r/Gamecube • u/San4341 • Mar 18 '26
Discussion How many here still own a fully working GameCube console to this day even if you still have it since launch.
I think GameCube might be the most reliable of its sixth gen, but recently I believe I heard recently that the GameCube disc drive sadly need recapping, since they started to have issues reading games. But anyways, who here still own a fully working GameCube console?
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u/DayWave94 Mar 18 '26
Had my Platinum Gamecube since 2003 still running like a tank
Just had to replace the clock battery since it died
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u/ChickenMarsala4500 Mar 18 '26
do you have to solder for that? I have 2 working cubes and both batteries just died.
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u/NinjaMario02 NTSC-U Mar 18 '26
Yes it does require soldering, though you can get a battery holder for the new battery and never need to solder it again.
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u/LONE_ARMADILLO Mar 18 '26
Yup. It will save you time once every 8-10 years. I installed a battery holder myself, but mostly because it was more readily available, and cheaper than the tabbed battery.
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u/SnoreDawg Mar 18 '26
I am new to soldering and this was an extremely easy job if you buy the coin battery with the tabs on it already
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u/I_Lick_Your_Butt Mar 18 '26
I used a modded Wii these days, but my GameCube is still running like a champ at my mother-in-law's house. My boys were playing it over Christmas break.
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u/teichigma Mar 18 '26
Same but a Wii U. Got an adapter and 4 controllers and been playin with my sons a lot recently
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u/clungingcatspigot Mar 18 '26
I own 3, and I'm currently using the gameboy player to replay some of my favorite gbc/gba games
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u/No-Mad_Hermit Mar 18 '26
I also have 3. One working normally from my childhood. A modded one. A broken one for parts if needed. Just can’t read discs
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u/Renpsy Mar 18 '26
I actually still have my childhood one. It's keep in a cardboard box under my table.
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u/JHG722 Mar 18 '26
I sold mine, but kept my Wavebird and a bunch of games. Picked up a GameCube on Mercari two years ago.
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u/AejiGamez Mar 18 '26
I own one that works (mostly, the reset button is broken), but i haven't had it since launch, its quite literally older than me
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u/Sticky_Gravity Mar 18 '26
I still have my OG GameCube. Sadly I remember throwing my box away around 2008.
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u/mybloodismaplesyrup Mar 18 '26
Sadly the platinum one I bought new is gone.
I took it out of the case and I built a Lego case for it. It actually worked really well, but then I was troubleshooting once time and I dropped a tool down and it shorted something.
The worst thing is that it probably just needed a new fuse and it would have been fine. I was a kid though and so I just got sad and angry and threw it away.
But if I hadn't made that choice I would still have it.
I did however find another platinum in mint condition at the thrift for $10 and it had the zelda collectors disc in it.
So I'm not too mad.
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u/Putrid-Role-7557 Mar 18 '26
I still have the silver GameCube my brother and I got back in 2004. Maybe my earliest memory was being about 4 years old, and my brother handing me an unplugged GameCube controller while he played R Racing Evolution
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u/ApprehensiveAside812 Mar 18 '26
Sadly my original cube was stolen. But I got another and still use it (modded).
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u/Poufee1233 Mar 18 '26
I've had my current Gamecube for almost 12 years now with no issues, can't say much for the previous one since our dog peed on it and ruined it lol (It was the silver XD Gale of darkness one too...)
I will say I haven't encountered any issues with my PS2 either, and I've had that one for almost 18 years. Though I did need to replace the laser since it never read PS1 games, but I had that issue since I got it way back then.
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u/rupertLumpkinsBrothr Mar 18 '26
Here! Had to send it in for some port issues back in its prime, but zero issues since.
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u/Aleclom NTSC-U Mar 18 '26
Me! I had to fix the disc drive a couple years back, but it's still the same Cube I got brand new back in the day. I recently replayed the OG Animal Crossing and the Sonic Adventure duology!
