Wii U Playing Gamecube Games

Nov 05, 2014  Nintendont is a homebrew application for the Wii (and thusly, the Wii U via Wii mode) that takes advantage of the fact that the Wii U is backwards compatible with the Wii.which means it's also fully backwards compatible with the GameCube. Yes, that's right - the Wii U can play GameCube games. Feb 19, 2017  2019 Wii Softmod Guide - Play Games From HDD - P3NCE - Duration: 22:58. P3NCE 81,697 views. May 10, 2018  There are two methods for playing gamecube games on the gamepad. The first method is by making your very own indivisual Gamecube injection using Wii Virtual Console as a base, with the injector script. The second method is to use a forwarder to Nintendont which then you can select a game. May 03, 2009  How to Play Gamecube Games on Wii - Steps Open the cover on top of the Wii. Connect a GameCube controller. Open the cover on the top of the Wii. Insert a memory card. Insert a GameCube disc into the slot. Press the 'Home' button. Click on GameCube. Play the game.

Nintendo consoles always seem to leave a lasting impressionHow the Wii U's Failures Can Make Nintendo's NX a SuccessHow the Wii U's Failures Can Make Nintendo's NX a SuccessNintendo's next console, codenamed the NX, is going to be huge. Potentially. But every company has stumbles. If Nintendo has another one, could it be The End?Read More, and the GameCube was no different. When the Wii arrived in 2006, GameCube owners were easily won over by the addition of backwards compatibility.

  • Aug 31, 2016  If you’re a Wii U owner, then the reasons for installing Nintendont are self-explanatory. Your console can natively play GameCube games with this software installed, which adds another 600 titles to the console’s repertoire. Let’s be honest — the Wii U can use all the additional games it can get.
  • Jul 21, 2016  Again, the hardware can play Gamecube games, as has been proven by teams of programmers, the Wii U is merely incapable of reading the disc, Nintendo could easily provide games.
  • GameCube Controller ports on the top of the Wii unit This is a list of released and upcoming video games for the Wii video game console which allow use of the GameCube Controller. This list does not include games released on Nintendo 's Virtual Console as the GameCube controller can also be used for all Virtual Console games, with the exception of some TurboGrafx-16 games.

But with the arrival of the Wii U, that feature somehow disappeared despite the fact that the console shipped with a walled-off “virtual Wii” mode. Nintendont is a piece of Wii homebrewLooking For Wii Homebrew Apps? These Are The Places To GoLooking For Wii Homebrew Apps? These Are The Places To GoAt this point you've probably played most of the games for the console you were interested in, but if you want to find another use for the biggest console of the last decade, homebrew just..Read More which restores GameCube compatibility and adds additional features to boot.

Agatha christie books pdf download. It also supercharges GameCube capabilities on the original Wii.

What is Nintendont?

Nintendont isn’t an emulator, because it doesn’t need to emulate the GameCube’s hardware. When Nintendo ditched GameCube support on the Wii U, they effectively flipped a virtual switch to turn the feature off. Nintendont turns that switch back on again, allowing GameCube games to run natively at full speed.

The exploit is possible as the “final” firmware used on the original Wii and in vWii mode on the Wii U is susceptible to being tampered with. By installing the Homebrew Channel, it’s possible to install and run all sorts of additional applications on your Wii30+ Great Emulators You Can Run on Your Nintendo Wii30+ Great Emulators You Can Run on Your Nintendo WiiWith these emulators, you can play virtually any retro video game on the Nintendo Wii. Here are the best emulators on the Wii.Read More — from emulators, to media centres, and even boot loaders to run games from USB or SD card.

In essence, Nintedont is just that — a bootloader for GameCube games. Only on the original Wii can you use the original media (GameCube discs) to play games however, and on the Wii U you’re going to need to resort to disc images.

Why Do I Need It?

If you’re a Wii U owner, then the reasons for installing Nintendont are self-explanatory. Your console can natively play GameCube games with this software installed, which adds another 600 titles to the console’s repertoire. Let’s be honest — the Wii U can use all the additional games it can get.

