Nintendo conference call gives new insight into the startling design change for the GameCube Zelda title.

With all the hubbub over Zelda’s new “cel-shaded” look, many people are wondering, Why?

After having gotten off the conference call with Peter Main and Satoru Iwata, it became startlingly clear why Nintendo changed the look of Zelda. While fans worldwide loved the brief clips shown at... Read more...

Billy's posted his predictions and thoughts about Spaceworld 2001. What could be shown or announced at the big Sho'?

It’s finally going to be made official. I am heading back to Japan for Spaceworld 2001. This year (thank GOD) we actually have a team going! As I write this I am listening to the Hyrule Symphony kick out the Ocarina of Time soundtrack (word), and we’re about 3 hours away from Minneapolis, on... Read more...

A Counterpoint to Matt Casamassina’s editorial at IGNCube. Not only does Nintendo know what it has coming, Matt … it’s executing perfectly.

Matt isn’t the only one walking through his local malls, and seeing a plethora of XBox ads and promotional materials. The lack of Nintendo POP presence is certainly disturbing with launch now two and a half months out. The difference is that Nintendo is counting on the price difference, the games, and the positive press to sell the system INSTEAD of traditional advertising.

With such games as Metroid Prime and Turok Evolution on the GameCube horizon, I thought it would be appropriate to take a detailed look at a couple of problems that plague most first person shooters.

What is an FPS? For the uninitiated, an FPS is a first person shooter; a genre of game whereby you take on the role of a character and look through his (or her) eyes for the duration of the game's play (did any body really need me to explain that). Of course, it wouldn't be a shooter without some... Read more...

David returns from a three week Diablo-induced coma packing an exposé detailing the twisted underbelly of online gaming.

Ever since Sega decided to include a 56k modem as part of the Dreamcast hardware, the gaming media has been buzzing with the potential for online console gaming. "Play against real people anytime you want!" they say. "You get the whole screen to yourself, and you can play against more than four... Read more...

Sony used to be a company who pumped out mediocre software with an immense third party backing. Oh how times have changed.

Man, there are some things you’d never imagine being said. What will the next Sonic game look like on Nintendo’s upcoming system? What will be the best selling GameCube launch game, which (barring any Space World announcement) will not feature a Mario title? Some of these questions are proof that... Read more...

Max celebrates 4th of July on PGC & sets off fireworks Super Mario Bros. style! (NOTE: Not patriotic blather!)

Usually we notice all so-called “post office holidays” to give greeting card type shout outs to readers & remind geeks living in the basement what day it is. Today I felt like saying a bit more.

I just got back from Columbus where last night I witnessed “Red, White & Boom,” possibly... Read more...

Today, Nintendo’s first shot in the next-generation of video game wars was fired. Rick Powers attempts to illuminate why the battle may be over before it’s even started …

It’s tempting to say something clichéd, like “they never knew what hit them,” or “it was over before it began.” It’s tempting, but needs to be avoided because it just isn’t true. Sony and Microsoft have known this has been coming for a long time now. Nintendo’s plan to use Game... Read more...

After months of speculation on a possible secret function in the GameCube's controller, it was revealed that the L and R buttons have click-action built into them. What might this be used for?

I remember when I first looked at GameCube's controller; it looked odd. I'm not talking about the appearance though. I thought it was odd because, aside from the button layout, it didn't really bring anything new to the table. Nintendo practically invented the L and R button with the SNES, and... Read more...

E3 is over and Nintendo fans are still euphoric. Leave it to Rick Powers to dampen the festivities. Note, tonight, Mr. Ed Shih is filling in for the role of the Reserved Skeptic.

Don't Count Your Pikmin Before They Sprout

Nintendo’s performance at E3 is certainly something about which fans can get excited, but don’t assume a strong E3 is any indication of a company’s success. One need only look back to last year’s E3 where Sega was the consensus choice for best... Read more...