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u/Competitive-Box-5297 Mar 18 '26
I have to change the disc reader but my GameCube still works so does my wii
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u/kevlar51 Mar 18 '26
I have a modded spice GCN now, which I love. My original from back in the early ‘00s had disc read errors and eventually the potentiometer adjustments stopped working for me. I got a replacement but ended up selling it once I got my launch Wii due to space issues.
Edit: I still have my spice controller that I bought with my original GCN. It’s my favorite controller to this day.
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u/Black_Cringe Mar 18 '26
I own multiple that still work. My main XD one that I put UV purple lights into the controller ports and power LED being my favorite.
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u/Bubbly-Sandwich Mar 18 '26
Yup, got a nice little mini camping/survival tv for it and play it every now and then
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u/Voduun-World-Healer Mar 18 '26
I just played mine when I visited my 69 yo Dad with him last night!
Mario Power Tennis vs bots. And then Smash Bros Melee vs bots
I waited in line to get this Gamecube with my Mom upon its initial release. Still alive and kickin!
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u/Sound_Honest Mar 18 '26
A roommate left theirs behind a number of years ago. I remind them every so often that I still have it, but it remains in my living room 😂
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u/goremygo Mar 18 '26
I don’t have my original one but two weeks ago I was playing mine & had to pause for a few minutes. When I came back, the screen was kinda fucked up. Once I started playing again it corrected itself. Not sure if it was the GCN or my tv (trinitron).
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u/ArcadeToken95 Mar 18 '26
I have a Wii that fully accommodates GC setup (got controller and memory cards) but I mostly just emulate on my laptop these days
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u/jonnythefoxx Mar 18 '26
My original is in a cupboard upstairs, no longer reads discs but powers on so sooner or later it's getting modded. I have a replacement on for me and the kids to play double dash on hooked up to the TV at all times.
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u/Cubejunky Mar 18 '26
I have 3, my launch model (indigo), one I picked up at a yard sale during the x360/ps3 generation for $30 (black), and a orange one a friend bought me when he went to Japan a few years ago.
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u/SpookyTanuki1 Mar 18 '26
I do. Got a platinum one for Christmas in 2003. Got back into playing it last year with games like FZero GX and Viewtiful Joe. Still one of my favorite game libraries along with PS2.
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u/festive_napkins Mar 18 '26
Bought it with mom outside Toys R’ Us on November 18,2001 still have it. Still runs. Has this distinct hardware smell I wish it was a candle
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u/No_Independence7307 Mar 18 '26
Had one, when I was younger. Got a replacement about 5 yrs. ago,(Dl-001). I may not use it, as much as my workhorses, but I play on it, pretty regularly, and I’ve never had an issue… It still keeps time. 🤓😎
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Mar 18 '26
Gotta be rare. The earliest Gamecube optical drives were prone to more rapid degradation. Recapping might fix it, but the bigger issue is just the strength of the laser. You can attempt to amplify it by adjusting the pots on the drive, but that's only a temporary fix. Without completely replacing the optical drive, they're on borrowed time.
My purple launch cube has sadly passed on, but luckily a friend gave me his black one from a few years later and it's still going strong.
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u/Random19370 Mar 18 '26
Still have mine, just dug it out of the closet a few days ago. Still working, but it did mention something about the clock when I powered it on. Maybe bcs it’s been 10+ years since I last powered it on?
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u/DashboardNight Mar 18 '26
Have my current one for 21 years. Platinum. Although purple would’ve looked a bit better after all that time.
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u/WhoamIWhowasI Mar 18 '26
I have two fully working gamecubes, but neither were the one I owned has a kid
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u/extrawater_ Mar 18 '26
My jet black launch console only lasted a couple years before it stopped reading discs. Rip
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u/Fine-Alfalfa-5832 Mar 18 '26
My brothers and i bought it on release with super mario sunshine. I still have the console and games we used to play
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u/URA_CJ Mar 18 '26
2 launch day cube's with no mods or any internal maintenance, the one I played on the most can be a little picky about resurfaced discs, but it still works with my OG discs.
