Hardware FAQ - Guide for System Info

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NINTENDO GAMECUBE HARDWARE FAQ
NINTENDO GAMECUBE
WRITTEN BY: CVXFREAK
COPYRIGHT 2001 BY CVXFREAK
VERSION 2.00
DATE: DECEMBER 10, 2001

Email: [email protected]

********
UPDATES:
********

12/13/01: Added Frequently Asked Questions, more "Q" information, added detail
about the peripherals, and removed some opinion on the system.

****************
CONTENTS: PART 1
****************

GAMECUBE HARDWARE
-----------------

0. SETTING THE TIME, DATE, AND MEMORY CARD FORMAT
1. WHAT IS THE NINTENDO GAMECUBE?
2. HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS
3. COMPARED TO SONY PLAYSTATION 2
4. COMPARED TO MICROSOFT XBOX
5. GAMECUBE'S PERIPHERALS
6. GAMECUBE'S DEVELOPERS
7. RELEASE DATE

****************
CONTENTS: PART 2
****************

COMPATIBILITY, PRICES AND RETAILERS
-----------------------------------

0. COMPATIBILITY ISSUES
1. GAMECUBE COLORS
2. GAMECUBE MEDIA
3. AMERICAN RETAILERS
4. IMPORT RETAILERS
5. PRICES (HARDWARE)
6. PRICES (SOFTWARE)
7. PRICES (ACCESSORIES)

****************
CONTENTS: PART 3
****************

OTHER NINTENDO GAMECUBE INFORMATION
-----------------------------------

0. MODDING YOUR GAMECUBE
1. "Q"
2. MY CONTROLLER REVIEW
3. MY GAMECUBE REVIEW
4. LAUNCH GAMES
5. FUTURE GAMECUBE GAMES
6. WORTHWHILE GAMECUBE GAMES
7. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
8. CONCLUSION

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================================================
0. SETTING THE TIME, DATE AND MEMORY CARD FORMAT
================================================

When you first buy your GameCube, you will need to set the time and date. The
GameCube's dashboard is simple to use and manage.

Set up the time by going to its option on the cube. Click on your time and date
and press the confirm button, on the screen. The date will be set. Games that
utlize dates (for example, a game like Madden 2002) will follow those dates. If
you are on the correct date, and its Thanksgiving, the announcers will mention
that it is Thanksgiving! It happened to me yesterday!

To set up the Memory Card 59, simply save an American or Japanese game to it!
Once a Japanese game save is on there, only Japanese games can be saved from
now on. Same with American games. If you remove all saves from the memory card,
assumingly, you can save an American game again.


=================================
1. WHAT IS THE NINTENDO GAMECUBE?
=================================

After the introduction of the Nintendo GameCube in SpaceWorld 2000, the
Nintendo GameCube has arrived in North America. One of the most technologically
advanced game systems of all time, the Nintendo GameCube boasts wonderful,
fluid 3D graphics with clear imagery. It is a small cube, available in several
colors. With unique mini discs capable of that hold up to 1.5 GB of data, and a
very efficient 485 MHz IBM PC Gekko processor, the Nintendo GameCube is a
powerful little cube. Not to mention that it is cheap!

Nintendo, makers of the famous NES, SNES and the N64, is behind the project
once again, with help from IBM and Panasonic, to deliver the gamers with the
best form of video game entertainment gamers will have ever seen.

The launch of the Nintendo GameCube has passed. Are you skeptical of the new
Nintendo? How does it stack up to the Sony PlayStation 2 and the Microsoft
XBOX? Is it worth it? Well, read on to find out.

==========================
2. HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS
==========================

Straight from Nintendo themselves, here are the specs of the Nintendo GameCube.

