The Game Boy Player is an accessory that attaches to the bottom of a Nintendo GameCube and lets you play Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games on your TV.
It uses real Game Boy Advance hardware rather than emulation, so compatibility is excellent.
You'll need both the Game Boy Player hardware and its Start-up Disc to use it on an unmodified GameCube. The disc is often the expensive bit!
What is the Game Boy Player?
Nintendo released the Game Boy Player in 2003 as an add-on for the GameCube.
The unit attaches to the High Speed Port on the bottom of the console and sits neatly underneath it. Once installed, you can insert Game Boy cartridges into the front of the Player and play them through your GameCube.
It supports games from all three generations:
- Game Boy
- Game Boy Color
- Game Boy Advance
This gives you access to a huge chunk of Nintendo's handheld library from one GameCube.
Is the Game Boy Player just an emulator?
No, and this is one of the coolest things about it.
The Game Boy Player contains real Game Boy Advance hardware inside it. Your GameCube isn't emulating a GBA. The Game Boy Player itself is running the game, while the GameCube handles things like getting the picture onto your TV.
This means games behave much like they would on an actual Game Boy Advance, with excellent compatibility across the library.
Do you need the Game Boy Player disc?
Yes, if you're using a standard GameCube.
The hardware itself isn't enough. You also need the Game Boy Player Start-up Disc, which tells the GameCube how to boot and use the accessory.
This catches quite a few people out because second-hand Game Boy Players are often sold without the disc.
The disc has become quite valuable too, and can cost more than the actual Player.
So if you see a suspiciously cheap Game Boy Player, check whether the Start-up Disc is included.
Is the Game Boy Player region locked?
The Game Boy Player hardware isn't region locked, but the Start-up Disc is.
For example, a PAL GameCube needs a PAL Game Boy Player Start-up Disc.
Once it's running, the Game Boy cartridges themselves work regardless of where they came from. Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games aren't region locked.
So you can happily play a Japanese GBA cartridge through a UK Game Boy Player.
What controller do you use?
The obvious option is a normal GameCube controller.
It works fine, although the GameCube's large analogue-focused controller isn't always ideal for games originally designed around a handheld D-pad.
Nintendo also released a special Game Boy Advance cable that lets you use a real GBA as a controller.
There are third-party controller options too, including controllers designed to give you a more traditional SNES-style layout.
Can you play multiplayer games?
Yes, although it depends on the game.
The Game Boy Player has a Link Cable port on the front, just like a Game Boy Advance.
This means you can connect other Game Boy Advance systems for supported multiplayer games.
You could have one player using the Game Boy Player on the TV while another plays on a GBA.
It's a pretty cool setup for games that support it.
Does it work with every GameCube?
Almost.
The Game Boy Player requires the High Speed Port on the bottom of the GameCube.
Nintendo removed this port from the later DOL-101 GameCube revision, which means the Game Boy Player can't be connected to those consoles.
The earlier DOL-001 has the port and works with the Player.
If you're buying a GameCube specifically to use with a Game Boy Player, this is one of the first things we'd check.
Is there an alternative to the Start-up Disc?
Yes, if you're happy to use homebrew.
A popular option is Game Boy Interface, usually shortened to GBI. It's homebrew software designed specifically for the Game Boy Player and can be launched through various GameCube homebrew setups.
In fact, many enthusiasts prefer GBI to Nintendo's original software because it offers more control over things like video output and input lag.
For somebody who wants a completely original setup though, you'll still want the official Start-up Disc.
Is the Game Boy Player worth buying?
We think so, especially if you've already got a collection of Game Boy games.
It's one of the coolest GameCube accessories Nintendo made. You can take a cartridge from an original Game Boy, Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance and play it on a TV using original Nintendo hardware.
Just remember the two things that catch people out:
You need a DOL-001 GameCube, and you need the Start-up Disc if you're using an unmodified console.
Get those sorted and you've effectively turned your GameCube into a home console for three generations of Game Boy games.
