GameCube
 An indigo GameCube console with its controller and the 251-block memory card. | |
| Also known as | Dolphin (code name) |
|---|---|
| Developer | Nintendo |
| Manufacturer |
|
| Type | Home video game console |
| Generation | Sixth generation |
| Release date | |
| Lifespan | 2001–2009 |
| Discontinued |
|
| Units sold |
|
| Media |
|
| Operating system | Dolphin OS |
| CPU | IBM PowerPC Gekko @ 486 MHz |
| Memory | 24 MB (total) |
| Storage | None |
| Removable storage | GameCube memory card (16 MB max. capacity) |
| Display |
|
| Graphics | ATI Flipper @ 162 MHz |
| Sound | Analog stereo (Dolby Pro Logic II) |
| Controller input | GameCube controller, WaveBird, Game Boy Advance, various other input devices |
| Connectivity | GameCube online functionality |
| Online services | Limited |
| Dimensions | 5.9 × 6.3 × 4.3 in 149 × 160 × 112 mm (width × depth × height) |
| Best-selling game | Super Smash Bros. Melee, 7.09 million (as of March 10, 2008[update])[5] |
| Backward compatibility | Select Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games via the Game Boy Player |
| Predecessor | Nintendo 64 |
| Successor | Wii |
| Related articles | Panasonic Q |
The Nintendo GameCube (called GameCube, NGC, or GC for short) is the fourth video game home console made by Nintendo. Nintendo's previous console was called the Nintendo 64. Nintendo's next console is called the Nintendo Wii, released in 2006 with models released before November 2011 being backwards compatible with GameCube games. The last game for the console was Madden NFL 08 (also released for the Wii and Nintendo DS), which was released on August 14, 2007. However, first-party development ended six months prior.
The GameCube also had many new features compared to other Nintendo video game consoles, and was the first Nintendo console to officially support Internet play (playing together without wires). It could also connect to the Game Boy Player to allow special features and play Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games.
The console was released on September 14, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia. The GameCube sold 21.74 million units worldwide was discontinued in early 2009 to focus production on the Wii and DS.[4]
Controller[change | change source]
The GameCube's controllers have two analog joysticks. In many games, one of them is used to control a character, while the other is used to control the camera, or some other secondary function. In addition to the analog sticks and the directional pad (D-pad), there are eight buttons: A, B, Y, X, L, R, Z, and Start.
Nintendo later released a wireless version of the controller, called the WaveBird. Instead of wires, it used RF signals to communicate with the console and was powered by standard AA batteries.
Popular Games[change | change source]
The Nintendo GameCube was known for its popular first games, including:
- Luigi's Mansion
- Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
- Pikmin and Pikmin 2
- Super Smash Bros. Melee
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Super Mario Sunshine
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- Mario Party 4, Mario Party 5, Mario Party 6, and Mario Party 7
- Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
- Wave Race Blue Storm
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "Nintendo reports record GameCube launch". CNET News. Retrieved March 16, 2013. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ↑ Martyn Williams (August 24, 2001). "Nintendo unveils Gamecube launch plans". CNN. Retrieved March 16, 2013. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ↑ "NEW MEDIA | GameCube price dropped". BBC News. April 22, 2002. Retrieved March 16, 2013. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Consolidated Sales Transition by Region" (PDF). Nintendo. 2008-07-30. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-30. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ↑ Nintendo (March 10, 2008). "At Long Last, Nintendo Proclaims: Let the Brawls Begin on Wii!". Press release. Archived from the original on March 13, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080313235109/https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/1u0FthaPxTSSeJelWm4Jt8TI0VJlTt5j. Retrieved March 11, 2008. "The previous installment in the series, Super Smash Bros. Melee, is the best-selling game for Nintendo GameCube with 7.09 million copies sold worldwide."
Notes
- ↑ Requires the use of the Digital AV port, which was removed from later models