Slashdot Mirror

According to Nintendo, the GameCube is 4.3 inches tall. According to Asus, this thing is 7.1 inches. That's freaking huge for an AV component, unless you're talking about a receiver, which this thing is not. So you're half right: it's like a gamecube blown up to x-box proportions.

Crossover Office, a customized version of Wine, is capable of running all sorts of Windows-x86 programs on GNU/Linux-x86. If you want games, get an authentic Nintendo, not a knockoff Wintendo.

I think [GBA Video titles freezing on Game Boy Player is] less about videotaping and more about publishing rights.

I suspected that too until I read this:

Because the Game Boy Player can be attached to a VCR or DVD recorder, the ability to play Game Boy Advance Videos was disabled to prevent illegal copying of Game Boy Video material.

Unlike on the Xbox and PlayStation 2, there is no Macrovision chip in the GameCube.

The batteries are meant for replacement purposes - You'll need a screwdriver to get at the battery.(DS battery)

Not terribly convenient.

the battery in the GBA SP is replaceable only it's not so simple as flipping a panel to slip in the new battery - something Nintendo should consider for the next gen Game boy

What do you mean? It's as easy as open door, remove old battery, insert new battery, replace door, and charge. If you're referring to the screw that holds the battery access door in place, then under at least one country's product safety regulations, any battery-powered product marketed to children must require a tool that is sold separately in order to open the battery access door. In the case of a GBA SP, this tool is a Philips size #00 screwdriver, available at your local hardware store in a set of "precision" screwdrivers.

DS batteries are $15, but I am not sure they are the same as the SP ones. Nintendo at least sells them as different products. And in the PSP's defence, it does recharge a lot faster (2 hours or so compared to the 4-5 for the DS). It will be interesting to see what economies of scale do to its battery price...

DS batteries are $15, but I am not sure they are the same as the SP ones. Nintendo at least sells them as different products. And in the PSP's defence, it does recharge a lot faster (2 hours or so compared to the 4-5 for the DS). It will be interesting to see what economies of scale do to its battery price...

Nintendo claims that the Nintendo DS can last about 10 hours before it needs to be charged. I don't know whether or not this is real-world performance. It'd be interesting to see what the battery life is when doing multiplayer, wireless gaming.

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Free Nintendo DS

I'm not going to call you ignorant, because I myself have noticed be a bit of acronymic presumption on the part of Slashdot editors...and it seems to be especially common in gaming-related stories. I've lost count of how many stories concerning the "DS" or the "PSP" (products that have barely been released) have been posted that fail to actually mention what they ARE.

Now I can understand not defining "PHP" or "RIAA"...but not everyone stays on the cutting edge of game technology. Anyway...

DS
PSP

It's not an acronym, DS is the name of the system.

The Nintendo DS

If you look at this picture you can clearly see two analog sticks on the controller. They replaced the 4 C buttons from the Nintendo 64 controller with a "C stick".

I can't understand why a lot of people loved this Arcade cabinet stuff.
I began playing old & "free" N.E.S. games. May be some real-like arcade machines may be funny. But I never liked to pay for a noisy and expensive machine.

What makes a person open a Slashdot article that is clearly about one particular company, just to post crap like this?

Is it youth? Is it stupidity? My bet is on both.

That isn't a stuck pixel. The Gameboy SP uses a front-lit screen, not a back lit. It's not a common kind of screen.

The result is that if a single bit of fluff gets in under the screen cover during manufacturing it becomes a mirror that reflects that light right back at you.

You only see it when the power is on because it's just a tiny, tiny thing. It wouldn't be apparent on a backlit screen.

White speck policy at Nintendo

Continuing the off-topic trend, you can get a HDTV 3 color (also known as "component") video out for your Gamecube. Holding down the "B" button when you start a game will give you the option (if the game supports it) of 480p output. It does make a noticable difference.

As for a component-capable A/V switch, I recently bought a Audio Authority 1154 HDTV Component Video Switcher. It is just great. Sadly it only has four inputs, and a single output, but it also switches optical digital, coax digital and RCA stereo sound. All automatically. Not a bad unit.

I'm not the seller, and am not affiliated with the company in any way. I just like the product.

You mean like Metroid Fusion or Metroid Zero Mission?

Given, the graphics aren't necessarliy "outstanding" but the engine is an enhanced SNES port. Zero mission is basically the original metroid, extended, with SNES graphics.

You mean like Metroid Fusion or Metroid Zero Mission?

Given, the graphics aren't necessarliy "outstanding" but the engine is an enhanced SNES port. Zero mission is basically the original metroid, extended, with SNES graphics.

Given that Nintendo (for example) will not be making any money off of the original Super Mario 3 any more...

Want some proof? Go here. As I tell the kids that come into where I work, never argue with the guy who sells the stuff for a living.

Yea we wouldn't want SuicideGirls and Nintendo getting mixed up by the search engines.

