Rick gives PGC the best present he could find ... bad news for Microsoft.

Discuss it in Talkback!

Microsoft is recalling the Xbox in Japan due to a defect that can cause scratches on the game discs.

Update! Microsoft has issued a press release stating that this was an "erroneous report" due to a misinterpretation and that there is no "recall". However, they... Read more...

Wooohoooo! Raise your Dew's kiddies! Three years of Nintendo love! Our Birthday wishes are inside....

Discuss it in Talkback!

We’ve survived 3 full years. In website years that’s like 107. I personally want to congratulate the unbelievably selfless, hardworking staff of Planet GameCube. If it weren’t for you, there’s no way we would be where we are today. We’re not just a staff,... Read more...

Shigeru Miyamoto recently did an interview with CNN Money, which focused on his interest (or lack thereof) in online gaming.

Miyamoto attributes the philosophical problems, extra costs, hassles, network outages, and system lags as reasons why he is not high on online gaming.

Ultimately, he believes, the excitement surrounding online gaming has been the communication -- a trait the company has long been familiar with.

Some interesting happenings on Nintendo’s European GBA website, including the chance to win a Jet Black GBA!

Nintendo’s GBA newsletter announced today several new features on the gameboyadvance.co.uk website.

One ongoing challenge is to complete a series of games in order to win a prize. The first prize for the most recent challenge is a Jet Black Game Boy Advance. You need to collect six weeks worth... Read more...

Sonic The Hedgehog's creator speaks about the character's life on other platforms.

CVG interviewed Sonic mastermind Yuji Naka about Sonic’s appearance on the GameCube. Here are some excerpts.

When asked about why the GameCube was chosen to be the platform for the mascot he replied:

“Sonic absolutely wanted to run on Nintendo hardware! For myself, too, even though I have been fighting with Nintendo for 18 years, I have been feeling that I definitely wanted to develop hardware at least one time.”

Add another one to the list -- our friends at Nintendo Power have also had the pleasure of sitting down with the masterminds themselves! Full details inside...

Nintendo Power's interview with Iwata and Miyamoto produced some interesting details concerning some of the projects on the horizon, as well as Nintendo's philosophy in general. Below are a few highlights from the interview.

NP: Will 1080 Snowboarding 2 feature gameplay similar to the realistic action in the N64 version, or do you plan to take a different approach?

I know I've seen a movie of this somewhere. Rayman 3 Hoodlum Havoc announced! The official word inside.

UBI SOFT ANNOUNCES SEQUEL TO BEST-SELLING RAYMAN® CARTOON FANTASY SERIES

Brace Yourselves! Rayman Enters Hoodlum Havoc

March 6, 2002 - Ubi Soft® Entertainment, one of the largest video game publishers in the world, today announced plans to release Rayman® 3 Hoodlum Havoc in the U.S. and Europe this fall with availability on all next generation consoles and PC.

Famitsu has it!

According to QUITER, Famitsu has announced that Mario Tennis and Mario Golf are currently in development for the GameCube. Camelot, not surprisingly will be behind the projects. No word yet as to if there is a GBA counterpart.

Special thanks to milhouse31 of the Gaming Age forums

Highlights of the interview between Castlevania producer, Mr. Igarashi, and Dengeki inside.

The April issue of Dengeki GameCube features an interview with Mr. Igarashi (AKA “Iga”), Castlevania’s producer. Read on for his comments on the upcoming GBA version of Castlevania and his thoughts on GameCube.

Dengeki: The series title has changed to Castlevania, what is the reason?... Read more...

Okay, he didn't specifically say that, but he did throw out the Columbine lawsuit against Nintendo and other media companies.

Many people in the gaming community (though not all, to be fair) were appalled when several families of Columbine High School victims filed a lawsuit against Nintendo and several other media companies, alleging that the "violent" video games, movies, and music those companies produce inspired the atrocious acts committed by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold at Columbine.

What’s the status? We asked Denis Dyack, President of Silicon Knights that very question.

