The Nintendo GameCube Keyboard

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A keyboard for the GameCube? Yep. Back around the time Phantasy Star Online came to the GameCube, this wacky controller was released for use with it. Though it was only exclusive to Japan, but I tracked one down recently to explore. So let's do that!
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#MichaelMJD #GameCube #Keyboard

[@MichaelMJD]

I got the keyboard on this thing to work! Here's a quick demo: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o17TdWp7ipmmeMk TL;DR - enable "native control" when using this thing with Nintendont. Thanks to the people who pointed this out!

[@Kat21]

no way mario kart wii gameplay with the ascii gamecube controller this changed my life

[@TNTMusic5757]

2nd

[@coolest10293]

Yeah, native control is a feature that you need enabled for any GameCube accessories that aren’t just the controller, like the gameboy advance link cable

[@BowsettesFury]

get any online game for the Switch that has text chat, like Dauntless. test it there and just delete the game afterwards if you dont want it. perfect way to test the keyboard, or maybe the adapter to any pc and a text document. if those work, then FSO is the problem.

[@PlanetComputer]

yea

[@flameguy21]

Someone using this to play Smash competitively would be such a power move.

[@NatetheNintendofan]

I don't know if that's legal but don't quote me on that one😂 like competitively legal probably not the smartest idea though to play with a keyboard

[@charizard4410]

@@NatetheNintendofan As far as i can find, it is legal. As long as the analog gates aren't modified and there are no macros on the controller, it should be legal in any tournament.

[@Zane7585]

I've seen people use them in tournaments before. It's a huge nerf to yourself for no reason but indeed a power move

[@sheik124]

They have. And it is, lol. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKDWnWZ6jrObr6M You have NO IDEA how long it took me to find this again.

[@Hossyboy420]

My friend plays melee in tournaments with one. It's completely legal

[@TweeterMan287]

Every time I am reminded of this controller's existence, I love it all over again

[@shipguy55]

It is pretty cool to see a KZbin legend's comment on a video by another amazing KZbinr.

[@casperas2]

Woah tweeterman u still make videos?! I thought you stopped years ago. Thats a nice surprise :D

[@Junbainly]

[@dovedozen]

I LOVE this object. Love being reminded that it's real. On the one hand it's a shame nobody's ever got it working for other games or whatever, but on the other hand it feels so Correct that the entire point of it is "type faster in an online multiplayer chat for a console I keep forgetting could even connect to the internet". Powerful & wonderful.

[@repoversemedium]

I wonder if homebrew could bother supporting the keyboard.

[@codezero7981]

it would be cool if you could use it in Wii homebrew apps

[@blazen123]

​@@repoversemediumive seen at least one that "requires" it. the wii has usb support tho so its not necessary

[@cubically9366]

Seeing MJD play smash bros was not in my list of life

[@newbiegunsmith]

Ik lol

[@alextoolstudio]

But it happened

[@LandonEmma]

You mean Michael right?

[@nmac101]

Lmao ikr

[@weegeenumberone2]

@@LandonEmma channel name numbnuts

[@SanderEvers]

For Nintendo Switch there is also a Wireless keyboard which you connect the Joy-Con to. Has the same energy as this one.

[@thefray123]

I love the retro tech madness that is this channel

[@Goldom]

I still have one! I imported it for PSO back in its heyday. It feels really good to use sat on the lap. I wish more controllers let you keep both arms at shoulder width like this. Sadly, the keyboard part won't work on Ephinea (fan server for PSOBB on PC), but the controller part still does.

[@blazen123]

it does, however, work for the gamecube servers! dolphin and nintendont big win

[@xXFlameHaze92Xx]

3:49 btw, ASCII was a Japanese computer conglomerate, when mostly his works come from old 8 bit computers and videogame periferials (MSX computer is one of their designs) also have videogame studios (who designed originally RPG Maker and also have american ventures like Agetec), Satelite communications and book publishing (If you known animes like Sword Art online... they were the publishing house who owned until their dissolution and Adquisition by Kadokawa) the sega/Sammt keyboard and Ascii keyboard for GC are the same, in that time Sega buys the hardware line of ASCII and the keyboard started to be selled as Sega/Sammy product after the adquisition.

