Shin'en's proprietary sound engine for GBA will be featured in over two dozen games by the end of 2001.

Manfred Linzner, Project Manager at Shin'en, has informed us that their company's excellent GAX sound engine will be quite hard to miss if you're a GBA owner this year. Here's a list of all the current GAX games and those coming shortly:

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

Spider-Man: Mysterio's Menace

Max's email is swamped with GBA reports, but here's some official clarification from NOA about what's going on at retailers.

OK, the GBA is out and should be in some stores TODAY. I'm still trying to go through my email and post some of the best retail reports I received over the weekend (yowza, so much email!)... While I get that together, here's one bit that deserves its own post.

A PGC reader emailed NOA about whether GBA would be available the 11th or the 13th and got a really good response straight from the horse's mouth, which explains things nicely:

Hells yeah! Mall stores across the country are already selling their Game Boy Advance units....wooohooo!

Yep, it's true...if you pre-sold your GBA at a mall store (Electronics Boutique, Funcoland, Gamestop, Software Etc.) you should be able to pick yours up today! Call your local store to check availability. Stores may have a few extra to sell to non pre-sellers (I personally doubt it).

Also,... Read more...

Jo Dark takes a leave of absence from the Carrington Institute to become a star! We've got details on a PD film, TV show and even the video game sequel on GameCube!

Believe it or not, Joanna Dark is going to be coming to theatres and TV! Fireworks Entertainment and Goodman Rosen Prods have optioned the television and movie rights to “Perfect Dark.” A press release issued today covers all the details, and also mentions that the Perfect Dark sequel is on track for Fall 2002.

Is your desktop in need of some GameCube lovin'? Isn't everyone in need of some GameCube lovin'? Rare is here to rescue you!

Head on over to Rareware for the hook up on some pretty slick Star Fox Adventures wallpapers! Thanks to TB for the hook...

What's this?! A store broke the release date of GBA? And there is a super-cool deal for GBA games?!!!!! CHECK IT OUT!

I got quite an interesting e-mail just now... Here it is:

The Electronics Boutique in Federal Way, WA gave out their GBAs today, though

I wasn't lucky enough to have pre-orded there. They also have a deal:

exchange 4 GB or GBC games for 1 brand new GBA game. Just thought Id let you

know. I exchanged 12 games for Tony Hawk, GT Advance, and Castlevania. I

We've gotten bombarded with emails! It seems some retailers will be selling GBA the 11th, some the 13th.

OK, OK... I logged onto my email today to see five pages of new emails. Many of them were from people looking to clarify some recent retail reports. Here's the deal:

Some retailers (notably EB) will have GBA's available tomorrow on the 11th, though only for folks pre-ordering. Other retailers will be working on sorting out colors and pre-order stuff, (as reported by TEH WINDEY DALE) and will start selling units on the 13th.

With these reports of retailers selling the GBA for less than $99, one wonders how much they're paying.

Bloomberg.com has a story about Circuit City who is also selling the Game Boy Advance for $89.99. While that's another useful piece of info for gamers interesting in the GBA, the article also mentions the amount Nintendo is charging retailers for GBAs. $88 per unit is the magic number. You can click on the link to read the whole article or just look below for the excerpt.

If you were hoping the GBA would be released early, we've received more retail reports that indicate we'll have to wait until the 13th, no exceptions.

OK, following up on the retail report we ran the other day from TEH WINDEY DALE suggeting there was no way the GBA would hit retail shelves early, we have a few follow up reports on the GBA worth sharing.

First up is "MarjorGeo!"

MajorGeo says:

I stumbled on your GBA announcements, and decides to offer my bit of the

Some fine folks have translated the Japanese manual for the GBA. Keep the portable love safe!

You're going to drop well over 100 bucks on a GBA...you should be prepared to protect your investment.

Click here IMMEDIATELY! Protect your investment!

Music to your ears? Want to get a cheaper GBA and new games that are actually on sale? PGC's got you and your wallet covered!

Target Stores across the USA are going to be selling the Game Boy Advance for $89.99, and Super Mario Advance and F-Zero: Maximum Velocity for $25.88! Check your Sunday paper for the ad!

Not only that but if you get the GBA at Target, they'll toss in free headphones! Get Mario or F-Zero and you'll get a free game wallet! Free stuff is good, but supplies are limited. So get there early!

Another edition of the Mailbag is coming soon. Where has it been? What's going on? SNED IN YUOR QUESTIONS!!!!!!11!

Yes, yes, yes. The Mailbag will be returning very soon, so send your questions to mailbag@planetgamecube.com!

The Mailbag was temporarily put on hold while I slave labored on the E3 CD at PGC HQ under sweatshop conditions. Billy threatened more bodily harm, so we're releasing another Edition in the meantime, while I still work on the CD. Feel my multitasking love.

Fire Pro Wrestling Advance and Super Dodgeball Advance are on shelves NOW at a store near you...

Just got a call from my sis, who works at a national game retail chain in town. She says they just got in three copies of Fire Pro Wrestling Advance and two copies of Super Dodgeball Advance, and they have both titles up for sale already. Fire Pro was scheduled today according to an earlier retail... Read more...

Nintendo of America has posted all three North American GBA commercials online!

Click the link, download the movies, save them to your hard drive for endless fun and laughter. Now you can enjoy all three of the hilarious "Life Advanced" commercials from the anti-social comfort of your own computer. With only three more days until the GBA launch, this is a great way to get mentally prepared for the future of handheld gaming!

The Gaming Intelligence Agency spreads some light on the consoles wars. It speaks the truth!!

The Gaming Intelligence Agency has written an article about the upcoming console wars. They went all out. This is a massive editorial. After you read this article you will have a new understanding for the upcoming onslaught of consoles and games. READ IT NOW!

Come on in for details on how you Big Apple gamers can meet up with the Advance Team and their tricked out...dune buggies.

We've received word from the Advance Team that they'll be landing at New York City's FAO Schwarz store (at the corner of 5th Avenue and 58th Street) on June 11...as in GBA launch day! Oddly enough, they'll be entering the store in special Nintendo dune buggies. Go figure. If you couldn't get your... Read more...

GBA games may be hitting shelves early but don't expect the Game Boy Advance itself to go on sale till the 11th. Check out another PGC Retail Report!

We received another retail report a couple days ago, this time from our pal, "TEH WINDEY DALE" (who I like to call "TEH" for short). He's written in to let us know that despite many retailers already selling GBA games, there is a snowball's chance in hell that any retailers will break the date on selling actual Game Boy Advance systems.

Koei sheds some light on what the heck is going on over there.

According to the Magic Box, Koei will not be releasing any software for the GameCube in the 2001 fiscal year. A previous false report was generated when Koei's website was hacked. Koei has been known to be a GameCube supporter, so we should see something from them later on. Planet GameCube is contacting Koei and we hope to have an official confirmation to clear all this up.

Goku and pals will be fighting aganist the Saiyans on the Game Boy Advance.

Good news for all you Dragon Ball Z fans out there (and were know there are a lot of you). The Legacy of Goku will be coming to the Game Boy Advance via the developer Webfoot Technologies and publisher Infogrames, who secured the rights to publish brand new DBZ games for North American and European... Read more...

A kind soul has shared the Swedish GBA commercial with the rest of the world.

Another example of Nintendo's great ad campaign, this Swedish commercial is about a man that loves his Mario Advance more than his dignity. Let's just say it takes place in a public bathroom. It's hilarious, so check it out right now.

Specail thanks to the good folks at EAGB for the link!