In honor of this, I'm opening a Nintendo Adult Novelty Store featuring such wonderful knockoffs as:

Mega Man X - The Hottub Adventures
Scale Her - the Shapely Phenomenon
Texas Hold 'Em Strip Poker
Kindra and the Amazingly Kinky Mirror
Mario Adult Golf - featuring Cowboy Neil and Lavicious Ella
Putting the Joy in Joystick [book]

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The real Nintendo Web Site

For the original GBA, unless they gave an estimate of around 40 hours, that divide by two theory doesn't work. On their website, they have it listed as a battery life of 15 hours, though I've had a GBA last almost 24 hours on a single pair of AA batteries (volume off and on about half the time, no screen lighting). That's playing it about 30 minutes to an hour almost every day, and not having to change the batteries but once (or perhaps twice) a month.

I'm not sure about the GBASP, but I'm sure it gets over the 18 hours (without backlight) that they predict. Nintendo always gives estimates about battery life that are lower than reality, it seems. If Nintedo says '6 to 10 hours' I believe them.

Just my $0.02

For the original GBA, unless they gave an estimate of around 40 hours, that divide by two theory doesn't work. On their website, they have it listed as a battery life of 15 hours, though I've had a GBA last almost 24 hours on a single pair of AA batteries (volume off and on about half the time, no screen lighting). That's playing it about 30 minutes to an hour almost every day, and not having to change the batteries but once (or perhaps twice) a month.

I'm not sure about the GBASP, but I'm sure it gets over the 18 hours (without backlight) that they predict. Nintendo always gives estimates about battery life that are lower than reality, it seems. If Nintedo says '6 to 10 hours' I believe them.

Just my $0.02

For the original GBA, unless they gave an estimate of around 40 hours, that divide by two theory doesn't work. On their website, they have it listed as a battery life of 15 hours, though I've had a GBA last almost 24 hours on a single pair of AA batteries (volume off and on about half the time, no screen lighting). That's playing it about 30 minutes to an hour almost every day, and not having to change the batteries but once (or perhaps twice) a month.

I'm not sure about the GBASP, but I'm sure it gets over the 18 hours (without backlight) that they predict. Nintendo always gives estimates about battery life that are lower than reality, it seems. If Nintedo says '6 to 10 hours' I believe them.

Just my $0.02

Raw power doesn't mean anything when you can't do anything with it.

Also, Sony and Microsoft state theoretical numbers. Nintendo states real world numbers with "Real-world polygon : 6 million to 12 million polygons/second (Peak) (Assuming actual game conditions with complex models, fully textured, fully lit, etc.)."

Here are the websites if anyone is curious.

Nintendo
Sony

Older GCs have digital outputs suitable for HDTV but it is still 480p...otherwise they wouldn't be selling this

This leads me to believe that the DS will have built in wireless networking capabilities

You aren't lead to believe that by the specifications for the device?

Or, you could save yourself a lot of money, and buy yourself a $29.99 Memory Card 1019. It's been out for months, and has 4x the capacity of the 251 model. That's more than enough to hold the saves for every game I play regularly, or, for that matter, every GameCube game I own.

I must say that Nindendo has done a nice job of keeping me satisfied, while keeping themselves saturated with my cash. When my two 59s got full, they released the 251. Now that my 251's reached its limit, the 1019 is there to pick up the slack. Works for me, since the prices have always been good, and the upgrades infrequent.

I have three kids... they each had to have their own Pokemon Fire Red/Leaf Green game. They use the wireless adapter on a daily basis for trades and for a couple of mini-games. This adds a whole new dimension to their enjoyment of the game. I've tried out the wireless adapter myself, works great even through walls; you don't even need to be in the same room (that could make being sent to your room fun).

The specs for the Freescale wireless chipsets say that the range is 10 meters indoors and 20 meters outdoors, though Nintendo recommends no more than 10 feet (3 meters). Plus it's supposed to be able to communicate with special base stations connected to the internet at certain locations (in Japan only) for long-distance play.

This makes me think that the DS is going to be similar to this, except maybe a pumped up version. I don't see that its feasible for it to work at great distances, though. Mainly in high density areas like Tokyo/New York?

I said GBA SP, not iPod. Nintendo used a lithium ion battery, not the touchy and hard-to-replace lithium polymer battery of the iPod.

It's hard to decide right now, with all the speculation going on. However, Nintendo has backwards compatibility, low-battery using cartridges innovative dual screen and not to mention a ridicoulsly awesome track record for good first party games.

The price point is even on par with an 'upscale' portable system.

Source
Release Date: Jun 01, 1997

Yup, Starfox was released with the rumble pack in 1997. Equipped with the Rumble Pak, the Nintendo 64 Controller becomes a new implement for fun. Not only does the Rumble Pak provide force-feedback in response to the game action, the Controller's analog Control Stick gives you total, precise control of your vehicle, be it a sleek "Arwing" starfighter, an armored "Landmaster" tank, or the deep-diving "Blue-Marine" submersible.

Gamespot, and others all have initial impressions of the game. There's even a movie of the thing in action. There's also info on the official page.

Also, even for games that didn't require it, it improved the graphics quality. Mario 64, for example, would use the additional video memory (as would most of the 3D games) to extend the range you could see -- push back the "fog of war."

