Post#1: Here I come! My Nintendo GameCube homebrew adventure begins 7th of November 2006
With the arrival of my Viper GC Extreme yesterday my NGC homebrewing days are really starting off. It came Monday the 6th of November (it was sent the Friday before) so thats four days shipping including sunday! Now before I continue (and you can all gaze at pictures :P), a small explanation:
- To run homebrew on your Nintendo GameCube you need to have a way to boot it (as a Normal GameCube doesn't have that function). You can do this via softmods (using software hacks, exploiting gaps in the original Nintendo firm/software to avoid anti-homebrew security), or hardware mods (to do the same as with a softmod but then by adding a bit of hardware to your GameCube). Softmods are generally annoying as they require a lot of steps to get to work. Hardware mods require you to solder something on you GameCube (main board) thus voiding your warranty. This of course also requires you to have the proper tools and a bit of skill (though we'll soon see how hard it will be to install my mod-chip).
There are a few softmods for the GameCube; the Phantasy Star Online method (PSO) and the Max Replay are the ones I know of. There are also quite a few mod-chips for the NGC (the Qoob series, the Viper GC chips, the Xeno and DuoQ with the possibility I forgot a few), all with different functions and specs. Of course generally they all enable the same thing; the ability to run homebrew.
As you know the sample that mod-chip.com sent me was the Viper GC Extreme. This mod-chip looks like this:
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
It comes with a bunch of things including the cables needed for install but also an USB 'flasher'. That bit goes into the serial slot 1 of your GameCube. You can apparently use it to flash your Viper GC Extreme, backup games and load games, cheat files, etc.. This does mean that when you have the USB flasher installed you can't use the broad band adapter (as it is blocking that slot). As I don't have a broadband adapter (yet) this isn't such a big deal.
Mod-chip.com has also sent me a screwdriver + bit needed for disassembling your NGC. Your Cube has four "anti-tampering" screws. These screws will need a special bit to open them. I have read that some people made their own bit+screwdriver out of melting down a BIC pen. Personally I wouldn't go that way and order the bit/screwdriver for around 10 USD.
.jpg)
Now to go on with the modding itself. I've just bought the proper tip for the soldering iron I will be using (a lot smaller then the one currently on it).
.jpg)
Proper tools can help you so much when doing something (doesn't really matter what). Hopefully my next post will be about me installing the chip :D!
Signing off,
-Simon "Scorpei" van de Berg
 |
The "Naamsvermelding-NietCommercieel-GelijkDelen 2.5 Nederland" applies on all content on my webpage |
