GameCube

The Nintendo GameCube (also called GameCube, NGC, GCN, 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 before that.

Nintendo GameCube
An indigo GameCube with 251-block memory card inside (right) and GameCube controller
Also known asDolphin (code name)
DeveloperNintendo
Manufacturer
TypeHome video game console
GenerationSixth generation
Release date
Lifespan2001 (2001)–2009 (2009)
Introductory price$199[5]
Discontinued
  • JP: October 28, 2007
  • AU: December 3, 2007
  • EU: May 17, 2008
  • NA: June 15, 2009
Units sold
  • Worldwide: 21.75 million
  • Americas: 12.94 million
  • Japan: 4.04 million
  • Other regions: 4.77 million[6]
Media
Operating systemProprietary Nintendo operating system
CPU32-bit IBM PowerPC 750CXe Gekko @ 485 MHz
Memory
  • 24 MB of 1T-SRAM @ 324MHz as system RAM
  • 3 MB of embedded 1T-SRAM as video RAM
  • 16 MB of DRAM as I/O buffer RAM
Removable storageGameCube memory card (16 MB max. capacity)
Display
  • Composite video
  • S-Video (NTSC consoles only)
  • RGB SCART (PAL consoles only)
  • [[YPbPr|Template:YPbPr]] component video/d-terminal (DOL-001 models only)[lower-alpha 1]
GraphicsATI Flipper GPU @ 162 MHz with 3MB embedded 1T-SRAM
SoundAnalog stereo (Dolby Pro Logic II)
Controller inputGameCube controller, WaveBird, Game Boy Advance, various other input devices
Connectivity
Power
Online services
  • LAN
  • Phantasy Star Online[7]
  • Homeland
Dimensions150 × 161 × 110 mm[8]
5.9 × 6.3 × 4.3 in
(width × depth × height)
Mass2.4 kg[8]
5 lb. 5 oz.
Best-selling gameSuper Smash Bros. Melee, Over 7 million [9]
Backward
compatibility		Select Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games via Game Boy Player
PredecessorNintendo 64
SuccessorWii
WebsiteOfficial website

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.[6]

Controller

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.

The Nintendo GameCube was known for its popular first games, including:

References
  1. Martyn Williams (August 24, 2001). "Nintendo unveils Gamecube launch plans". CNN. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  2. "Nintendo reports record GameCube launch". CNET News. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  3. "NEW MEDIA | GameCube price dropped". BBC News. April 22, 2002. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  4. Cameron, Nadia (May 20, 2002). "GameCube launch rounds out console troika". PC World. Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  5. "Nintendo sets GameCube price - May 21, 2001". money.cnn.com.
  6. "Consolidated Sales Transition by Region" (PDF). Nintendo. 2008-07-30. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  7. "Nintendo Jumps Online - IGN". 13 May 2002 – via www.ign.com.
  8. "Nintendo GameCube Specs". GameCubicle.
  9. "At Long Last, Nintendo Proclaims: Let the Brawls Begin on Wii!" (Press release). Nintendo. March 10, 2008. Archived from the original on March 13, 2008. 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

  1. Requires the use of the Digital AV port, which was removed from later models
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