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Bonnie Ruberg is a staff writer for Planet GameCube and Gaming Age, a freelance games journalist, and the author of Heroine Sheik, a blog dedicated to investigating sexuality in gaming cultures. Today, we have the pleasure of running a piece she's written for the site about a topic that's been brought up more than once in the comments here on Slashdot. "For Zelda fans, this is a time of anticipation. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is officially on its way, and everybody is talking. By now, we've all seen the pre-release screenshots and videos. Nintendo has made some major changes with the series' latest installment, and the gaming world has let out a unanimous gasp at the results." Read on for the rest of her analysis of this oft-debated issue. "Realism vs. Style: the Zelda Debate"
By Bonnie Ruberg

With the stylized aesthetic of Wind Waker all but gone, Nintendo has implemented carefully rendered, highly realistic polygons in its place - perhaps in response to the outcry of fans who disapproved of "kiddy," cel-shaded Link. The game's release date has even been pushed back in part to allow developers more time to perfect the new look. The question of realism versus style is one that has plagued art for centuries, and video games are no exception. Since the 2003 release of Wind Waker, a title both adored and despised, the Zelda series has come to epitomize that debate for the gaming industry, and heated words have been exchanged on both sides. Now, with Twilight Princess on the horizon, the old argument has been rekindled. What better time to take a look back at the issue and ask, once and for all: Is this really just a question of a pretty face?

When The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker came out two years ago, it's cel-shaded graphics caused a big stir in the American gaming community. Since then, debate over the value of the game's stylized aesthetic continues to be a popular topic in online video game forums. While there are some gamers who openly defend the title and its style, it seems the majority of voices express disappointment, even disgust. Many feel that the cel-shading gave Wind Waker a "cartoon-like" or childish look. One fan writes of encountering the new aesthetic for the first time, "I felt as though something had been stolen from me." Other forums-users remark, in comments that mirror thousands by like-minded gamers, "The graphics ruined the game," and "[Wink Waker] destroyed everything Zelda stood for." Now that Nintendo is taking the series back in a more graphically realistic direction, one precedented by the artistic approach in Ocarina of Time, those same disappointed fans are starting to rejoice. "These screens are exactly what i have been waiting for [sic]," writes one forum-user. Another: "All I can say is wow!!! I am so glad the cartoonish Link is gone. That is what kept me away from the whole Zelda franchise."

The press too seems glad to see the return of realism. After playing the demo at E3, Gamespy called the change in graphics an "upgrade," noting that "the overall style is a lot more grownup" and that "the game simply looks more alive." Gaming Age said realism "seals the deal" on the title, which is "by far one of the best looking games Nintendo has ever made," while Gamespot simply refers to "the undeniable appeal of realistic Link." According to Eiji Aunoma, the director of Twilight Princess, the decision to move away from the highly stylized aesthetic of Wind Waker was based partially on fan reaction. It was also dictated in part by the new game's storyline, which follows an older Link and a more serious adventure, and therefore needed a more "adult" graphical style. Still, even this decision to focus the game on a mature hero was affected by criticism from gamers who didn't enjoy playing as younger Link. As Planet GameCube notes, in the end, "The fans asked for a realistic Zelda, and Nintendo is delivering in a big way."

While it's understandable that players would have opinions about the looks of a favorite game, the debate over the aesthetics of Zelda has gone beyond friendly banter. What makes the topic so important that gamers just can't let it go? It's not really all about looks. If Zelda weren't Zelda, no one would make such a big fuss. As it stands, the series has so strong a fan-base, full of so many die-hard followers, that it has come, in a way, to represent video games as a whole, if not the industry itself. This makes the question of realism versus style in Zelda a much larger one than if it were applied to an unpopular, or even moderately well-known game. The issue has been further complicated by Zelda's close association with Nintendo, which struggles constantly with its already "kiddy" image. While the developers of Wind Waker made an artistically bold decision in utilizing cel-shading, their choice may have weakening Nintendo's mainstream image - one which must remain welcoming to adult gamers if the company is to compete against Sony and Microsoft in the current market.