For original Wii owners, the reasons might be less clear but are just as compelling. Nintendont comes with a bunch of extra features, removes region locks, adds support for many new controllers, includes graphical enhancements and more.

Maybe you’re a GameCube owner whose console has died, but you still have a collection of games you’d like to enjoy, and a ton of controllers and old saved data you’d like to use. Rather than buying those games again using Nintendo’s Virtual Console, you can play them on your Wii U with Nintendont.

Note: Piracy is bad and we aren’t condoning it, but in many regions it’s perfectly legal to rip your own backup copy of a game. Though a gray area in many jurisdictions, you may also be a able to download an image of a game you own without having to rip it yourself (as the end result is pretty much the same). You are responsible for adhering to the laws in your region, and remember that stealing makes baby Mario cry.

Other features worthy of a mention added by Nintendont include memory card emulation, allowing you to store save games locally on your device rather than using a GameCube memory card. Support for additional controllers is present, including the Wii Classic Pro and Wii U Pro controllers (over Bluetooth) and other common wired USB HID controllers. Others include Sony’s PS3 and PS4 controllersHow to Use the PS4 Controller on your Mac or PCHow to Use the PS4 Controller on your Mac or PCWant to use your versatile PS4 controller with your Mac or PC? It's easier than you think! Here's how to do it.Read More, the Nvidia Shield Controller, the Wii U GameCube controller adapter, and plain old generic USB gamepads.

Cool, so you can use the GameCube adapter to control GameCube games in Nintendont. Cool.
GameCube games on Wii U ftw

— Terry (@byteandahalf) May 25, 2016

CRT televisions that used a 4:3 aspect ratio were still the norm when the GameCube was released, and not all games supported 60hz PAL output, 480p and widescreen. Nintendont lets you force games to use the higher resolution and output in 16:9. Though widescreen works, it can cause some issues in games. The software also comes with support for other tweaks, like a cheats database, and there are a few original Wii-only features worth noting too.

Original Wii owners are the only ones who can use Nintendont to play original or backup discs. The new Wii U simply spits out GameCube disks, which used the smaller size of 8CM and a capacity of just 1.5GB. Wii owners can use original memory cards (though I haven’t been able to test if Wii U owners can do so with the GameCube controller adapter for Wii U), use the Game Boy Advance link cable for supported games, and use the WiiRd cheat engine too.

At present there’s no support for online play using a virtual modem or broadband adapter, but the feature is apparently coming according to developers. The project is very much alive and kicking, but don’t expect Game Boy Player support as this has been ruled out.

Installing Nintendont

The first thing you’ll need to do before you install Nintendont is install the Homebrew Channel on your Wii. There are a few different ways to do this, and we’ve covered it in the past for original Wii usersHow to Set Up Your Wii for Homebrew Using LetterbombHow to Set Up Your Wii for Homebrew Using LetterbombIn ancient times, running homebrew software required owning a specific game and corrupting its save data to run an exploit. It was complicated. The most recent hack, which has been working for a year now,..Read More. The important thing to remember is that Nintendont doesn’t require any additional USB loaders, cIOS revisions, or other tweaks to work — you just need to get your console to a state where the Homebrew Channel has been installed.

Regardless of which console you have, you’ll need to download a few files and put them on a regular SD card (not SDHC or SDXC) of around 2GB. Once you’ve installed the Homebrew Channel, you can use larger SD cards and even USB sticks with your console. If you already have the Homebrew Channel installed, you can skip this step.

On an original Wii:

  • System software version 4.3: use the LetterBomb exploit (no game required).
  • System software version 4.2 or lower: use the Bannerbomb exploit (no game required).
  • You can also do so using Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and a few other games (which are hard to get a hold of).

Note: To find out which version of the Wii’s software you are running, launch the Wii’s system settings (click the round Wii button in the lower-left corner of the system menu). You’ll find your version in the upper-right corner.

