GameCube Hardware
Reviewed by Dogg
Nintendo has always been known as a video game
company who makes rather strange, but relatively good
games. While not just games, Nintendo is also known
for making systems. These systems include consoles
and even hand helds. Let's just face it, Nintendo is
perhaps the most popular company in the video game business.
Nintendo started in a slow start with their Virtual
Boy handheld, but soon recovered with their brand new
console the NES, or better known as Nintendo. The NES
console provided a different twist in playing games
and the NES also developed the biggest franchises of
Nintendo's long career. They soon brought the Game
Boy handheld and then eventually brought the follow
up to the NES, the SNES, or Super Nintendo. The SNES
brought even more twists to videogame's and the SNES
is known as one of the best consoles of all time.
In 1995 however, Nintendo started to work on a new
console. This console was called the Nintendo 64.
This meant a new Nintendo console in 64 bits. It even
had some of the best launch titles any system could
have. Some examples are game's like Killer Instinct
Gold, Star Fox 64, and Super Mario 64, and all of
these games were mostly started on the SNES console.
But what was the problem with this N64? The problem
was that it used a cartridge back up. This will not
only make developing games for the system hard, but
it will also mean that the game's might suffer hard too.
At that time Sony had just made their first console,
which is the Sony Play Station. The Play Station used
CD back ups for its games making them easier to make
and making the games much better. And since the
Nintendo 64 couldn't make good looking titles,
companies like Square left Nintendo and started
working on games for Sony's system.
The Nintendo 64 did get back some power with games
like Perfect Dark, Paper Mario, and Banjo- Kazooie,
but it just wan't enough. Then Nintendo made an
announcement about a new system. This system was
called the Dolphin. Yes, I know stupid name! But soon
Nintendo changed the name to the Nintendo Game Cube.
The Nintendo Game Cube is said to change gaming with
sequels to titles like Banjo-Kazooie and Perfect
Dark, but most importantly the Nintendo Game Cube
gets rid of something. And that my friends is that it
loses its cartridge backup. Yes, now Nintendo uses a
CD format when making their games.
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Competitors
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The Nintendo Game Cube isn't alone by any chance, in
fact it has got 2 other competitors. The 1st is the
return of Sony and their Play Station console, the
Play Station 2. With tons and tons of million units
sold the Play Station 2 already got its work cut out
for it (and to tell you the truth the Play Station 2
is probably the best system there is right now). The
other competitor is a newbie to video game consoles,
but an expert on PC games. This company is Microsoft,
the richest company there is. Their new console is
the Microsoft X-Box. The X-Box is more like a
computer than anything. It even has a built in hard
drive to make sure that people get the best Òkick"
out of the X-Box.
Sound tough, but hopefully Nintendo can make it
throughout the long run.
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Size and Crazy Numbered Specs
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The Nintendo Game Cube is a small console.
In fact many have even nick named it the lunch box
because it is so easy to carry and because of that
handle it has in the back of it. Handle, you say?
That's right a handle. Now you can carry your new
Nintendo system wherever you want.
New System, New Controller. To say the truth I never
really had a problem with the Nintendo 64's control
scheme or its controller for that matter. Well for a
reason I have a problem with the Nintendo Game Cube's
Controller. Not only is it small, but getting the
right buttons at times is just annoying. Ugh, why
can't Nintendo just stick to one thing for once.
The Game Cube, just like the Nintendo 64 offers up 4
controller slots to plug in your controllers. This is
also good because now you can play multiplayer
easily. Now all you need to do is get more
controllers and then you are ready to go.
The Game Cube surprises all with its 485 MHz of pure
CPU Speed. The Game Cube is also backed up by its
Graphics engine, which is called the Flipper. And its
GPU is at a steady 162 MHz. Note that this is more
powerful than the Play Station 2 already. The Game
Cube's total memory capacity is up to around 40 MB
and the Game Cube can perform up to 8 simultaneous
textures at a time. Unlike the Microsoft X-Box, the
Game Cube has no hard drive, as well as no Built in
3D Audio Support.
Nintendo has also mentioned that the Game Cube will
go online soon. Well when is it going to go online?
Nintendo hasn't almost mentioned a word about online
gaming as of yet. But prepare for some announcements
soon, because some online games like Phantasy Star
Online will need the online support.
Since Nintendo is now using CD's to make their games
that will obviously mean that loading times will now
occur. However, loading times are quickly passive and
will stop the loading process by 2-4 seconds. Now you
can forget about loading times because they are nothing.
Many of you also noticed that video game consoles now
allow the gamer to play DVD's and even CD's. Examples
are the Play Station 2 and the X-Box. Well bad news
to Nintendo fans, the Game Cube doesn't allow you to
play either CD's nor DVD's. But hey when you buy a
video game console you buy it to play the games, and
I think that the Nintendo Game Cube follows that rule closely.