But for the video game community, the question of aesthetics is also a cultural one. Whereas, in the Japanese market, unique style is highly regarded, realism in games is more often an American ideal. This can be seen in the supposedly negative link that critical gamers draw between Wind Waker's cel-shading, officially called "toon-shading" by Nintendo, and cartoons themselves - considered by most Americans to be a juvenile form of entertainment. Yet in Japan, anime and manga (the Japanese equivalents of cartoon shows and comic books) are regarded as legitimate art forms, and though some are designed for children, men and women of all ages enjoy these products, which lack the "kiddy" connotations they hold in the United States. Similarly, the gender expectations that are so rigid in mainstream America are not as clearly defined in Japanese culture. Japanese gamers are less concerned with appearing "masculine," at least in the American sense of reveling in games that flex their graphical muscle. The comments of U. S. gamers, especially those participating in forums, are influenced by the need to protect a certain macho image, one in favor of "grownup" realism instead of "childish" stylization.

The larger question at hand, however, is perhaps unanswerable: Is the point of gaming to recreate reality, or should it go beyond realism, into the realm of art? Video games confront this issue directly through the use of interactivity. Developers must decide whether to make a gaming experience as realistic as possible, allowing the gamer to step inside the character and his actions, or to keep him at a distance through an unfamiliar visual style. Certain types of games logically benefit from an inclusive aesthetic; racing and fighting titles rely on increasingly robust graphics technology to bring you more believable interactivity. With other categories of games, such as action-adventure, the genre into which the Zelda series falls, the decision isn't so clear. Neither is who makes the call: Should it be the developers/creators/artists themselves, or the game's fanbase, its potential consumers? If gamers demand graphical prowess in a quality game, as their response to both Wind Waker and Twilight Princess implies they do, they also have to face the possibility that all games, if rendered as realistically as possible, may soon look the same - not so much art as playable photographs of the world around them. Then they must ask themselves, honestly, whether or not that's a bad thing.

Bonnie Ruberg is a staff writer for Planet GameCube and Gaming Age, a freelance games journalist, and the author of Heroine Sheik, a blog dedicated to investigating sexuality in gaming cultures. Today, we have the pleasure of running a piece she's written for the site about a topic that's been brought up more than once in the comments here on Slashdot. "For Zelda fans, this is a time of anticipation. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is officially on its way, and everybody is talking. By now, we've all seen the pre-release screenshots and videos. Nintendo has made some major changes with the series' latest installment, and the gaming world has let out a unanimous gasp at the results." Read on for the rest of her analysis of this oft-debated issue. "Realism vs. Style: the Zelda Debate"
By Bonnie Ruberg

With the stylized aesthetic of Wind Waker all but gone, Nintendo has implemented carefully rendered, highly realistic polygons in its place - perhaps in response to the outcry of fans who disapproved of "kiddy," cel-shaded Link. The game's release date has even been pushed back in part to allow developers more time to perfect the new look. The question of realism versus style is one that has plagued art for centuries, and video games are no exception. Since the 2003 release of Wind Waker, a title both adored and despised, the Zelda series has come to epitomize that debate for the gaming industry, and heated words have been exchanged on both sides. Now, with Twilight Princess on the horizon, the old argument has been rekindled. What better time to take a look back at the issue and ask, once and for all: Is this really just a question of a pretty face?