[@GhostGhosty]

I had a friend in college who had one of these controllers! He was also really good at smash bros melee and would use it in smash bros melee tournaments. It was fun to watch him surprise his opponents with this controller before he would 4-stock them in bracket

[@curious1706]

This reminds me of LGR's oddware videos, plus video games. Fun stuff

[@JeffPomaybo]

Ive wanted one of these for no reason for as long as I can remember. very cool.

[@wirewizard5760]

I had a GameCube to ps2 adapter and a standard PC keyboard plugged into port 2 of the GameCube. Good times playing PSO online on my GameCube.

[@mr.whimsic6902]

I always wanted someone to play a pc game competitively with this as the keyboard and a console mouse as the mouse.

[@Razzmadazzle]

I didn't even know that existed! Thanks for another good Video Michael:)

[@squeeeb]

Videos on Windows 98 and obscure Japanese peripherals; you really know the way to my heart Michael.

[@edtuckerartist]

Imagines someone modding one of these by putting a cut down Wii circuit board and battery inside with a screen where the keyboard is.

[@Home_Rowed]

People did that already. As a group comprised of ShankMods, GmanModz, and Aurelio, they formed 4LayerTech to create the Ashida. Which is, exactly as you've imagined, a Wii portable in a shell based on this controller, that replaces the keyboard with a screen and has a battery. Though, perhaps you were just cheekily referencing that.

[@edtuckerartist]

Wow @@Home_Rowed Nope I had no idea that existed 😲

[@eynorey]

Wow! Certainly didn't expect to see this thing pop up here :D I have one of those and use it all the time when playing PSO on my Gamecube with the broadband adapter :) The nostalgia is real.

[@awogbob]

Was hoping you would have tracked down connecting to a PC. There was an old custom adaptor that allowed for keyboard functionality but it has been out of stock for years. Forget the name of it

[@MichaelMJD]

I mentioned towards the end of the video that I found that adapter you’re probably talking about. I purchased it and will do a follow up when it arrives.

[@awogbob]

@@MichaelMJD oh shit. Sorry for not watching till the end 😥 will try harder next time

[@Trollhammer0210]

Had one of these in the UK for Phantasy Star Online. Had the Dreamcast Keyboard too,

[@thatonemartini873]

iirc, if you want it to work with nintendon't, try setting the "native control" option to "on" and see if that fixes it

[@captainter06]

Finally a video on this keyboard! I was waiting for it :D

[@DaL1tleGr4vy-prod]

Just watching this man slowly shift into mariokart Wii mode was amazing, we are exactly the same playing that game

[@petpolitics]

I ordered two of these back in the day for myself and a friend. We both got modems and subbed to PSO 1+2. In the end it mostly got used for Smash Bros as an extra controller but for the couple of months we played PSO, it was awesome.

[@PhirePhlame]

Did you enable "native control" (or a similar wording) in Nintendont? Enabling that will switch off the unofficial controller compatibility layer and let the GCN ports operate directly just as they normally do. When Native Control is off (the default state of that option), the GCN ports are fed through that abstraction layer as well, to integrate them better with the other controller types.

[@eastbeast1379]

It's interesting what the GameCube had as a controller for PSO. I am definitely familiar with SEGA's online video game, Phantasy Star Online. It's a game that is great to play, especially offline locally, single player or multiplayer. I love the vibe Phantasy Star Online has. Still play it on the Xbox Original. Universe and the Portable games are good too.

[@j.w.techchannel]

I'm amazed, confused, but glad this controller exists. Definitely enjoyed this video 👍

[@qweriop]

If I remember correctly there is a gamecube to usb adapter that allows you to use the keyboard on pc. I was it in a video by AsumSaus about smash bros. melee and controllers. He also discusses this one.

[@scottbisco6793]

Nobody:"..." MJD:"it just works like a GameCube controller!!!"

