How to Modify a Japanese Spice Orange Nintendo Gamecube to Play NTSC USA Games

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Published on March 20, 2018 6:00:14 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agfog5GoOqQ

Game:

Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Category:

Guide

Duration: 24:25

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In this video we show you how to modify a Japanese Spice Orange Gamecube to be compatible with NTSC USA-based Gamecube Games.

WARNING:
This modification can potentially ruin your Nintendo Gamecube if you don't have the skills or know what you are doing. Even I made a few mistakes performing this modification. I am not liable in the event that you do not follow this guide properly and damage your system. This is also ONLY showing how to modify a Japanese Gamecube. You CANNOT use these steps to modify a PAL or USA console.

I received one of the coolest gifts ever for Christmas 2017 in the Japanese Nintendo Gamecube. Not only was it a Japanese Gamecube, I currently own a Famicom, Sharp Famicom Twin and Super Famicom too, but it was a Spice Orange Japanese Gamecube WITH Gameboy Player. One bummer about this system however is the fact it is region locked to NTSC-J games. Well doing some research I did learn that there is a hardware modification that allows you to install a switch and toggle between NTSC-J and NTSC-US to play both Japanese and USA Gamecube games.

Supplies Needed:
Parts Tray (https://www.horizonhobby.com/small-parts-tray-w-magnet-rpm70100)
#00 Phillips Screw Driver
#1 Phillips Screw Driver
4.5mm Game Bit
80W or higher pencil tip soldering iron
Tweezers or Needle Nose Pliers
60/40 Rosen Core Solder
18-22 AWG stranded wire
Switch
Tapered Reamer

Optional Supplies
Compressed Air
Soft Bristled Brush
Dremel Rotary tool
Once you have the system disassembled take a few minutes to clean out the dust, crap and crud that has surely built up over the years. Your system and your games will thank you in the future.

For this Japanese system we needed to locate pad R6 on the motherboard, near the main CPU. Here you solder one end of your wire to each pad. BE CAREFUL! This is where you can DEFINITELY damage your system if you apply too much heat to the board and burn out the pad!

Once you have soldered the leads to the pads you need to route the wires to where you're going to mount your switch. Locate where you want to mount your switch, solder your leads into place on the switch and reassemble your system.

One mistake I made with my mod was the switch itself. I wanted a round switch but the one I found from Digi-Key was just way too large honestly. Working on a project like this makes me really miss RadioShack since I know I could have gone and gotten a 275-series Single Pole/Single Throw (SPST) switch off the shelf versus ordering online. No-where locally had anything that I wanted. Oh well.

Since this mod I have used my GameCube almost exclusively in NTSC-US Mode and it has worked perfectly. I've even been able to take advantage of the Eon Gaming GC HD with my system now too as I continue to build my Gamecube collection back up.

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