Gamecube Linux Port Announced, In Progress

NiteStar writes "A group of people from the homebrew scene and Xbox Linux have now started a new project to port Linux to the Nintendo Gamecube. A small preview version has already been released, it's a small application that draws Tux the penguin on the GameCube screen. The roadmap explains a small client will run on the Gamecube, so the 'GameCube could be used as a desktop computer, which stores its data on a server on the network. The GameCube has a CPU that is powerful enough to decode common multimedia data like MPEG-4/DivX and MP3. It can serve as a display unit for content stored on a server'."

Comments

Legal implications?

[Sheetrock]

As I understand it, booting these sort of things without paying royalties/licensing a devkit usually involves some form of copyright or trademark violation as a result of the measures required to get something to boot (the Gameboy, for example, had a requirement for a logo to be stored on the cartridge that was trademarked by Nintendo.)

As cool as these things are to play around with, they aren't worth sullying the GNU/Linux name... especially with the SCO situation looming. Does anybody know if this sort of concern is present with this code?

Re:Legal implications?

[Troed]

Due to a flaw tmbinc found it's "easy" to extract the necessary key needed to "encrypt" (XOR .. ) a BIOS that the GC will boot. This BIOS could be a pure Linux kernel, untainted by any Nintendo trademarks, copyrights etc.

(And to prevent followup questions, no, it's not enough that the GC BIOS encryption is hacked to allow playing of games off mini-DVDr. It was on the Xbox, but Nintendo has additional security measures)

Re:Legal implications?

[sageman]

Actually, and the site mentions it, the DMCA allows Reverse Engineering for the purpose of software operability, i.e., as long as they don't steal/use the SDK and build all the stuff from the ground up its perfectly legal (in the USA at least; not sure about international copyright laws and stuff). Interesting that the DMCA actually has a section that protects us. Hmm. Unless I read this completely incorrectly, in which case, someone, please right me! (pun intended)

BZFlag

[Loconut1389]

Similarly, there is a BZFlag GameCube port in the works. http://www.webtrotter.com/bzflag

Nice Media station

[freidog]

not as good as the xbox
No hard drive for easy locale storage. And may not be as simple as flipping a switch to boot from linux or from the default enviorment (i'm not sure how they're overriding the default start up)
but for gc owners a nice addition to it's funconality. The ability to stream music, and / or video via a silent (and micro) computer. No real fan noise in the background when listening to music, and a much better video out quality than S-Video on the typical video card.

While this is neat and all ..

[Kalroth]

.. I don't see it as anything but YaLC (yet another linux conversion) or in short, just a hobby.

I just can't see it working as a cheap thin client, due to all the (extra) needed accessories, like keyboard, mouse, etc. XBOX would probably be much better for this, due to DVD + HDD.

And as for the multimedia terminal, I'd personally rather have one machine that does it all; acts as tv recorder, multimedia player, storage server and even all that in silence, so it can stand next to the TV. Again the XBOX would most likely be better for this.

Having said that, I think it's a neat project. If I was a kernel monkey, I'd probably spend some time on it too. I also love messing around with new projects myself. I'm not trying to troll (honestly!:), just expressing my concerns/views on the project.