[@gdot1803]

I imported this from PlayAsia back in the day, specifically for PSO EP 1, 2 and 3: Card, but for a while it basically became my main controller. Mine still looks brand new; a lot better than yours. I might have to think about selling it some day...

[@trashtrash2169]

Five bucks?

[@ArrowDynamics88]

I did the same back in the day and enjoyed it with PSO for some time, but unfortunately sold it to a local used game shop a decade or so ago... whoops. :/

[@gdot1803]

@@ArrowDynamics88It's so weird to think of it as some sort of coveted item. I still remember those PSO days like yesterday, but that was literally like 21 years ago... Time really flies. Now I'm playing PSO literally right now on my Steam Deck via Ephinea server, and thinking how I would have dreamed to play PSO portably 21 years ago, Lol.

[@WindowsXP2600]

Awesome! glAd you got it!

[@MaleficWeegee]

I wanted one of these SOOOO badly for entering Action Replay codes!

[@silverwolflee6978]

Great video on this. Glad you referenced the Sammy version too.

[@tookeydookey]

Can you imagine using this with the DOSBox emulator on the Wii?

[@shadowchasernql]

I mean yeah but can't you just plug in a USB keyboard? Or is that too high-latency for all the low-latency hardcore Wii players out there?

[@blazen123]

​@@shadowchasernqli have never had the need to consider the fact that the controller port has significantly less latency thsn the usb ports lol nice

[@DryPaperHammerBro]

Shot every time Michael "This is just like a GameCube controller!"

[@NottJoeyOfficial]

For Nintendont, did you try to turn on the native control option? Nintendont passes through controller inputs with their software so you can use tuings like USB controllers, but this means things like the GBA Link Cable won't work. If you turn on the native controller option in the settings, it allows for the use of things like the GBA Link Cable by disabling the passthrough and directly using the GameCube ports. You won't be able to use anything other than the GameCube ports while this is enabled, but it will let you use GameCube accessories that wouldn't otherwise work with Nintendont. And then I read your pinned comment and saw you were able to get it working, it was this issue lol.

[@silverwolflee6978]

MJD: Imagine if someone took it to a Smash Tournament Ninkendo: Been there done that

[@BradleyGamer69420]

Seeing MJD play with a GameCube controller with a keyboard in it was not my thought

[@chmelys]

sup

[@rdqsr]

If I had to guess, it's possible the reason the keyboard doesn't work on other games is because it may be using the Gamecube's controller port as a poor man's serial or parallel port. High end PC joysticks in the 90's (for example the Sidewinder series) that used the Game Port would do this to allow for more buttons, but consequently required custom drivers to use properly. In this case the keyboard's controller is sending serial data over the controller pins and the game is reading it as a series of bits. Other games like Animal Crossing won't know how to handle it unless they've been specifically programmed to. Unless of course the GC has native support for keyboards on the controller ports and this is some weird proprietary "only works on this specific game" setup in which case I'm probably just talking out of my arse.

[@maureen-hm4in]

i love your content! keep going :)

[@maxiuxoxo]

I love these niche accessories so clicked the video before realising it was ya boy MJD ❤

[@blainepalmerza]

Awesome video, Michael!

[@TheYoungestCollector]

First. What an interesting device Micheal! I was wondering if you would use the Wii in this video, and you did.

[@box..]

No

[@azuresfd_lol]

I never thought I would see MJD play Smash Bros, but I like it!

[@the_broly_arms]

Yo, that segue got me GOOD.

[@scoutchorton]

1:19 “which is definitely unique to say the least” Literally Nintendo designing anything

[@efuntron]

I’ve had one of these for years. A local store had one surprisingly. I knew what it was because of the Happy Console Gamer. It’s definitely a conversation piece and it’s fun to pull out when you’re playing smash bros with friends lol.

[@andresbravo2003]

That’s the widest Controller that ever used by many.