MPU("Microprocessor Unit")*  Custom IBM Power PC "Gekko"

Manufacturing Process   0.18 micron IBM Copper Wire Technology

Clock Frequency  485 MHz

CPU Capacity  1125 Dmips (Dhrystone 2.1)

Internal Data Precision  32-bit Integer & 64-bit Floating-point

External Bus  1.3GB/second peak bandwidth (32-bit address space, 64-bit data
bus 162 MHz clock)

Internal Cache  L1: Instruction 32KB, Data 32KB (8 way) L2: 256KB (2 way)

System LSI  Custom ATI/Nintendo "Flipper"

Manufacturing Process  0.18 micron NEC Embedded DRAM Process

Clock Frequency  162 MHz

Embedded Frame Buffer  Approx. 2MB Sustainable Latency : 6.2ns (1T-SRAM)

Embedded Texture Cache   Approx. 1MB Sustainable Latency : 6.2ns (1T-SRAM)

Texture Read Bandwidth   10.4GB/second (Peak)

Main Memory Bandwidth  2.6GB/second (Peak)

Pixel Depth  24-bit Color, 24-bit Z Buffer

Image Processing Functions  Fog, Subpixel Anti-aliasing, 8 Hardware Lights,
Alpha Blending, Virtual Texture Design, Multi-texturing, Bump Mapping,
Environment Mapping, MIP Mapping, Bilinear Filtering, Trilinear Filtering,
Anisotropic Filtering, Real-time Hardware Texture Decompression (S3TC),
Real-time Decompression of Display List, HW 3-line Deflickering filter

The following sound related functions are all incorporated into the System LSI

Sound Processor  custom Macronix 16-bit DSP

Instruction Memory  8KB RAM + 8KB ROM

Data Memory  8KB RAM + 4KB ROM

Clock Frequency   81 MHz

Performance  64 simultaneous channels, ADPCM encoding

Sampling Frequency  48KHz

System Floating-point Arithmetic Capability  10.5 GFLOPS (Peak) (MPU, Geometry
Engine, HW Lighting Total)

Real-world polygon  6 million to 12 million polygons/second (Peak) (Assuming
actual game conditions with complex models, fully textured, fully lit, etc.)

System Memory  40MB

Main Memory  24 MB MoSys 1T-SRAM, Approximately 10ns Sustainable Latency

A-Memory  16MB (81MHz DRAM)

Disc Drive  CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) System

Average Access Time  128ms

Data Transfer Speed  16Mbps to 25Mbps

Media  3 inch NINTENDO GAMECUBE Disc based on Matsushita's
Optical Disc Technology, Approx. 1.5GB Capacity

Input/Output  Controller Port x4
Memory Card Slot x2
Analog AV Output x1
Digital AV Output x1
High-Speed Serial Port x2
High-speed Parallel Port x1

Power Supply  AC Adapter DC12V x 3.5A

Main Unit Dimensions  4.3"(H) x 5.9"(W) x 6.3"(D)

============================
3. COMPARED TO PLAYSTATION 2
============================

SPEED
-----
One thing you'll notice between the 2 systems is that the Nintendo GameCube has
faster loading times than the Sony PlayStation 2. Games such as Madden 2002
load faster on the GameCube than their PS2 counterparts, and this is without a
hard drive.

GRAPHICS
--------
Graphics-wise, the PS2 cannot quite match the GameCube (and sometimes the
Dreamcast, for that matter). The GameCube versions of games (like Madden 2002)
look cleaner and more fluid on the Nintendo GameCube than on the PS2. The PS2
is still a great graphical console; just not the best.

GAMES
-----
The PS2 focuses mostly on mature gamers rather than kids. PS2 is populated with
games like Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy, while Nintendo has Pokémon and
Mario franchises. Nintendo has their boost with Resident Evil, exclusively.

POWER
-----
Clearly the GameCube wins. Games like Star Wars: Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2
will need to be toned down to be possible on the PS2. The GameCube can also
support real world polygons instead of flat, identically shaped polygons. But
they aren't too far apart in sheer power.

PLAYSTATION 2 HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS
-------------------------------------
To compare the PlayStation 2 to the GameCube, here are the technical
specifications, straight from Sony!

