[[quoteright:305:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gamecube.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:305:The little lunchbox that could.]]

->''Who Are You?''

The Creator/{{Nintendo}} [=GameCube=] (officially abbreviated as GCN), Nintendo's entry into the [[TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames sixth generation]] of the ConsoleWars, was released in late 2001. It marked Nintendo's shift from cartridges to optical discs in response to third parties being driven away by the {{Nintendo 64}}'s continued use of cartridges, using miniature proprietary discs. The graphical capabilities were better than the PlayStation2, and in some cases, on par with those of the {{Xbox}}. ''StarWars: VideoGame/RogueSquadron III'' actually holds the sixth-gen record for polygon count, at 20 million polygons. The [=GameCube=] was the first Nintendo console to have fewer buttons on its controller than its predecessor; this was due to the introduction of a second analog stick, though this C-stick was smaller than the primary analog stick.

Nintendo offered many of its properties to other developers. {{Namco}} ran around with ''Franchise/DonkeyKong'' and made the ''VideoGame/DonkeyKonga'' series, {{Dolled Up Installment}}s of the ''Taiko no Tatsujin'' series of drumming games. Namco and Rare (under the company's last days with Nintendo before getting bought out by Microsoft) both had ''VideoGame/StarFox''-based games (although Rare's was too a Dolled Up Installment, this one born out of Nintendo [[ExecutiveMeddling meddling]] with the [[WhatCouldHaveBeen would-have-been]] {{Nintendo 64}} game ''Dinosaur Planet''.) Most famously, RetroStudios rose to fame with the smash hit ''MetroidPrime''. {{Capcom}} was working on ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' and liked the 'Cube so much they promised a few exclusive games for it, dubbed the "Capcom 5":

* ''Dead Phoenix'' ([[WhatCouldHaveBeen cancelled]])
* ''Videogame/PN03: Project Number 03'' (the only game to stay exclusive)
* ''VideoGame/{{Killer7}}'' (ported to the PS2)
* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' (ported to the PS2 again)
* ''VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe'' (ported to-you guessed it-the PS2)

Oh, and this thing is ''[[TonkaTough tough]]'', as in physically. There are stories of people having dropped [=GameCubes=] off the top of tall buildings and them still being perfectly intact. It's gotten a reputation for being [[TonkaTough damn near indestructible]]; someone once fended off a mugger with a knife with his Gamecube and ''it wasn't even damaged.'' Intentionally trying to break it is just about the only way to go. Considering Nintendo's history of making their products TonkaTough, there might be a reason for that.

Its codename during development was "Project Dolphin" and there are often little nods to this throughout early Gamecube games, such as ''SuperMarioSunshine'' being set on "Isle Delfino" (Italian for dolphin). An early rumoured release name for the console was "Starcube", which was apparently dropped for copyright reasons.

There was a stylish-looking variant of the GCN that plays DVD movies and contained other multimedia functionality called the Panasonic Q, but [[NoExportForYou only in Japan]] and [[CrackIsCheaper only for those who care not about the health of their wallet]].

Oh, and the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUHJUJkbv-k slow, haunting theme]] that plays when you turn on the thing? It's the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F_vTOZQLxY start-up theme for the old Famicom Disk System]], slowed down a whole bunch. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1m6j38CDOc Pretty neat]].
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!!Specifications:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Processors ]]

* The CPU is a 486 [=MHz=] IBM [=PowerPC 750CXe=] based CPU codenamed "Gekko". While it was internally a 32-bit processor, everything else about it was 64-bits. It's essentially an enhanced version of the processor found in Apple's [=G3=] based computers.
* The GPU was a joint venture between Nintendo and [=ArtX=]. [=ATi=] later bought [=ArtX=], which explains the badge on the console. Codenamed "Flipper", it's a 162 [=MHz=] GPU superficially similar to [=ATi=]'s own Radeon 7500 for the PC.
* Audio was done on a ustom 81 [=MHz=] Macronix DSP that supported 64 CD-Audio quality channels. However it could only output stereo sound, but there was support for Dolby Pro-Logic II for surround sound if the speakers supported it.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Memory ]]

