*********************************************************************** Game Boy Player FAQ Nintendo GameCube/Game Boy Advance Written by: cvxfreak Date: April 08, 2007 Version: 2.0 E-mail: FireEmblemPride[at]gmail[dot]com *********************************************************************** This FAQ can be found on GameFAQs and its affiliates, as well as numerous other websites related to game guide hosting. Version Updates: April 08, 2007: Updated the FAQ to cover the North American release that I oddly never got around to covering. A little bit of Wii, DS and Game Boy micro information in relation to the Game Boy Player was included, too. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Introduction 2. The Game Boy Player A. Game Boy Player Installation B. Boot Disc C. Region Changes, Etc. 3. Options/Translation of Options A. Game Swap B. Time C. Screen D. Controller E. Size F. Frame 4. Frequently Asked Questions 5. Conclusion ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The first time gamers were able to fully and legally experience GameBoy titles on the TV was with the Super Game Boy peripheral for the Super Nintendo. Unfortunately, the flaw to the Super Game Boy peripheral was that it couldn't connect to the portable version of the GameBoy. A revision of the Super Game Boy, the Super Game Boy 2, which was only released in Japan, allowed for link up. But the SNES is also long gone. When the N64 rolled around, gamers could use Pokemon Stadium and Pokemon Stadium 2 with the transfer pak and play Pokemon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver and Crystal on a T.V. The flaw to that, too, was that trading wasn't possible. In 2003, Nintendo released the Game Boy Player for the GameCube. It was an accessory that was fitted beneath the GameCube system so it could play back Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games on a TV screen. The accessory made the GameCube into a perfect cube shape and allowed for link cable trading. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The Game Boy Player ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Game Boy Player is a peripheral for the Nintendo GameCube. In Japan, it ships in colors of Spice (Orange), Jet (Black), Platinum (Silver), and Indigo (Purple). Only the Jet Black model is available in North America. In Japan, it retails for 4,000 Yen, which is close to $40USD, while the accessory goes for $49.99 in the US. Any color Game Boy Player is compatible with any color GameCube. However, due to the Panasonic Q (GameCube + DVD + CD Player from Panasonic, only available in the Japan) and its support legs, none of the colored Game Boy Players will be compatible with the Q. Instead, the Q gets its own Game Boy Player in a unique shape and color that better matches it. Its a rare item, though, so good luck finding it. ------------------------------- A. GAME BOY PLAYER INSTALLATION ------------------------------- 1. Take the Game Boy Player out of its packaging. 2. On the GameCube, look on the bottom of the console. 3. Look for the removable cover that says "HI SPEED PORT" and remove it. 4. Hook the Game Boy Player beneath it. 5. Using a Stanley screwdriver or a small coin (preferrably a dime), screw the Game Boy Player so that it is firmly connected to the GameCube system. 6. Turn the system back over. Voila! ------------ B. BOOT DISC ------------ The Game Boy Player will not be read by the GameCube unless the Boot Disc that comes with the package is inside the GameCube. The Boot Disc is Japanese-encoded (see below). When the Game Boy Player is placed and connected to the GameCube, put the disc into the GameCube. After the GameCube logo, a Game Boy or Game Boy Advance logo will appear, and the inserted Game Boy, Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance game will play as if you were using a portable Game Boy system. The Boot Disc, notably, will also stop spinning, but the Game Boy Player will still function. Whenever you want to play a GameBoy game on the TV, use the Boot Disc. ----------------------- C. REGION CHANGES, ETC. ----------------------- The Game Boy Player, from Japan so far, will play any Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance from any region of the world (North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, etc.). There are a few exceptions, such as games with a tilt sensor, rumble feature, or accessories like the GameBoy Camera. The Boot Disc is NOT region-free. So if you bought a Game Boy Player from Japan, you can only use the Boot Disc that came with it on a Japanese GameCube, unless you have a mod switch installed or use a Datel Freeloader. Nintendo of America sells replacement Boot Discs on their website, store.nintendo.com. So if you imported a Game Boy Player from Japan and want to have the options screen in English, use the replacement Boot Disc, which works just fine with the Japanese Game Boy Player hardware and vice versa. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Options/Translation of Options ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I only have a Japanese Boot Disc, so I cannot tell you how the options are told in the North American version of the Boot Disc, but this translation should more or less reflect what it says on the Game Boy Player menu in English. During gameplay at anytime, press the Z Button to access the Game Boy Player menu. It is completely in Japanese. From RIGHT TO LEFT are the translations of the options: A. Game Swap ------------ Select this option, and you will be asked if you want to change to a new Game Boy/Color/Advance game. The left option is YES and the right option is NO. If you select YES, a screen will pop-up. Swap games. Then the Game Boy Player will restart (boot disc not needed). B. Time ------- Parents can set time limits for their kids. Press A, and the time limits can be set. Select up to an hour, so far. Please note that the times that appear in 1-60 are minutes. C. Screen --------- Select screen display settings from SOFT (top option), NORMAL (second option) and SHARP (bottom option). D. Controller ------------- There are two options. Here are the possible control schemes, corresponding with the Game Boy/Advance and GameCube controller. GameCube - Game Boy (Advance): Setting One .......................................... A - A B - B R - R L - L X - SELECT Y - SELECT START - START GameCube - Game Boy Advance: Setting Two ........................................ A - A B - B R - SELECT L - SELECT X - R Y - L START - START Personally, I prefer the first set up, but the second one is unique and effective as well. E. Size ------- There are two sizes available: FULL and NORMAL, which is basically it. FULL will display the game more on the TV; NORMAL will use a little less. F. Frame -------- The Game Boy Player will never display games to the absolute fullest on a TV, but there are as many as 20 frames to choose from. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Frequently Asked Questions ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Q. Should I get a Game Boy Advance SP or a Game Boy Player? A. It depends on whether you play outside or at home more. As of 2007, the Game Boy Advance SP is now offered in a backlit model, so it would be fairly competent at home, too. Likewise, with the Wii now Nintendo's main priority as a game console, you may not want to keep the GameCube hooked up. Q. Do the graphics and sound match the SNES/Genesis? A. Yes and no. The graphics from SNES ports look about as good as their SNES counterparts, but a lot of the time, they'll look softer and less colorful (such as Super Mario Advance when compared to Super Mario All- Stars: Super Mario Bros. 2). Sound-wise, it doesn't match up to the SNES game. Some audio doesn't translate too well onto the televsion speakers. Q. Where can I find a Game Boy Player? A. Try www.ncsx.com or www.play-asia.com if you want a Japanese unit, and your typical American retailers for an American unit, such as EBGames/GameStop, Target, Walmart, Circuit City and Best Buy. Q. How much is a Game Boy Player? A. In Japan, it's about 4000 Yen, while the U.S. price is $49.99. Q. What colors do they come in? A. In Japan, it's Silver, Black, Orange and Purple. In the U.S., it is only available in Jet Black despite the presence of the Indigo and Platinum colored GameCube systems. Q. Why isn't Q compatible with the Game Boy Player? A. The Q has long legs supporting it. The Game Boy Player port won't be able to reach the extension spot on the Q. Panasonic and Nintendo, in order to solve this, released a larger Game Boy Player model that accommodates for the Q's legs. Q. Can we connect this to the Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP and another Game Boy Player? A. Yes, yes, yes, yes and... yes. The first 5 require their respective link cables. Linking to another Game Boy Player is possible, if you have 2 GameCubes and 2 TVs, and 2 Game Boy Players, and the GBA Link Cable of course. Q. What about the Game Boy micro? A: The Game Boy micro was released in 2005 and was a smaller sized Game Boy Advance unit without the backwards compatibility. However, it contained a unique port for its link cable, so a converter to connect with other Game Boy Advance systems including the Game Boy Player is needed. However, Nintendo has not created a Game Boy micro to GameCube link cable, so you cannot use the Game Boy micro to control your Game Boy Player games on the TV. However, some forum uses have made mods to make this work, so a Google search should help you find what you're looking for. Q: And the Nintendo DS/DS Lite? A: The DS and DS Lite have succeeded the Game Boy Advance line. They play Game Boy Advance games, but not Game Boy or Game Boy Color games, nor can the DS use any link up features for GBA games. So it can't connect to the Game Boy Player in any way. Q. Can having the Game Boy Player hooked up access GBA-connected features in some GameCube games? A. No. A separate screen is necessary, which isn't available. Plus, the GameBoy Player is inactive when playing GameCube games as both the GB Player and a GameCube game cannot be booted at once. Q. The Wii can play GameCube games. What about the Game Boy Player? A. No, the Wii cannot play back Game Boy Advance games with one minor exception that has nothing to do with the Game Boy Player. The Game Boy Player literally cannot fit with the Wii because the Wii does not possess the serial port needed to do it. It can, however, run the Boot Disc, but without the hardware, no game can be played. Pokemon Box: Ruby and Sapphire was able to run copies of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire using the GBA-GC link cable, and since the Game Boy Advance and SP can link up to the Wii, the Wii is able to run those games. Q. Can Game Boy Advance movies run on the Game Boy Player? A. No, Nintendo's specifically locked out movie cartridges from running on the Game Boy Player. You'll simply end up with a screen that says "Not Compatible With Game Boy Player." The reason is, the movies could be recorded and uploaded onto Youtube or any other site. Not to mention that the movies are in such a low resolution anyway that no one would want to use the Game Boy Player for it anyway. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Conclusion ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FAQ is done. Credits go to: CJayC of GameFAQs Nintendo for creating all the products mentioned in this FAQ Friends, family and others - cvxfreak FireEmblemPride[at]gmail[dot]com