open your eyes
 

I spent most of the second day of E3 in Nintendo's booth. I've been playing on Nintendo hardware since day 1, and I gotta tell ya If theres one thing the big N can do it's launch a system. Weak? that is the lamest description for a launch I have ever heard. Wanna talk weak? then talk XBox. I was unimpressed with there display. Sure there are some promising titles on the way, but not enough for me to put out 300 plus. Speaking as both a Mario and Star Wars fan I've been dying for a game to come along that will make me stop plopping quaters into Star Wars Trilogy Arcade now I have it im drooling just thinking about Rouge Leader. And FINALLY.....Luigi gets a GOOD game. It's about time is all I have to say about that! =) Now then if you'll excuse me...I have to tend to my GameboyAdvance.

Another random post form your friendly neighborhood gamer
zero

i think we were all spoiled by the Dreamcast launch. I think gamecube will be really good, better than the n64.

Nintendo has a good lineup - for the kid market that is. If you are in the 13 and above market than GC is not for you and you have already pre-ordered XBox.

Sure, Nintendo sprinkles in some titles that will catch the older gamer's eye, like Duke Nukem - but the vast majority of their stable appeals to the under 13 market. Honestly, how many high school boys do you see talking about the new Mario game. Or for that matter, how many college guys would be caught dead with a purple cube in their dorm room LOL!

So although the lineup does not appeal to me, it does not mean it's not quality. I think it appeals to the market that Nintendo is going after and that's why they will be OK.

As for the rest of us in the over 13 crowd - XBox/PC/PS2 awaits.

I'm 16, and I'm DEFINITELY getting a GameCube. I'm not thinking about PS2 because they don't have too many good games. I'm not getting an Xbox because 1. I don't need another computer 2. The controller is supposed to suck 3. They aren't supposed to have too many good games 4. I don't need a console freezing on me--my computer does that more than enough already. I WILL be getting another computer in the next year, since my computer already is 2-3 yrs old and buggy as hell (Windows 98). But still, computers are obsolete in about 1-2 yrs., whereas a console has a life of at least 5 yrs.
What I DO need is a good console that can play some great games. Cut Nintendo some slack, at least they're TRYING to get into the mature market.

[Edited by Chaos on 06-06-01 at 02:11 PM]

-rolleyes- This is a bunch of BS. I'll take any Mario or Zelda game, with their 25 PLUS hours worth of gameplay, over weak ass games like:

Onimusha - 5 hrs worth of gameplay :lol:
Starfighter - 5 hrs worth of gameplay :lol:
Z.O.E - 5 hrs worth of gameplay :lol:
The Bouncer - 2hrs worth of gameplay rotfl

When it comes to gameplay.... no one can touch Nintendo! :D I went to E3 this year and the Nintendo booth was PACKED ALL THREE DAYS of the show. You do know that you must be 18 years or older to attend E3. I guess all those gamers in the Nintendo booth were waiting in those long lines to play games that don't interest them. -rolleyes-

Hey I am cutting them some slack, I plan on getting a Gamecube and not a X-box at this point in time.. And before E3 I had planned on getting an X-box, so that is saying something.. However, I still think Nintendo needs to make at least some of thier games a bit less cute. Waverace and 1080 sequels look great, but the Luigi game is questionable and the DK racing looks really bad (in the cutsie dept).

Sorry, but I am a grown man with kids and I start to get sick of the whole Starfox talking animals thing. If they were to make some games for kids (pokeman) and then some adult games, and not always try to bridge the gap, I think it would help.

rotfl What did you do for the other 45 minutes with the Bouncer. I only got 1:15 out of it tops. Games being way to quick was why I sold off my PS2. Shadow of Destiny didn't last very long either. I agree that the cutsy games may turn off some, but I am all about gameplay. If Luigi is as much fun to play as Mario 64 then I will have no complaints. Bring on the Gamecube. :)

First of all, Nintendo isn't the only manufacturer of games. Nintendo's policy on its first party games are games that are available to play FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. But even Miyamoto has said several times that he plans on having a "more mature Mario" game. If you look past Nintendo and look at other developers you'll see a SHITLOAD of more "mature" titles on the N64. Several of which are 2nd party, like Conker: BFD, Jet Force Gemeni, Perfect Dark, Goldeneye, etc, which are all from Rare. Then there's the Turok series which is not for kids. Ogre Battle 64 apparantly had some adult themes in it as well.

If you look at the games coming out from 2nd and 3rd parties for GameCube you'll see that there are a LOT of titles geared towards older gamers. Just look at Eternal Darkness and try and tell me that it's not designed for older gamers. It looks like it's going to scare the **** out everyone that's going to play it.

