The European GBA launch is right around the corner, and we've got how much cha' ching it's gonna cost!

The GBA Euro launch is hitting on June 22, and the price of the unit has just been revealed over at Games Radar (formerly Daily Radar UK)....

US consumers are paying $99.99, which is roughly £73, while Japanese shoppers pay 9,800 yen, around £58. The hefty price tag seems to fly in the face... Read more...

I still didn't believe it when I read it....

Here's the site excerpt:

>>Pokémon Confiscation Leads to Suicide

Cards: A U.K. schoolboy was found hanged in his home after a teacher confiscated his Pokémon cards.

According to a report in The Times, the family of 10-year-old is demanding an independent inquiry into his death. The... Read more...

Citing a slower than expected growth in broadband users, many in the Microsoft camp worry about the success of the new console.

Some more dreary news has just hit Nintendo's neighbor & now competitor in Seattle, Microsoft. We don't want to kick a horse when its down (especially since we're a Nintendo site and we appear biased every time we do) but when Microsoft itself is expressing concern over the X-Box months before its launch, you have to wonder how successful the much-hyped console will be.

Mike S' local newspaper ran 2 articles on the the Game Boy Advance. See what they had to say!

I don't get the newspaper anymore. But my friend Kai does. So, he scanned these 2 articles about the GBA and I'm posting them here for all your PGCers to read. The GBA made the Front Page! How cool is that? The articles are pretty good too. The first article from The Gainesville Sun of Gainesville, FL. The other is from The Dallas Morning News. The articles are transcribed below:

Information and commentary from several Canadian developers preparing for the next console war, including Silicon Knights & Denis Dyack!

Macleans just ran an article covering the game industry and prominent Canadian developers, including Denis Dyack of Silicon Knights! The report gives a nice sampling of some of Canada’s top development teams and how each are preparing for the next round of console wars, whether it be for Nintendo, Microsoft and/or Sony. Although there is little new information, it is still a fantastic read.

Coming to a European country near you sooner than expected!

According to Tendo Box, (2 words, damnit!) British gaming store GAME is taking pre-orders for GameCube at £150, stating that the GAME stores expect to get the 'Cube in February--one month earlier than previously expected. This also sets the GameCube to come out up to a month before the Xbox.

News about Sega Sports, what AM2 could be working on and that ever-so-persistant rumor of Mario & Sonic appearing together.

I just got an email from “Ingo the Ranch Hand” who directed me over to Tendo Box for this exciting report. It comes from the latest issue of the English Nintendo magazine N64:

"Despite Sega admitting that it felt a bit odd to see a Nintendo console in their own [E3] stand, they're fully... Read more...

Sega... WE LOVE YOU MANG!

According to our super spy, theheck, Pocket Gamer magazine has confirmed that Sega is porting the Phantasy Star series to the Game Boy Advance.

The Phantasy Star series, widely considered to be among the best RPG series ever, consists of four games which were originally released on Sega's 8-bit Master System and the 16-bit Genesis.

Wanna see who just might be showing up in Smash Bros Melee? Check this to get the juice.

Ever since it was announced, hell, even before it was announced, people have been speculating on what characters would appear in the next Super Smash Bros game. Tendo Box has a movie that reveals a large amount of characters. The movie shows the bio pages for said characters. It's still unknown as... Read more...

PGC Retail Reporter "SillyMrMan" has submitted another report: Nintendo has made a sneak attack on unsuspecting consumers!

PGC’s Retail Reporter pal, “SillyMrMan” (who also goes by the name “Eric” but he’s more notorious & anonymous under his other handle) has helped us out a few times and we’ve kept in touch. He came to me tonight to point out something some people had overlooked.

“Have you seen the American GBA box?”

A public service announcement! PGC encourages you not to take in-game frustration out on your GBA. Read one man’s tragic tale and take heed!!

As the Game Boy Advance was released to stores today and many PGC readers got their units today (or will sometime this week), we'd like to share an unfortunate story of anger and the GBA that suffered for it. One of our readers (who will remain nameless) submitted his tale of woe. We did not edit this fellow’s email and appears as we received it:

During E3, IGNCube sat down with Activision’s Larry Goldberg, who spoke positively about the GameCube and confirmed that Tony Hawk 3 is in development for GBA! WHOOO!

At E3, IGNCube got to interview Activision’s Larry Goldberg, who is executive vice president of world studios. He had several positive things to say about the GameCube but stated that Activision wouldn’t be releasing games for the system this year. He also confirms that Tony Hawk 3 is being developed for Game Boy Advance!

Gaming Age paid a visit to EA's studios and came back with this interview. We've got highlights and da link!

Just before E3, EA BIG confirmed that it would be bringing NBA Street (among other titles) to GameCube. Now, Gaming Age has posted an exclusive interview with EA Big about the game. GA’s Tim Lewinson spoke with NBA Street’s Associate Producer Josh Holmes.

Here are some highlights:

Over the weekend, lots of folks wrote in letting PGC know what's up with GBA at numerous retailers! Our longest Retail Report yet!

Feathers were ruffled big time after we posted a few retailer reports that indicated Game Boy Advance would be released on the 13th and not the 11th at some stores. In fact, I got tons of email reporting this fact and/or offering numerous perspectives on how retailers are handling the launch of the GBA.

More proof that friends shouldn't let friends make crack-addled Flash animations ...

Thanks to Blue's News for the link, and whomever made this, ahem, piece of art.

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...