Dumping Games without a Console

01-29-2012, 01:11 PM #1

Hi all,

I recently put together a gaming rig from scratch and am LOVING the way it plays pc games. But why limit myself to just pc games right?

I want to if it's possible, for me, to get Wii or Gamecube games running on the pc, through Dolphin.

I don't have a Wii or Gamecube console, or any of their game disc's. I'm just doing a little research, but at the same time I don't mind picking a cheap game to test on.

My optical drive is a LG CH12LS28 which, as far as I can tell, can't read the Wii or Gamecube games directly.

I've read a few things about back-up software like Game Copy Wizard, which seem more versatile than finding an optical drive that does work, if the software is legitimate. Which leaves me a little confused.

So, without a console, what are my options?

**NaturalViolence** · (This post was last modified: 01-29-2012, 01:46 PM by NaturalViolence.)

You have two legal choices:

1. Buy a wii to dump with

or

2. Get your hands on a dvd drive that reads GC/Wii disks (extremely rare)

Those are the only two legal options.

01-29-2012, 02:25 PM #3

Thanks,

1. I suppose you could do a similar thing if you have a Gamecube console?

2. Are those drives still sold? Are they expensive?

**NaturalViolence** · 01-29-2012, 02:37 PM #4

1. Technically yes but it's a lot easier if you have a wii, GC is pretty much limited to network dumps, which is painfully slow, more complicated to set up, and of course it can't dump wii games (and if course you need the network hardware and software). For a wii all you need is some homebrew software and you can quickly and easily dump any GC or Wii game.

2. Not really sure but I don't think they are sold anymore.

01-29-2012, 02:50 PM #5

Quick update:

Found a really cheap drive on ebay which might work. It's a

"LG GDR-8161B IDE DVD-ROM",

and that's the only description given. It's only $6, so I think I'll take the gamble on it. If anyone can rule it out, or confirm it, it would be terrific.

I assume that dumping from a Wii would be quicker than dumper from this drive if it works?

StupidStories · (This post was last modified: 01-29-2012, 03:04 PM by StupidStories.)

(01-29-2012, 02:50 PM)gmoos Wrote: Quick update:

Found a really cheap drive on ebay which might work. It's a

"LG GDR-8161B IDE DVD-ROM",

and that's the only description given. It's only $6, so I think I'll take the gamble on it. If anyone can rule it out, or confirm it, it would be terrific.

I assume that dumping from a Wii would be quicker than dumper from this drive if it works?

Do LGA 1155 boards have IDE channels? If your motherboard doesn't have one then you need an adapter too. I assume dumping would be possible with an adapter?

01-29-2012, 03:35 PM #7

I don't have any IDE channels on my motherboard, but I see a couple adapters on ebay that cost about $5, so no problems there.

I mean it's cheaper than buying a Wii, which would kind defeat the point of playing it on the computer.

I'm going to have a go. Anyone other opinions?

scummos · 01-29-2012, 08:06 PM #8

(01-29-2012, 03:35 PM)gmoos Wrote: I don't have any IDE channels on my motherboard, but I see a couple adapters on ebay that cost about $5, so no problems there.

I mean it's cheaper than buying a Wii, which would kind defeat the point of playing it on the computer.

I'm going to have a go. Anyone other opinions?

I did exactly the same (I already had an adaptor, tough) and it worked well. It might be a bit of a struggle to get the dumping program to work (they're rather... well, let's call it "crashy") but ultimately it should work.