Anybody following the FlippyDrive progress? It's close to release, and reviews are coming. I myself am very interested by the WiFi capability, and being able to keep your optical drive in place.
Pre-order launching in January 2024.
It will have have the following specs and features:
No-solder internal install into the original Disc Drive slot
Load Games from SD Card
Load Games over WiFi (RPi / PC / NAS)
No Software Patching (Games can run Stock)
Built-in Game Selection without using Swiss (Based on cubeboot)
Also Support for loading Games with Swiss
Uses commodity RP2040+ESP32 parts making a shortage unlikely
Original Nintendo Disc Drivers are not destroyed to get connectors
Keep your original Disc Drive installed and play physical Discs (optional)
Upcoming Features (Early 2024)
Bluetooth Controller support
Configuration with BLE using PC or Phone
Upcoming add-ons (Early 2024)
USB Drive Loader (Including SSD/HDD adapters)
USB Game Controller suppor
It's exciting, I particularly like the work being done on cubeboot to support it directly from the original IPL (patched at runtime). My only fear is that it will complicate things longer term with the GC "ecosystem" in regards to Swiss features/integration, but time will tell.
I like the integrations of BT, WiFi and Ethernet, but as emu already said, what does it mean for our little niche ecosystem?
I am very glad with my GCLoader right now and how everything is in peace with Swiss - might not be the case with FlippyDrive, but we shall see i guess. The price is also fantastic, though,.
please search before you ask - a lot has been discussed already! (or use google with "site:gc-forever.com *term*") http://is.gd/MDmZcr
No-solder install
Use with or without OEM drive
2.8x-10x faster than all EXI devices (SD2SP2, BBA, any memory card/SP1/SP2 device, etc.) in non-WiFi mode
Real drive interface, no software hacks required
One-button disk passthrough
OTA software updates
Rescue USB port for brick recovery
No disk drives are scrapped to make this mod
Compatible with Cubeboot menu patcher
RP2040 Powered Drive Emulation
ESP32 4-bit with Wi-Fi
No-solder internal install via custom flex cable
Keeps your original disc drive installed (one button bypass to boot from disc)
Load games from a microSD Card or over a local network
Experimental loading over Wi-Fi (RPi / PC / NAS)
No software patching required (games can run stock)
CubeBoot menu patcher and Swiss in internal Flash
Software updates via SD card/Network and USB ROM drag-and-drop/brick recovery
Wired 10/100 Ethernet connectivity (via add-on)
