
Game Console
GameCube
The GameCube is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on September 14, 2001, in North America on November 18, 2001, in Europe on May 3, 2002, and in Australia on May 17, 2002. It is the successor to the Nintendo 64. As a sixth-generation console, the GameCube primarily competed with Sony’s PlayStation 2, Sega’s Dreamcast, and Microsoft’s Xbox.
Nintendo began developing the GameCube in 1998 after entering a partnership with ArtX to design a graphics processing unit. The console was formally announced under the codename “Dolphin” the following year, and was released in 2001 as the GameCube. It is Nintendo’s first console to use its own optical discs instead of ROM cartridges, supplemented by writable memory cards for saved games. Unlike its competitors, it is solely focused on gaming and does not play mass media like DVD or CD.
The console supports limited online gaming for a few games via a GameCube broadband or modem adapter and can connect to a Game Boy Advance with a link cable for exclusive in-game features using the handheld as a second screen and controller. The GameCube supports e-Reader cards to unlock special features in a few games. The Game Boy Player add-on runs Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridge games.
Reception of the GameCube was mixed. It was praised for its controller and high quality games library, but was criticized for its lack of multimedia features and lack of third party support compared to its competitors. Premier games include Super Mario Sunshine, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Star Fox Adventures, Metroid Prime, Mario Kart: Double Dash, Pikmin, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Animal Crossing, and Luigi’s Mansion. Nintendo sold 21.74 million GameCube units worldwide, much fewer than anticipated, and discontinued it in 2007. It was succeeded by the Wii in late 2006.
Source: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameCube)
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Short Info
Also known as: Dolphin
Developer: Nintendo
Manufacturer:
- Nintendo
- Foxconn
Type: Home video game console
Generation: Sixth
Release date:
- JP: September 14, 2001
- NA: November 18, 2001
- EU: May 3, 2002
- AU: May 17, 2002
Introductory price: $199, £129, €199
Discontinued: WW: 2007
Units sold:
- Worldwide: 21.74 million
- Americas: 12.94 million
- Japan: 4.04 million
- Other regions: 4.77 million
Media:
- GameCube Game Disc
- Game Pak
Operating system: Proprietary
CPU: 32-bit IBM PowerPC 750CXe Gekko @ 486 MHz
Memory:
- 24 MB of 1T-SRAM @ 324 MHz as system RAM
- 3 MB of embedded 1T-SRAM as video RAM
- 16 MB of DRAM as I/O buffer RAM
Removable storage: GameCube Memory Card
Display: Video output formats
Graphics: ATI Flipper GPU @ 162 MHz with 3 MB embedded 1T-SRAM
Sound: Analog stereo
Controller input: GameCube controller, WaveBird, GBA, various
Connectivity: Ethernet and dialup
Power:
- 46-watt AC adapter (DOL-001)
- 48-watt AC adapter (DOL-101)
Online services:
- LAN
- Phantasy Star Online
- Homeland
- GameCube online functionality
Dimensions:
- 150 × 161 × 110 mm
- 5.9 × 6.3 × 4.3 in
(width × depth × height)
Mass: 1,400 g (3.1 lb)
Best-selling game: Super Smash Bros. Melee, 7.09 million
Predecessor: Nintendo 64
Successor: Wii