CPU
128-bit Playstation 2 CPU

System Clock Frequency
294.912 MHz

Cache Memory
Instruction: 16KB, Data: 8KB + 16KB (ScrP)

Main Memory
Direct Rambus (Direct RDRAM)

Memory Size
32MB

Memory Bus Bandwidth
3.2GB per Second

Co-processor
FPU (Floating Point Unit)

Floating Point Multiply Accumulator x 1,

Floating Point Divider x 1

Vector Units
VU0 and VU1

Floating Point Multiply Accumulator x 9,

Floating Point Divider x 3

Floating Point Performance
6.2 GFLOPS


3D CG Geometric Transformation
66 Million Polygons per second

Compressed Image Decoder
MPEG2

Graphics
Graphics Synthesizer(tm)

Clock Frequency
147.456MHz

Embedded DRAM
4MB

DRAM Bus bandwidth
48GB per Second

DRAM Bus width
2560 Bits

Pixel Configuration
RGB:Alpha:Z Buffer (24:8:32)

Polygon Drawing Rate
75 Million Polygons per Second

Screen Resolution
Variable from 256 x 224 to 1280 x 1024

Sound
"SPU2+CPU"

Number of Voices
ADPCM: 48ch on SPU2 plus definable, software programmable voices

Sound Memory
2MB

Output Frequency
Variable up to 48 KHz (DAT quality)


IOP
I/O Processor

CPU Core
PlayStation (current) CPU

Clock Frequency
33.8688MHz or 36.864MHz (Selectable)

IOP Memory
2MB

Sub Bus
32-bit

Interface Types
IEEE1394 i.Linkä , Universal Serial Bus (USB) x 2

Controller Port x 2, Memory Card x 2


Disc Device
CD-ROM and DVD-ROM

Device Speed
CD-ROM 24 times speed

DVD-ROM 4 times speed

=============================
4. COMPARED TO MICROSOFT XBOX
=============================

SPEED
-----
The Microsoft XBOX, thanks to its hard drive, has slightly less loading time
than the Nintendo GameCube. The Nintendo GameCube has a fast processor, but
without a hard drive, the XBOX remains fastest in loading times. Some Nintendo
GameCube games like Rogue Leader load faster than many XBOX games, though.

GRAPHICS
--------
Graphics-wise, the GameCube cannot quite match the XBOX. The GameCube versions
of games (like Madden 2002) look cleaner and more fluid on the XBOX than on the
GameCube, but the margin isn't as big as between the PS2 and the Dreamcast. The
GameCube is still a FANTASTIC graphical console; just not nearly as good as the
XBOX.

GAMES
-----
The XBOX focuses mostly on mature gamers rather than kids. XBOX is populated
with games like Halo and Dead or Alive 3, while Nintendo has Pokémon and Mario
franchises. Nintendo has their boost with Resident Evil, exclusively, again.
The XBOX also has Dino Crisis 3.

POWER
-----
Clearly the XBOX wins in several area, while the GameCube excels in other
areas. Games like Dead or Alive 3 will need to be toned down slightly to be
possible on the GameCube. The XBOX can also support 125 Million polygons over
the GameCube's 6-12 Million REAL WORLD polygons. The GameCube's trump card is
its size (a smaller console that does slightly less is really not a huge deal)
and its texturing. The GCN can do 8, while the XBOX can only achieve 4.

XBOX HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS
----------------------------
Here are the XBOX specs, straight from Microsoft!

CPU: 733 MHz chip crafted by Intel

Graphics Processor: 250MHz custom chip named XGPU, developed by Microsoft and
nVIDIA

Total Memory: The RAM in the Xbox will be supplied by Micron, it will be 64 MB
running at 200MHz DDR (Double-Data-Rate)

Memory Bandwidth: 6.4 GB/sec

Polygon Performance: 125 M/sec

Sustained Polygon Performance: 100+ M/sec (transformed and lit polygons per
second)

Micropolygons/particles per second: 125 M/sec

Particle Performance: 125 M/sec

Simultaneous Textures: 4

Pixel Fill Rate - No Texture: 4.0 G/Sec (anti-aliased)

Pixel Fill Rate - 1 Texture: 4.0 G/Sec (anti-aliased)

Compressed Textures: Yes (6:1)