[@bad_atgames]

I have one of these in my garage lol

[@fetyrol7108]

What a combination

[@chrism869]

I've been dreading to see this, i heard there was a controller like this one i just never seen many vids of it

[@ViewtifulSam]

Nintendont supports wiimote etc with GC games, I think you have to disable that to use GC ports natively and thus enable some functionality such as GBA connection, maybe that's needed for the keyboard as well.

[@AlyxxTheRat]

"It works like a GameCube controller" is a sentence that probably should not be said about a literal GameCube controller.

[@kalarse]

There have been some individuals who brought that controller to Melee and Ultimate tournaments, even modifying the keyboard area to perform like a b0xx-type controller and have a 2in1 controller (for doubles mainly) Fun images ngl

[@bland9876]

This seems no different than other keywords back in the day because we wanted to use the mouse portion you had to plug in a separate connector.

[@sullivangate]

Normies: I don't see why the Gamecube would need a Keyboard Controller Me, with a Broadband connection and Phantasy Star Online: Oh yeah?

[@cutieclysm]

great video michael, kirby mains unite 😎😎💖

[@JavCaRRTech]

I still remember when this channel has only a little more than 10k suscribers

[@LastofAvari]

Drinking game: take a shot every time Michael says "GameCube controller".

[@winkystinky]

Kirby? His name is kirbonk!

[@anon_y_mousse]

I wonder if the person that designed that controller was part of the team behind the GPD. We need more keytrollers in our life.

[@Rambling-Thomas]

I have one of these. It is a real shame it doesn't work with other games like Animal Crossing (for writing letters etc).

[@Aeduo]

It's so wide it's like a trainer to get used to a steam deck. Also I wonder if any games may be poorly coded and don't deal well with whatever packets are coming in from the keyboard portion. Although maybe it needs a special handshake to start emitting keyboard events or it needs to be specifically polled for like USB.

[@charleschamp9826]

I've seen a lot of Gamecube Modems but I've never seen a Gamecube Broadband adapter. Was it even released outside of Japan? Also now thinking about how the Keyboard portion is controlled by plugging another Gamecube Controller plug into the other controller slots. I've seen devices that plug into those and end in a USB port so you can, perhaps with a bit of configuring first, use more modern USB controllers with your Gamecube. But what'd be stopping you from plugging a USB keyboard in one of those and emulating this keyboard's functionality on either the Gamecube or the Wii, either playing a disc version of the game or through Nintendon't? I know the Wii has USB ports you could use and it'd probably be pointless there, but thinking for the bit here, lmao.

[@Home_Rowed]

The GameCube Broadband adapter was released outside of Japan. I've seen them in US stores back in the day, and seen the US versions online as well. You can probably still find sealed US ones online, in their blister pack, but of course extremely expensive now. The Japanese version comes in a cardboard box. To get a modern USB keyboard to work on GameCube it would require a ton of firmware programming and to design your own adapter to translate the signals that the keyboard sends to what the GameCube game expects. Though there was an open source PS/2 (pre-USB) Keyboard to GameCube port adapter online at one point, but that seems to be long gone. People also were able to mod USB Keyboard and Broadband Adapter emulation into the Wii Homebrew GameCube Loader apps Nintendont and Devolution. So it's possible to play Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II, and III CARD Revolution online with keyboard support with a modded Wii on the fan servers Sylverant or Schtserv.

[@Cart1416]

a rare controller

[@BaseformVlone]

Dang Seing MJD playing MK Wii is a whole different thing 😯

[@yogibear2k220]

I know nothing about this and you may of had this fixed by now, but I am wondering if it is a region problem? I am wondering if it knows it's not a Japanese game cube or Japanese game version? Maybe the Japanese version of Fantasy Star Online has drivers for the keyboard? Again, maybe I am talking BS, but maybe it's a thing? Still, a nice looking keyboard. Shame you cannot get it working (or maybe you have by now?) Would love to know.

[@RickeyDute]

Oh man! I used to have one of those and when my GameCube died, I sold it to a friend. Never saw it again. 😢

[@minkiyina]

Michael MJD gaming

[@DonaldTubbs]

I remember having an argument about this in the 90s. "Yer Mac mouse is dumb cuz it only has one button, hur-dur, not like a superior Windows mouse!" Well, I would challenge, why don't you just put a roller ball on the bottom of your keyboard and call it a 101-key Mouse?!

