History

The GameCube offers a handle for easy travel access.

The Nintendo GameCube was first released in Japan on September 14, 2001. In November of that same year, it was released into the American market. Six months after that, the GameCube was officially released in European countries.

This console represents an important leap for Nintendo, as it was the first time the company created a system that utilized media other than cartridges for games. Historically, Nintendo has taken far more extreme security measures to prevent piracy of its products, and its propensity to stick with the expensive cartridge format came from that fact that cartridges were generally much more difficult to pirate than CDs or DVDs.

Hardware

Specifications

• CPU: IBM Gekko, 485 MHz
• GPU: ATI Flipper, 162 MHz
• RAM: 40 MB

In terms of sheer power, the GameCube's performance lies somewhere in between that of the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Several GCN games also support progressive scan mode, which is great news for those of you who have the proper equipment to view it. However, it's important to keep in mind that no game will automatically display in progressive scan. In most cases, if the game supports it, you will have to manually set progressive scan mode by holding down the B button as the game boots up. If the game can display progressive scan, a prompt will then appear to confirm the mode change.

Media The GameCube will only play its own games, and unlike the other major consoles it competes with, it cannot read movie DVDs or even music CDs. Standard five-inch discs won't even fit! GCN games essentially come on what are three-inch DVD discs, and Nintendo holds the patent on that particular format. While this does place a comparatively greater disk space constraint on GCN games, its 1.5 GB capacity is still over twice as much as that of a CD. For you, the consumer, all it really means is that your GCN games will probably have a little bit less compressed video on them than what you might find on the other systems.

Input/Output

On the front, we have four controller ports and two memory card ports. It seems Nintendo abandoned the mystifying memory-card-port-in-the-controller design that was first popularized on the Sega Dreamcast.

In the back, you'll find a proprietary A/C adapter port. Interestingly, out of all three of today's consoles, Nintendo's is the only one that still uses an A/C adapter. The other machines have an internal power unit that directly accepts alternating current. You'll also find the familiar analog A/V out, which uses the same connector as both the Super NES and N64. Next to that, you'll find a mysterious digital A/V out, which is used to carry high-quality video signals.

On the bottom of the unit, you'll find the High Speed Port, Serial Port 1, and Serial Port 2. These are used for various add-ons and peripherals like network adapters or the Game Boy Player.

Opt to take the Game Boy Player and you can play Game Boy games on the big tube.

Bundles

GameCube Console with Free Game

MSRP $149.99

Buy It Now

The current bundle that's available at most retailers includes the GameCube with its standard complement of cables and a controller, plus a demo disc. In addition, you also get a free game! You choices include The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Metroid Prime, Star Fox Adventures, and Mario Party 4. Most retail outlets also permit you to select a free Game Boy Player in lieu of the free game.

Quirks

The GameCube is actually not even a cube if you examine its physical dimensions. I guess the marketing department decided that the "GameRectanguloid" wouldn't be as popular a name.

If you hold down the Z button on the controller as you turn on the machine, you'll hear a different sequence of sounds!