NIntendo Gamecube NR Reader.

Designed to play beta program discs so that developers can  check for bugs that woudn't occur on the actual dev unit.

Mostly used for play testing my studios.

For example, 30 testers play  copies of Sonic2 for GC, the beta code burned to Nintendo 3 inch DVD-R. Playtested results are used to correct bugs and game mechanics / controls.This results in features added to or removed from the finished product.

To use dev units for each of the playtesters would be cost prohibitive. So the far less expensive NR units are used.

Several companies actually modify normal commercial Gamcubes for debugging/testing use as Nintendo charge large amounts for these units.