It is none more than general wise sentiment for one living in constant, livid anticipation of an single event for so long as a period of a full one and another half years to accept, gracefully of course, that upon the climax of his/her waiting affair, they're likely not going to be in a state of mind (or body) that much lends its atmosphere to the general range of those experienced in their day-to-day (and waiting) lives.

That's why as I approach the writing of this, my analysis of the climax of the waiting [on] period of what has been my life's parallel interest since the end of 1998, and no less than my utter obsession since May 12, 1999: the Next Generation Nintendo Console, the N2K, and much more fondly, the Dolphin; I feel obligated to inform all those whom would stumble upon this item that I, in implicating clearly, concisely, and early on the fact that this subject is as near and dear to me as my own bodily extensions, as often and passionately debated as my politics, and as ingrained in my very being as my many ambitions, do not feel compelled to write a careful piece delicately balancing the dangers and wayfalls, the ups and downs, the good and the bad of what was shown on August 24th, year 2000. (By the way, this'll be a series.)

I intend not to write to the IGN-link stumblers who are no doubt sifting through this website to see what this sudden big fit in this sector of the web is all about, nor do I intend to write to appease the ilk that frequents all the big game sites with the same set of eyes and waves no single game-maker flags. And I do not intend to write an unintelligible diatribe covered in a multiplatform skirt, like the good folks at DailyRadar are sure to do. I intend today to address the proud few who would walk through a crowded park with a Mario hat sitting proudly atop his/her head. The ones who play out every title adorned with a Mario, Zelda, or Metroid title with such maniacal persistence, their thumbs bear horrible, infected scars (well, maybe).

I write to the ones who have feverishly debated in the forums and on the streets the past year and over about why "Dolphin" will be, for a lack of better words, the bomb. I write not to the very numerous Nintendo fans out there; I write to the fanatics who've for the past seemed eternity coasted OpN2000, The Cove, N-Next(Nation now), and of course PlanetN2000 like they were their own private stomping grounds.

Guys, we've made it. Instead of uniting against the seemingly all-abound ignorance and seemed malice towards Nintendo's new console under the blind-faith (nay, earned trust) thesis that "It will be great," we can now unite under the single, poignant phrase:

"Use your flipping eyes, stupid, it KICKS ASS."

I'll be adding to this thing over the next couple of weeks, updating my thoughts on the console, and more importantly, its perception in the mainstream online gaming journalism sector (wait, did I say "mainstream" in regards to that?).

Well, I suppose this is edition I, then. Enjoy (and I apologize for this late day of postage; I've been extremely busy making up for the first 3/4 of this summer spent bored in college with a busy fourth quarter that keeps me pretty occupied. That, and Billy has had me locked out of the staff area for several months, unbeknownst to me when I originally wished to post this.). MO< Console name:

Anyone who's been around long enough to know OpN2000 knows that I, speaking both in that sites forum proper and its unmatched (as of yet) message boards, always fancied Nintendo should take a hint from Sony and Sega's book: giving its console a brand name entirely separate from the "Nintendo" brand. This made especial sense given that this device would soon adorn Panasonic DVD players around the world, and that company would not take kindly to having another company's name in the title of device it had licensed. Anyone who knows me knew what name I fancied for the console:

Nintendo GameBase, or GameBase. This simple title retains the "game" base (haha, get it?) also prevalent in the name of Nintendo's handheld line: GameBoy, which would in fact hook up to the console, using it as its "Base." I'm killing myself, get it? Well, it now turns out that Nintendo did finally dump its company name from the title of its console, and retained the 'Game" base, but with a Cube this time (I promise, I won't do that again. Ha. Sorry.)

Let it be known, then, that I think the name "GameCube" is indeed a fantastic one. its singular brand name status will make licensing less...confusing, shall we say, for Panasonic, and will ensure Nintendo makes clear the link between its console and the GameBoy Advance.