Full Scene Anti-Alias: Yes

Micro Polygon Support: Yes

Storage Medium: 2-5x DVD, 10GB hard disk, 8MB memory card

I/0: 2-5x DVD, 10GB hard disk, 8MB memory card

Audio Channels:64 (up to 256 stereo voices)

3D Audio Support: Yes

MIDI DLS2 Support: Yes

AC3 Encoded Game Audio: Yes

Broadband Enabled: Yes

Modem Enabled: No

DVD Movie Playback: Remote control package required

Maximum Resolution: 1920x1080

Maximum Resolution (2x32bpp frame buffers +Z): 1920x1080

HDTV Support: Yes

Controller Ports: 4 USB Ports

=========================
5. GAMECUBE'S PERIPHERALS
=========================

GameCube will have its own peripherals for expanding its possibilities! These
should be available in retailers near you by launch!

GAMECUBE CONTROLLER
-------------------
Argueably the most comfortable controller on the market, the GameCube
controller is made to fit in your hands and have easily recognized buttons.
With the middle size, it fits all types of different hands shapes. It also has
a built in rumble feature, so no more rumble pack! The only downfall is the
short cord.

MEMORY CARD 59 (DIGI CARD)
--------------------------
4MB of memory storage is pretty small. But the cheap price compensates, at
$14.99. This stores game saves portably, so you can bring your Madden 2002
teams over to your friend's house to play! Buy 2, because they only store 59
blocks of memory. It is a little white card that slots into those little slots
underneath the controller ports.

LCD SCREEN
----------
Like Sony's PS one, Interact has released their LCD Screen for the Nintendo
GameCube. Making the GameCube able to be played in your car, those boring long
drives can now be filled with the endless fun of Super Monkey Ball. This is
pricey, at $149 a pop, but Super Monkey Ball in your car is priceless. It comes
with a car adapter.

RF SWITCH/RF MODULATOR SET
--------------------------
Do you have older TVs that don't have those red/yellow/white outputs? No
problem! Use the ancient method of connecting your GCN to a cable output. You
will need to use the N64 version's, as the SNES version's doesn't have the RF
Modulator.

WAVEBIRD CONTROLLER
-------------------
The GameCube controller with a twist- it is wireless! Those short cords on the
normal controller can't get you down with the Wave Bird! Up to 30 ft. of clear
reception from the controller to the console itself. Now lay in bed, and relax!
Available soon.

56K/V90 MODEM
-------------
Online is becoming standard in console games. Nintendo's GameCube will support
online gaming with the 56K modem. There is no definite release date, but online
games are in development. Phantasy Star Online Version 2 will utilize online
gaming. A likely price will be around $30-50.

BROADBAND MODEM
---------------
Broadband is the future and Nintendo doesn't want to be counted out. The
broadband modem will be released, but Nintendo hasn't given a definite release
date. 2002 is a likely release date, since Phantasy Star Online Version 2 is
due out in 2002.

SUPER VIDEO CABLE (COMPONENT VIDEO CABLE)
-----------------------------------------
Want your GameCube graphics to look even better? Call up Nintendo and buy a
S-Video cable, to make the graphics on your TV look clearer and more real, to
show the potential of real graphics. Rogue Squadron 2 looks fabulous with this
cable. Available only from Nintendo.

STEREO AV CABLES
----------------
These are those red/yellow/white cables that connect to your TV. These come
with you system, but if your TV doesn't support them, you'll have to use the
RF.

========================
6. GAMECUBE'S DEVELOPERS
========================

Each of these valued developers have taken their skills and are developing
games for Nintendo's new console. Enclosed are current developers.

Nintendo
Acclaim
Activision
Capcom
Electronic Arts
Midway
Namco
Sega
Tecmo
Ubi Soft
Konami
Rareware
Retro Studios
Factor 5
LucasArts
Legacy Interactive
THQ
3DO
Camelot
Majesco

===============
7. RELEASE DATE
===============

The release date for the American GameCube is November 18, 2001.

The release date for the Japanese GameCube is September 14, 2001.

The release date for the European GameCube is rumored around April, 2002.

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=======================
0. COMPATIBILITY ISSUES
=======================

The GameCube can only play games from its regions. A GameCube from Japan,
bearing the NTSC/J symbol can only play Japanese games.

