GameCube SP? Wonder what this is about.

[Cyrax9]

Ok guys, I'm not a subscriber to "IGN Insider" (Yeah, yeah put your flamethrower away, I can't AFFORD any more gamng mags if I'm gonna be able to afford new CONSOLES!!) but IGNCUBE reported to IGN "Insiders" that there is a possibilty of a "GCN SP" for us non-insider's (Yeah I know we're lame don't even start I want to be an insider) this is the "Teaser" we got, presumably the intro to the article:

From IGNCube: June 27, 2003 - Poor chunky GameCube, you must hate the Game Boy Advance. You must hate that tiny older sibling of yours that everyone seems to like. You must loathe mama Nintendo's suggestion that the only way you can be successful is to do things that involve your pipsqueak brother. And it must irk you that it wasn't enough that tens of millions of people already liked the little guy even if he was a bit dim. He still got an image makeover to make him look even cooler, to make even more people like him, while you? You got nothing but more abuse from the bullies at Sony and Microsoft. ~

So what could this possibly be hinting at for the inside of the insider article?

Was IGN brainstorming a "GCN SP," or were they reporting that Nintendo was planning a "Face Lift" for the GCN along the lines of the one given to the NES and the SNES, both of which were called "Newstyle" systems, and had the Model # change from NES-001 or SNS-001 to NES-101 or SNS-101 signal a HUGE differance.

Does anyone have a copy of the article? If so can you provide the info from the inside? Were their pictures of a "GCN SP"? Will Cyrax9 ever shut up?

All this and more when the first person with news replies!

[One Winged Angel]

finally, a gamecube with backlight! :O

[Bond]

This sounds like another one of IGN's, "Wouldn't this be cool if it was true," articles.

[Xantar]

This sounds like another one of IGN's, "Wouldn't this be cool if it was true," articles.

You would be correct, sir. I had a post all written to explain what it said and why I thought it was a waste of time (even though I think the columnist is actually all right), but then I foolishly clicked a link before hitting "Submit Reply." And then when I hit "Back," my post was gone.

Normally, I'd just retype the thing, but for some reason, I'm dead tired. I can't even remember what I said in that post any more.

Maybe I'll edit this post tomorrow morning.

[Ginkasa]

Ouch, I hate it when that happens...

*shrugs and walks away*

[Cyrax9]

This sounds like another one of IGN's, "Wouldn't this be cool if it was true," articles.

Thanks Bond. I kinda figured this was what it was right up there with the "Wouldn't it be cool if the Wavebird was revamped with a rumble feature" sort of thing, although if anyone here is an insider and has the actual article, do share, we'd like to know what it said.

Now I know the NES and SNES both had a "Newstyle" design as I own them, in fact, they're both quite interesting and if nobody knows WTF I mean, here's a basic comparison:

"Oldstyle" NES:
- "Boxy" Design

- Cartridge Loads from the Front with a "Flip-up" dust-cover.

- Cartridge has an "Eject"" switch (Press down on the cartridge to eject it)

- System can be connected via RF Adapter or Composite Video Cables, Mono Sound only either way.

- Power/Reset Buttons are Grey in color and "Rectangular".

- Controller is "Rectangular", and is mostly black.

- System is Black, Dark Grey and Off-white in color with the Nintendo logo in Red.

- Unused Port for NES Disc Drive is used--but only in Japan before being shelved permenantly.

"Newstyle" NES:
- "Slim" Design.

- Cartridge Loads from the Top with a single-flap Dust cover.

- No "Ejection" feature for the Game Cartridge, instead you have to pull the game out of the system a la N64.

- Sytem can ONLY be connected via RF Adapter.

- Power Button is "Red", Reset Button is "Light Grey", buttons are "domed" in shape.

- Controller is "Rounded" on the Ends and "rectangular" in the middle kinda like this: O=O, the buttons are Red and Grey, the D-Pad is black and larger in size. The controller is also "Theoretically" Larger.

- The System is a Solid "Egg-shell White" color with a touch of black and the Nintendo Logo is now "Raised" instead of colored.