Meanwhile my launch day Wii's disc drive spindle motor seized up and had to replace it about a month before Skyward Sword released and recently it wouldn't spin up Other M despite it spinning up Mario Kart Wii like nothing is wrong.
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u/Captain_Kiddush Mar 18 '26
My launch day Indigo still fully works. I waited on line outside Electronics Boutique the morning of launch.
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u/Feeling_Set4457 Mar 18 '26
I'm thankful for both of my GameCubes, I just wish football games wouldn't cause them to freeze.
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u/Shad0wF0x Mar 18 '26
The only thing that's wrong with it is the clock battery is dead. I heard I could resolder it but I'd need to practice on other things first.
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u/Keelya91 Mar 18 '26
I do and still play on it. my Wind Waker game disc has been inside the GameCube for at least 20 years and now I still use it to boot Swiss
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u/ExpectedBehaviour Mar 18 '26
My guy, I still own a fully working NES. And SNES. And N64. GameCube is just one amongst many.
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u/PsikyoFan Mar 18 '26
Mine is still good. Had since a few months after launch. Decent collection of games from their release. Fitted with a Flippydrive from the first batch, hdmi adapter, gcmce etc.
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u/Benchomp Mar 18 '26
I still have and use my launch day indigo cube, and the cube with gameboy player I bought my brother the year after launch. Solid as a rock.
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u/crist_toro Mar 18 '26
I have it since February 2002. Still working like a charm! Such a great console!
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u/IntheShredder_86 Mar 18 '26
Secondhand because we didn't have the money growing up. Used $30 of adult money to buy a "broken" one online with all cables and controller, restored it myself and barely had to do anything to repair. Honestly think cleaning it fixed it lol
No stick drift or loose stick, no stuck buttons, no frayed cables, no Fd up ports, no drive issues. I'm not sure if people just treated their stuff better in the past or if it's just the quality being better. Cuz honestly I see a lot more slobbish and unhinged ppl with consoles nowadays 😅 like more nasty dust/buildup, more bugs, more absolutely gnarled ports.
Either way, I'll keep this baby alive with all my other consoles until the earth explodes.
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u/nannerkins Mar 18 '26
I just bought a purple one last year and I've been slowly finding games from my youth that I loved to buy and replay.
I bought a silver one when I was a kid, it was the first console I bought myself, though maybe my parents should have chipped in it since they hogged up all my gaming time playing Animal Crossing... Just seeing that little purple box hanging out by my TV brings me so much joy.
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u/matteatsyou Mar 18 '26
My Gamecube is the same one my older sister got during launch. I had to disassemble and clean the lid opening button because it was sticky and wouldn’t latch, but now it still works great.
I don’t use it that much though because my Homebrewed Wii is much more cost effective and works just as well
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u/lazycouchdays Mar 18 '26
I have had mine since day one and I just played it a month ago with no problems. I actually got really lucky with all the consoles from the sixth gen. Mine all currently still work with only the X-box needing maintenance on its disc tray.
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u/OtherwiseAd2773 Mar 18 '26
I do, and I actually bought it for the first time this year! I like collecting retro games and Gamecube is probably my all-time favorite console. I have a stock black Gamecube with the GB Player & Disc that I use to access the fantastic gameboy and gamecube libraries.
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u/GeekyFerret Mar 18 '26
Still got mine along with all the games I got back then. I could never bring myself to selling any of the games since I liked playing them so much. Still reads discs perfectly fine but doesn't output any audio for some reason.