When The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker came out two years ago, it's cel-shaded graphics caused a big stir in the American gaming community. Since then, debate over the value of the game's stylized aesthetic continues to be a popular topic in online video game forums. While there are some gamers who openly defend the title and its style, it seems the majority of voices express disappointment, even disgust. Many feel that the cel-shading gave Wind Waker a "cartoon-like" or childish look. One fan writes of encountering the new aesthetic for the first time, "I felt as though something had been stolen from me." Other forums-users remark, in comments that mirror thousands by like-minded gamers, "The graphics ruined the game," and "[Wink Waker] destroyed everything Zelda stood for." Now that Nintendo is taking the series back in a more graphically realistic direction, one precedented by the artistic approach in Ocarina of Time, those same disappointed fans are starting to rejoice. "These screens are exactly what i have been waiting for [sic]," writes one forum-user. Another: "All I can say is wow!!! I am so glad the cartoonish Link is gone. That is what kept me away from the whole Zelda franchise."

The press too seems glad to see the return of realism. After playing the demo at E3, Gamespy called the change in graphics an "upgrade," noting that "the overall style is a lot more grownup" and that "the game simply looks more alive." Gaming Age said realism "seals the deal" on the title, which is "by far one of the best looking games Nintendo has ever made," while Gamespot simply refers to "the undeniable appeal of realistic Link." According to Eiji Aunoma, the director of Twilight Princess, the decision to move away from the highly stylized aesthetic of Wind Waker was based partially on fan reaction. It was also dictated in part by the new game's storyline, which follows an older Link and a more serious adventure, and therefore needed a more "adult" graphical style. Still, even this decision to focus the game on a mature hero was affected by criticism from gamers who didn't enjoy playing as younger Link. As Planet GameCube notes, in the end, "The fans asked for a realistic Zelda, and Nintendo is delivering in a big way."

While it's understandable that players would have opinions about the looks of a favorite game, the debate over the aesthetics of Zelda has gone beyond friendly banter. What makes the topic so important that gamers just can't let it go? It's not really all about looks. If Zelda weren't Zelda, no one would make such a big fuss. As it stands, the series has so strong a fan-base, full of so many die-hard followers, that it has come, in a way, to represent video games as a whole, if not the industry itself. This makes the question of realism versus style in Zelda a much larger one than if it were applied to an unpopular, or even moderately well-known game. The issue has been further complicated by Zelda's close association with Nintendo, which struggles constantly with its already "kiddy" image. While the developers of Wind Waker made an artistically bold decision in utilizing cel-shading, their choice may have weakening Nintendo's mainstream image - one which must remain welcoming to adult gamers if the company is to compete against Sony and Microsoft in the current market.

But for the video game community, the question of aesthetics is also a cultural one. Whereas, in the Japanese market, unique style is highly regarded, realism in games is more often an American ideal. This can be seen in the supposedly negative link that critical gamers draw between Wind Waker's cel-shading, officially called "toon-shading" by Nintendo, and cartoons themselves - considered by most Americans to be a juvenile form of entertainment. Yet in Japan, anime and manga (the Japanese equivalents of cartoon shows and comic books) are regarded as legitimate art forms, and though some are designed for children, men and women of all ages enjoy these products, which lack the "kiddy" connotations they hold in the United States. Similarly, the gender expectations that are so rigid in mainstream America are not as clearly defined in Japanese culture. Japanese gamers are less concerned with appearing "masculine," at least in the American sense of reveling in games that flex their graphical muscle. The comments of U. S. gamers, especially those participating in forums, are influenced by the need to protect a certain macho image, one in favor of "grownup" realism instead of "childish" stylization.

The larger question at hand, however, is perhaps unanswerable: Is the point of gaming to recreate reality, or should it go beyond realism, into the realm of art? Video games confront this issue directly through the use of interactivity. Developers must decide whether to make a gaming experience as realistic as possible, allowing the gamer to step inside the character and his actions, or to keep him at a distance through an unfamiliar visual style. Certain types of games logically benefit from an inclusive aesthetic; racing and fighting titles rely on increasingly robust graphics technology to bring you more believable interactivity. With other categories of games, such as action-adventure, the genre into which the Zelda series falls, the decision isn't so clear. Neither is who makes the call: Should it be the developers/creators/artists themselves, or the game's fanbase, its potential consumers? If gamers demand graphical prowess in a quality game, as their response to both Wind Waker and Twilight Princess implies they do, they also have to face the possibility that all games, if rendered as realistically as possible, may soon look the same - not so much art as playable photographs of the world around them. Then they must ask themselves, honestly, whether or not that's a bad thing.

