Game Cube

The GameCube video game console was developed and distributed by Nintendo . It is part of the sixth generation of video games and was the direct competition of Sony’s Play Station 2 and Microsoft’s Xbox.

History

The development of the GameCube began with the release of the Nintendo 64 on the market. In 1999 the company partnered with ArtX to design “Flipper” , the console’s graphics processing unit. Simultaneously, Nintendo and IBM come together to develop the CPU, known as “Gekko” .

The first mention of the successor to the Nintendo 64 occurred on March 3, 1999 under the codename “Dolphin . ” For the entire following year, the company was focused on the Nintendo 64 and the Game Boy Color. On August 24, 2000, the day before Spaceworld, Nitendo finally reveals the Nintendo GameCube.

GameCube Features

• Cubic and compact shape.
• Ergonomic control.
• Audiovisual power.
• Connection with Game Boy Advance .
• Network game option.
• Small game discs.

Technical specifications

MPU ( “Microprocessor Unit” ): IBM Power PC “Gekko”.

• Manufacturing Process: 0.18 micron Copper Semiconductor Technology.
• Clock frequency: 485 MHz.
• CPU capacity: 1125 Dmips.
• Internal Data Accuracy: 32 bit Integer and 64 bit Floating Point.
• External Bus: 1.3 GB / second (maximum), 32 bit addressing, 64 bit data bus, 162 MHz clock.
• LSI system: ATI / Nintendo “Flipper”.
• Manufacturing process: 0.18 micron NEC Built-in DRAM.
• Clock frequency: 162 MHz.
• Frame Buffer: Built-in.
• Built-in Texture Cache: Approx. 1MB, 6.2 ns Texture Cache Speed ​​(1T-SRAM).
• Texture Access Bandwidth: 10.4 GB / second (maximum).
• Main Memory Bandwidth: 1.6 GB / second (maximum).
• Pixel Depth: 24-bit color, 24-bit Z buffer.
• Fog Image Processing Function: Sub-pixel anti-aliasing, 8 lights per HW.
• Arithmetic floating point capacity: 10.5 GFLOPS (maximum).
• Actual graphic processing capacity: 6 to 12 million polygons per second.

Memory System: Total 40 MB.

• Main System Memory: 24 MB MoSys 1T-SRAM, continuous access speed: 10 ns approx.
• Sound Memory: 16MB (81MHz DRAM)
• Disk Drive: CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) System.
• Average Access Time to the System: 128 ms.
• Data transmission speed: from 16Mbps to 25 Mbps.

Sound Related Functions:

• Sound Processor : Exclusive Macronix DSP 16 bit design.
• Instruction Memory: 8KB RAM + 8KB ROM.
• Data Memory: 8KB RAM + 4 KB ROM.
• Clock frequency: 81 MHz.
• Maximum number of channels: 64 simultaneous channels, ADPCM encoding.
• Sampling Frequency: 48 KHz.

Connections and ports

• 4 Ports for control knobs.
• 2 Digicard memory card slots.
• 1 analog SNS A / V output
• 1 AV digital output (On models manufactured before March 2004)
• 2 high-speed serial ports. (On models built before March 2004, later models only have 1 port)
• 1 high speed parallel port.

GameCube Models

• Classic model .
• Panasonic Q : Hybrid between the Nintendo Gamecube and a DVD player. Manufactured by Panasonic and Nintendo as part of an agreement and released on November 13, 2001. It was discontinued in 2003.

Medium

Disc for NINTENDO GAMECUBE: 8cm, based on Matsuhita’s Optical Disc technology. 1.5GB capacity. Approximately.

Accessories

• Memory Card 59 : Memory card of 59 blocks, records the progress in the games.
• Game Boy Advance cable : Allows data exchange between the GameCube and the Game Boy Advance. It depends on the game, secret levels are unlocked or the use of the Game Boy as an additional controller.
• Modem adapter : Connect the console to the internet.
• DK Bongós: Special control knob used for Donkey Kong series games .
• Microphone : Included in the Mario Party 6 game .
• Memory Card 251 : 251-block memory card.
• WaveBird Wireless Controller : Control controller that connects to the console without the need for cables.
• Game Boy Player : An adapter that allows you to play games from the Game Boy console series on the GameCube.
• Broadband Adapter : Connects the console to high-speed broadband networks.
• Action Pad : Pad- shaped control stick designed for specialized games.

GameCube Featured Games

Among the list of best-selling games on the GameCube are:

• Super Smash Bros. Melee
• Mario Kart: Double Dash
• Super Mario Sunshine
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
• Luigi’s Mansion
• Mario Party 4
• Metroid Prime
• Star fox adventures
• Mario Party 5
• Pikmin

Curiosities

It is the first Nintendo console that was not released alongside a game in the Super Mario saga .