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The peripherals
Nintendo and third-party developers have a number of promising GameCube peripherals on the horizon, so we wrangled up a list of the most intriguing products. Bear in mind, though, that while all of these items have been announced, no hard dates or prices have been given, except where listed.
Nintendo and third-party developers have a number of promising GameCube peripherals on the horizon, so we wrangled up a list of the most intriguing products. Bear in mind, though, that while all of these items have been announced, no hard dates or prices have been given, except where listed.
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Picture perfection
Nintendo has a proprietary connection cable, but companies such as InterAct Accessories are working on more robust video-output hubs that have S-Video as well as component-video outputs. Nintendo is also planning to provide a high-end DVI connector kit for really top-of-the-line displays. (A tip: the GameCube and N64 use the same connector plug, so if you can get your hands on a cheap N64 S-Video output, grab it now.)
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In control
A number of companies are working on their own flavors of the GameCube gamepad. Some of these items have rubberized grips and work wirelessly, while others have unusual shapes; we haven't had the opportunity to play with all of them yet. Prices for the controllers vary, but you'll definitely need extras, since the system comes bundled with only one. Nintendo's wireless Wavebird is the controller to look for when it comes out in the first quarter of 2002. It seems solid and sturdy, and it works up to 30 feet away from the system.
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On the road again
The GameCube is tiny, and heck, it has a handle, so it only makes sense that it should have an equally mobile display. Enter InterAct Accessories' LCD Mobile Monitor 5.4. Strap this to the top of the console, plug in the power supply, and watch your GameCube titles on a 5.4-inch LCD. Eventually, you will be able to buy (separately) a rechargeable power pack to make your time on the road go a whole lot quicker. This is the perfect solution to keep your kids--or your buddies--preoccupied between rest stops. The Mobile Monitor is set to come out near launch time for about $149. However, there is no final date for the mobile power pack.
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Plugged in
It's no secret that Nintendo had other plans for the Game Boy Advance (GBA). That USB port atop the unit can connect to a whole lot more than another GBA. Nintendo has announced plans for a cable to plug your handheld into the GameCube mothership, bringing a whole new dimension of sophistication to gameplay by letting you control and play games both on the GameCube and the Game Boy Advance. It's still unclear, though, whether this will be released in the United States.
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Thanks for the memory
Hey, here's a concept: a console that uses standard Secure Digital (SD)/MultiMedia Memory cards (MMC) rather than the expensive proprietary cards that we've seen in the past. Kudos to Nintendo for dreaming up an adapter for SD and MMC. If and when they become available, you should be able to pick up one of these adapters and use the MMC card from your old MP3 player in your spiffy, new GameCube. You can use cards as large as 64MB, so you'll never run out of room.
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Wired
There are several covered ports nestled below the GameCube: two serial and one called the Hi-Speed port. The Hi-Speed port is where the hard drive should eventually go, while the serial ports will accommodate 56k modem and broadband adapters. We don't know when they're coming (the online network isn't in place yet), but third-party software companies, such as Sega, are planning to bring online gaming to the 'Cube.
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| • | Intro | • | The peripherals |
| • | GameCube console | • | The top 5 launch titles |
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