Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter (commonly known as the GameCube BBA) is a network adapter for the Nintendo GameCube. It was produced by Conexant and made in the Philippines.
Contents |
The adapter is used to play four titles over the internet, three of which were developed by Sega: Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II, Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Plus, and Phantasy Star Online Episode III C.A.R.D. Revolution. The fourth, Homeland, was developed by Chunsoft and is only available in Japan.
The broadband adapter also allows LAN play with Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Kirby Air Ride, and 1080° Avalanche. Warp Pipe and XLink Kai have created unofficial tunneling software that allows these games to be played over the Internet.
A few months after the release of the adapter, shortages occurred, causing the product to become somewhat rare and resulting in high prices on eBay. Most stores no longer stock the accessory, but Nintendo continues to make the adapter available through their online store.
Soon after PSO I&II was released for GameCube, it was discovered that a PC could be made to simulate the conditions of the server that the game would connect to when connecting to the internet. This information started off as a method of tunneling the online service. It was then discovered that when simulating this server, unsigned code could be streamed back to the GameCube, or information could be streamed back, creating the possibility for copyright infringement. However, this was also implemented to allow online gameplay with games that were not planned for online play by developers. Early dumps of GameCube games were created using this technique. From there, methods of running the games off of a computer through a GameCube were created. Nintendo and Sega responded by releasing the Plus version of the game.
- Nintendo of America's Online Support page
- Nintendo of Europe (UK) Online Support page
- IGN's look at the adapter
|
Console: Color TV Game • NES • Super NES • Virtual Boy • Nintendo 64 • GameCube • Wii |