 
Here is a pic of the new Nintendo Gamecube and Gameboy Advance. Its not hard to see the shadows of Sonys PlayStation 2 and Microsofts XBox hovering over Nintendos newly announced GameCubenot that the Big Ns latest box doesnt have the stuff to hang in the super-powered, second-generation game-console neighborhood.
And, hey, youll be able to play Pokemon on it.
The good news on the N64s successor is that itll be powered by a 405 MHz central
processor with 16MB of embedded DRAM. That makes it faster theoretically than PS2 and the XBox, but at this point, with PS2 the only one of the three available and that in Japan, it really is all theoretical.
The bad news, as far as Pokemon players are concerned, is that the GameCube will be released in Japan in July 2001 and in the States in October of the same year. That gives Nintendo plenty of time to iron out any wrinkles, but it also gives the competition plenty of time to put some distance between themselves and Nintendo.
The super-small GameCube will come with a 56k modem and a broadband ethernet network card, with slots for 4MB Digicard flash memory cards or the 64MB adapter that lets GameCube communicate with Panasonic products. Games will come on 1.5 GB discs.
Nintendo GameCube will offer better graphics and higher quality sound, but more importantly it will allow developers the freedom to concentrate on creativity without worrying about technical limitations, says Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendos premier game developer.
GameCube will also communicate with GameBoy Advance, Nintendos new 32-bit handheld system. Advance can be used as a simple controller or can upload data from GBA software. Data may also be sent from GameCube back to Game Boy Advance.
Sound cool? Next October isnt that far off, but it might seem that way if you have a GameCube on your wish list.
Nintendo Spaceworld 2000, a three-day event being held near Tokyo, kicked off on Friday with sneak previews of several new products. Nearly one-third of exhibition hall floor space was devoted to the Gameboy Advance, which has already received considerable attention from the gaming community. The next-generation GB platform features a 32-bit CPU in housed in a high-tech case with ergonomic buttons and a screen capable of displaying millions of colors. Less hyped but equally exciting is the Mobile System GB, a software-and-cable adapter package that will allow users to plug a Gameboy Color unit into a cellular phone for dial-up Internet and e-mail access. The system goes on sale in Japan in December and will retail for about $55. Also out in December will be Pokemon Stadium Gold and Silver for the N64 platform. The game will allow players to import characters from all six versions of Japanese Pokemon Gameboy cartridges: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Gold and Silver. A special stage at Spaceworld featured demonstrations of the game, which will retail for about $70. Thanks to our friends at Japanime.com for the info and screenshot.
Nintendo has announced their Pokemon Gold and Silver Version Bundle Paks available for preorder at $49.95 each:
Pokemon Gold Version Bundle Pak - Offer # 4171 includes:
· Pokemon Gold Version Game Pak
· Pokemon Gold Version and Silver Version Official Players Guide
· Pokemon 3-Pin Set
· 12 issues of Nintendo Power
Pokemon Silver Version Bundle Pak - Offer # 4172 includes:
· Pokemon Silver Version Game Pak
· Pokemon Gold Version and Silver Version Official Players Guide
· Pokemon 3-Pin Set
· 12 issues of Nintendo Power
The special offers end 10/31/00, or while supplies last. The Pokemon Gold or Silver game pak, players guide, and 3-pin set will ship via UPS Ground after October 16, 2000 (upgraded shipping is available). Online order is unavailable outside the U.S.
|