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]

Originally Posted by Bond

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]

Originally Posted by Bond

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.

[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 )

[DeathsHand]

Originally Posted by 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 )

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]

Originally Posted by DeathsHand

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.....