Hacking Gamecube iso's

[slingblade1170]

If you get a GC ISO to run on the Wii U, how is it controlled? Obviously no GC ports, would be awesome to use the pro controller.

 

[buckchow]

If you get a GC ISO to run on the Wii U, how is it controlled? Obviously no GC ports, would be awesome to use the pro controller.

Hopefully with the help of a new version of Devolution that adds support for different controllers.

 

[buckchow]

While I was looking for more Wii U drive pictures, I came across the pictures that DeadlyFoez posted last November. One pic of the inside happens to include the plastic piece that controls latching onto discs, and it's basically the same design as the Family Wii. This shows that it should definitely be possible to modify the Wii U drive so it can load GC discs without a disc adapter.

A few pictures for comparison...

Family Wii (no modifications):

Wii U (no modifications; grooves look mirrored since the plastic is on the opposite side of the drive):

Family Wii (modified):

Of course, the Wii U's ability to read GC discs should still be tested using a disc adapter before the Family Wii mod should be attempted on a Wii U.

This definitely has me giving more serious thought to picking up a Wii U so I can test this, even if it's just a used "basic" one.

 

[kp_centi]

If someone could lead me to the correct place to buy an adapter for a moderate price i will get one

 

[buckchow]

If someone could lead me to the correct place to buy an adapter for a moderate price i will get one

There are some available here, mostly bundled with CD singles. The one I'm using is a Sony CSA-8, but the others probably work about the same. If you consider any of the listings from the Netherlands, check the descriptions first for the actual shipping price.

 

[Nintendo Maniac]

To quote myself from earlier:

Well, I found one, but it's listed as "unavailable"
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PD89WI

I personally found more results by searching for '3 inch cd adapter' or '3 inch dvd adapter'


EDIT: found one that's supposedly in stock by VenMill - listed from cheapest to most expensive:
http://www.venmill.com/3-Inch-Disc-Adapter_p_1751.html
http://store.cdtagandstorage.com/3inchadapter.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZL9434

Note that in the VenMill Amazon link that GameCube discs are even mentioned in the description (though only referring to disc repair). It's my understanding that VenMill makes some sort of disc repair device, so they've made an adapter for their own product that may just happen to work with others.

Supposedly the VenMill adapter is a bit different so it's unknown if it'd even physically fit.

 

[Ray Lewis]

While I was looking for more Wii U drive pictures, I came across the pictures that DeadlyFoez posted last November. One pic of the inside happens to include the plastic piece that controls latching onto discs, and it's basically the same design as the Family Wii. This shows that it should definitely be possible to modify the Wii U drive so it can load GC discs without a disc adapter.

A few pictures for comparison...

Family Wii (no modifications):

Wii U (no modifications; grooves look mirrored since the plastic is on the opposite side of the drive):

Family Wii (modified):

Of course, the Wii U's ability to read GC discs should still be tested using a disc adapter before the Family Wii mod should be attempted on a Wii U.

This definitely has me giving more serious thought to picking up a Wii U so I can test this, even if it's just a used "basic" one.

Seriously? Let us know how modding the drive goes.

 

[Nintendo Maniac]

On a related note, unlike the Wii, it seems that the Wii U's disc drive is physically capable of reading standard CDs:
http://www.nintendonerds.com/categories/wii-u/a-cd-can-be-used-as-a-wii-u-cleaning-disc-r717

While the system obviously doesn't have the software to read the contents of a CD, this is at least moderately interesting for possible future homebrew, such as directly reading and emulating PS1 discs or similar.

 

[buckchow]

On a related note, unlike the Wii, it seems that the Wii U's disc drive is physically capable of reading standard CDs

That sounds very nice. I was surprised when I first learned that the GC/Wii drives were incapable of reading CDs, but it made sense if it saved money. Kind of baffling that it would be added to the Wii U drive though. I would like to think that audio CD playback will be added in a future update, or maybe even be added to the eShop for a reasonable price. I won't hold my breath though.

 

[DeadlyFoez]

So, with this development, if anyone wants to send me their wii, I can add in the GC ports to it too

 

[kp_centi]

There are some available here, mostly bundled with CD singles. The one I'm using is a Sony CSA-8, but the others probably work about the same. If you consider any of the listings from the Netherlands, check the descriptions first for the actual shipping price.

To quote myself from earlier:


Supposedly the VenMill adapter is a bit different so it's unknown if it'd even physically fit.

Thanks for the links. For days I've been looking around the internet for an adapter. Literally it is hard to find! I think they just died off the face of the Earth. Hahah I might have to get that Flim Flam single on eBay to just get the adapter. I might go hit up thrift shops, flea markets and such, I might have some luck there.

 

[Nintendo Maniac]

I think they just died off the face of the Earth.