HarvardFrankenstein writes "A Nintendo press release confirms what many people have already speculated: the recent delay of the release of the Nintendo DS game, Metroid Prime Hunters, will give the developers time to implement support for the upcoming Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. From the release: 'Metroid Prime Hunters will launch in the first quarter of 2006, complete with access to Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's upcoming online gaming service. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection will debut before the end of the year with a Mario Kart® and an Animal Crossing® game, and will let players connect wirelessly with one another as easily as if they were sitting in the same room.' This is excellent news, as many people felt that the first person shooter would suffer heavily without online multiplayer support."

terrisus writes "While he had stepped down as President a few years back, Hiroshi Yamauchi had remained on Nintendo's Board of Directors. In June, however, Yamauchi will now be retiring from the Board of Directors as well. He will be foregoing his multi-million dollar retirement package, instead desiring the money be put to work in other places. He will still be a 10% stockholder in the company. It's sad to see him go."

mcc writes "PlanetGamecube is reporting the upcoming Nintendo DS handheld has been given a launch date of November 21st and a price of $150 ! It is also being reported that the Nintendo DS will ship with PictoChat (a sort of chat/whiteboard software) and some form of the Metroid Prime Hunters multiplayer FPS bundled in. A fact sheet is also available."

mcc writes "PlanetGamecube is reporting the upcoming Nintendo DS handheld has been given a launch date of November 21st and a price of $150 ! It is also being reported that the Nintendo DS will ship with PictoChat (a sort of chat/whiteboard software) and some form of the Metroid Prime Hunters multiplayer FPS bundled in. A fact sheet is also available."

Thanks to IGN Pocket for its article revealing more details on Rare's Game Boy Advance puzzle title It's Mr. Pants, a THQ-published game from the now Microsoft-owned UK developer which is "the revival of... a Donkey Kong-branded puzzle game titled DK Coconut Crackers." The title, "a traditional puzzle game in the Tetris sense", includes "crazy, tripped out imagery and music, complete with Mr. Pants singing between levels" - there's more information on 'The History Of Pants' over at fansite Rare-Extreme.

StrikerObi writes "Over at Planet GameCube, we've posted an expanded list of Japanese-announced Nintendo DS titles currently in development for their new dual-screened handheld system. Highlights include a new 'Mana' game from Square-Enix and a new RPG from Game Arts, the makers of the Grandia series." GameSpot's Japanese correspondent provides the full list of games, including the games "previously announced at E3", and also comments: "Among the more interesting developments, Konami Japan will release a Boktai game, while Konami Tokyo will release a Castlevania game for the DS."

StrikerObi writes "Over at Planet GameCube, we've posted an expanded list of Japanese-announced Nintendo DS titles currently in development for their new dual-screened handheld system. Highlights include a new 'Mana' game from Square-Enix and a new RPG from Game Arts, the makers of the Grandia series." GameSpot's Japanese correspondent provides the full list of games, including the games "previously announced at E3", and also comments: "Among the more interesting developments, Konami Japan will release a Boktai game, while Konami Tokyo will release a Castlevania game for the DS."

StrikerObi writes "Over at Planet GameCube, we've posted an expanded list of Japanese-announced Nintendo DS titles currently in development for their new dual-screened handheld system. Highlights include a new 'Mana' game from Square-Enix and a new RPG from Game Arts, the makers of the Grandia series." GameSpot's Japanese correspondent provides the full list of games, including the games "previously announced at E3", and also comments: "Among the more interesting developments, Konami Japan will release a Boktai game, while Konami Tokyo will release a Castlevania game for the DS."