A GameCube from America, bearing the NTSC/U symbol can only play American
games.

A GameCube from PAL areas, bearing the PAL symbol can only play European and
Australian games.

Modding will be relatively easy, though. Refer to the modding section.

==================
1. GAMECUBE COLORS
==================

JET (BLACK)
-----------
PRICE: $199.99

INDIGO
------
PRICE: $199.99

SPICE (ORANGE) (COMING SOON)
----------------------------
PRICE: $199.99

=================
2. GAMECUBE MEDIA
=================

Nintendo has revealed information of its media.

PROPIETARY MINI DISC
--------------------
STORAGE: 1.5 GB
SIZE: 8 MM

IN COMPARISON TO THE OTHER MEDIA OF OTHER CONSOLES:

DVD-ROM (PS2)
-------------
STORAGE: 3.5 GB
SIZE: 12 CM

DUAL LAYER DVD-ROM (XBOX)
-------------------------
STORAGE: 9 GB
SIZE: 12 CM

GD-ROM (DREAMCAST)
------------------
STORAGE: 1 GB
SIZE: 12 CM

=====================
3. AMERICAN RETAILERS
=====================

Looking for an American GameCube? Look no further, as these American retailers
sell GameCube!

ELECTRONICS BOUTIQUE
--------------------
SITE: www.ebgames.com
LOCATION: Malls

GAMESTOP/FUNCOLAND/BABBAGES/SOFTWARE ETC.
-----------------------------------------
SITE: gamestop.com
LOCATION: Malls

TOYS "R" US
-----------
SITE: amazon.com/toysrus.com
LOCATION: Self-store

KAY BEE TOYS
------------
SITE: kbkids.com
LOCATION: Malls

TARGET
------
SITE: target.com
LOCATION: Self-store

K-MART
------
SITE: kmart.com/bluelight.com
LOCATION: Self-store

WAL-MART
--------
SITE: walmart.com
LOCATION: Self-store

BEST BUY
--------
SITE: bestbuy.ocm
LOCATION: Self-store

===================
4. IMPORT RETAILERS
===================

Want to import a Japanese GameCube? I recommend these wonderful retailers!

NATIONAL CONSOLE SUPPORT
------------------------
SITE: ncsx.com

GAME EXPRESS
------------
SITE: gexpress.com

TRONIX WEB
----------
SITE: tronixweb.com

====================
5. PRICES (HARDWARE)
====================

American GameCube
-----------------
$199.99

Japanese GameCube
-----------------
$200 approx.

====================
6. PRICES (SOFTWARE)
====================

Game Software
-------------
$49.99

=======================
7. PRICES (ACCESSORIES)
=======================

For descriptions of the accessories, refer to their section above.

Memory Card 59
--------------
$14.99

S-Video
-------
$15.95

RF MODULATOR
------------
$7.50




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=======================
0. MODDING YOU GAMECUBE
=======================

There are a few ways of getting your GameCube to play Japanese games, or vice
versa.

Modding
-------
IGN.com has a specific FAQ for rewiring GameCube to play games opposite your
country code, but universally. NCSX.com does it for you for about $40.
http://cube.ign.com/news/39712.html is a FAQ that can get you there, if you
sign up for IGN service.

Future methods
--------------

Boot Disc
---------
A disc that deactivates the GameCube country code will probably rise soon,
given the ease of which modding on the GameCube can be acheived.

Mod Chip
--------
Attaching a chip to the GameCube's chipset will also bypass the country code.
This should come relatively quickly, again, due to the ease of GCN modding.

GameShark
---------
A GameShark will likely use one of the 3 serial ports underneath the GameCube.
That peripheral can also, probably in the future, easily disable the country
code for the Nintendo GameCube.


======
1. "Q"
======

GameCube not having a DVD player discouraging you from a purchase? Well, not
problem- if you live in Japan that is. GameSpot reported that Q, the
DVD-GameCube hybrid from Panasonic will be a Japan only product. Too bad.

