Should I or shouldn't I - UK Gamecube

[k0pp0]

So I just spotted a UK gamecube for next to nothing in the local game exchange style store, with 1 joypad and a game (which I can't remember).

What are people's views on picking this up? I've always fancied one, but I have a few questions..

Are they easily mod-able (Foreign games, streaming games etc)
Are component or RGB scart or even VGA cables available?

Any help would be appreciated.. The games were only about 6.99 each as well.. Bargain!

[smouty]

If it's dirt cheap then why not if there are a few games you want to play.
With a view to modding though I would look out for a cheap US model on ebay especially if component is important to you. Some PAL models do not have the digital AV port required for this but on the flip side NTSC models do not output RGB without using a specially modified cable.
If you want to stream games (why? they are so cheap) you will need a broadband adaptor and not worth it in my opinion.

[Concept]

Resident Evil 4, Killer7, Viewtiful Joe, Metroid Prime, Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil Remake, PN03, Luigi's Mansion, Twin Snakes, Paper Mario, Wind Waker, Pikmin 2, Chibi Robo, Ikaruga and F-Zero GX all make the Gamecube worth buying if you've never picked one up before.

Most, if not all of these, can be picked up second-hand cheaply (GAME take the piss though, so stay away).

RGB is supported. I don't think VGA is, or if it is it's not particularly good or official.

[tom-nook]

If you don't mind a bit of disc swapping a Freeloader disc is an inexpensive way to play imports on a UK Cube. V1.06B is the latest version (with a capital 'B'. v1.06b is older).

If you mainly intend playing imports then either a chipped cube (plays all regions) or a switch-modded ntsc cube (has a switch allowing you to flick between Japanese & USA bios, but won't play PAL games) is your best bet.

[SuperDanX]

Deffo, i wouldnt worry to much about the import side of thing with the gc, imo unless there's somthing you really, really want to play on import, there isnt, again imo, any jp/us exclusives that are must buys. Also most if not all pal gc software runs full speed/full screen and supports 60hz etc afaik,then again i dont have that many gc games.

[k0pp0]

Thanks folks. What video cable do they come with by default then?

[Mayhem]

Standard composite.

No PAL Cube games support Progressive Scan, but many US games do. Thankfully the PAL Cube will do PS with the component cable if you run the US games on it via Freeloader. Just check the Cube still has the digital out on the back.

Only trouble is finding a component cable cheaply...

[k0pp0]

Hmm.. Poo. what about VGA cables?

Again, thanks for the help, and saving me the google search time

PS, looked on ebay.co.uk and couldn't find any cheapo us ones..

[charlesr]

Your best from a pal cube with pal games is RGB. If you want anything more, get a US cube with "digital" (it's not digital, it's just what the port is called) and use a component cable or a modded vga cable.

[tom-nook]

Hmm.. Poo. what about VGA cables?

Again, thanks for the help, and saving me the google search time

PS, looked on ebay.co.uk and couldn't find any cheapo us ones..

I don't think that Nintendo ever released the component leads outwith Japan & for some reason (unlike the PS2 & Xbox) nobody seems to make a 3rd party lead.

There isn't an official vga lead but it's possible to make a modded vga lead from either an official d-terminal or component cable but it's not true vga. They're very hard to find, expensive & I personally think the picture quality isn't quite as good as component.

The vga lead only works with prog scan games too. It won't display an image otherwise so it'd be no good for any PAL games & some ntsc games.

[Mayhem]

Component cables, you are only going to find them on eBay, PlayAsia and LikSang (when they have them) and none of the options are gonna be under $60 me thinks.

The problem from Nintendo stopping selling them in the US I think.

[k0pp0]

**** it, I might as well pick it up when I go there next then. Thanks for the help folks.

[NekoFever]

Play-Asia sell official component cables for ?31.70. It's a lot cheaper than they used to go for on eBay so I don't know if they were put back into limited production or something.

[sj33]

The vga lead only works with prog scan games too. It won't display an image otherwise so it'd be no good for any PAL games & some ntsc games.

Works if your screen supports interlaced over VGA, which many HDTV's do.
But there's not much point, Prog. Scan is the way to go.

[Bada Bing!]

I'd much prefer to go for a US cube, and use the UK one's PSU. I did this when I went to the US and bought my platinum cube for something daft like ?50 brand new! Just used my UK cube's PSU and the component cable and have played some fantastic games on it in lovely prog scan.

I wouldn't buy a UK cube if I were you, but that's just my opinion.