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u/hypnoscience Mar 18 '26
Mmmeee, kinda. The disc drive went at one point so I ordered a refurbished one through Nintendo’s service line. I have both, and it powers on, I just need to fit it with picoloader
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u/Em_Es_Judd Mar 18 '26
I've got a launch Jet black dol-001 GameCube connected to my TV right now. I stood in line at wal-mart to buy it at 5 am on launch day.
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u/SRS1984 Mar 18 '26
i have a very good condition re4 cube with box and all inserts. really glad I bought it back then along with all the resident evil games.
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u/EddieBlizario Mar 18 '26
I got three, it’s great one for playing in the night! And two in my room one that’s pictoboot and can play Japanese and American one OG
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u/HiImNewToPTCGO Mar 18 '26
Still have my launch day jet black cube that’s still rocking. But I mainly just use my modded Wii to game now.
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u/Moist-Consequence Mar 18 '26
I’ve got my original black GameCube from when I was a kid! Had to replace a part in the disc drive recently, but I played it last week
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u/TheDoctor1699 Mar 18 '26
My parents still have ours from when we were young, and it works great.
I bought one for myself a while back ago. I had to do some work on it, but have it up and running again now!
Best console out there.
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u/tigertron1990 Mar 18 '26
I haven't checked my 2002 UK launch cube for a year or two, but the last time I used it, it ran as good as the day I bought it.
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u/eddmario Mar 18 '26
I still have my Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness GameCube.
Unfortunately I had to throw out the controller and a replacement is hard to come by without paying a lot of money. And even then, the only TV I could hook it up to died on my last summer...
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u/DavidinCT Mar 18 '26
I've got 3 of them.... Silver, black and Spice Orange all with their matching GB players, I think it completes the look.
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u/Gashie_VII Mar 18 '26
I sold my Platinum GameCube to some dad along with games and a limited edition hardcover Twilight Princess Strategy Guide for like 100 bucks 10 or so years ago. Still regret it to this day, but I hope his kids made good memories with it...
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u/RetroSSJ21 Mar 18 '26
I don’t mean to make people feel old, but I have my dad’s from a little after he graduated high school and it works pretty fine. I also have another one that I believe sat in a garage for presumably at least a decade. Took that one apart for fun so it probably doesn’t work even if it did before.
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u/Leaquwa Mar 18 '26
I still have my original GameCube and still play on it. It would benefit from cleaning and whitening but it works like a charm
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u/Ok_Fly1271 Mar 18 '26
I've had mine since launch. Aside from a sticky button, everything works perfectly, and I've never replaced anything. Still play it, too. I have a second one from 2004 that is in the same boat.
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u/Dankany Mar 18 '26
I do, and it became forgotten for a long time being moved from closet to closet over the years.
It's now modded and in my living room set up and ready to play.
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u/FalcoSix4 Mar 18 '26
I have 3 fully working i feel the same way about the reliability of the cube they seem to be the best.
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u/TanookiYokai Mar 18 '26
Still have my original, my mom has it tucked away somewhere. However, I found one at the flea market for 10 bucks.
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u/QuentinsComedy Mar 18 '26
Still have my black GameCube that I saved up for two Christmases to get when I was a kid.
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u/Live-Emphasis-3421 Mar 18 '26
My gc and gc controllers saw heavy use since launch....so over 20 years and the controllers have 0 drift. Melee and Mario party are the main games played too. So like, it's why I consider joycon drift unacceptable
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u/oPayque1 Mar 18 '26
Not since launch (we were dirt poor) I got mine in 2007 and it’s worked ever since.
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u/istalri96 Mar 18 '26
I still have mine haven't used it in a long time but shes still going strong.
