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Review : Gameboy Player for Gamecube
Nintendo fanatics of North America rejoice because the Gameboy Player for Gamecube is now shipping. It is available in some stores to those hard core nerds like myself who pre-ordered it and it will go on sale for the normal humans later on this week. It adds about an inch to the Gamecube and you can use it with both types of Internet network adapters. Installation is easier than the PS2 Network adapter and you have to play the boot disk included with it to start up the super-de-duper Gameboy.
This sucker plays all Gameboy, Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advance games on the GameCube and any kick ass big ass TV. The tilt and vibration functions on some Gameboy Color games don't work but you can expect that if you figure it out that you are not actually going to be holding it.
This is not emulation but is based on the motherboard of the Gameboy Advance so it can play any game that it can.
The unit checks in at fifty bucks so it is half the price of the Gameboy Advance SP. If you have a Gamecube and would like to kick it 2d style or if you have been putting off getting the GBA SP you really should think about getting one of these.
The games actually sound a lot better than the GBA and the GBA SP because the sound is coming out of a good stereo speakers in your TV and not in the mono speaker the size of a dime in the GBA.
The games handle surprisingly well on the standard GameCube controller and the analog stick works just fine in most games but it is still acting like a digital control pad. Those of you like Mici who are hooked on the normal GBA's form factor should love that it can use a GBA as a controller using the GBA/GC link cable. One thing that I was really disappointed about is that the PS2 controller adapter thingie does not work with it but it is an unlicensed product so I can't get too upset.
If you want to do some multi-player gaming you can do a link with a Gameboy using the standard cable. It is technically possible to link to another Gamecube player on another Gamecube and TV if you wanted to get down with some Nintendo LAN action.
Hitting the Z button brings up the options menu where you can set the scaling, background pattern, button layout and a real time sharpen and blur filter. There is also a pointless time lock out parental control timer but since the GameCube itself has no timer this is pretty lax.
I am loving the fact that I can switch game without rebooting the Gamecube and the spring in the cartridge ejection switch can throw a GBA cart for about six inches.
It comes in your typical air tight sealed Space devil packing so you need a big knife to saw at it to get the damn thing open.
Also you need to be aware than not all Gameboy graphics hold up when stretched to full TV size. But games that look good on the GBA are going to look spectacular on the Gameboy Player. Castlevania : Circle of the Moon is enough to warrant the purchase of one of these bad boys
I wonder if Nintendo is going to make the next generation game system be able to play the hand held system games?
I like it a lot and I am never going to take it off my GameCube. It makes older games fun again and existing GBA games jump at you. The Gameboy Player for GameCube is just chock full of Nintendo brand fun.
Jake at June 24, 2003 
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Comments
Well, geez. I guess that answers my question on whether or not I need to get one. Damn Nintendo and their spiffy gadgets.
Posted by: Mici at June 24, 2003 8:03 AM
Right on, at last a way to play Circle of the Moon without sitting outside with a magnifying glass. Though I fear putting Wario Ware on the big screen may result in epileptic seizures.
Posted by: Trapp at June 24, 2003 5:31 PM
*sigh* no nintendo here...will go back to playing Mr. Do! w/our mame emulator thanks! ;) (it's my favourite game, hehe)
Posted by: Lilly at June 25, 2003 5:55 AM
Get this device, it will turn your GBA into a useless POS, unless your on the toilet or on the road. I love it and its the best thing to come this generation.
Posted by: Intrepid at July 5, 2003 3:34 PM
I just got the GBP yesterday and its great! Also i was looking in a gamepro magazine i noticed an ad that was talking about gameboy tv! Like the old sega tv where u could change the channel and play the game its on. I dont know if/when it will come out but im doing research on it right now. If ne of u guys hear or no ne thing about what im talking about, plz e-mail me
Posted by: Cptn. Falcon at July 12, 2003 10:06 AM
o yea my e-mail is harobikes450@yahoo.com, tell me if ne of u guys hear ne thing about it
Posted by: Cptn. Falcon at July 12, 2003 10:11 AM
I don't really know what you are talking about. Nintendo never made anything like that. There was the Sega channel in the US and then there was the Nintendo Super Famicom Satilite System in Japan but that was very limited and never caught on. I think you might be thinking about G4 a channel devoted to video games.
Posted by: Jake at July 12, 2003 10:42 AM
He is talking about a joke ad in a magazine where instead of TV shows in timeslots it shows GBA games, because you can play GBA games on your tv now
Posted by: Akuma at August 5, 2003 11:02 AM
Have you seen the GBA TV tuner! I think that is one "must have" accessory! http://www.gameboy-advance.net/accessories/gba_tv_tuner.htm I heard that they alo made one for GBA SP.
And there is an alternative to getting a GameCube + GB-Player -> TV Adapter for GAMEBOY
http://www.gameboy-advance.net/accessories/gba_to_tv_adapter.htm
Posted by: EZ2 at October 2, 2003 3:58 AM
No I prefer the official Nintendo product besides I already have a Gamecube. I don't encourage cracking the case of a game system unless you have to and you know what you are doing. Also I would consider your last two posts close to spam and if you want to plug your products in the future email me first and ask permission.
Posted by: Jake at October 2, 2003 9:19 AM
I was wondering if anyone could tell me if there is anyway to use the E-Reader while playing a game in the gameboy player. For Example: is there anyway I can use my E Reader cards for super mario advance 4 while the game is still in the gameboy player?
Posted by: Jason Bump at October 31, 2003 8:08 PM
Heh, sounds spiffy. Now, if they had imported one of my favourite Super Gameboy functions (multiplayer with one cartridge and up to four-players if you had that multiple controller adapter), then this would be the best thing ever. I don't see why you would need multiple Gamecubes w/Gameboy Players and TVs to play a multiplayer game, it could easily go with split screen, then again, some people's Television screens aren't all that big, so it wouldn't be fun squinting to see the Spiny you're about to run into or that Octorok that's pummelling your little adventurer, but it would be alot better and cheaper, no need to buy several copies of Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland for me if that was true. ^^
Posted by: Ragey at December 10, 2003 2:43 PM
Jason Bump you will need a Gameboy Advance to do that with the GBA Player and the e-reader
Ragley I don't remember the Super Gameboy being able to do that. Besides I don't think TV resulution is not high enought to do that.
Posted by: Jake at December 10, 2003 2:48 PM
I'm getting a gameboy player for christmas and i'm wondering if i'm able to somehow hook up an e-reader to the gameboy player to play the cards on the TV screen. Is that possible cuz old school gaming kicks!
Posted by: Steve at December 19, 2003 1:50 PM
Yes the e-Reader works just fine on the GameboyPlayer. I do love playing Excitebike on my gamecube
Posted by: Jake at December 19, 2003 1:57 PM
I am interested in buying a plug in for a gamcube to play with my gameboy. How much is it? Where can I purchase one? Thank you,
Dana Rodriguez
Posted by: Dana Rodriguez at November 17, 2006 1:06 PM
I would try the Gamecube section of your local video game retailer.
Posted by: Jacob Metcalf ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.8bitjoystick.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 17, 2006 1:44 PM
can play nitendo ds games on it.
Posted by: marcus at November 21, 2006 3:01 PM
No of course not. It is for Gameboy Advance and Gameboy games.
Posted by: Jacob Metcalf at November 21, 2006 3:22 PM