The Nintendo Game Cube is also the cheapest of the 3
systems. The Game Cube is sold for around 200
dollars. That's pretty cheap for a console that is
stronger than a 300 dollar console, but I guess it is
only cheap because it does not include both a DVD
player nor a CD player.
One more thing, the Nintendo Game Cube shares a
relationship with the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. Now
Game Boy Advance owners can connect their Game Boy
Advance's to the Game Cube and then they can use the
Game Boy Advance to show character stats and such.
Except I am not sure how it really works. The 2 games
that probably take good advantage of this are
probably Animal Forest Plus and Kirby's Tilt and Tumble 2.
Bottom Line- Nintendo has just gone small.
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1st party developers
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Expect all of the old Nintendo 1st party developers
to be backing up the Game Cube. First there is HAL
Laboratory, who have just released Super Smash Bros.
Melee and are probably working on a future Kirby
title right now. Then there is the Western Studio
called Retro Studios. Retro Studios are now hard at
work on the next Metroid game, which is now called
Metroid Prime. Then there is Intelligent Studios.
Intelligent Studios made Paper Mario last year and
they just finished Advance Wars for the Game Boy
Advance as well. I don't know if they are working on
any Game Cube titles for now, but if they are then
chances are that that game will be a blockbuster
title. One of my favorite Nintendo companies is
probably Rare, the company which created Donkey Kong
and the company which made the 1997 game of the year
ÒGoldeneye." There are also more companies behind
the Game Cube and there will probably more 1st party
developers in the future.
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3rd Party developers
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Many who left Nintendo because of the Nintendo 64 are
back to support the Game Cube. One of the main
companies who did this is probably Capcom. Capcom
only made around 2 measly titles for the Nintendo 64-
Micky's Tetris Challenge and Resident Evil 2. But now
Capcom is back and they will change that by giving
the Game Cube many blockbuster titles. Most
importantly Capcom ripped the Resident Evil franchise
away from Sony's console and now are making the games
for the Cube. First they will make a brand new
version of Resident Evil 1, then they will make
Resident Evil 2, then Resident Evil 3, the never
released Nintendo 64 game called Resident Evil 0,
Resident Evil: Code Veronica (again), and to round it
off they will release the anticipated title Resident
Evil 4. And they are also planning on doing this in
the course of one year. Now that is just amazing.
Other companies like Namco will bring fighting and
arcade games, while companies like Electronic Arts
(EA)and Sega will bring on sports titles. Sega will
also bring their popular Sonic the Hedgehog and
Phantasy Star series to the Cube. Companies like
Midway will release ports to the Cube, while also
delivering their own titles exclusive to the Cube.
TDK Media Interactive will bring the Robocop series
to the Cube, as well as a port for their game "Shrek."
Lucasarts will continually release titles based on
the Star Wars name and who knows that they might even
bring a new series to the Game Cube. Activision will
release some sports titles and some new fresh brand
titles, the same also goes to companies like
Ubi-Soft. Universal Interactive will also bring Crash
Bandicoot to the Game Cube as well as maybe the Spyro
the Dragon series. The Japanese developer called
ÒKonami" is actually showing little to no support for
the Cube. They've only announced some small titles
like International Super Star Soccer and that isn't
going to do much. People expecting the Metal Gear,
Castlevania, or Silent Hill series will probably look away.
Some companies like Rockstar are also showing little
to no respect for the Cube too. But the company many
want to see working on the Cube will probably be the
Japanese company Square Soft. Square Soft is mostly
known for their RPG's and looking at the Game Cube's
selection of RPG's, you'll see little to no RPG's for
the system. Hopefully, the coveted franchises of
Nintendo's career can probably make an end to that.
Well these are some of the companies working on the
Game Cube, but exactly what games are they working on
for the system.
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Final Opinion
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For now, Nintendo has got a lot of potential, and
this potential it can surely not screw up. The
Nintendo 64 never could've pleased enough people to
actually enjoying the pertainings of its hardware.
However, with the Game Cube one can enjoy quality
entertainment, while still being pleased at the same
time. The Game Cube should also not be avoided thanks
to it not having a DVD Player. Gaming has always been
Nintendo's strongest suit, and this "legacy" of sorts
is continued yet again. If all goes well the Cube
should please people of many kinds, and should bring
a new type of originality, and likeness to the consumer.
The Game Cube is definitely an improvement over the
Nintendo 64 in almost every single way. I mean let's
just face it Nintendo has just gone small.
Games- 8+
Hardware- 8+
Controller- 5+
Companies behind it- 9-
Overall- 8+