Trinn writes "Planet GameCube has recently reported on a completely unofficial remake of the highly popular Square Enix RPG Chrono Trigger by an independent team, Resurrection Games [their official site is down, here's a mirror of some of the screenshots]. It certainly looks sharp so far. They're even redoing the audio. Their plans are to finish up by Christmas, at which time the PC version will be released for free to the public - 'console versions of the Chrono Trigger Resurrection demo will only be available to official developers with access to GameCube or Xbox development kits.'." Interestingly, this amateur project was formerly in development for the Nintendo 64, all the way back in 2000.

mindless4210 writes "Majesco Games has announced a new application for the Game Boy Advance, the Wireless Messenger. Using the Wireless Messenger players will be able to send instant text messages through their Game Boy. The product is set to be released later this year and will make its first public appearance at the E3 Convention next week." Majesco has also announced a Wireless Link, which will "use the standard Game Boy Advance link cable and enable users to play any multiplayer GBA title without the restrictions of the cables", and has just launched the Game Boy Advance Video range, with the "initial roll-out... [including] the first two volumes of SpongeBob SquarePants and The Fairly OddParents, as well as Dora the Explorer Vol 1."

Thanks to Planet GameCube for reprinting data revealing the amount and diversity of games to be shown at next week's E3 Expo in Los Angeles. It's noted: "Approximately 1,000 of the nearly 5,000 computer and video game products to be displayed at the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo... have never been seen before... survey results indicate that about 40% of products displayed will be for video game consoles, while about one-third will be for personal computers." Many companies are revealing titles before E3, though, with some highlights including most of Sega's line-up (including "SPIKEOUT: Battle Street... and Virtua Quest"), a list of 23 new EA titles, including new Timesplitters 3 details and a first look at Catwoman, THQ's new info on Destroy All Humans!, Rockstar's announcement of Midnight Club 3:DUB Edition, Activision's showing of X-Men Legends, and UbiSoft's announcement of Prince Of Persia 2.

Thanks to Planet GameCube for its article discussing Nintendo Japan's rolling-out of the store-based JoySpot service for the Game Boy Advance wireless adapter. According to the article: "Consisting of wireless base stations - also known as hot spots - at retail locations around the country, JoySpot acts as a miniature server and hub for GBA games supporting the wireless adapter." Although players can use the limited-range wireless adapter with friends separately of the JoySpot locations, "...players can download news from the JoySpot station in Pokémon Fire/Leaf via the virtual JoySpot kiosks.. [and] can also take part in special JoySpot challenge battles among other gamers within the station's range by talking to them in the [virtual] union room."

An anonymous reader writes "Do you pretend you are the Hero of Time in your sleep? Are you the biggest Zelda fan on the block? Well, take a gander at what this Zelda fan owns... a real-life replica of the famous Master Sword from the Legend of Zelda series." The article mentions: "After a ten-month wait period and a £1,800 transaction (around $3,300)... [a Scottish] blacksmith provided updates of his progress during the one-and-a-half-month forging process."

Thanks to Planet GameCube for its news that Nintendo has announced a series of 10 re-releases of classic NES games for the GameBoy Advance in Japan. The titles include Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, and Pacman, and will be released alongside a Famicom Edition GBA SP, previously only available in a slightly modified, limited edition. Elswhere, orthancstone writes "Gamespot is reporting that Microsoft is releasing two new limited-edition Xboxes in Japan, an Anniversary Edition in 'pure white', and another in 'Kasumi blue'. The blue Xbox will be limited to 5000 consoles, and will come bundled with Dead Or Alive Online, while the white Xbox will be limited to 1000 consoles, and will only be available online."

Thanks to Planet GameCube for reprinting a press release announcing the 'Bang The Machine' game-related art exhibit, which opens in San Francisco early in 2004. It includes previously Slashdot-mentioned pieces such as the Pong-equipped Painstation and a Waco-interpreting FPS, but also newer material, including a Carpet Invaders game which is "a floor projection of a videogame that simulates the early Space Invaders.. [but] made to resemble Afghani rug designs", and a 5-foot-high sculpture called '650 Polygon John Carmack', based off a "low polygon game avatar of him... developed for... Quake III."

Thanks to Planet GameCube for their news story revealing that a GameCube version of the Xbox-specific Xlink Messenger tunneling software is in progress. According to the site, "The XLink team says initial testing with the GameCube and their... [Windows] software ran 'nice and smooth'." This free utility, due out before the end of the year, is an alternative to the Warp Pipe GC tunneling software previously mentioned on Slashdot Games - the products allow you to play LAN-only GameCube games over the Internet using "a PC... a broadband connection, and a router or a second ethernet card to connect the GC to your PC", in the absence of significant Nintendo support for much-desired online play.

Thanks to PlanetGameCube for their new story pointing out Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes has been delayed into 2004, according to Nintendo and Konami's websites. This GameCube-exclusive "remix of the PSone classic, Metal Gear Solid" also has a new, (spoiler-filled, brief synopsis available) Tokyo Game Show trailer, showcasing the in-game cinematic direction by Japanese movie director Ryuhei Kitamura. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater for PlayStation 2 also has a new Tokyo Game Show trailer (again, brief synopsis available), similar to the one shown at ECTS in London earlier in the month, and including many "scenes... seeping with James Bond flavor."

TravelSizedMonkey writes "Planet GameCube has a press release from Capcom announcing the upcoming release of the Mega Man Collection for the Gamecube and PS2. It contains Mega Man 1 through 8, as well as two arcade games never released in the US, Mega Man: The Power Battle, and Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters. It's scheduled for release in February 2004, and includes extra unlockable content and updated soundtracks."

SuperRob writes "Planet GameCube apparently has an exclusive (until ECTS, that is) on the post-E3 changes to Nintendo's Mario Kart: Double Dash for GameCube. Notable updates are weapons specific to each character, a new battle mode, and a huge speed increase (the top complaint about the game from E3)." There's more info at fan site Mario Kart Central, which has even started mapping the new game tracks for this keenly-awaited sequel before release - it's currently due in America on November 17th.

SuperRob writes "Planet GameCube apparently has an exclusive (until ECTS, that is) on the post-E3 changes to Nintendo's Mario Kart: Double Dash for GameCube. Notable updates are weapons specific to each character, a new battle mode, and a huge speed increase (the top complaint about the game from E3)." There's more info at fan site Mario Kart Central, which has even started mapping the new game tracks for this keenly-awaited sequel before release - it's currently due in America on November 17th.

Thanks to Planet GameCube for their report on how the newly released Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is faring in the Japanese press. This GameCube action RPG, which came out on August 7th in Japan, but is now delayed until February 2004 State-side, scored 32/40 and a Gold Award in the often strict Famitsu Weekly, and a Famitsu reviewer commented: "The one player mode feels a bit lonely as the gameplay tends to become routine. However, the game becomes more interesting in the multiplayer mode, where players can execute combination magic and work together to beat the boss. The fun factor is doubled." There's more info via hands-on impressions at IGN Cube, who seem to like the single-player campaign somewhat better.

Thanks to the New York Times for their article discussing the rise of movie-playing add-ons for Nintendo's GameBoy Advance (registration required). The piece says that "portable video players are beginning to change where and how people watch movies, cartoons and music videos," and points to multiple GBA movie devices in development, such as Majesco's Game Boy Video Pak and TuneIn's Pocket Cinema, which will have an interface to a 3-inch CD player. With other products like 4Kids' GBA-TV in development, and the Sony PSP and Tapwave Helix portables promising movie availability, has this idea come of age, and is it reasonable to expect the public to watch "video on a screen the size of a dollhouse window, with a resolution that is no match for even a standard TV set"?