On a Wii U via vWii:

  • You must use a game in order to do this, but the methodology is the same.
  • The easiest game to get hold of is Super Smash Bros. Brawl, then use the SmashStack exploit to install the Homebrew Channel.

Now Install Nintendont:

  1. Grab any SD, SDHC or SDXC card you want to use, formatted to FAT32 for best compatibility.
  2. Download icon.png, meta.xml, and loader.dol then rename it to boot.dol.
  3. Create a folder called apps/nintendont on your SD card and copy those three files to it.

For games, you can either create a folder on the same SD card or format a USB stick or hard drive for this purpose and put your games there. Regardless, put your .ISO files (more on this in a minute) in a folder like so: games/game name/game.iso. You can replace the “game name” part with whatever you want but it’s really important that the disc is called game.iso — for any multi-disc games name the second image disc2.iso and so on.

Windows users can use the GameCube ISO Tool to copy their games to the /games/ folder in DiscEX format, which will save space by means of compression. This is not necessary, and it’s not even an option for Mac or Linux users. If you want to use a USB device to play your games, use the “bottom” USB slot on your original Wii (or the one closer to the edge if your console is stood upright).

To launch Nintendont: insert your SD card, launch the Homebrew Channel and select it from the list.

Playing Games

You’ll need some games to play, and unless you’re using an original Wii, you’re going to have to resort to .ISO files. Even if you are using an original Wii, disc images are faster, you don’t have to switch discs, and they won’t scratch — so they’re very convenient. You can rip your own GameCube disks using an original Wii, and a tool called CleanRip — just install it to the /apps/ folder like you did with Nintendont.

You can also rip discs using a computer, a compatible disc drive, and a free copy of Windows software RawDump. As previously noted, you may also be able to download a disc image of a game you legally own (though in many countries this is still illegal, and in others the law is not clear).

With Nintendont running you are given the choice of SD or USB storage, as well as original media (disc drive) on the Wii. Selecting a game from the list will launch it, but there’s also a settings menu to explore by hitting the B button on your WiiMote. A few settings you might want to enable, and what they do, include:

  • Memcard Emulation: Uses your USB or SD device to store games (turn this off to use physical memory cards).
  • Force Widescreen: Self-explanatory, may break things.
  • Force Progressive: Always use 480p, again may break things.
  • Auto Boot: Allows you to resume the last game you were playing when you launch Nintendont (hold B on your WiiMote at startup to bypass).
  • Native Control: Enables support for real GameCube accessories on a Wii, like the Game Boy Advance link cable (turn this off to use other USB controllers with Nintendont).
  • Patch PAL50: Worth trying if you can’t get certain games working, this is the only way I could get Super Mario Sunshine working.

On the Settings screen you can hit the 1 button to go to the Update menu. Choose Download controllers.zip to use USB controllers like the PS4 controller with your console. Once this file has been downloaded and installed, Nintendont should detect any controller you put in your original Wii’s top slot (the one furthest from the closest edge if upright).

Happy GameCubing

The GameCube was a celebrated system, with many exclusives that are worth checking out or revisiting. A few of our favorites include: Super Mario Sunshine, Super Smash Bros. Melee, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Metroid Prime (and its sequel Echoes), Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, F-Zero GX, Pikmin, Luigi’s Mansion, Star Wars Rogue Squadron II, and Star Fox Adventures.

You can find many of them for sale at reasonable prices in thrift stores, on Craiglist, and online auction sites like eBay. And if you’re looking for gift ideas, take a look at these amazing gifts just for Nintendo fans10 Amazing Gifts to Buy for Nintendo Fans10 Amazing Gifts to Buy for Nintendo FansStuck for last-minute gifts for an avid gamer? Here are some great gift ideas for Nintendo fans!Read More:

What are your favorite GameCube games?

Images: Wii U Console and Gamepad (Takimata)

Explore more about: Nintendo, Nintendo Wii U.

  1. Instructions not clear, foot stuck in microwave.

  2. A lot of the gamecube games I have I'm unable to play. The control stick doesn't work as well as a few buttons. It seems like those games use a lot more space than some of the others that the control stick does work with. What's up with all this?