Let it also be known that I was fond of the "StarCube" moniker. And that despite the "GameBase" hope, my ingrained, giddish little desire for the console's name can be compounded with the phrase:

"Call it "Dolphin."

Oh well, "GameCube does it just fine for me. Sure is better than "PlayStation." Wait, no, its the exact same idea...

Console design:

When Nintendo lifted the veil off it's "Next Generation TV-Console" to a flood of mixed opinions regarding , most of the negativity was buzzing solely around the Industrial Design of the box...and it's apparent lack of "coolness." I can certainly confirm for our readers that when I caught first glance of the box who's phantom had drawn a million new pictures in my head every night, I was sorely disappointed. I had expected a sleek, cool, "stand-on-my-own"-ish design a la the Power Mac G4 Cube. At frst wind, it looked like I had gotten a reject from a 70's box-club. It only got worse as Nintendo updated its site with official pictures; "Horrible purple hued lunch-box pisses on my dreams" just about sums up a headline residents of my head would have gotten in their daily read. "And what the hell is with that handle!" Is it so I can use the console to smash the millions of Dolphin-bashers on account of its Barney-toilet appearance? While the black and greay consoles have certainly had me strangely aroused the past few days (another console use?), with their dark glares hiding the horrible (lack of) curvature of the bland box, they do not nearly vidicate Nintendo's ID department for this horrible hunk of plastic.

I know Nintendo's trying to make a statement with the freakishness of the unit: "We are all about games! We look like games! Nothing else!" But you know what? That's not the statement this unit seems to be sending. It seems to be that this unit takes all the progress Nintendo has made in the last year regarding attracting the older, "cooler" consumer, and takes a big piss on it.

My sole hope resides in the realm of knowledge that dictates that NOJ designed this console to the Japanese market, to appeal to the current trends of the Japanese industrial design sector, which is currently enamored with small, colorful, mobile things that seem to defy all the rules of the older code. That's great. And you know what, I hope NOA does the same thing in regards to appealing to its own market, and redesigns this thing for the US market. Keep the handle! Just add some distinct curves, get rid of the gills, make the damn colors match! Make it look consistent! I think that if released in the US as is, the GameCube could be the most detrimental thing Nintendo ever does to its crusade to attract older gamers. And I'm sure the kiddies don't care either way.

Verdict: It did grow on me...but not enough to wholly change my opinion. I don't like it.

(Late addition - This writing comes three days after the completion of the whole piece, and after a nice trip to Las Vegas; the road trips of which afforded me much time to think this matter in greater detail. And after these thoughts had passed, my verdict on the console design has taken a turn to the better. I like the black and gray ones. There, it's said. They grew on me, their sleek, individualistic (apparently) demeanors striking a fanciful, magic chord in my psyche. And since its figured that this console will soon be sitting aside my television day-in and day-out, and that is when my opinion of it shall be finalized, my initial opinion really didn't mean a thing; I LIKE the console design. I suppose it still wasn't as good as my initial reaction to the PS2, though...)

Controller Design:

Before the actual analysis of the controller, let it just be said that I was expecting to be fantastically blown away by the sheer freakiness of the design of the sure-to-be-revolutionary console. I dunno, something with wings, maybe. All this despite recurring vows from Miyamoto that this controller was not to be as revolutionary an affair as the N64's was in its time. Well, let it suffice to say that I was not flabergasted by the design. I was not even totally surprised, as IGN64 had practically nailed the (currently revealed) design annuity of the controller: its sattelite action button configuration (the fact that the second controller mock-up from that site compleately lost this true aspect of the final controller is a testament to Nintendo misinformation leaks. Good job, NOA).

Anyway, the controller looks a lot like the Dual Shock, although I'm sure it shares very little with the aforementioned, less-comfortable-than-the-N64's-pad's feel. Anyway, since this seems to be the general reaction from the gaming public, this fact leading to many silly sentiments bouncing about the 'net these days. (I fear to ask how many reading this work partook in DR's Chris Charla's hunk of Cheese on this matter:

"[It looks like a Dual Shock], but with worse buttons." Wonderful how paltry a concern frequent displays of sheer unintelligible ignorance appear to be to the facilitators of that website.