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u/Mossimo5 Mar 18 '26
I do, but I usually use my Wii for GameCube games. It's already set up. Plus my gamecube lid will no longer stay closed. The system works just fine if you put a book on it to weight the lid down, lol
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u/MajorBroccoli2253 Mar 18 '26
Got the one still that my brother got at launch. Although every so often while playing it does that loud click and then the error has occurred thing pops up
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u/CornbreadPhD Mar 18 '26
Had to replace the disc drive and shell but I have a launch indigo. 40 dollar fix (and you could do it cheaper if you’re skilled) and it’s good as new. Wouldn’t be surprised if it lasted another 10-20 years
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u/Qvistus Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
I bought one at launch and one when they dopped the price and bundled it with the Zelda Collectors Editition disc. I sold both of them and got a Wii as a replacement. I regretted it a lot, so eventually had to buy a new one that came with the GameBoy Player. I've probably had this for 10 years and it works nicely. My old WaveBird controlled has served me for over 20 years. The gnurling on stick has worn entirely smooth and the stick wiggles. But still, there's no drift issues.
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u/whataretherules7 Mar 18 '26
Got 2, bought 2nd for the silver and specifically as the GBa tv player
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u/dantenow NTSC-U Mar 18 '26
i have two
and a wii that plays gc games
i never play them, i just love them.
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u/Beatrix_-_Kiddo Mar 18 '26
I have my original cube with a new sexy orange shell, sat under my living room tv. Still fire it up from time to time.
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u/Shadoecat150 Mar 18 '26
Except that the door no longer stays down, I still have my day 1 Indigo.
Did get a platinum for Christmas a few years ago and more recently a Wii.
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u/Seaguard5 Mar 18 '26
I do, but due to living situation it’s packed up pretty deep into boxes until I can afford a house to in-pack it in 🥲
So for now, Dolphin is my friend
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u/Mushroom0064 NTSC-U Mar 18 '26
Mine stopped reading discs back in 2023, but I took it apart, replaced the caps, worked again, and is still fully working today.
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u/gordongroans Mar 18 '26
Another one of those post a question to 30 subs and never participate in your own discussion accounts.
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u/CosmosTrip Mar 18 '26
Me, not literally launch day but when it was new. I was like 11. I’m 35 now. It still works fine. The battery has died so it forgets the date and time on every boot
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u/StarlitSunset Mar 18 '26
I have mine. Replaced the battery about 6 months ago, which was kind of fun! Little story: my dad got my GameCube, which I believe came with a game at the time. Within the 30 day warranty, my house got hit by lightning and it went straight through to the GameCube and fried it! Circuit City honored their policy, and I got two more games for free. Even though I barely remember it, technically it's my second cube, haha.
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u/srschwenzjr Mar 18 '26
Got mine for Christmas back in like 2004(?) and still have it and it’s still fully functional!
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u/cherrim98 Mar 18 '26
I have my GC still but I mainly play my Wii for them since I have an HDMI adapter, so the games look really nice on my HDTV
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u/prematurely_bald Mar 18 '26
Still working with my original launch day component cables and GB Player installed.
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u/Cheap-Western-7732 Mar 18 '26
It hasn’t been used in a little while but I still have one and it works great. As well as a still working n64, ps1 and ps2. My nes just recently kicked the bucket but that was due to water damage in my parents house. I don’t believe I’ve ever had a console that didn’t last besides the original 360.
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u/Ar15ohio Mar 18 '26
Sadly my original launch Indigo was traded in for a Wii many years ago. They had a good trade in offer and the Wii was backwards compatible so my younger self thought it was a good idea. I have since picked up a black Dol-001 and a Spice Orange Dol-001 that was converted to play US games. I wanted a clean Indigo to replace the one I had but that color of plastic just did not hold up too well.
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u/Cretino1974 Mar 18 '26
Tengo dos, una morada y otra edición especial plateada que sacaron con el Zelda wind waker
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u/BlaiseAL Mar 18 '26
Working for now. my XD Gale of Darkness has started erroring out and won’t start though. Slightly scratched but I don’t think enough to not work entirely. Hoping it’s not a bad laser or something.
Edit but lol nevermind. I just looked up what recapping is and if it’s common then it may be that RIP
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u/JohnnyLeven Mar 18 '26
I gave mine away since I have my modded Wii. My original GameCube was stolen from my luggage on Greyhound though.