* 24 MB [=MoSys=] 1T-SRAM main system RAM. 3 MB embedded 1T-SRAM within Flipper.
** 1T-SRAM is a type of RAM that offered both high density and avoids the low-level complexity of DRAM.
** The fact that the Flipper has embedded RAM in it made it extremely fast, compared to the RAMBUS RAM used in the Nintendo 64
* 16 MB DRAM used as buffer for game disk drive and audio.
* Games were stored on a 8mm optical disc similar to a mini-DVD. A key difference is that the GameCube uses Constant Angular Velocity (where the disk spins the same speed) rather than Constant Linear Velocity (where the laser traverses the disk at the same speed). The total storage capacity is 1.5GB. The three main reasons why this format was chosen was to reduce load times, to make [[DigitalPiracyIsEvil piracy harder]], and to avoid paying licensing fees to the DVD forum.
* To store game saves and other data, the GameCube used memory cards similar to the PlayStation. For better or worse, cards were formatted into blocks and capacity was ColourCodedForYourConvenience. Gray came with 59 blocks, black with 251 blocks, and white with 1011 blocks. Each block is about 8KB.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Graphics ]]

* The GameCube could output all forms of standard definition resolutions, including progressive scan. Except for PAL progressive scan, that had to be enabled with a soft mod.
* Maximum in game polygon count is about 20,250,000 polygons a second, or about 337,500 polygons a frame at 60FPS. This is about 10 times more than the developers could push on the Nintendo64; Maximum Polygon count is 60 million a second.
* Maximum pixel throughput is 648 megapixels per second
* It supported all the nice graphical features at the time, such as anisotropic texture filtering, anti-aliasing, and bump-mapping. Color output is at 24-bits, the system also had a 18-bit color mode but no games used it.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Add-Ons and Expansions ]]

* The first generation models had two AV outputs, one labeled analog out for standard use with composite cables, the other labeled digital out. This was a misnomer, as the video and audio were still analog, it just supported higher quality versions of it.
* There were three expansion ports total. One was for a high-speed network adapter/modem used for online/LAN games (though very few used it). One was for the [[GameBoyAdvance GameBoy player]]. The last one never got used.
* The GameBoyAdvance had an accessory that allowed it to be connected to one of the GameCube's controller ports. This was used in PokemonColosseum and PokemonXD to transfer Pokemon back and forth. However, SquareEnix was a notable abuser of this with FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles, where each GameBoyAdvance was ''the controller''.