This is patently false. Nintendo's own webpage states that games need to have a specific icon on them if they work with the memory expansion - games that don't (and Mario64 doesn't) get no improvement from the expansion whatsoever. Some specifically-programmed games could optionally use it (like Pod Racer or Perfect Dark), which might be what you are thinking of.

I can find no reference anywhere to an N64 with the memory expansion built-in, but I suppose it is possible in certain territories.

Nintendo's Official History
http://www.nintendo.com/corp/history.jsp

No, toward the end of its run the Nintendo 64 required an "expansion pak" to play newer games. The update added four megs of memory and cost about $20 US.

There is a track on the GameCube game F-Zero GX called Mobius Strip and its a great level to drive/levitate on. You build up hellish speeds on a quietly undulating track, that just happens to be, you guessed it, a Mobius Strip.

... are somewhat exaggerated.

There have been some games in recent times that have done innovative things with music. Of the games I've played, first and foremost is Rez (and I'm actually quite surprised that neither the AA article nor any comments have mentioned it). If you've never played it, the shots you fire add beats timed to the music, the music transitions very naturally when you jump ahead to the next section of the level, parts of the stage bounce in time to the music, and the timing of the beats gives you cues for when enemies are about to appear or change strategies. It's really a tour de force on unifying music with gameplay.

Another game that brings something to the debate is Metroid Prime. Despite having a Nintendo-proclaimed "cinematic soundtrack" and relying heavily on traditional styles, it's a surprisingly innovative and memorable soundtrack that blends orchestral accompaniment with traditional Metroid musical themes and experimental synthesized instruments. It's something of a counterexample to the AA article's main point that orchestras equal imitation.

It's an ugly beast. That latest pic bears more than a passing resemblence to the original Game&Watch dual screen games.

I'm seeing a direct parallel to those old handheld computer game "consoles" from about 10 to 15 years ago.
I assume you mean the Nintendo Game and Watch.

Will I be able to play that King Kong game thing?
You mean Donkey Kong? Yes.

I can't help but think that the resemblance to the old NES is intentional to try to make some sales to people (like me) still clinging to their youth.

...Off to play some Donkey Kong.

I can't help but think that the resemblance to the old NES is intentional to try to make some sales to people (like me) still clinging to their youth.

...Off to play some Donkey Kong.

A little vague and uncertain, aren't you? The laser's specifications are disclosed in the gamecube's manual. From those specifications, you can deduce the expected health effects.

By the way, the gamecube's laser produces visible light. (668nm)

"but Nintendo's systems since SNES have had the capability to support s-video cables,"

Only the older SNES supported S-video. The newer, smaller model (which they used) doesn't support S-video without modification. You'll note the warning if you browse to Nintendo's S-video cable in their online store.

It's kinda like the top-loading NES not supporting composite outputs, only not as stupid. :)

Since lasers are not classified on beam access during service, most all Class I industrial lasers will consist of a higher class (high power) laser enclosed in a properly interlocked and labeled protective enclosure. In some cases, the enclosure may be a room (walk-in protective housing) which requires a means to prevent operation when operators are inside the room.

that very few people who buy consoles even use most of the features of their TV. In fact, only about 1% of gamecube users even use the digital output despite the fact that 90% of Nintendo made games and about 1/3 of 3rd party games support it.

• I live in the US (midwest). One of my best friends now lives in Canada. He can't come over too often and play GC games with me, but we play Battlefield together on our PCs all the time and it's a blast. It's a lot more fun when I know my teammate.
• Even when I do invite friends over, that means we have to play on a 4-way split screen which I personally don't think is as fun.
• You can't have a massive game. Think of 30 real people racing for 1st place in F-Zero. If you want more examples of that, go read the IGN article in my original post.

I don't think there's a problem with the video/PC gaming industry in general, just a problem with Nintendo. Take a look at nintendo.com. Almost everything they're advertising is a reissue of a classic game, either simply ported to Game Boy or with updated graphics (who need a new version of Mario Golf?)

While other systems are releasing innovative new games and developing still fairly new (at least to console) tech like online play, Nintendo's trying to market 20 year old products with slightly updated packaging.

Game Boy is for kids. There is no socially acceptable time and place for adults to play Game Boy. Don't release your nostalgia series for Game Boy! Consoles, on the other hand, are played by children and young adults alike. Make sure there are kid-friendly games with Mario and Donkey Kong, party games for the teens and college students and RPGs and FPSs with online support for the slashdotter 20-somethings, and watch your problems go away.

Video games should only be played by true professionals, there is just such a high level of danger involved.
Just look at this list of injuries:
dizziness, altered vision, muscle twitches, loss of awareness, disorientation, motion sickness, Eye Strain, Back Injury, Photosensitive Seizures, hand-arm vibration syndrome, blisters, friction burns, lacerations, carpal-tunnel, "Nintendo Thumb", bruises, electric shock, the many horrors of DDR, and now heart attacks.
In the wrong hands video game consoles, and computers running video games are death machines!

Here's one.

Oh wait, you said popular console.

Here's another one, and another