According to the man himself, Eternal Darkness is on track and should have no further delays. “We’re working very hard on it, and it’s coming along very well.” Dyack said.

I asked him if there could be any chance that Eternal Darkness could be delayed again, and Denis said, “Everything is currently on schedule for the June release.”

Sega has announced what games they will be exhibiting at GameJam 2.

Sega of Japan has recently updated their website with information on the titles that will be exhibited during the GameJam2 in Tokyo International Forum -SEGA Spring Collection.

For the GameCube:

Super Monkey Ball

Virtual Striker 3 Version 2002

Sonic Adventure 2 Battle

Phantasy Star Online

How goes the struggle for market domination in Japan? A mixed bag for Nintendo, really.

Game Title

System

Maker

Last Week's Rank

Week Before Last's Rank

This Week's Sales

Total Unit Sales

1

Sangokushi Senki

PS2

Koei

-

-

68,487

68,487

2

Samurai

PS2

Spike

1

-

50,748

138,679

Details emerge on Bits Corp's new shooter. Click for the full story.

Cube Europe had a chance to sit down with Foo Katan (CEO Bits Corp) and Mario Aguera (Die Hard: Vendetta producer). You can find the full interview here. Below are a few interesting points.

C-E: Will you be including a multiplayer mode, possibly co-operative and if so, what kind of modes and features will be included?

That's right folks. A gift from above has dropped the final FINAL batch of E3 videos on my doorstep. Didn't get one yet? Well Timmy...get with it!

Update! We've got just over 20 left, so if you haven't ordered one and are interested...e-mail me and let me know! Once they're gone....it's all over!

That's right. I've gotten the last batch of E3 2001 video's back from Gaming Edge. Thank god.

Anyway, if you were looking for the VHS + CD set...we have some back in stock. There were a lot of people that wanted them, so contact me, and let me know if you're still interested!

I think this is the first time Europeans have a leg up! Luigi's Mansion will offer a little bonus to Europe...the goods are here.

During an interview with Gamespot, Shigeru Miyamoto let a little Luigi's Mansion secret out about it's European version. WHAT?! EXTRA GOODIES?

Though, in the case of Luigi's Mansion, for the European launch, we've added some new elements to the hidden mansion that become accessible after you clear the game and strengthened that mode so that people will probably be interested in playing it a little longer than they did the US version.

In a completely unexpected shakeup for Nintendo fans, figurehead Ken Lobb has apparently resigned from Nintendo and now works for... MICROSOFT?!? Or is this a "March 1" prank?

IGN has posted a shocker. Nintendo figurehead Ken Lobb has resigned to take a position at Microsoft.

Ken Lobb's impact has been fairly extensive, contributing to various game developments from assisting 2nd parties like Rare to getting his namesake gun in GoldenEye (KLOBB).

No future details on the matter are available. Stay tuned.

Nintendo has put up its Fire Emblem: Sealed Sword website.

Tons of pics, character information, and game system info can be seen on this website. Some of the new information and tidbits that have been revealed:

There are apparently 2 different battle screen styles you can pick from, and even a battle mode that includes battle backgrounds (our previous preview indicated that they were removed. It appears now that they are included, although we do not have 100% confirmation on that).

Star Fox Adventures and the second wave of Animal Forest cards get release dates.

Nintendo of Japan updated its Japanese release date section. Japanese gamers will be getting Star Fox Adventures on May 31, ten days earlier than U.S. The second edition of Animal Forest trading cards will be available on April 21. EA Square’s FIFA World Cup 2002 will be released on May 2. On a side note, the Wave Bird controller has not yet received a release date in Japan.

For a limited time, Lawsons and Nintendo are offering a Deluxe Package edition of Fire Emblem: The Sealed Sword!

Lawsons, the convenience store chain allied with Nintendo in Japan, is now offering, between 3/1 and 3/20, a chance to preorder a special edition of Fire Emblem: The Sealed Sword. This special edition can only be pre-ordered at Lawson Loppi machines or through their online store. This package comes included with: