Two Ways To Add USB

Makeo is now selling USB Dolphin, a USB 2.0 adapter for the Nintendo GameCube. There are two versions: one plugs into the SP1 port on the bottom of the console for a tidier setup, while the other uses the memory card slot.

Both versions are made to let the GameCube talk to USB storage devices through Swiss. From there, the storage can be used for booting homebrew. It is a neat little upgrade for anyone who likes the GameCube but wants a more flexible way to load files.

The RetroNAS Angle

USB storage is useful on its own, but the bigger draw here is RetroNAS network loading. With the adapter, a broadband Ethernet adapter, Swiss, and a RetroNAS server, the GameCube can be set up to load games from the network instead of relying only on local media.

Useful Links

  • Makeo’s Store: https://store.makstech.io/collections/gamecube
  • Up Angle USB Extension: https://amzn.to/4sJ61S9
  • RetroNAS GameCube FSP instructions: https://github.com/retronas/retronas/wiki/FSP

The short version is straightforward. You need a RetroNAS server already running and a GameCube that can boot into Swiss. Install FSP from the RetroNAS interface, then copy your games into the \\retronas\gamecube\swiss\games folder.

After that, boot the GameCube with Makeo’s USB adapter connected and an Ethernet adapter plugged in. From Swiss, you can move into the setup needed for network loading. It is still a hobbyist process, but the pieces are clear once RetroNAS and Swiss are in place.

A Note For UnRAID Users

If you run RetroNAS on UnRAID, there is one extra permission step after installing the FSP plugin. Log into the server, open “Shares”, and click the icon next to “RetroNAS”. Check the box for “GameCube”, choose “Permissions” at the bottom of the page, set everything to “Read/Write”, and then press “Start”.

This setup was also shown during a long livestream alongside Greg’s SD2SP2 Ace, a PicoLoader installation, a new orange shell, and a few other GameCube projects. The live demo had first-time setup mistakes, so the written steps are likely the easier route for most people.