GameCube Main Menu
GameCube Main Menu | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Nintendo |
Platform(s) | GameCube |
Release date(s) | JP September 14, 2001 NA November 18, 2001 CA 2001 EU May 3, 2002 AUS May 17, 2002 RU June 27, 2002 KO 2002 |
Genre(s) | Utility |
Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer (4) |
Input methods | GameCube Controller |
Compatibility | 4 Playable |
See also... |
Dolphin Forum thread |
The GameCube's Main Menu, commonly known as the GameCube BIOS, is the Initial Program Loader (IPL) of the GameCube and its top level interface, allowing the player to load discs, change settings, and manage up to two memory cards at once. To access these features, the player must either hold A on controller 1, have no disc inserted, or have the lid open as the GameCube logo animates.
Dolphin does not include the GameCube Main Menu by default, and it doesn't need it; it is able to launch games straight from the Dolphin GUI. However, the GameCube Main Menu is fully functional and even capable of launching games.
Emulation Information
Accessing the Menu
To access the menu, you must first dump a copy of IPL.bin from a console matching the region of the title being emulating; then disable Skip BIOS, load any GameCube game of the appropriate region, and hold A as the GameCube logo animates. Unlike the Wii Menu, there is no way to directly boot to the menu, refer issue 7343.
To change discs, right click on any game in the game list and select "Change Disc", or use File > Change Disc.
Persistent Game ID
Dolphin will only use the game ID from the game that is being loaded first. So while changing the disc during the GameCube BIOS menu, for example, Super Smash Bros. Melee was loaded from the Game List, and then change disc and load Super Mario Sunshine, the game ID will remain unchanged. This can however result in unwanted effects such as:
- Game settings from the first loaded game's GameINI
- Cheats
- Savestates
Problems
Flickering/Stretchy Menu
The start up animation and menu will stretch and distort unless XFB is enabled, either virtual or real will correct for this issue.
Missing Music/Incorrect Audio
Despite the fixes 4.0-7286 made to the DSP HLE sound by more accurately emulating Zelda ucode, music and effects in the IPL are still missing or distorted. Needs DSP LLE for proper audio. Refer issue 7980.
Template:SScreeching AudioTemplate:/s
Needs DSP LLE to prevent screeching audio. Fixed DSP HLE to be more tolerable starting with 4.0-7286.
Template:SMissing JP TextTemplate:/s
Various portions of text are not displayed in the Japaneses BIOS, including: button instructions, game description, and others. Refer issue 6081. Fixed in 4.0-8721.
Compatibility
Only configuration options for the best compatibility where they deviate from defaults are listed.
General
Config | Setting | Notes |
---|---|---|
Skip GC BIOS | Off | Hold A as the GameCube logo animates |
Audio
Config | Setting | Notes |
---|---|---|
DSP Emulator Engine | LLE | HLE is still inaccurate |
Version Compatibility
The graph below charts the compatibility with GameCube Main Menu since Dolphin's 2.0 release, listing revisions only where a compatibility change occurred.
Testing
This title has been tested on the environments listed below:
Test Entries | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revision | OS | CPU | GPU | Result | Tester |
4.0-6180 | Windows 8.1 | AMD A8-5500 @ 3.2GHz | AMD Radeon HD 7400m | Works fine with said recommended settings. Good for the proper GameCube feeling to your Dolphin Emulator. | JMTestinTest |
4.0-6247 | Windows 8.1 | Intel Core i5-3210M @ 2.5GHz | NVIDIA GeForce 610M | FPS: 60 VPS: 60 Works fine under recommended settings. Slightly slower frame rates when managing my virtual memory cards. Screen Position settings do not work. |
Wildgoosespeeder |
4.0-7286 | Windows 8.1 | Intel Core i5-3210M @ 2.5GHz | NVIDIA GeForce 610M | It's so nice and not startling to not hear screeching under HLE! Too bad the sounds aren't perfect but hey, progress! | Wildgoosespeeder |
Gameplay Videos
- Nintendo (Developer)
- Japan (Release region)
- North America (Release region)
- Canada (Release region)
- Europe (Release region)
- Australia (Release region)
- Russia (Release region)
- Korea (Release region)
- 2001 (Initial release year)
- Utility (Genre)
- Single-player (Game mode)
- Multiplayer (Game mode)
- 4 (Players supported)
- GameCube Controller (Input supported)
- 4 stars (Rating)
- Skip GC BIOS (Config Required)
- DSP Emulator Engine (Config Required)
- Tested On (Release): 4.0
- Tested On (OS): Windows
- Tested On (CPU): AMD
- Tested On (GPU): AMD
- Tested
- Tested On (CPU): Intel
- Tested On (GPU): NVIDIA
- Untested for 10000+ revisions
- GameCube games
- Zelda ucode games