- Unused Port for NES Disk Drive is removed.

"Oldstyle SNES"

- "Boxy" Design.

- Cartridge loads from the top with an "Eject" button in the center of the system.

- System can be connect via RF Adapter or through a "Port" on the back with a special cable. One end Proprietary, the other Composite like Nintendo's cables for the N64 and GCN.

- Power Button and Reset Button are both purple and are each "Rectangular" in shape.

- Controller is shaped to fit a person's hands similar to the "newstyle" NES Controller but larger. SNES Logo is stamped onto the Controller.

- The System is Egg-Shell White with "purple" Accents and a Grey Eject Button, it looks nice on the right side of the "Newstyle" NES according to Nintendo.

- SNES Logo is Stamped in Grey on the System.

- Unused port is left on system's underside for SNES CD-ROM Drive, shelved project.

"Newstyle" SNES:
- "Aerodynamic" Design seen on future systems.

- Top-loading Cartridge with No Eject Button, as with the "Newstyle NES" you have to pull it out of the system.

- System connect's via Nintendo-Copmpiste Cable ONLY, no RF Switch without an Adapter.

- Power and Reset Button's are both "Purple" and "Domed" Reset is circular, Power is an oval-shaped button.

- Controller is Identical except the SNES Logo is "Raised" a la "Newstyle' NES Logo.

- The System is in "Egg-shell White" as was its predessecor, and according to nitendo it looks "Best" Between the "Newstyle" NES and the N64.

- SNES Logo is "Raised" on the Control Deck a la "Newstyle NES" and is set over to the right-hand side.

- Unused Port on system's underside is removed.



As you can see those are some pretty big changes, so what could they do to the GCN without "Destroying" the Cube-Shape that the system has taken it's name from, and what could be changed to make the system look better? Here are some ideas:

"GCN SP Ideas"
-Multiple "Cubes", build the GCN SP with several Cube-Shaped "Blocks" for the GCN SP.

- Integrate the GB Player directly into the System, this is something a few people seem to wnat on the GCN II might as well give it a test-run now.

- Put the GCN SP out in Silver and Orange, the two GCN Colors that were Neglected in the USA.

- Game Disc now loads via "Tray" a la PS2/PC CD/DVD-ROM Drives.

- Broadband/Modem Adapter "Built-In" to the system itself.

- System's Power Light is changed form "Orange" to "Green" (Just looks better IMO, and "Blue" is too expensive for most LED's, save that for the GCN II)

- Controller's are left the same.

- Unused "Serial Port 2" is removed or replaced with somethng useful.

- System's Color's are no logner "Accented" In "Off-White", instead it's accented in "Black Trim" which looks especially cool on the Silver GCN SP.


As you can see a "Newstyle" GCN SP would be nice, and perhaps the price could be lowered by cutting out useless parts and organizing the system in a better manner as was done with the NES and SNES.

It's not a bad idea, and I think the only reason we didn't see the "Nintendo 64-2" was because the N64 was failing beforethe GCN was even announced, sadly it had many great games which I wish you could buy on a groupf of LISCENCED GCN "Game Disc's" for about the price of a GCN, maybe a "Virtual N64" like the GB PLayer or eReader, except the games are now on Gamedisc's instead of Cartridges. Hey, they did it with OOT, why not SM 64 as well?

Just my thoughts, let me know if you guys come up with good ideas too.

[Perfect Stu]

I "think" I'll wait until more "concrete" information comes to our "attention" ;)

[Jonbo298]

After reading what Cyrax posted about the past re-design's of the NES/SNES, I have noticed that this gen. is the first time Nintendo has actually used it's Expansion Ports (around the world, not just Japan) and not have whatever was used for it just die off or never be used. NES had the Disc Drive - Failed. SNES was to have the CD-Rom Drive - Failed/Canned, N64 had the DD - Failed. Now GCN has the Modem/BBA - Slowly but surely suceeding, GB Player - Going to Suceed, and something for Serial Port 2....... - ??????

[Jason1]

Lets not forget the N64 Expansion pack.