Nintendo has SIGNED two new 2nd party developers, Retro Studios and Silicon Knights. These two developers are creating nothing but "mature" titles that are exclusive to Gamecube. This alone shows Nintendo is committed to bringing a steady supply of mature themed games to the Gamecube. :D

Not to mention Left Field Studios, another exclusive 2nd party developer, who is currently working on "NBA Courtside" and "1080 Snowboarding 2". "Perfect Dark Zero" is another "mature" rated game coming from Rareware who are also an exclusive 2nd party Nintendo developer.

Raven Blade from Retro Studios
http://gamespot.com/gamespot/images/..._screen004.jpg
http://www.gamecubexl.com/previews/raven/3.jpg

Metroid Prime from Retro Studios
http://gamespot.com/gamespot/images/..._screen005.jpg

Eternal Darkness from Silicon Knights
http://cubemedia.ign.com/media/previ...ess/edark9.jpg

Not to mention third pary developers who have announced their support for Gamecube:

Resident Evil Zero (Capcom)
Star Wars: Rogue Leader (Factor 5)
Turok Evolution (Acclaim)
Mortal Kombat (Midway)
Thornado (Factor 5)
Duke Nukem Forever (Take 2)
Phantasy Star Online 2 (Sega)
Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza (Fox Interactive)
Activision
Namco
Electronic Arts
Saffire
Koei
Kemco
etc.

The Gamecube will have its share of "mature" themed games! And the best part, all the 2nd party titles are Gamecube EXCLUSIVE ! :D

[Edited by CreatureX on 06-06-01 at 08:53 PM]

If a game is fun then I couldn't care less how cutesy it looks. It has already been said, but bears repeating, Nintendo delivers the gameplay and that is all that really matters.

I've always been a Nintendo lover and the GameCube looks to be exactly what a console should be in my opinion. They appear to have learned from their mistakes with the N64 and will be getting my money, not Sony or Microsoft.

Sure I'll miss FFX, MGS2 and GT3. That's about it though.

I am so ecstatic about Silicon Knights as a developer for GameCube. Silicon Knights are the ones who developed/helped develop the original Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. In that game, you're a vampire who goes around killing everyone who conspired against him in life--all the corrupted leaders of the world. You suck blood from enemies and innocent townspeople alike, plus you get to mutilate bodies with great spells. Kiddie? I think not. I'm truly looking forward to what Silicon Knights brings to the Cube.

I don't know where you went to college, but my roommates really dug my N64. Who gives a crap if it's a purple cube? One of my roommates and I spent an entire weekend trying to get every secret in Mario 64, and I was 20 at the time.

The Cube is the one I'm getting. Like people said, the PS2 lineup pretty much sucks (thought I do want to try out MGS2) and I don't need another Windows computer.

from cube.ign.com

Mario Kart for GameCube

One of Nintendo's biggest franchises races to GameCube. Our preview with a first movie and screens!

June 6, 2001

When one thinks of Nintendo, certain franchises come to mind: Super Mario 64, Zelda, Pokemon, Metroid and of course, Mario Kart. Nintendo's mascot-based racer in particular has traditionally always made an appearance on the company's console hardware platforms, so it should come as no surprise to gamers that it is again being reborn for GameCube. The Big 'N' unveiled a brief clip of Mario Kart GCN in action at the Electronics Entertainment Expo 2001 and though the title was visibly very early on, the promise for fun racing to come was already in place.
Features

Mascot characters race it out in cartoony environments
Stars such Nintendo favorites as Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Donkey Kong and more
Powerful GameCube hardware allows for higher polygon models and more detailed environments
Power-ups and bonus items enhance the gameplay experience
Four-player support


E3 2001
The preview, running in real-time, lasted approximately seven seconds. In it, Mario and Luigi sped their karts along a bump-mapped 3D surface void of any curves. The scene lacked a background entirely. But when Mario power-slid his vehicle toward the camera and Luigi gleefully followed, the crowd of press at the unveiling cheered and clapped. Mario Kart for GameCube had been officially confirmed.

The E3 2001 display was nothing more than a teaser of what's to come. While it was very early on in development, already we could see massive technological leaps of previous Mario Kart titles, with characters constructed of more polygons than ever before and sprung to life with detailed animations. It's clear that when it's finished, Mario Kart for GameCube will be a very pretty product indeed.

