You heard right, there is a brand new playable character for the GameCube version of Skies of Arcadia. Get the juice inside.

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According to the french site Newtechnix, Sega has announced a brand new playable character for the GameCube version of Overworks' fantastic RPG Skies of Arcadia (Eternal Arcadia in Japan). The news is in french so here is a translation via the all knowing Babelfish:

Calling all Robotech lovers out there. Wanna know exactly what's in the Special Edition box set?

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TDK Mediactive to Launch Exclusive 'Robotech: Battlecry' Collector's Edition

Limited-Edition Set Packed Full of Exclusive Content

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. - July 30, 2002 - TDK Mediactive, Inc. (OTC:TDKM), a global publisher of interactive entertainment software,... Read more...

These are better than the Aussie dates. No, really. Exact dates for all exciting first party titles this year, including Doshin!

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I know you came here looking for release dates, so here they are.

September

Disney’s Magical Mirror starring Mickey Mouse, 13th September

Doshin the Giant, 20th September

October

Super Mario Sunshine, 4th October

November

Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, 1st November

Pretty self-explanatory, really.

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In the middle of all this Mario Sunshine hype, here's something for the Aussies who have to wait until OCTOBER for theirs. GameCube release dates, fresh from Nintendo Australia to my fax to you. As a bonus, I was kindly given release dates for Nintendo's Gameboy Advance... Read more...

Holy crap, Billy just turned thirty! Now he can get all of his medical testing supplies from Liberty Medical with no out-of-pocket costs!

31 Smacks on the Bottom in Talkback!

Billy Berghammer, Founder and Director of Planet N2000/Planet GameCube, turned thirty years old on July 27, 2002. Let us all mourn.

Many of you probably don't know the real, fascinating story behind Billy's rise to success. He was born in the backwoods... Read more...

How well has the plumber debuted in Japan? *dramatic pause*

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According to Dengeki Online, Super Mario Sunshine sold 308,765 copies between July 19th and the 21st.

Media Create also has Mario Sunshine doing very well, as it's placed at the top of the rankings for games sold between July 15th and 21st.

Want to try out some new GameCube games made by Nintendo, but don't live in Japan? Well too bad!

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Nintendo has announced that they will be holding "The Nintendo Game Front"

at the Panasonic Center, which is scheduled to open in September. The

Nintendo Game Front will allow visitors to test out the latest Nintendo

games with the latest Panasonic equipment.

Counterfeit Nintendo products are making up a significant proportion of fake toys and games found at customs.

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Out of all the counterfeit toys and game seized at customs in European Union member states, 48% are Nintendo products, making up around 750,000 items and it is said this figure includes games consoles.

Although the amount of electical equipment seized has tripled, the number of toys and games taken has fallen by 77% from the figures in 2000.

A bunch more exhibitors have joined the list for ECTS 2002.

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Acclaim, Codemasters, Electronic Arts, Infogrames, Midway, and Rage will have stands at ECTS 2002 and also the Sony PlayStation Experience, which is accessible to the public.

A full list of exhibitors can be found at the link above.

MORE MAJORS FOR ECTS 2002

What “Nintendo Games Day”? I hear you ask. Just a short word on the event, for the time being.

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To allow UK media to sample the new titles displayed at E3, Nintendo held a games day at the Cocomo bar in East London. The games on show were:

Eternal Darkness

Legend of Zelda

Magical Mirror Starring Mickey Mouse

Mario Party 4

Metroid Prime

Resident Evil

If you live near the Baltimore Convention Center, or are planning on going to Otakon, you'll be able to experience Super Mario Sunshine.

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Planet GameCube is heading to Otakon, bringing a copy of Super Mario Sunshine with it for use in Otakon's video gaming room. This east coast convention is the 2nd largest anime/manga/video games convention in the United States.

If you've been dying to experience Mario, or even see it in action, be sure to stop by the convention this weekend, from July 26-28th!

Inquiring minds wanna know.

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There are 11 shines per level.

There are 8 stories per level. 1 shine per story.

There are also 3 additional shines in each level. There's also hub and other shines.

Total shines in Super Mario Sunshine = 120

Don't understand your Katakana all that well? Don't worry, we've got all the major menu screens translated for your viewing pleasure!

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File Select Screen:

Save Game Screen:

Saving Screen:

Continue Screen:

A huge thank you to Alexis and Neil for the pictures and translations!

For all of you wishing for a silver GameCube after Spaceworld 2000, your chance is not too far off. Read on!

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MAMMA MIA! MARIO AND NINTENDO TURN UP THE HEAT!

It's already the most-anticipated fall lineup in video game

history--and it just powered up with a brand new one-two punch!

Nintendo of America today announces that effective October 14th,

eager players will be able to purchase the indigo-colored Nintendo

Division 6 has released an alternative to the dimmer included with the Afterburner. Read on for more details.

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The Stealth Dimmer chip is made for those who want to be able to adjust the brightness of the Afterburner light without cutting a hole in their Game Boy Advance to install a dial. Since it connects to the buttons on the GBA, the A or B button can be used in conjuction... Read more...

Kain is making his first-ever appearance on a Nintendo system, just in time for Halloween.

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Eidos announced today that Blood Omen 2, developed by Crystal Dynamics, will be released on GameCube this Halloween. Versions for Xbox and PS2 were released almost simultaneously earlier this year, but we don't yet know if the tardy GameCube port will have any extra features or improvements.

Our complete Mario coverage continues today. When we say complete Mario coverage...what do we mean exactly?

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Now that's a lot of Mario! It brings a tear to your eye doesn't it? Special thanks to our import partners Lan Kwei for hooking us up with 2 cases of Super Mario Sunshine!

We know you need your Mario fix, and we've got plenty of spoiler-free, and spoiler-filled impressions coming your way in the next couple of days. And that's not all...

Mascots galore!

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NCAA Football 2003 from EA has now shipped to stores for all three systems, including GameCube. This college football game features every Division 1-A school with each mascot and set of team colors, and many of the most famous fight songs have been orchestrated. If you... Read more...

Three new vice-presidents have been announced at Nintendo of America.

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Nintendo Recognizes Leadership and Innovation With Promotion of Three Key Executives

REDMOND, Wash., July 22, 2002 – Nintendo of America Inc. today announced three senior–level executive promotions. Mike Fukuda has been named Senior Vice President, Business Development; Don James, Senior Vice President, Operations; and Elizabeth Aurelio, Vice President, Credit.

Don't subscribe to Nintendo Power? Planning on getting Super Mario Sunshine? Nintendo has a deal for you!

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If you haven't pre-ordered Super Mario Sunshine yet, Nintendo has a great offer for you. For $69.95, you can get Super Mario Sunshine sent to you 2-day air, along with a Memory Card 59, coupon for $10 off a Wave Bird, and a full year of Nintendo Power.

Oh, and the Player's Guide. but only CHEETARS use those. ;)