The Japanese Q will be a GameCube that plays DVD movies. It will not support
progressive scan. The release date for Q is December 14, 2001. More will be
unveiled later.

The screen shots of "Q" show a silvery-console, slightly bigger than the
non-DVD GameCubes. It seems to retain a handle, like the older versions, but
this time, seems to use a loading tray instead of a top-loader.

It retains 4 controller ports, as usual, and 2 memory card ports. The 3 serial
and hi-speed ports are still at the bottom of the console, so your "Q" will be
able to do the things the original GameCube can do. According to Matsushita, it
doesn't support progressive scan, so you can expect an ordinary DVD player
mixed into your GamCube.

Although unlikely, if the plug formation stays the same for "Q", the LCD
monitor might be able to use it!

December 14, 2001 is a Japanese release date for the "Q." America, according to
Matsushita, will not get it. Have fun (and if it uses the LCD monitor, I
definitely might consider one)!

=======================
2. MY CONTROLLER REVIEW
=======================

Comfort: 10
I have never seen a more comfortable controller, ever! There aren't any areas
where trying to press a button is difficult (Like the Saturn and N64
controller) and your hands simply adapt to it (Unlike the Genesis controller).
It's like a second skin. Compared to the Dual Shock, the GCN controller simply
wins in comfort.

Style: 9
While not as stylish as the Dual Shock, this is a unique looking controller. It
looks like a revamped N64 controller. The colors used were very cool and simply
don't get boring (PS one Dual Shock). The D-Pad is reminiscent of the GBA one,
but it gives the controller a slick feel.

Button Placement: 9
The 4 buttons we get for the main control (not counting the triggers) are well
placed, though an SNES/PSX-esque placement would have been nice. The jellybean
buttons are placed in a nice location though. If you are playing a game like
Resident Evil, or Smash Bros. Melee, the controller is perfect for easy
recognition, unlike the Dual Shock 2.

The R Buttons have an arc for your finger, which is nifty because the PS2 Dual
Shock isn't comfortable with the shoulder buttons. They press very well, too.
The Z Button, I feel, is too wrongly placed. If you go from pressing R to Z,
the transition is fairly hard.

The C Stick could have been worked on a little. I had no control what so ever
about the C Stick. I think the 4 C Buttons from the N64 should have made a
return.

The Start Button could have been slightly bigger, but no big deal.

How can it be improved?
There are several ways, actually.

For the buttons, I think they should have followed the SNES/PS one format. If
they had a knack for easy recognition, I think buttons with different surfaces
(Like one button with plastic, the other with the material from the PS one Dual
Shock sticks, the other with a groove and the final with a different type of
plastic. That would have been a good way to utilize the easy recognition
feature.

The C Stick should have remained 4 small buttons or even 3 more medium sized
buttons which would make GCN perfect for fighting games. But the stick could
have been worked on.

The Z Button should have been relocated. It simply isn't fit for the controller
or its location. Putting it behind the R trigger as a second trigger would have
been very useful and cool.

OVERALL: 9.5
Albeit a few button misplacements, the GCN controller is no doubt the best Next
Gen controller, PS2 being middle and XBOX being the worst.

=====================
3. MY GAMECUBE REVIEW
=====================

The last time I saw a solid console was the Dreamcast. Great launch titles, new
graphics. Now the Nintendo GameCube fills the void that the Dreamcast filled
before its demise.

The GameCube is a wonderful console. Small, cube, made by Nintendo. You can't
go wrong. Kiddy games? No problem. Eternal Darkness and Resident Evil are
exclusive to the console.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES: 9
The only thing that bars me from giving this system a 10 is that it is
technologically inferior to the XBOX. No biggy, as the system is easier to
develop for, according to developers.

GRAPHICS: 10
The graphics for the PS2 are a little blurry, due to the lack of anti-aliasing.
The GameCube can boast graphics as well as the XBOX. The games look well
lighted, clear and original. Games like Resident Evil look better than anything
on the XBOX thus far, which shows that the Cube really has potential.