Outlook
The GCN version of Mario Kart is definitely not a 2001 title. The early showing of the product at E3 suggests that the title is much more likely to appear on Nintendo's next-generation console sometime in 2002, or perhaps even the year after. It is allegedly being developed by EAD itself, which is great news for purists hoping to receive a similar experience to Mario Kart 64. We expect huge, over-the-top, cartoony race environments and more classic Nintendo mascot racers than ever before. Furthermore, the power of GameCube should easily allow EAD to implement a smooth running multiplayer mode that will take advantage of all four ports on Nintendo's console. Add in more bonuses and power-up items and one begins to get an idea of where Nintendo may be taking the franchise.

Here's hoping the company shows more of the hotly anticipated product at the August Space World 2001 show in Tokyo, Japan. Until then, though, feel free to download the images and movie of the E3 2001 demo in action and imagine what's to come.

You guys are missing the point - Nintendo's core audience is under 13. Plain and simple. That does not mean that they will not come out with games geared towards the older than 13 crowd, but the vast MAJORITY of games will be aimed at the younger market. Their bread and butter is kiddie games, it is what keeps them in the game. Hell most argue that if it was not for Pokemon, Nintendo may not have survived the N64 vs. PlayStation battle (they lost by a huge margin, but they survived). I actually think they are smart by defining a core audience that neither PlayStation 1/2 or XBox is going after.

Does this means Nintendo sucks? NO. Does this mean that these games (Mario, etc.) suck? NO. Are you goofy for liking these games? NO, but the majority of people over 13 crave for something more edgy.

All I'm saying is that the lines have been drawn between X Box and GameCube. XBox is going for the teen + crowd, and Nintendo is going for the younger crowd. Why do you think they both are launching within DAYS of each other? It's because Nintendo knows that their competition for their market is NOT Microsoft, so it doesn't matter if XBox launches right when they do. And vice-versa for Microsoft.

And I stand by my quote about not wanting a purple cube in my dorm room. I would have had my a$$ royally kicked if my frat brothers saw one in my room ;)

Actually, I think that Nintendo is definitely making a real effort to market to the older gamers with the GameCube. The fact that they have so many more "mature" games from the beginning is proof of this. Many of their games may be "kiddie" games in terms of graphics, but if the gameplay is satisfying to the 13+ crowd, does it really matter to you?

Nintendo is planning on selling that GameCube in different colors so you wouldn't *have* to get a purple one.

Here's a list of the schedule launch games, and those due out this year. Doesn't seem "weak" to me.

from cube.ign.com

The US Nintendo GameCube Launch Lineup

Title Publisher Date MSRP
Super Smash Bros. Melee Nintendo 11/05/01 $49.95
Luigi's Mansion Nintendo 11/05/01 $49.95
Pikmin Nintendo 11/05/01 $49.95
Star Fox Adventures: Dinosaur Planet Nintendo 11/05/01 $49.95
Wave Race: Blue Storm Nintendo 11/05/01 $49.95
Eternal Darkness Nintendo 11/05/01 $49.95
NBA Courtside 2002 Nintendo 11/05/01 $49.95
Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2 LucasArts 11/05/01 $49.95
Super Monkey Ball Sega 11/05/01 $49.95
Madden NFL 2002 EA 11/05/01 $49.95
Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 Acclaim 11/05/01 $49.95
Extreme-G 3 Acclaim 11/05/01 $49.95
All-Star Baseball 2002 Acclaim 11/05/01 $49.95
NFL Quarterback Club 2002 Acclaim 11/05/01 $49.95
NFL Blitz 2002 Midway 11/05/01 $49.95
NHL Hitz 2002 Midway 11/05/01 $49.95
Batman Dark Tomorrow Kemco 11/05/01 $49.95


Software Scheduled to Ship for GCN in 2001
Title Publisher Estimated Date MSRP
SSX Tricky EA 11/15/01 $49.95
Crazy Taxi Acclaim 11/15/01 $49.95
Phantasy Star Online Version 2 Sega 12/15/01 $49.95
Resident Evil 0 Capcom November / December $49.95


Electronic Arts has verified to us that its SSX Tricky will ship for GameCube in "mid-November." Acclaim's Crazy Taxi showed up on one of the company's internal release lists as a November release recently. Sega has not announced an official release date for Phantasy Star Online Version 2 for GCN, but the game is currently showing up on Electronics Boutique release lists for a December debut. This, however, may change. We expect to know more from the coming Space World show. Finally, Capcom has repeatedly said it plans to deliver Resident Evil 0 as a launch title in Japan, which leads us to believe that it could very well be ready for a release in the US in November.

Oh yeah! Nintendo comes out SWINGING! :D So many great games to choose from. Here is MY launch lineup:

4. Eternal Darkness
3. Wave Race: Blue Storm
2. Luigi's Mansion
1. Super Smash Brothers: Melee

In December I'll pick up:
SSX Tricky
Rogue Leader
Pikmin
NBA Courtside

:D