How do you properly take care of a Gamecube?

[DragonBlade64]

Okay, I suck at explaining things so just bear with me here, but the title says it all.

I recently got a few used Gamecube games, but I'm terrified of playing them because I don't want my system to break down. I have three Gamecubes and a Wii. Out of all those systems, only one Gamecube still seems to read discs just fine. So why am I afraid of playing it? Because if that one breaks down, I'll have 30+ GCN games I'll never be able to play again. What can I do to ensure that it lasts a long time? Should I just not worry about it? I really wanna play these games, but I'm so paranoid about my system...

If it helps, my first two Gamecubes keep giving me a "NO DISC" message when I put a game in and my current, working Gamecube I bought used back in 2008.

 

[Minato]

I've actually been fortunate enough to never have had any lens reading problems outside of my PS3 (which was a used console). All I can say is don't leave the console on over night, keep it on a flat surface when on, and don't leave the lid open outside of switching out games. Not much else can be said since it's just normal wear and tear if the lens has problems. I'd try looking up ways to see how to clean it on your consoles that aren't working. If i it's giving a no disc message, that's common for people that just need to clean the lens.

Anyways, don't be afraid of using your gamecube. Not using it is almost no different from never using it ever again if one broke. Gamecubes are cheap, and there are also backwards compatible Wii's.

 

[meebius]

Feed it, bathe it, and nurture it with your love

 

[Elyssa Xey Hexen]

I think the system should work for a very long time provided you do minimal things to it. Do not bang it. No reason to have it running for like hours at a time if you are not actually using the thing. Have regular usage with the thing. Do not have it it idle for decades. It will depend upon the system as well with how well made it is. Some systems simply break down more quickly than others simply due to something about manufacturing that was different between two time periods.

bathe it

Do it that when its asleep and not alive There might be a shocking experience associated with it during hand bathing

 

[meebius]

Do it that when its asleep and not alive There might be a shocking experience associated with it during hand bathing

Please unplug gamecube from the power supply if you attempt to bathe it. It may result in an electrifying amount of love otherwise.
The best method of bathing your gamecube is to put it into the sink and let the water overflow for 5 hours
NOTE: do not turn off the water during this time period, as that may result in sad gamecube

 

[Twewy]

- The Nintendo Gamecube is not actually a purple lunchbox. Please do not stuff your edibles into the Nintendo Gamecube.
- Every other week, bathe the Nintendo Gamecube in a bath consisting of tap water, milk, and Super Mario Bros. shampoo. This is how the graphics keep their nice and smooth looks.
- The Nintendo Gamecube will not accept CDs cut up to resemble Gamecube discs. If you attempt this, reconsider your life, as even God is laughing at you now.
- The Nintendo Gamecube does not like to cuddle.
- Please do not modify the Nintendo Gamecube's insides to create a buzzsaw. Just because the discs spin fast enough to disembowel doesn't mean they should be used to do so.
- The Nintendo Gamecube does not come with small racers throwing turtle shells and bananas on top of it. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is a work of fiction.
- The Nintendo Gamecube is not a perfect cube. Do not remind it of this, or it will cry.
- The Nintendo Gamecube is capable of killing a man, as evidenced by the controversial 2004 murder spree of Jim "Up Smash" Fami.
- You cannot build a house out of Nintendo Gamecubes. Do not try this.

 

[oZzIIgk]

- You cannot build a house out of Nintendo Gamecubes. Do not try this.

James May lived in a lego house for like 2 days. It couldn't be too different.

 

[Twewy]

James May lived in a lego house for like 2 days. It couldn't be too different.

Legos are not Nintendo Gamecubes. Do not try it.

 

[Pachinkosam]

i barely play my gamecube works very time i play on it

 

[Spak]

My GCN got the disc read error around 2007 (I got the GCN in 2003), so I sent it to Nintendo and they repaired the bad part and sent it back to me. They were really nice about the whole thing and the repair cost was about $40-60 if I remember correctly. I doubt that they still do work on GameCubes, but mine has worked perfectly since.

 

[WindHero]

- The Nintendo Gamecube is not actually a purple lunchbox. Please do not stuff your edibles into the Nintendo Gamecube.

Only one man has pulled this off: Nintendo Power's Chris Sheppard. And what did he get? All his lunch spilling out when he hit Eject by accident.

I also will point out that you can greatly improve your GameCube's personal satisfaction and happiness by attaching a Game Boy Advance Player to it's bottom, thus making it into a perfect cube. Can confirm that it still works happily after nine years.

Also, make sure it has a Wii or Wii U nearby for company. GameCubes get lonely easily.

 

[Twewy]

Only one man has pulled this off: Nintendo Power's Chris Sheppard. And what did he get? All his lunch spilling out when he hit Eject by accident.

Sheppard was a damned fool and his only job at Nintendo Power was to get beaten up and laughed at. And lose some of his fingers when they did a Cooking Mama article.

thus making it into a perfect cube.

Spoiler

The handle.

 

[WindHero]

Sheppard was a damned fool and his only job at Nintendo Power was to get beaten up and laughed at. And lose some of his fingers when they did a Cooking Mama article.

You forgot to mention that he also had to try getting his mom into Brain Age.

Now if you excuse me, I have to go remove the handle on my GameCube to pick up its spirits...

 

[Twewy]

You forgot to mention that he also had to try getting his mom into Brain Age..

What I should've mentioned is that NP literally had a part in their schedule to find new ways to torture the man.

A few more tips on taking care of your Gamecube:
- The Nintendo Gamecube only accepts you as its master if you 100% F-Zero GX. Until then, it is the other way around: You are its toy.
- Crowbars are not needed to jailbreak the Nintendo Gamecube.
- The Nintendo Gamecube is not to be used in any form of track and field as a replacement throwing weight. Just because it can survive it does not mean it was purposed for it.
- Do not make a puppet out of the Nintendo Gamecube's lid.

 

[oZzIIgk]

-Do not allow the Gamecube to post on or read off of Smashboards

 

[DragonBlade64]

- The Nintendo Gamecube only accepts you as its master if you 100% F-Zero GX. Until then, it is the other way around: You are its toy.

This is a major problem as my library lacks this game. Does it have to be F-Zero?

In all seriousness, thanks for the replies everybody! I've started to play it again and I figured that if things go south, then so be it.

 

[Twewy]

This is a major problem as my library lacks this game. Does it have to be F-Zero?

Yes. You lack the knowledge of how much respect mastering GX provides.