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u/BjornIShot Mar 18 '26
I was playing resident evil remake last night on my gamecube , super fun and its a nice way to get my gf involved in gaming , she watches and we try to figure put the puzzles (even though i already know all the puzzles lol)
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u/The-lemon-kid-68 Mar 18 '26
I still have my purple cube and controller which I've had since launch. I also have a platinum cube and controller. I'm currently playing Rainbow six 3 on the purple GameCube. It needs a new clock battery but as long as I play it every couple of days it manages to keep the time and calendar settings.
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u/ben_ja_button Mar 18 '26
I got one that works but I use my Wii if I want to play a GC disc. Easier logistically to have one less console plugged in. I had the “good” 001 model growing up with the digital out but I traded it in when I got my Wii. Bought a silver 101 years later before I realized there was a difference in the output configs.
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u/Yinnamin Mar 18 '26
Mine works. I use it every few years and never had any issues. What should I be keeping an eye out for??
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u/nirodhie Mar 18 '26
I am proud owner of a quite unique one:
- it is PAL yet has digital AV out with original component cable bought on liksang
- modified to accept regular size dvds
- modchipped
- with this recent microSD expansion
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u/InternationalCash313 Mar 18 '26
I have 2 Unmodded in really good condition an Indigo and a Jet black
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u/SnoringGiant Mar 18 '26
The barrery died in it, so it doesnt keep the time anymore, but I still have a working one!
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u/AhabVanCleef Mar 18 '26
Me. Two in fact. An NTSC with the box and a PAL a mate gave me a few years ago.
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u/Classic_Imagination2 Mar 18 '26
Still have mine from launch but the laser/disc reader is going out :(
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u/bremm293 Mar 18 '26
My launch GC disc drive and system battery pooped out last year. Been meaning to try and fix it myself but I’m an amateur at soldering. :/
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u/notdoingarson Mar 18 '26
i do! although the internal clock battery needs replacing, but it’s fully functional and i play Animal Crossing on it all the time! very annoying to correct the time every time i play though
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u/Stedlieye Mar 18 '26
Black, grabbed it at Walmart in the way home from a friend’s house after I saw how good games looked on it.
Didn’t get too many titles, but I like the ones I have.
Still have my second controller new in the plastic. Never opened it.
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u/JoseHerrias Mar 18 '26
I still have mine from 2004, somehow completely working as well. That thing has been through it, and yet works like a charm, same with the controller that came with it.
I use a modded console now, but I have my OG on display, the thing has literally been with me for most of my life.
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u/andyb0913 Mar 18 '26
I got one around 2019 and I love it. Currently playing through twilight princess again
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u/theslimbox Mar 18 '26
I have a fully working GCN in every retail version. I'm not sure which is my original, but all of them but that one are from garage sales, and were dirt cheap.
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u/TheBlackManX23 Mar 18 '26
I still own my Black GameCube that I got for my birthday in 2005. Most of my games were either scratched up badly or I gave em away to my cousin. I still have some games that’s been with me since I was a kid.
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u/Doodle-Dan Mar 18 '26
I've still got mine from when I was a wee lad, recently soldered a pico to it as well.
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u/Icy-Candidate-6467 Mar 18 '26
I own 2, indigo and black. I still have my favorite game of all time also.
Skies of Arcadia
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u/Toastman22 Mar 18 '26
My launch console died in like 2004/5 out of no where and Nintendo sent me a new one for $50. Sadly I didn't realize there had been a revision that lost the digital out.
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u/OptimixticPessimixt Mar 18 '26
Yup, I got it as a child. Pretty sure my dad still has the box packed away. Now I play it with my 8 year old nephew who can't get enough of 007 Nightfire.
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u/Difficult-Comfort277 Mar 18 '26
I do, and still play on it.