Welcome, Retro Gamer! (A Simple Guide to Memory Cards)

Remember the satisfying *clunk* of a GameCube Memory Card sliding into its slot? For a generation of gamers, these tiny cards were the most precious things we owned. They held our hard-won victories in *Super Smash Bros. Melee*, the sprawling towns we built in *Animal Crossing*, and our epic quests across the Great Sea in *The Wind Waker*. Unlike today's consoles with their massive, invisible hard drives, the GameCube forced us to be strategic with our storage. Every save file took up a certain number of **"blocks,"** and with only 59 blocks on a standard card, space was always at a premium. The quiet anxiety of deciding whether to delete your *Luigi's Mansion* save to make room for *Metroid Prime* was a core part of the experience!

This tool is a loving tribute to that era, but with the power of modern technology. It's a virtual Memory Card Manager that lets you plan, organize, and visualize your saves without ever needing to boot up your old console. You can see exactly how many blocks each game takes up, experiment with different combinations to see what fits, and avoid that dreaded, heart-sinking moment when you're hours into a new game and the screen flashes with the fateful message: "There is not enough space on the Memory Card." It's perfect for collectors planning out their physical cards, for players using emulators, or for anyone who just wants a fun, nostalgic trip back to the golden age of the little purple lunchbox.

How to Use This Manager

Organizing your virtual card is as easy as plugging it into Slot A:

1. Choose Your Card Size: Use the first dropdown to select the type of Memory Card you want to manage, from the humble 59-block card to the massive (and often third-party) 1019-block version.
2. Add Your Game Saves: Select a game from the second dropdown and click the "Add Game" button. You'll see the save file instantly appear on the card, and your "Blocks Free" count will update.
3. Manage Your Files: Add as many games as you like until the card is full. If you need to make space, just click the red 'X' button next to any save to delete it. Your card is automatically saved in your browser, so you can come back anytime!
4. Share or Download: Once your card is set up, you can click **"Copy Share Link"** to create a unique URL to save or share your layout. Or, click **"Download as Image"** to save a high-quality picture of it.

Tips from a Veteran Gamer

• The *Animal Crossing* Problem:** This game was a legend, and not just for its gameplay. It was infamous for taking up an entire 59-block memory card all by itself! If you plan on starting a town, it's a wise move to give it its own dedicated card from the very beginning.
• One-Block Wonders:** Don't forget the little guys! Many of the best arcade-style games had surprisingly tiny save files. Classics like *F-Zero GX*, *Wave Race: Blue Storm*, and *Ikaruga* often took up only 1-3 blocks, making them the perfect games to fill in the last few empty spaces on your card.
• Beware the "Corrupted Data":** While this tool lists the official card sizes, many of us had those giant third-party 128MB cards that seemed to hold infinite saves. While they were convenient, they were also notorious for the dreaded "The data is corrupted" message. Sometimes, sticking with multiple, smaller, official cards was the safer and smarter bet!
• Plan for Multiple Files:** Some games, like *Phantasy Star Online*, would create multiple files on your card (a main system file, a character file, a guild card file, etc.). For simplicity, this tool combines all of those into one "game" entry to make planning easier.