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!![=GameCube=] games and series include:
[[index]]
* ''VideoGame/DoubleOhSevenFromRussiaWithLove''
* ''VideoGame/AlienHominid''
* ''VideoGame/AmazingIsland''
* ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' 1.x ([[SequelFirst the series made its international debut on this system]], though there was a {{Nintendo 64}} version [[NoExportForYou in Japan]], which is why the game features an [=N64=] logo as a decorative item)
* ''VideoGame/BackyardSports''
* ''[[VideoGame/BaldursGateDarkAlliance Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance]]''
* ''VideoGame/BatenKaitos''
** ''Baten Kaitos Origins''
* ''BatmanRiseOfSinTzu''
* ''BatmanVengeance''
* ''BattalionWars''
* ''VideoGame/BeyondGoodAndEvil''
* ''VideoGame/BillyHatcherAndTheGiantEgg''
* ''[[VideoGame/LegacyOfKain Blood Omen 2]]''
* ''VideoGame/BloodRayne'' (only the first game)
* ''VideoGame/BloodyRoar: Primal Fury''
* ''VideoGame/BombermanGeneration''
* ''VideoGame/BombermanJetters''
* ''VideoGame/BountyHunter''
* ''{{Chibi-Robo}}''
* ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheWrathOfCortex''
* ''VideoGame/{{Cubivore}}''
* ''VideoGame/CustomRobo'' ([[SequelFirst international debut again]])
* ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolutionMarioMix''
* ''DarkenedSkye''
* ''VideoGame/DigimonWorld4''
* ''VideoGame/DonaldDuckGoinQuackers''
* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKonga''
* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongJungleBeat''
* ''Videogame/DoshinTheGiant''
* ''VideoGame/DrMuto''
* ''VideoGame/EternalDarkness: Sanity's Requiem''
* ''EverythingOrNothing''
* ''VideoGame/EvolutionWorlds''
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles''
* ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance]]'' (although not the first game in [[Franchise/FireEmblem the series]] to be released internationally, this was the first non-handheld installment to be released internationally)
* ''VideoGame/FreakyFlyers''
* ''VideoGame/{{F-Zero}} GX''
* ''VideoGame/{{Geist}}''
* ''VideoGame/GodzillaDestroyAllMonstersMelee''
* ''VideoGame/GotchaForce''
* ''VideoGame/{{Gun}}''
* ''TheHauntedMansion''
* ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonAWonderfulLife''
* ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon: Magical Melody'' (in Japan and North America; it was released for the Wii in PAL countries and later it was given an UpdatedRerelease for the same console in North America.)
* ''VideoGame/HelloKittyRollerRescue''
* ''VideoGame/{{Hulk}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}'' (For those who didn't import the Dreamcast version.)
* ''VideoGame/TheIncredibleHulkUltimateDestruction''
* ''VideoGame/{{Killer7}}''
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro: A New Beginning''
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker''
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwordsAdventures''
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess''
* ''VideoGame/LordOfTheRingsTheThirdAge''
* ''LostKingdoms''
* ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion''
* ''VideoGame/{{Medabots}}''
* ''VideoGame/MarioKart Double Dash''
* ''VideoGame/MarioParty'' 4, 5, 6 and 7
* ''VideoGame/MarioGolf Toadstool Tour''
* ''VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash''
* ''VideoGame/MarioTennis''
* ''[[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Mega Man]]'' ''[[CompilationRerelease Anniversary Collection]]''
* ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' ''[[CompilationRerelease Collection]]''
* ''VideoGame/MegaManXCommandMission''
* ''MetalArms: Glitch In The System''
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidTheTwinSnakes''
* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' (the first two installments were released on this system)
* ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance''
* ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception''
* ''VideoGame/NarutoClashOfNinja''
* ''{{Odama}}''
* ''VideoGame/OverTheHedge''
* ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' (''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' was originally going to be a [=GameCube=] game, but didn't get the treatment ''Twilight Princess'' got. Also had misfortune of being released the same day as Halo2)
* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline Ep. 1 & 2'' (improved from the Sega Dreamcast/PC version), enhanced remakes of the same called "Ep. 1 & 2 Plus'', and ''Ep. 3 C.A.R.D. Revolution''. These were the only games on the [=GameCube=] that had online capabilities.
* ''VideoGame/{{Pikmin}}''
* ''Videogame/PN03''
* ''VideoGame/PokemonChannel''
* ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'' and ''Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness''
* ''{{Rayman}} 3: Hoodlum Havoc''
* ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil1 Resident Evil]]'' (the "[[FanNickname REmake]]")
* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil0''
* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2''
* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis''
* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica X''
* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4''
* ''VideoGame/{{Scaler}}''
* ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog''
* ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsRoadRage''
** ''TheSimpsonsHitAndRun''
* ''VideoGame/SecondSight''
* ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia Legends'' (For those who didn't buy a Sega Dreamcast)
* ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcom''
** ''VideoGame/CapcomVsSNK2MarkOfTheMillennium''
* ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure DX'' (Again, for those who didn't buy a Sega Dreamcast)
** ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Battle''
* ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''
* ''SonicRiders''
* ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soul Calibur II]]''
* ''VideoGame/SphinxAndTheCursedMummy''
* ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures''
* ''VideoGame/StarFoxAssault''
* ''[[VideoGame/DarkForcesSaga Star Wars Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast]]''
* ''[[VideoGame/RogueSquadron Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader]]''
** ''Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike''
* ''[[{{Summoner 2}} Summoner: A Goddess Reborn]] (A port of {{Summoner 2}} for the PS2)''
* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine''
* ''VideoGame/SuperMonkeyBall''
** ''Super Monkey Ball 2''
*** ''Super Monkey Ball Adventure''
* ''SuperRobotWarsGC''
* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros. Melee'' (The KillerApp for the 'Cube.)
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia''
* ''VideoGame/TimeSplitters 2''
** ''Time Splitters: Future Perfect''
* ''Creator/TomClancy Series''
** Tom Clancy's VideoGame/GhostRecon
*** Tom Clancy's VideoGame/GhostRecon 2
** Tom Clancy's VideoGame/RainbowSix 3
*** Tom Clancy's VideoGame/RainbowSix: Lockdown
** Tom Clancy's VideoGame/SplinterCell
*** Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
*** Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent
*** Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
* ''TrueCrimeStreetsOfLA''
** ''TrueCrimeNewYorkCity''
* ''VideoGame/UltimateSpiderMan''
* ''VideoGame/{{Vexx}}''
* ''VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe''
* ''VideoGame/WarioWorld''
* ''VideoGame/{{WarioWare}}, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!''
* ''VideoGame/WaveRace: Blue Storm''
* ''VideoGame/{{XIII}}''
* ''VideoGame/YuGiOhTheFalseboundKingdom''
[[/index]]
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