I think what happened is that full-sized CDs became so mass-produced that a full-sized CD ended up being CHEAPER than the half-sized ones, and therefore defeating the purpose of the half-sized discs in the first place.

 

[kp_centi]

I understand that, It's just those 3 links is what I keep ending up finding with the power of GOOGLE!

 

[Nintendo Maniac]

Of course that's all you'll find - it's all I found via my own Google-fu.

 

[buckchow]

Alright, I tested a GC disc in a disc adapter in a Wii U.

When no disc is inserted, the Disc Channel in Wii mode on the Wii U only shows a Wii disc icon. Both the Family Wii and standard Wii show icons for both Wii and GC discs, so the absence of the GC icon wasn't a promising sign.

When the GC disc in an adapter is inserted, the drive makes normal spinning and reading sounds. The drive does not auto-eject the disc. Unfortunately, in the Disc Channel the Wii icon just spins briefly, then the system reports that it was unable to read the disc.

It seems likely that the Wii U is reading the disc perfectly fine but has been programmed to toss up a fake read error message as soon as it detects a GC disc. So, maybe the vWii installation can be modified to convince the new Disc Channel to behave like the old one and check for both Wii and GC disc types. I haven't read up on soft mods much before, but I'm sure the experts around here have some idea of how possible (or not) that might be.

 

[Nintendo Maniac]

So, maybe the vWii installation can be modified to convince the new Disc Channel to behave like the old one and check for both Wii and GC disc types.

This would be pointless since you would have no way to play the game anyway. Something like Devolution should be able to verify the disc just fine however AND would be able to support alternate controls and emulated memory cards.

Therefore, the next thing to do would be to test Devolution on a Wii U with the 3-inch disc adapter.

 

[buckchow]

This would be pointless since you would have no way to play the game anyway. Something like Devolution should be able to verify the disc just fine however AND would be able to support alternate controls and emulated memory cards."

In addition to the Devolution option, I'm interested in the possibility of running GC discs directly from the Disc Channel. I'm sure not everyone with a Wii U who is interested in playing GC discs wants to get involved with backup images of their discs. I was just thinking that a more functional Disc Channel would help, so it doesn't seem pointless to me unless it's impossible re-map controls/saves for games launched in the Disc Channel. If Devolution could be modified to run games directly from discs while also providing controller+save support, maybe then there would be no purpose to restoring GC support to the Disc Channel

Therefore, the next thing to do would be to test Devolution on a Wii U with the 3-inch disc adapter.

If there's anything that can be tested with the latest Devolution build, I unfortunately can't check it right now. I might have a Wii U again in about a week for further testing.

 

[kp_centi]

In addition to the Devolution option, I'm interested in the possibility of running GC discs directly from the Disc Channel. I'm sure not everyone with a Wii U who is interested in playing GC discs wants to get involved with backup images of their discs. I was just thinking that a more functional Disc Channel would help, so it doesn't seem pointless to me unless it's impossible re-map controls/saves for games launched in the Disc Channel. If Devolution could be modified to run games directly from discs while also providing controller+save support, maybe then there would be no purpose to restoring GC support to the Disc Channel


If there's anything that can be tested with the latest Devolution build, I unfortunately can't check it right now. I might have a Wii U again in about a week for further testing.

Where did get your adapter?

I've looked everywhere in my Town and I could not find any, so I might end up buying that Flim-Flam single on eBay.

 

[winmaster]

In addition to the Devolution option, I'm interested in the possibility of running GC discs directly from the Disc Channel. I'm sure not everyone with a Wii U who is interested in playing GC discs wants to get involved with backup images of their discs. I was just thinking that a more functional Disc Channel would help, so it doesn't seem pointless to me unless it's impossible re-map controls/saves for games launched in the Disc Channel. If Devolution could be modified to run games directly from discs while also providing controller+save support, maybe then there would be no purpose to restoring GC support to the Disc Channel


If there's anything that can be tested with the latest Devolution build, I unfortunately can't check it right now. I might have a Wii U again in about a week for further testing.

You'll never get GC discs to work in the disc channel, because it doesn't actually do anything besides set some flags and tell the Wii to reboot. Devolution and whatever crediar is working on are the only two homebrew applications that currently show any promise at running GC games on the vWii. Fortunately, I'd be willing to bet that running games from the original discs will be a feature available eventually, since the Family Wii and Wii U both present reasons to do that.

Also, since you have a way of loading GC discs in your Wii U, you should be able to run Devolution, rip a disc, and start the game, albeit without controls.

 

[buckchow]

Where did get your adapter?

I've looked everywhere in my Town and I could not find any, so I might end up buying that Flim-Flam single on eBay.

Bought it on eBay with an old CD. That's why I suggested those other ones that are still for sale on there right now.