GAME SELECTION: 10
Super Monkey Ball, Luigi's Mansion and Rogue Leader are all graphically
impressive, fun and original. Super Monkey Ball is the new Mario Party- IT IS
SO FUN! Every mini game on that game is so cool, original and well made by
Sega. Rogue Leader looks graphically impressive and offers the real gameplay of
past Star Wars games. Future titles will follow, with Resident Evil, among
other titles.

SOUND: 10
Sound is the same as it was on the PS2 and DC, so there is no real difference.
The sound, dobly digital, is really solid and there is no distortion what so
ever. Solid sound.

AESTHETICS: 9
The Cube is a small, cute little consoles. WHile not as stylish as the PS2 or
doesn't have the look of the XBOX, the console looks neat- and its small!

CONTROLLER: 10
The controller is perfect. It fits in your hand well, the buttons begin to get
well fitted to anyone's hand and it is unique, Nintendo style. Whats new over
the N64 controller is that it looks a lot like the Dual Shock, but the added
comfort and versatility adds to the wonderful experience with the GameCube
controller. You might want the Spice Orange controller........:)

PRICE: 10
$200 gets you one of the best contenders for the next gen wars. The games are
$50, like the other consoles, but with the cheaper price, you can concentrate
on GAMES. Systems are for games, not overall entertainment.

FEATURES: 0
What features? It plays games....

OVERALL HOLISTIC: 10
The GameCube is the best console for my type of gaming, which is survival
horror and puzzle games. The GameCube is simply unbeaten in this area. The $200
console is worth every penny. Go to EB and grab a GameCube now!

Reviewer's Score: 10 / 10, Originally Posted on 11/19/2001

===============
4. LAUNCH GAMES
===============

November 18, 2001 brought the GameCube. It came with a good bag of games, from
racing to platforming. Unlike the N64, there are more than 2 launch games!
These are from Nintendo's official magazine, Nintendo Power!

Luigi's Mansion (Nintendo)
Wave Race: Blue Storm (Nintendo)
Super Monkey Ball (Sega)
Star Wars: Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2 (Factor 5)
Extreme G 3
Crazy Taxi (Acclaim)
NHL Hitz (Midway)
Madden 2002 (EA Sports)
All Star Baseball 2002 (Acclaim)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (Activision)

I may have missed a l, so e-mail me if I did!

========================
5. FUTURE GAMECUBE GAMES
========================

Straight from Nintendo is a list of upcoming GameCube games!

Mario Sunshine
The Legend of Zelda
Star Fox Adventures: Dinosaur Planet
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Pikmin
Resident Evil Zero
Resident Evil
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Resident Evil CODE: Veronica X
Resident Evil 4
Eternal Darkness
Sonic Adventure 2 Battle
Mario Kart
Donkey Kong Racing
Phantasy Star Online Version 2
Kameo: Elements of Power
Kirby
Tarzan
NBA 2K2

Among other lists of titles worth getting on your new title, thse are the most
worthy titles!

============================
6. WORTHWHILE GAMECUBE GAMES
============================

These games, in my personal experience, are the best games available on the
GameCube. These are innovative, fun, graphically magnificent and well, FUN!

Luigi's Mansion


Star Wars: Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II


Super Monkey Ball


Wave Race: Blue Storm


Madden 2002


Crazy Taxi


Super Smash Bros. Melee



=============================
7. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
=============================

When was the GameCube released?
-------------------------------
::It was released in Japan on September 14, 2001 and in America on November 15,
2001.

Who is the GameCube made by?
----------------------------
::Nintendo made it, but with help from ATI, IBM and Matsushita (Panasonic).

How many bits is GameCube?
--------------------------
::64-bit. It is still technologically more powerful than the PlayStation 2,
which runs at 128 bits, but less powerful than XBOX, which is 32-bits. BITS
DON'T COUNT. EVER.

When will "Q" be released in Japan?
-----------------------------------
::December 14 is Matsushita's current date, which is approximately now.

Does it play DVD movies?
------------------------
::Normal GameCubes don't play DVD movies. The Japan-exclusive "Q" plays DVD
movies.

What is the Japanese retail for "Q"?
------------------------------------
::$325 approx.

