hands hurt because of the form factor of the portable GameCube…but nice story either way. Just think you completely misunderstood his OP. Lol
That sweet 128-bit console era
The big question is, do I still need the memory card?
@Matty1988 it didnt sell well at the time because of the ps2's backwards compatibility and movie dvd support, but the gamecube is awesome. Im not even biased, i didn't grow up with it. Its just so cooooooollll
That’s so cool!
@Matty1988 My Wii U is loaded with GCN games. 😎
That video was so cool. What a legend. And I remember this mock-up being a thing wayback when!
Sidenote: I actually did make my own Game Cube portable by buying an lcd screen attachment for it. Made for some great memories during road trips!
Lots of very talented hardware creators out there. This is something I would have dreamed of about 10 years ago.
Now I want him to do the DS2
@Matty1988 Well you'd be wrong there sonny Jim. The Gamecube was fantastic, Nintendo put out stellar game after stellar game after stellar game. It had limited 3rd party support but what it did get there was also stellar - Metal Gear Solid Twin Snakes, Resi Evil 4, Eternal Darkness etc. Not to mention the Game Boy Player!
This is an amazing effort!
I'd like the guy to do his own version next, one where a disc drive is included and the battery life is more than an hour...!!
the only issue with the GameCube was that is couldn't play DVDs like the other consoles. Nintendo could have created a DVD player accessory like they did with the GameBoy Player. of course then it was also a bit annoying that a boot disc was required to use the GameBoy Player. its too bad that Nintendo never thought about releasing an updated version of the GameCube with the GameBoy Player software built-into the console.
It actually looks great. The thickness and the buttons placement seem comfortable and the edges remind me a bit of Nintendo 64.
@Snakesglowcaps I don’t get it, you’re saying that I’ve misunderstood who and what? 🤔 I was talking about myself… I love the concept and thibk it’s amazing work and the guys has incredible talent, but that thing would give me hand cramps after 10 minutes with its form factor
I do remember this particular mock-up render!
Props for keeping a "storage slot" for discs on there, even if it doesn't do anything. Cool to get the story of the original picture as well. :v
I was proud of myself after modding a GC w/ a Xeno chip back in 2020, and then this guy comes along and just makes a portable GC that blows my accomplishment out of the water, smh 🙄😒🤦🏽♂🤷🏽♂🤭😅😆😂🤣😭
I watched the video, but was almost immediately disappointed by the fact that it wasn't a GameCube and doesn't play discs. If you're going to 'make something a reality', then does doing something completely different count? Portable systems can use optical drives, Sony did it almost 20 years ago with PSP.
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