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In a stunning development, Nintendo this morning unveiled the
GameCube Game Boy Player for Nintendo GameCube. The 1-inch tall peripheral attaches to the base
of the console, connecting through GameCube's high speed parallel
data port. The system accepts Game Boy Advance, Game Boy
Color, and traditional Game Boy games through a port in the front of
the unit. Gamers will then be able to play their Game Boy games on a
full television screen with a standard GameCube controller or a Game
Boy Advance connected by a GCN/GBA Link Cable.
Multiple players can
connect as they would do with any Game Boy Advance through a
standard GBA Game Link cable. However, only one player will be able
to view the game on the TV screen while other players will have to
use their GBA screens. Multiple GameCube Game Boy
Players can be linked with a GBA Game Link cable to offer
multiplayer gameplay on multiple television screens.
The GameCube Game Boy Player, which has surely been in development
for quite some time, is set for a March 2003 launch in Japan, to be
followed by a May 2003 release in North America. The peripheral will
include a GameCube launch disc and carry an MSRP of ¥5,000 ($41) in Japan.
The peripheral will however retail with a $49.99 MSRP in the States
and will be available exclusively in Jet Black.
Peter MacDougall, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing, Nintendo of America
comments, "For several years, the video game industry has been pushing
forward to new technical frontiers… while at the same time
celebrating classic hit games of the past. This new Game Boy Player actually fulfills both
desires: it instantly makes your current favorite Game Boy Advance
game larger-than-life, and at the same time allows you to see your
favorite portable title from a decade ago in an entirely new
way." NOA is also quick to note that in theory, the GBP
effectively increases GameCube's game library to more than 1000
games.
Nintendo may see the Game Boy Player as a way to create
a new selling point for the Nintendo GameCube while boosting sales
of Game Boy Advance software. In a revised earnings outlook released
in October, Nintendo revealed GBA software sales for this year would
come in 12% below expectations. Perhaps even more significant to
business, the GameCube Game Boy adapter will serve to tie Nintendo's
home console business to its handheld business, through which it
maintains a near monopoly on the market.
The news is sure to make the day of many GBA owners tired of
squinting at the handheld's small dark screen. GameCubicle.com will
have additional details on this new peripheral as news develops.
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November
19, 2002 |
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Rick - Editor in
Chief, GameCubicle |
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