[Canyarion]

Expansion Pack ruled. I dunno why people say it sucked.

Cyrax, why do you want a "Tray, a la PS2/PC CD/DVD-ROM Drives"? I like the Cube as it is now.
Perhaps they could do one of those systems used in car radios, where the thing 'eats' the CD. :D

[Jonbo298]

Ah yes. I forgot about the Expansion Pak. That thing was great. (Maybe I'm just saying that because that was the only way I could fully play Perfect Dark:unsure: )

[DeathsHand]

Ah yes. I forgot about the Expansion Pak. That thing was great. (Maybe I'm just saying that because that was the only way I could fully play Perfect Dark:unsure: )

See though, normally when you're required to buy an extra thing just to play a select few games, that's not a good thing...

[TheGame]

Yep... It wasn't good... for me, or Nintendo I think. You notice how games that use the expansion pack's sales were low, but at the same time Nintendo got $80 a pop from expansion pack games, hmm.

[Joeiss]

I got the expansion pack for free from buying DK64. So w/e.

[Jonbo298]

See though, normally when you're required to buy an extra thing just to play a select few games, that's not a good thing...

Well, I had the Expansion Pak back when Rogue Squadron came out on the '64 and it was the first game to use it. So whatever games came after RS I usually had/wanted. I had no problems against the Expansion Pak. Interestingly enough, I have the original box it came in, (before Nintendo went all plastic) but not the actual product that came with it.....

[Joeiss]

I thought that DK64 was the first game to use it....

[Ginkasa]

DK64 was the first game that needed it. Rogue Squadron came out before DK64 and was capable of using it.

I remember because I got RS for Christmas the year it came out and wanted the Expansion Pack but we couldn't find it. But when DK64 came out later I bought it (and the Expansion Pack with it of course) and then used it for Rogue Squadron.

*shrugs and walks away*

[Joeiss]

Was there extra levels or something for RS? Because I do not recall this..

[DeathsHand]

Was there extra levels or something for RS? Because I do not recall this..

It probably just made it run 1FPS faster...

[Ginkasa]

No, no extra levels. But there was one part in the first level where, if you didn't have the EP, it was split into two sections and you only get switch the different sections when the mission moved you there. If you had the EP, you could fly freely between the two.

The fighters were also slightly more detailed and clearer. Without the EP, the X-Wings wings looked pixelated. The wings would in the "down one left one" kind of diagonal pattern... The EP fixed that.

The differences aren't huge if you just start playing with it, but if you play a level with the EP, go ot menu and turn the better graphics off, then play that level again its noticable.

*shrugs and walks away*

[Stonecutter]

RS W/O the xpac was jagariffic. It looked a lot better with the expansion pac. Turok 2 was another one of the early games to use it but the first was NFLQBclub 99 (the only qb club ever that could actually pass for a decent football game.)

DKC and MM were the only games to need the xpac (I think) and PD needed it for almost all but the most basic multiplayer (you couldn't even play the single player without it.)

Nintendo didn't really get an 80$ pop from xpac games. They got the same pop they always got and then maybe once (not everyone bought the xpac) they got the pop.



Funny, I just threw my second xpac (the one I got for free with dk64 because nintendo refused to sell the game without the pac) away yesterday.



As for the GCNSP I highly doubt it. It would be nice and all but it's going to cost a lot of money for nintendo to put it together and it's still not going to make much of a dent against sony. I think the far more interesting story on IGN were the ms/nintendo team up next gen rumors, even though they're even more far fetched.

[Jonbo298]

After what Nintendo did with Rare, anything is possible. But it might be nice if Nintendo partnered with MS only for Console gaming. But then again, its MS, and I really don't want Nintendo fooling around with MS. :p

[Stonecutter]

After what Nintendo did with Rare, anything is possible. But it might be nice if Nintendo partnered with MS only for Console gaming. But then again, its MS, and I really don't want Nintendo fooling around with MS. :p
Let me get this straight.

You'd pass up the opertunity to get Metorid Prime 3 and Halo 3 on the same system?