[@Mainyehc]

When a keyboard and a GameCube controller love each other very much…

[@wand222]

This controller was made by ASCII and not by Nintendo themselves. ASCII is a Japanese company that made a number of peripherals for home consoles in the 90s and 2000s with one notable example being arcade sticks.

[@WillParker322]

Almost got one of these a couple years ago. Still want one.

[@shalpp]

PHANTASY STAR KEYBAORD AAAAAAAA

[@AmaroqStarwind]

I really DESPERATELY want to see somebody make a functional hardware clone of this.

[@chmelys]

Never knew that even existed lmao

[@Sipgeraf]

KeyBoard + Controller = Keytroller or ControlKey

[@Nin10doGuy772]

MJD is a Kirby main...mind blown

[@ethnol3842]

Someone’s gotta get this man the Steve Fighter Pack for Smash.

[@Kennephone]

This makes the duke look like a small, easy to hold controller. The only console controller bigger is the Steel Batalion one for the xbox.

[@MegaManNeo]

NGL, this is the first time I saw this thing in action ever.

[@thomasvankeulen9511]

I wonder if this could be usable on a PC, wouldn't expect Windows 10 to know what it is, but I'd imagine it'd be detected as a keyboard

[@BBC600]

He says in the text at 11:24 that it works with an official adapter. Feel like he should have demonstrated that.

[@MichaelMJD]

It doesn’t work with the official adapter. It works with a 3rd party one that I’ve ordered and am waiting to arrive.

[@trumpetsrlife9692]

@@MichaelMJD cant wait for that video

[@BBC600]

@@MichaelMJD I see... I misunderstood. ☺️

[@NatetheNintendofan]

​@@MichaelMJDcant wait

[@FuzedBox]

Weird that the KB function didn't work for you in PSO. I have no idea why it wouldn't work. Then again, I do play on GCs and not Wii. You talked about obnoxious flexes a lot. Well, here's one: My friend and I use these controllers with Panasonic Qs with broadband adapters.

[@Cory_]

This thing is a lot smaller than I expected.

[@Akotski-ys9rr]

I always wondered what’s with that bobble head on the top right that seems to be in every video

[@sriramsundar8388]

My humble request. Try to get your hands on a Ducati Corse II Motorcycle controller. I really wanna see how it looks and works as there are literally no videos on KZbin about it.

[@anonymous_preferred7737]

Get yourself a Wii to HDMI adapter for your Wii. It'll unlock the component signal in the Wii and it looks 10x better than using composite cables.

[@MichaelMJD]

I'm already using the component cables with the Wii

[@JeffreyPiatt]

Ascii was the company that originally helped run Microsoft Japan and Co designed the MSX computer standard with Microsoft.

[@supervidak64]

Nice video

[@Monsuco]

I just want to see someone in a Smash tournament with this controller play a match against someone with the chainsaw controller.

[@RetroGamerOG_]

Whoever invented this must have a no-ache potion because holding this just feels really weird

[@apollolux]

Telling someone who uses this keyboard-controller to play Smash to stop spamming Up-B, you'd have to be specific on whether you mean D-pad Up+B face buttons or the up arrow+letter B keys. ;)

[@dkirby1906]

But did michael mjd watch the smash doc?

[@Sipgeraf]

Idk, jut a tip, you plug both of the cable ( i don't remember you did, but possible just I missed)

[@Jake76667]

i’ve seen people play competitive smash bros melee with that keyboard gamecube controller

[@Sheebsheeba9519]

My name is Michael your name is Michael

[@Nathan-mu1pz]

My college hosts smash each week and theres a guy there who brings this controller for the novelty

[@CaptainW_rCrimes]

I’m a Kirby Main too

[@Mud-Brain]

god i WANT THIS SO BAD i still love my copy of pso to death

[@thany3]

If only there was a universal bus standard. One of the serial variety perhaps. Nintendo could've used that.