Anyway, the opinion that the GC controller looks a great deal like a Dual Shock didn't just spread like a cancer because it was something Sony fanatics thought would be cool to go around yelling while they chase their cats through their garages with eager tweezers (what was that all about?) In abandoning its three-pronged N64 design, Nintendo is left with a 2 pronged (four if you're crazy) controller with the same rudimentary frontwork as Sony's Nintendo rip-off controller (I just had to say it.) However, once the intuitive, innovative nature of the button arrangement becomes ingrained in your mind, you'll be able to see that Nintendo's controller is an entirely different beast than Sony's, and given the nature of the company, probably a Universe-worth more comfortable and functional. The satellite button set-up is revolutionary in itself, and Miyamoto assures us we have not yet seen the truly whacked-out feature GC's controller pad shall ordain, the one that will herald in a new era of person-console interaction in home videogaming (or at least be really awesome). I also assume this one won't be too big, as many thought the N64's was (not me, oh no...), as Miyamoto commented that size was the hardest issue Nintendo was tackling in the controller's design. Built in rumble is a good progression by the company that itself invented the controller-rumble feature with the N64. And its also good that the controller will not be Nintendo's dump-pad for accessories, as was the N64. The console'll get that responsibility this time around, no doubt.

Anyway, that's about as much as can objectively be written by someone who did not attend SpaceWorld, and has not yet held the controller. This truth, compounded by the fact that Miyamoto assures us we have not yet been captivated by the truly unique, whacked-out feature GC's controller pad shall ordain, the one that will herald in a new era of person-console interaction in home videogaming (or at least be really awesome) makes further unbiased observation on this point utterly impossible.

I'm sure that in the end, it'll be the best controller ever, though. As long as they address that God-awful color scheme. That yellow C-Stick is the bane of humanity. No, really.

Verdict: Nintendo has never disappointed with a controller, and, in fact, has always innovated and been copied by all its rivals. The controller WILL rule. This is not blind faith. This is well earned faith.

Console Power:

Oh, this thing's a beute, ain't she. I won't bore any of you with the technical details I'd have to provide you with second hand, because I'm absolutely certain that the very fact you have found this editorial, coupled with the tardiness (well, sort of) of its postage online, you're all very aware of the GC's fantastic power.

What's the better is that you're also aware that the GC's power is, unlike the PS2, indeed of an extremely tangible nature. And don't let the fact that MS has already been blowing this whistle alarm you too much. All reports make Dolphin (okay...GC) development seem like even more of a breeze than Xbox.

More games, my friends. that's what this lovely truth amounts to. Many, many more games gracing GC than its poor predecessor, which still managed to hammer out 30 million sold units on the strength of Nintendo's then-hampered-by-technology, world-beating first party teams in Japan. I'm not even going to point out that NCL's teams will now be more than capable of producing, if only on its own (and w/ its second parties) enough software to sustain the console on its own, if need be. We know that needn't be, though. Look out, Xbox. Nintendo's not playing around. let's make a bold, rash guess right now, shall we? I wager that in its first 18 months, Nintendo GameCube will have more titles available than the n64 did in its whole 5 year shelf life, and since we're on this tangent here, let's up the accountability sakes a little more with this hypothesis: GameCube will have at least as much third party support as MS Xbox, and more titles will be available for Nintendo's console after 2 years of release than will be after 2 years of Xbox. Whew.

Now, in the interest of keeping this "series" going for at least a single week, I will stop edition I there (here).

Edition 2 shall deal with the most important aspect of the Nintendo Dolphin (yeah, the Dolphin): it's perception in the media. And for all you smart cookies out there, the reason Nintendo's official specs aren't mentioned in the 'console power' section is that they've been much more a factor in the way the console has been recived then as to actually informing the public of the console's power. That's what the amazing demos were for.

So, until tomorrow (scratch that, until next time)...