[Jonbo298]

Let me get this straight.

You'd pass up the opertunity to get Metorid Prime 3 and Halo 3 on the same system?

Metroid (insert name here) is fine where it belongs. But I'm not a big Halo person. My (former) friend has it, I played it a few times, but I would rather have Perfect Dark (with a better frame rate of course). There are tons of Halo "legions", but I'm not one of them.

[Joeiss]

Well then, wouldn't you still want Nintendo and MS to join up so you could play the next next Metroid and the next next Perfect Dark on one system?

[Jonbo298]

Well then, wouldn't you still want Nintendo and MS to join up so you could play the next next Metroid and the next next Perfect Dark on one system?

Well, I dont know how the next PD will turn out. A chunk of the original (back when PD was being made) Rare employees either left after the game came out or after Nintendo sent Rare away. I've noticed on their site that they are hiring for certain positions. I personally don't think Rare will get back to the "goodness" that it was back in the '64 days. But I don't want to start a whole new argument.

[Seth]

It would be sweet if MC and Nintendo merged. Exclusive titles from both consoles on one new console*drools*

The new console would still keep the Nintendo brand. Nintendo would have MS funding so they could develop way way way more good, quality 1st party games. The new merged gaming company could take more risks which would make for some pretty sweet advances in the gaming world. As much as its nice for Nintendo to be all independant and stuff, I really can't see nintendo being a contender in the next 10 years. They just don't have the bottomless money pit that Sony and Microsoft has. Even if Nintendo did every marketing thing right...Sony and Microsoft would still push them out of the market eventually. Also, the gaming industry doesn't need 3 seperate consoles.....There's speculation that game prices might get bumped back up to 60 bucks. Well, 3rd party companies would save big time only developing for 2 systems...plus way larger userbase per system. Going into the next gen if there was only 2 consoles that would fix the developing costs dilemna. So ya, I'm all for a merger between MS and Nintendo or Nintendo and Sony. I'd rather have Mario around on one system plus all the other great games that I'd miss out on because it's on a seperate console. Basically, the company that gets to merge with Nintendo wins the console race(if it ever happens)

Hell, maybe i'm just dreaming.

[Stonecutter]

No way would it keep the nintendo name.

It couldn't be nintendo, xbox or microsoft on it, or the hardline fanboys from both sides wouldn't buy it.

[Xantar]

Well then, wouldn't you still want Nintendo and MS to join up so you could play the next next Metroid and the next next Perfect Dark on one system?

On the other hand, if Nintendo and Microsoft join forces, they won't be competing with each other any more. If Nintendo could have gotten away with it, I'm sure they would have stayed with the N64 tactics of delaying, delaying and delaying some more and not developing new franchises. And that just might have happened if Nintendo had only Sony to deal with. They made enough profits last generation, after all.

We can't know for sure what might have happened if Microsoft had never entered the market or what will happen if the two companies join forces, but I have a feeling that a lot of the improvements in Nintendo's software development such as fewer delays, more exclusive games being pumped out and more mature games is the result of them having a fire lit under their seat.

So we wouldn't have the next Perfect Dark and the next Metroid on the same system. On the other hand, a merger might mean we wouldn't see Too Human. Why would "Nintendosoft" need Silicon Knights games when they have the resources of Rareware and bunches of other developers already?

[TheGame]

MS Merger with Nintendo, Nintendo fans would get:
-More Sega support, Nintendo guys would get thier 2ks back
-Online gaming
-Rare back home
-Halo, along side a whole slew of popular mature games, and *gasp* some exclusive fighting and racing games... and even some RPGs?!?!

I think them coming together would be just fine ;)

As for Xantar's post, I think that they would still use every resource they have until they pass the other guy they are competing with... Sony. It's not just Nintendo and MS in this gen, if one were far enough ahead of the other, it wouldn't be relax time, they would have to work even harder to top Sony.

If anything the delays would be for the good, no more rushed games. Games that are good but not marketable (in Nintendo's current state) could get a huge push from MS, and MS could stop putting so much money behing marketing half assed games.