What's up with Nintendo not showing Mario at E3? Where were Zelda and Pokemon? Jonny Metts offers an answer that you probably weren't expecting.

Regardless of who you think “won” E3 2001, Nintendo’s presence has garnered a lot more discussion than either of its competitors. I wish I could settle the whole thing right now by saying that Nintendo’s booth was far more crowded and popular and noisy and cramped and all kinds of other good... Read more...

Rick manages to crawl out of his post-E3 exhaustion just long enough to sum up some of his thoughts on the show ...

The hardest thing in the world is to come home to your aging, dusty N64 after having experienced the sheer gaming joy that is the Nintendo GameCube. Your hands naturally want to curl into the position to hold that contoured controller, your eyes find it hard to adjust to the lack of bright lights... Read more...

PGC has been waiting anxiously for Nintendo’s next system since before the “Dolphin” days. Now, GameCube’s E3 unveiling is mere days away & Ed Shih is here to explain what all the fuss is about.

There’s less than two weeks to go until the GameCube’s big unveiling, huh? Looking back, it’s been a pretty long wait. When Nintendo announced Project Dolphin back in May 1999, I was still in college, hadn’t even decided to enter the gaming industry, didn’t know anything about PlanetN2000... Read more...

Jonathan Metts takes an in-depth look at that burning, mysterious question: Why do we play videogames?

It's funny, but despite the huge investment of time and money, I'm not really sure why I play videogames. Is it for fun? Well I do have fun playing most games, but I'm not sure if that's the reason or just a fortunate side-effect. Is it an escape from reality? Hmmm...now that seems more likely. Is... Read more...

Well, we think Nintendo does… What’s up with 3rd Parties? Max tells you what could be going on & what we can expect at the show.

E3 draws closer by the day, and E3 2001 will be the best show yet for Nintendophiles as it will mark the highly anticipated unveiling of Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance and GameCube systems. This will be the third time I’ve gone to E3, and I simply cannot wait.

However, this glorious occasion... Read more...

Take a look at what Nintendo is doing, and what they might be doing to prevent the copying of GameCube games.

What I'm about to tell you may seem unbelievable. In fact, it may seem downright stupid. I'm going to tell you that Nintendo may finally put an end to the streak of software piracy that has run through the games industry since the advent of CD systems. As most people know, you can burn working... Read more...

How could that Forbes article POSSIBLY screw up the industry? It could.

Most of you loyal readers know about the recent Forbes article. You know… The one written by “industry analyst” Marcella Bernhard. And you probably read a lot of editorials about it on other websites. Ms. Bernhard wrote her article with what seems to be a minimal effort of research done into... Read more...

When Gary Tozbikian isn't drawing of Louie, he's playing Ogre Battle 64. Maybe this will explain why it's one of the few things he'd take with him on his space mission. Confused? Read it!

A hypothetical situation: What if you were chosen to be the first experimental human cargo on humanity's first light-speed capable spaceship. Traveling at near light-speed, due to some workings of the technology or due to Einsteinian relativity, your trip only lasts a few minutes, although inside... Read more...

PGC doesn't do much N64 reviews so here's an "editorial" why I think Conker's Bad Fur Day is such a treat & why it's important to Nintendo's future!

Conker’s Bad Fur Day has got to be one of the most irreverent, decadent games I’ve ever played. I loved it. Just imagine big-boobed garden flora, giant opera singing poo, drug abusing fire imps, evil teddy bears, and a cute little squirrel that gets tanked to urinate on enemies. And that is just a small sample of the debauching and debasing experienced in this Rare release. Oh sweet bliss.

PGC's graphic designer Josh Haworth pimp slaps the conservative parent groups and confused administrators who think gaming is a past time left only for kids.

Like many of the people who contribute to Planet GameCube, I am an adult and I enjoy video games. I’m not a “hardcore” gamer and I usually restrict my game playing to Perfect Dark (and now Conker) but still feel pretty passionate about the medium. That said, I definitely wish that there were... Read more...