GameCube:Booting Homebrew
The GameCube can launch homebrew software and original games from flash media, via a few different methods. Regardless of launch method, you should first boot to Swiss, then launch your games from there.
Boot Disc
This method requires no physical modifications to your GC. If you have purchased any later revision Action Replay disc for your GameCube region (whether it's NTSC or PAL), you can use any cheap SD memory card adapter to launch homebrew (or buy the more expensive official 'kits' from Datel). With a boot disc and SD card reader, you can simply add your homebrew to an SD card, ensuring that it's at least 2GB or less, and load it from there. The best recommendation is to place the latest version of Swiss on the root of the card and rename it to "autoexec.dol"; this will result in the GC auto-booting directly into Swiss and letting you go off there.
The one disadvantage of using an Action Replay disc to boot is its 2GB SD card limitation. You can easily switch SD cards after booting; however, using the SD2SP2 as a secondary memory card is by far the easiest. Simply format any microSD card to FAT32, load all your software on it, then, after booting to Swiss, change the directory to the other SD card and boot your games!
The main advantage of using a boot disc is that there are zero modifications needed to your GameCube. Just plug and play, and you can still play original discs, with or without the help of Swiss.
Working Game Discs
See the GameCube:Boot Disc Information page for a complete list of games that have been verified working.
SD2SP2 - where to buy
Check out the Trusted Sellers List
- SD2SP2 (US Seller): CastleManiaGames
- SD2SP2 (UK Seller): RetroGamerStuff
Optical Drive Emulator
If you're a GameCube power user, you can get an Optical Drive Emulator that replaces the DVD drive in your GC. This allows for more advanced features and much faster loading.
GCLoader PNP - where to buy
Check out the Trusted Sellers List
- GCLoader PNP HW2 (US Seller): BlackDogTech/Citrus3000psi
- GCLoader PNP HW2 (Netherlands Seller): GC-Loader.com
- GCLoader PNP HW2 (UK Seller): gamesconnection.co.uk
Mod Chip
With the other options above, modchips have become less popular for the GC. The Swiss software offers almost all the same features as a modchip, except for the ability to boot from a DVD-R. This would allow homebrew to be launched from both disc and flash media, which might make devices like the SD2SP2 (linked above) easier to use. Simply load your games on the MicroSD, boot to Swiss via the burned disc, and launch your games. More complicated modchips can even load Swiss without the need for a disc (i.e., PicoBoot). XenoGC - where to buy XenoGC - where to buy
XenoGC - where to buy
Check out the Trusted Sellers List
- XenoGC (US Seller): HandHeldLegends
- XenoGC (UK Seller): ZedLabz