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a GamePro report claiming that Acclaim Entertainment is dropping support for the Gamecube. The article quotes UK trade magazine MCV's interview with new Acclaim CEO Rod Cousens, who says "Why should we develop for platforms that don't deliver profits for us? We will still support the PS2 and Xbox, but Nintendo? No, not in the foreseeable future." Reportedly, this won't be true for the handful of in-development GameCube conversions at the troubled publisher, but these harsh words seem to imply that further Burnout sequels, amongst others, will not be coming to GameCube. Update: 06/23 22:08 GMT by S : Planet GameCube got an official comment from the publisher which says "Acclaim will now evaluate each title and decide which system(s) it best fits", but it's clear the CEO is still very down on GameCube.

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to the Planet GameCube interview with Julian Eggebrecht of Factor 5, developers of Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike. The interview covers the multiple-vehicles-in-one-mission gameplay of this promising Gamecube sequel ("There is a mission in which you get out of an AT-ST, run to an AT-AT and capture that"), deals with the important issue of whether you can shoot Ewoks ("Ewoks? Why would you want to shoot them? They are so cute... Let me put it this way: If you could shoot them I am sure it is a bug and not an intended feature"), and also mentions the game's movies will be in DivX, using Factor 5's own console DivX utilities.

Courtesy of PlanetGamecube, we have their recently-typed-up E3 interview with Denis Dyack, the boss of Silicon Knights (Eternal Darkness), who are currently working on Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes for Gamecube. This enhanced remake of the original Metal Gear Solid for Playstation is due out for Xmas 2003, and Dyack gives some hints as to how the original's content may be enhanced - "If you think about the first game and how it's all set up, and then think about the dynamics of the second game, it should be a completely new experience."

Thanks to the double-team of PlanetGameCube and Shacknews for pointing out that the Gameboy Advance 'Afterburner' backlight creators, Triton Labs, have announced the Stealth Link GBA multiplayer adaptor. It'll allow you to play multiplayer Gameboy Advance games against your friends completely wireless, without those pesky link cables, and is due in retail stories in Q3 2003. More excellent innovation here from the people who made the GBA usable again, before Nintendo put in backlighting as standard with the Gameboy Advance SP.

StrikerObi writes "Planet GameCube has posted the first ever footage of Mario Kart Double Dash for the GameCube. It was recorded earlier off of the CNN Headline News television network. The game now has 2 characters riding on each kart, with one driving and the other using weapons. There is also some footage of the new F-Zero GX game in the reel." There's also a torrent file available from the fine folks at GameTab.

StrikerObi writes "Planet GameCube has posted the first ever footage of Mario Kart Double Dash for the GameCube. It was recorded earlier off of the CNN Headline News television network. The game now has 2 characters riding on each kart, with one driving and the other using weapons. There is also some footage of the new F-Zero GX game in the reel." There's also a torrent file available from the fine folks at GameTab.

StrikerObi writes "Planet GameCube has posted the first ever footage of Mario Kart Double Dash for the GameCube. It was recorded earlier off of the CNN Headline News television network. The game now has 2 characters riding on each kart, with one driving and the other using weapons. There is also some footage of the new F-Zero GX game in the reel." There's also a torrent file available from the fine folks at GameTab.

filmsmith writes "It looks like Nintendo may be interested in using the GBA to enter the PDA market and even considering itself competition for the Apple iPod. It smells of DMCA pandering, though. 'It looks like protection will be in place to ensure that even content recorded by users (through the use of a special adapter) will not be able to be shared with other users.' Planet Gamecube has the article here."

Xenex writes "From Planet GameCube: Nintendo today announced a US March 23rd release date for their Game Boy Advanced SP system. The GBA SP features a clamshell design that when folded is 3-inch square and an inch thick. The unit will also be also front lit, and totally backwards compatible with all previous Game Boy software." As any GBA owner can tell you, the screen in earlier models sucked pretty terrible. I'm looking forward to trying this one out.