  3. When I launch a GameCube game it'll say no memory card inserted so of course I can't save this.. Is there any way to have the saves save to the SD card similar to how my wii U backups save?

  4. How do you put the games on USB? My SD card is only 2 gigabytes so that's just enough for one game. If I try to put the games on a USB and then turn on my Wii U, it makes me format it.

    • put in the SD card after you go into Wii Mode

  5. Great guide, but what's this about using memory cards through a Gamecube controller? Are we confusing Gamecube with N64??

Like all homebrew and modification, INSTALL AT YOUR OWN RISK. Nintendo so far have shown they will not ban any users for hacking Wii mode on the Wii U, but it may void your warranty. This is purely a modification of the Wii Mode on Wii U and will not touch or affect anything on Wii U mode at all in any way whatsoever.
Thought this would clear up a few things.
Q: Can you play GameCube games on the Wii U?
A: Yes, you can. Through the wonders of homebrew.
Nintendont is a homebrew application for the Wii (and thusly, the Wii U via Wii mode) that takes advantage of the fact that the Wii U is backwards compatible with the Wii..which means it's also fully backwards compatible with the GameCube. Yes, that's right - the Wii U can play GameCube games natively. No emulation here.
From the Official Site
loader.dol (rename to boot.dol)
meta.xml
icon.png (add these to the apps/nintendont/ folder on your SD card)
Features:
Play audio via disc audio streaming
Full speed loading from an USB device, or a SD card
Loads 1:1 and compressed .ISO disc images
Works on Wii and vWii on Wii U
Loads games as extracted files (FST)
Memory card emulation
Bluetooth controller support (Classic Controller (Pro), Wii U Pro Controller)
HID controller support via USB
Custom button layout when using HID controllers
Cheat code support
WiiRd (only on Wii)
Changeable configuration of various settings
Reset/Power off via button combo (R + Z + Start) (R + Z + B + D-Pad Down)
Advanced video mode patching, force progressive and force 16:9 widescreen
Auto boot from loader
Disc switching
Allow use of the Nintendo GameCube Microphone
Use real memory card
Yep. That's a lot. Nintendont supports Wii U Pro Controllers, Classic Controllers, Dualshock 3, Wii Remotes and even GameCube controllers via adapters (and the upcoming official adapter will likely work too). Nintendont can also play games in widescreen, and emulate the memory card. No gamecube ports or memory card ports on the console? Who cares. Homebrew!
How to set up:
I will assume you already have the homebrew channel installed on your Wii U. If not, have a look at this guide. All you need is an SD card and one of these selected games:
Wii U
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
LEGO Indiana Jones
LEGO Batman
LEGO Star Wars
Tales of Symphonia
Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's Wheelie Breakers
Wii:
As above, plus LetterBomb is available as an exploit too.
Firstly, you need your gamecube games in ISO format. You can rip your collection using a homebrew'd Wii console and Cleanrip. I will not discuss finding ISOs by other means, as it's against NeoGAF rules, and it's bad to do.
So, you've got the games ripped onto your USB stick or SD card. Excellent! You now have TWO GLORIOUS OPTIONS.
The 1:1 quick and easy option, or the 'I have a mac' option:

Wii U Play Gamecube Games On Gamepad


When loaded directly Nintendont looks for games at:
sd:/games/<anything>/game.iso
shove your ripped isos there. one folder per game.
The compress my shit I want more space option:
You need GCIT, a windows app. Using this application, open each ISO and send it to your SD card or USB stick in a folder called GAMES on the root of the card. Select it to transfer in DiscEX format which Nintendon't can read. It's really quick to do this.
Almost there! Download the newest version of Nintendont. (always updated at this link)
Put this into your sd card in /apps/nintendont - name it boot.dol. Download metal.xml and icon.png and put those into the same folder.
now load up the Wii U, go into Wii Mode, load up the homebrew channel, select nintendont and hooray! smash bros melee, on your Wii U! Before playing anything, go into settings in Nintendont (press B), then the update menu (press X), you can download the newest software update for the app. I recommend doing this straight away.
UPDATE 1

