Rare Dolphin/Gamecube Console Pic

[Lostbhoy]

So apparently the people at consolevariant have released a pic of one of, if not the last surviving prototype Gamecubes, still being called Dolphin on the casing.

I love how the logo is clearly an indication that the name Gamecube was already decided but it's in N64 style! Gotta love these little lost links!

https://x.com/consolevariant/status/1820489954361016672



https://x.com/PaulFelixKelly/status/1820497980744716625

 

[Maximumbeans]

That's so cool. Another little piece of console history

 

[JuanMena]

So apparently the people at consolevariant have released a pic of one of, if not the last surviving prototype Gamecubes, still being called Dolphin on the casing.

I love how the logo is clearly an indication that the name Gamecube was already decided but it's in N64 style! Gotta love these little lost links!

https://x.com/consolevariant/status/1820489954361016672

View attachment 451382

https://x.com/PaulFelixKelly/status/1820497980744716625

View attachment 451383

"It's so rare we can't upload it to the internet"

You wouldn't download more RAM, now won't you?

Anyway, hope this gets a clear origin story behind it.
But I'm assuming they found it in a garage sale from a guy that used to work at Nintendo OR bought it online from a Japanese videogames store that had it in it's shelves for 20+ years without knowing the treasure they've been holding onto.
Also, can't wait for even more low quality pics of this prototype GameCube .

 

[Robert Newbie]

I'm always obsessed with the details of game and console development. The final design and logo added the sleekness the GameCube needed.

 

[AmandaRose]

I love how the logo is clearly an indication that the name Gamecube was already decided but it's in N64 style! Gotta love these little lost links!

Hmm interesting that totally goes against the long standing rumour of the system being called Starcube right up to hours before the system was shown off for the first time to the public.

 

[Lostbhoy]

Hmm interesting that totally goes against the long standing rumour of the system being called Starcube right up to hours before the system was shown off for the first time to the public.

Did not know that although the name Starcube rings a bell.

My memory is vague but I do remember the codename Dolphin being mentioned as Nintendo's next console on an old gaming show on CITV and I'm sure it was Andy Crane presenting and that was definitely during N64 lifetime.

 

[KiiWii]

Did not know that although the name Starcube rings a bell.

My memory is vague but I do remember the codename Dolphin being mentioned as Nintendo's next console on an old gaming show on CITV and I'm sure it was Andy Crane presenting and that was definitely during N64 lifetime.

Weren’t Starcube a release group for GCN rips

 

[Frankbel]

Does it use discs of regular size?

 

[master801]

Weren’t Starcube a release group for GCN rips

iirc, yes

EDIT: It was also the rumored name for the now-GameCube, apparently.

Starcube scene group:
https://hiddenpalace.org/STARCUBE
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cube-protection-cracked-by-pirates
https://www.nfohump.com/index.php?switchto=nfos&menu=sections&sectionid=20
https://www.gc-forever.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3

Rumored "StarCube" name:
https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/guide/1749/gamecube-faq-star-cube
https://www.angelfire.com/sd/gamecube/faq.html

 

[Gamemaster1379]

Did not know that although the name Starcube rings a bell.

My memory is vague but I do remember the codename Dolphin being mentioned as Nintendo's next console on an old gaming show on CITV and I'm sure it was Andy Crane presenting and that was definitely during N64 lifetime.

It was mentioned in a magazine as well, I think. The emulator, Dolphin, that I understand, named itself after the Gamecube's original codename as well.

 

[SylverReZ]

https://www.nfohump.com/index.php?switchto=nfos&menu=sections&sectionid=20

The group is mostly named "STINKYCUBE" on NFOHump for some absurd reason.

Weren't they the first guys to release the very first GC rips?

 

[master801]

The group is mostly named "STINKYCUBE" on NFOHump for some obsurd reason.

Weren't they the first guys to release the very first GC rips?

afaik, they are two entirely different scene groups.

In STINKYCUBE's release NFO, they mention STARCUBE in their Greets section.

I think yes, because of the news articles I linked to.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Surprisingly similar to the retail units we ended up with. Especially compared to some, like the DS.
I hope eventually we will see some in depth videos, like with the PlayStation SNES.
I wonder how close the hardware is to the retail units. Does it run retail GameCube games? (Probably not) Does it run software compiled for devkits? How similar is the firmware to that of retail or devkit hardware etc. I imagine it can't have been that early in the development, the very first prototype units probably have little in common with the retail units since they would have been for internal development use to start developing long before anything but the rough hardware specs were finalized. Not likely those prototypes would ever leak though.
Always fun to see deep dives on prototypes and especially prototype hardware show up on YouTube so hopefully we'll get something eventually.

 

[AmandaRose]

Did not know that although the name Starcube rings a bell.

My memory is vague but I do remember the codename Dolphin being mentioned as Nintendo's next console on an old gaming show on CITV and I'm sure it was Andy Crane presenting and that was definitely during N64 lifetime.

Found this that backs up my story.


https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/guide/1749/gamecube-faq-star-cube

 

[Lostbhoy]

Found this that backs up my story.


https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/guide/1749/gamecube-faq-star-cube

I wasn't calling you a liar lol! I have no idea when that show was aired as pretty much him saying the name Dolphin is all I remember, then I waited for a Dolphin console to be released and we got the Gamecube... I had no idea until i began modding my wii that was the codename at that time.... Good ol gbatemp is where I maybe learned that info actually!!

Post automatically merged: Aug 7, 2024

Love that artice btw..

 

[AmandaRose]

I wasn't calling you a liar lol!

I never said you did my friend.