Xenex writes "From Planet GameCube: Nintendo today announced a US March 23rd release date for their Game Boy Advanced SP system. The GBA SP features a clamshell design that when folded is 3-inch square and an inch thick. The unit will also be also front lit, and totally backwards compatible with all previous Game Boy software." As any GBA owner can tell you, the screen in earlier models sucked pretty terrible. I'm looking forward to trying this one out.

Xenex writes "From Planet GameCube: Nintendo today announced a US March 23rd release date for their Game Boy Advanced SP system. The GBA SP features a clamshell design that when folded is 3-inch square and an inch thick. The unit will also be also front lit, and totally backwards compatible with all previous Game Boy software." As any GBA owner can tell you, the screen in earlier models sucked pretty terrible. I'm looking forward to trying this one out.

DarkZero writes: "According to Planet Gamecube, Nintendo, as was expected, has dropped the price of the GameCube to $150. As the consoles currently stand, the GameCube is $50 cheaper than both the X-Box and the PS2, letting it retain half of its price edge on its competitors. Neither Sony nor Microsoft has commented on it yet, but Microsoft might decide to lower the price of the X-Box a little bit more in retaliation. Yay, competitive pricing!"

DarkZero writes: "According to Planet Gamecube, Nintendo, as was expected, has dropped the price of the GameCube to $150. As the consoles currently stand, the GameCube is $50 cheaper than both the X-Box and the PS2, letting it retain half of its price edge on its competitors. Neither Sony nor Microsoft has commented on it yet, but Microsoft might decide to lower the price of the X-Box a little bit more in retaliation. Yay, competitive pricing!"

magicsquid writes: "GameSpot is carrying the news that Square has finally returned to Nintendo systems after a 5 year absence. This brings with it the knowledge that Final Fantasy XI will truly be playable on every console as well as PC to be uniquely massively multi-player." Planet Gamecube has a similar story.

lunchlady doris writes: "With videogames becoming a huge business and magazines having large lead times, something has got to give if they want to compete with web sites. Planet GameCube has a story where it seems that some magazines have decided that eschewing actual journalism is the way to go, with both Extreme Gamer and Request Magazine having reviews for Nintendo's Eternal Darkness, a game that is currently incomplete and is only expected to arrive in stores at the end of June."

lunchlady doris writes: "With videogames becoming a huge business and magazines having large lead times, something has got to give if they want to compete with web sites. Planet GameCube has a story where it seems that some magazines have decided that eschewing actual journalism is the way to go, with both Extreme Gamer and Request Magazine having reviews for Nintendo's Eternal Darkness, a game that is currently incomplete and is only expected to arrive in stores at the end of June."

semaj writes "It looks like retailers are being told they can sell them as they come in instead of waiting for the November 18 offical release date. PlanetGameCube has the story. Go!" So, anyone want to get us a review unit or two?

Vegan Pagan asks: "We've heard plenty about RDRAM and DDR-SDRAM, but what about 1T-SRAM? According to conjecture, a fan report and a press release, it makes Gamecube efficient, but are there any tests that compare 1T-SRAM to RDRAM and DDR-SDRAM?" According to the fan-written report, 1T-SRAM uses a combination of a single transistor cell and "multibank" architecture to deliver low latency in a cheaper chip with less complex circuitry. Sounds good, but has anyone here put one of these things through it's paces? How well does it live up to the hype, especially in comparison with time-proven memory architectures?

cbirdsong64 writes: "Planet Gamecube has a story about the Gamecube launch quantities for the U.S. and Japan. Apparently, the Japanese launch will consist of 500,000 Gamecubes, all purple. Nearly 900,000 Gamecubes will be shipped this year in Japan. The North American launch will have 1.1 million (!!) units availiable, with no colors announced. The Big N plans to ship a total of four million Gamecubes worldwide by March 2002. They're doing a whole lot better than Sony did last Christmas." Maybe when the much-anticipated Gamecube ships, I can pick up a discounted PS2 and GT3 :)