Highlights
A UK-based GameCube fan found NTSC copies of games in a local game store, despite the fact that they would not work in a UK GameCube due to region locking.
In the comments, there were suggestions about selling the copies online or exploring methods to ensure their compatibility with a UK GameCube. The question still lingers regarding the circumstances that led to these American copies being found in the United Kingdom.
A GameCube fan from the UK recently made an interesting discovery regarding the game copies. This is not the first time that someone has found something unusual with the GameCube.
The GameCube, released in most regions towards the end of 2001, represented Nintendo during the sixth generation of gaming. Despite its charming and compact design, powerful hardware for its time, and impressive lineup of first-party games, the console's limitation of using mini discs resulted in it being overshadowed by the PlayStation 2, which remains the best-selling video game hardware of all time. However, over the years, the GameCube has gained a loyal following, with many fans reminiscing about the console and its game library. The iconic startup jingle has become a popular meme, and its unique controller has remained compatible with every Nintendo console since.
A Reddit user, PureHost4482, recently shared a photo of their latest GameCube game purchases. The games included Super Mario Sunshine, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Resident Evil 4 (which has been released multiple times), and the 1996 Resident Evil remake. PureHost4482 mentioned finding these games in the house clearance bin at a local game store in the United Kingdom. Some commenters expressed their appreciation for the impressive game selection, with some American users even inquiring if they could buy the games from the original poster.
What makes this discovery intriguing is that these games were NTSC (USA/Canada) copies, as indicated by the ESRB content ratings. Unfortunately, these discs would not be compatible with a UK GameCube due to region locking, a feature that Nintendo only eliminated with the release of the Nintendo Switch, nearly sixteen years later. In response, fellow Redditors suggested selling the NTSC copies online (which the original poster confirmed they were considering) and replacing them with cheaper PAL copies, importing an NTSC GameCube, or buying a Freeloader, a console accessory that allows the removal of region lock restrictions.
One commenter mentioned that finding such copies in house clearance is not uncommon. However, most consumers would simply ignore them, knowing they would not be compatible. The only remaining mystery is how these copies from the Americas made their way to the United Kingdom. Given that new discoveries about the GameCube continue to be made, it is only a matter of time before this question is answered.