The Wii U GameCube adapter is now fully compatible with Nintendont! Now we have true backwards compatibility! It is now included in the default controller ID pack - use the update menu in Nintendont to download it. Then its a matter of enabling HID controllers in the menu, and plugging the black cable into the bottom rear port of the console. If you want rumble, plug in both cables.
List of the available options in the Nintendont menu, along with explanations:

Playing Gamecube Games On Wii


Wii U Console Play Gamecube Games

Cheats &#8211; Turn cheats on or off.
Debugger &#8211; Turn the Debugger on or off (Not important for regular use)
Debugger Wait &#8211; (Another debug option not important for regular use)
Memcard Emulation &#8211; Turn Memory Cards on or off (If on it will emulate a memory card on your SD/USB, If off it will try and use a real Memory Card which you can use on a GC compatible Wii.)
Cheat Path &#8211; To enable use of .txt files for cheats (If you aren&#8217;t using cheats dont turn it on)
Force Widescreen &#8211; Makes Nintendont try and patch the game to support widescreen tv&#8217;s.
Force Progressive &#8211; Makes Nintendont try and patch the game to support 480p resolution.
Auto Boot &#8211; If enabled Nintendont will automatically load the last game you loaded next time you launch it, holding B will stop this.
Use HID device &#8211; Enables the use of wired usb controllers (Turn it on for PS3/PS4 controllers, Logitech F510, Mayflash USB adapters and the Wii U GC Controller Adapter.)
OSReport &#8211; Makes a report that Developers can use to fix errors.
USB &#8211; Turn it on if you are using a USB Device for your games.
Drive Read LED &#8211; Makes the Wii drive light up when reading games.
Log &#8211; Creates a log file on your SD that can be used to determine errors by the developers.
MaxPads &#8211; Set the maximum controllers enabled (Up to 4 and it should be 4 by default.)
Language &#8211; Set what language you want the game to run in (Handy for some PAL games if you want a certain language, not used normally)
Video &#8211; Set video mode (PAL/NTSC/480PAL/480NTSC/Auto) use Auto normally.
Memcard Blocks &#8211; The size of the memory card (useful when using memcard multi, using anything over 251 blocks can freeze games)
Memcard Multi &#8211; If &#8220;On&#8221; Nintendont will use one shared memcard file for all games, if &#8220;Off&#8221; it uses a single memcard file for each game, I personally recommend the single card for each game so that if a game corrupts the save it doesn&#8217;t effect the entire card.
Native Control - If set to On you can use real GameCube accessories such as the GBA-LINK and a Microphone on a Wii with GC ports, it also disables all controllers except real GameCube controllers on a Wii with GC Ports.
Recommended Settings
Here are the settings you would use to just play a GameCube game with nothing else enabled, just straight up playing a game.
Cheats &#8211; Off
Debugger &#8211; Off
Debugger Wait &#8211; Off
Memcard Emulation &#8211; On
Cheat Path &#8211; Off
Force Widescreen &#8211; Off (On if you want)
Force Progressive &#8211; Off (On if you want)
Auto Boot &#8211; Off
Use HID device &#8211; On
OSReport &#8211; Off
USB &#8211; On (Off if SD)
Drive Read LED &#8211; Off
Log &#8211; Off
MaxPads &#8211; 4
Language &#8211; Auto
Video &#8211; Auto
Memcard Blocks &#8211; 251
Memcard Multi &#8211; Off
Native Control &#8211; Off
These settings are for someone that wants a memcard for each game and they&#8217;ll be using a non-USB controller.
If you wanted to use a supported USB controller you would turn &#8220;Use HID device&#8221; to ON and plug a controller into the front USB ports on a Wii U or the top one on a Wii.
Most games will work fine with &#8220;Force Progressive&#8221; and &#8220;Force Widescreen&#8221; set to ON but it can cause issues in some games, if a game freezes and doesn&#8217;t boot turn them on or off as needed.