Should I get a Japanese or American GameCube?
---------------------------------------------
::If I were you, buy a modded one that can play multi-region games from
NCSX.com.

Does it play Nintendo 64, Super Famicom or Famicom games?
---------------------------------------------------------
::Nope. Backwards compatibility is impossible due to the different mediums.

How much do GameCube games retail for?
--------------------------------------
::$49.99 is Nintendo's suggested price, though the margin is around $3.

Should I get a GameCube or XBOX?
--------------------------------
::I will not answer that question. Its not my place or time. Email me for my
personal response.

Does GameCube play Japanese games on an American console and vice-versa?
------------------------------------------------------------
::Nope. But refer to the next question to get some advice.

How do I mod a GameCube?
------------------------
::Sign up for IGN.com's free service and you can access this moding FAQ from
them. http://cube.ign.com/news/39712.html Note: If you sign up for their
service (not the Insider service), you can access this page.

When does Mario Sunshine, Zelda and BioHazard come out?
-------------------------------------------------------
Don't know for the first 2 games, but BioHazard is on cue for March 22, 2002 in
Japan, the BioHazard 6th Anniversary.

Is Resident Evil/BioHazard exclusive to the GameCube?
-----------------------------------------------------
::Sorry, PS2 fans, but Resident Evil Zero and Resident Evil 4 are ONLY coming
to the GameCube. The Resident Evil Remake is due out in Japan in March 22,
2002. Resident Evil Zero should come within months, followed by PORTS of
Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis and Resident Evil CODE: Veronica X,
all leading up to Resident Evil 4's release date. If you like Resident Evil
enough to buy a console, GameCube is the console.

Is Squaresoft making any Final Fantasy games for GameCube?
----------------------------------------------------------
::No, not at the moment. Sony recently purchased 19% of Square, which can
really turn the tide. They want to pursue GameBoy Advance, but Nintendo refused
them due to their lack of any GameCube support.

Is Soul Calibur 2 on GameCube? The first one rocked!
----------------------------------------------------
::Yup. Soul Calibur 2 s a fighting game available on the GameCube, as well as
PlayStation 2 and XBOX.

When will the GameBoy Advance connect to the GameCube?
------------------------------------------------------
::Around 2002. Sonic Adventure 2 Battle will be the first to utilize it, and it
is due in Japan this month. That Kirby game shown by Miyamoto also uses it,
which I think is a cool feature.

Does GameCube play CD ROMS?
---------------------------
::No.

Is Sega supporting Nintendo GameCube?
-------------------------------------
::They sure are. Launch title Super Monkey Ball was from Sega, as will Sonic
Adventure 2 Battle, Crazy Taxi and Phantasy Star Online Version 2.

Please e-mail questions to me at [email protected].


=============
8. CONCLUSION
=============

The FAQ is finished. The Nintendo GameCube, IMHO, is the best console on the
market, with the best price, games and graphics (Star Wars: RL: RS2). The games
are fun, and Nintendo, so far, has mastered next generation gaming!

I have several source to thank in the end, or this FAQ wouldn't be possible!

Thanks to:

Nintendo, for releasing the GameCube at a great price.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CJayC for running GameFAQS!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
IBM, for assisting Nintendo and making a technologically powerful console!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Panasonic, for making a GameCube-DVD hybrid. Some gamers need a DVD player!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sega, for developing Super Monkey Ball, a FUN game!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CUBE.IGN.COM, for the information of GameCube games and ways of modding.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GameSpot.com for the news about Q, and a tid bit of other Nintendo GameCube
information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nintendo.com, for the GameCube specs.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sony.com, for the PS2 specs.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
XBOX.IGN.COM, for the XBOX specs.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
My mom, for buying a GameCube for me.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nintendo Power magazine, for the games list!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Serramonte Mall's Electronics Boutique, for selling GameCube to me!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Myself, for playing the games, and writing this FAQ!

CVXFREAK
[email protected]

This document is Copyright 2001 by CVXFREAK. Any unauthorized copying,
plagiarising, hosting or sale of this document is restricted and I will sue you
if you avoid these rules.

End document.
-------------