Electronic Arts today announced The Sims is now in development for Nintendo GameCube and Microsoft Xbox. The games will be developed at the company’s Maxis studio in conjunction with Edge of Reality. Players will be able to create and control their Sims like never before with level-based game play, two-player modes, and dynamic 3D graphics. “Bringing The Sims to the Xbox and Nintendo GameCube gives players the opportunity to play The Sims on a variety of console platforms," said Sinjin Bain, COO of EA’s Maxis studio and Executive Producer of the game. "Maxis is looking forward to providing the fun and quirky gameplay of The Sims to gamers on any type of console system." The Sims will be available on Nintendo GameCube in Spring 2003.

The Sims for Nintendo GameCube will feature a level-based mode called “Get a Life,” where players can start with just one Sim and move him or her through life’s big moments including moving out of Mom’s house, getting a job, and having a family. Both versions will also feature the classic Sim-style open-ended game play. GameCube players can explore and create in an entirely new 3D world of The Sims. There is a cast of wacky neighbors and creatures to interact with that can’t be found in the original The Sims game for the PC, including a monkey butler that can be unlocked to serve at your Sims’ every whim.  Players will be able to customize the appearance of their Sim. They can create and tailor their Sims with accessories such as stylish hats, trendy glasses, cool hairstyles, and an enormous variety of clothing options.  Players will also be able to make changes to their Sims appearance mid-game with the unlockable vanity mirror.

Following less-than-stellar holiday sales for Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo of America announced they will soon offer consumers a free game with the purchase of a Nintendo GameCube for $149. Beginning February 9th, select retailers will offer GameCube buyers...

Electronic Arts today held a conference call with investors to discuss Q3 fiscal 2003 earnings and the firm's outlook for the calendar year. Discussion of Nintendo GameCube was particularly bearish with the company revising North America game sales growth projections for GameCube in 2003 to 15-20%, down from earlier estimates of 20-25%. By contrast, growth projections for PlayStation 2 and Xbox remained unchanged at 25-30% and 20-25% respectively. EA went on to describe sales of sports titles on Nintendo GameCube as "a little disappointing." Asked if this would impact development plans, EA responded, "We're going to continue to support the GameCube platform and all the genres that make sense." Unfortunately, it appears that EA now intends to limit their portfolio of sports titles on GameCube, as Sega recently announced they would. The EA official went on to say, "I think we'll look at the number of sports titles that we'll develop for the GameCube platform in the coming year." On a bright note - at least for the fans, Electronic Arts CFO, Warren Jenson, stated that EA expected a reduction in console prices by midyear. "We anticipate prices on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox being dropped to $149 and then the Nintendo GameCube to $99." Shares of Nintendo Co. Ltd. dropped 6.14% on EA's analysis, closing at 9,480 - the lowest level for the stock since March, 1999.

Atari Interactive, a subsidiary of Infogrames Interactive, today confirmed they will be releasing the much-anticipated hit Japanese game Ikaruga on Nintendo GameCube in North America. "The buzz around Ikaruga precedes it and we are thrilled to be importing...

Sega Corp. today announced their release plans across all consoles for 2003. While PlayStation 2 will once again receive the majority of Sega's games, GameCube owners can look forward to at least ten new titles from Sega's numerous development teams...

Sega's highly anticipated World Series Baseball 2K3 has been officially cancelled for Nintendo GameCube. The company cited that the time requirements of a GameCube port conflicted with Visual Concepts' desired production cycle. A clearer reason for Sega's decision is found in the numbers. Following miserable North American sales of their 2K franchise (particularly) on GameCube, Sega's Chief Operating Officer, Tetsu Kayama explained in November, "We'll have to narrow down our focus in the U.S. sports game software business." The restructuring, according to Kayama, would involve a halt in sports game development for Nintendo GameCube. By our estimates, sales of Sega's 2K Sports games across PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube broke down at a ratio of 10:6:1.

Nintendo Co. Ltd. president, Satoru Iwata, recently announced Nintendo's intention to release a next-generation game console in 2005/2006. In an interview with Reuters, Iwata commented, "We are developing a new home video game console with a plan to release the new system around the same time as rival makers do. We will get ready for a battle in 2005 although foreign game developers are now saying that rival next-generation systems won't come until 2006." Iwata went on to stress the importance of releasing alongside the competition, noting, "The PlayStation 2 debuted one-and-a-half years ahead of the GameCube. If we had launched the GameCube at the same time as PlayStation 2, the result would have been different." And if there was any remaining question that Nintendo might leave the video game hardware business, Iwata put it to rest. "When we withdraw from the home game console [business], that's when we withdraw from the video game business."

GameCube owners that have yet to experience some of Nintendo's early GameCube gems are in luck. Nintendo of America today announced the first discounted Player's Choice games for Nintendo GameCube including Luigi's Mansion, Pikmin, and Super Smash Bros: Melee. The titles will retail under the Player's Choice label for just $29.99.

Nintendo of America will soon offer consumers a free game with the purchase of a Nintendo GameCube. Beginning February 9th, select retailers will offer GameCube buyers the choice of Mario Party 4, Metroid Prime, Resident Evil Ø, or Star Fox Adventures as a free title. Perrin Kaplan, VP of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, recently said of a possible bundle or rebate promotion from NOA, "We're looking at a lot of different things right now." This deal seems to get the job done, effectively making GameCube look like it could be bought for the equivalent of $99 without confronting the image pricing issues or actual costs of reducing the console's MSRP. Many thanks to IGN Cube for the details.

Since they were first announced, Capcom's five GameCube games under development at Production Studio 4, including Dead Phoenix, Killer 7, Product Number 3, Resident Evil 4, and Viewtiful Joe, were all thought to be GameCube exclusive. However, we now know this not to be true. At this year's Gamers' Day in Las Vegas, Capcom clarified that only Resident Evil 4 is a definite exclusive. Though no multi-platform plans have been announced, the other titles could be ported to other systems at a later date.

Konami of America today revealed that an all-new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game is under development for Nintendo GameCube. The game will be based on an all-new animated TMNT series set to debut on Fox's Saturday morning children's TV block in February. The game will feature the famed heroes Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael and their legendary foe the Shredder. The cel-shaded "3D fighting/action" game will allow players to take on the role of their favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle as they punch, kick and duck their way through battles against the Shredder and his vile pack of Foot Ninjas. In both the Story Mode and the Vs. Mode, gamers will need to master hand-to-hand fighting skills to make their way through streets and sewers to the Shredder's Shinto Temple. The action-packed universe and vibrant characters will thrill fans of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and gamers that are new to the series. Look out for the turtles on GameCube and Game Boy Advance in October, 2003.

GameCube was first unveiled on August 24, 2000 at Nintendo's Space World show in Japan. On this day the world got its first glimpse of GameCube's power in a technical demo featuring Nintendo's greatest characters. Included in the demo was a battle...

By summertime Nintendo of America will accelerate its Nintendo GameCube game library past 225 titles as it continues to broaden its appeal to video game players of all ages, interests and lifestyles. This reflects an increasing amount of support from third-party...

Though known for some time, THQ today officially announced that its critically acclaimed FPS action game Red Faction II will be coming to Nintendo GameCube in March. Featuring an enhanced Geo-Mod engine that allows players to strategically alter and destroy the game environment in real-time, Red Faction II expands and builds upon the experience and technology of the original game with blistering action, an engaging storyline, highly detailed graphics and a number of multi-player options. The GameCube version, being developed by THQ's Cranky Pants Games studio, will feature custom animations, improved texture resolution and color as well as enhanced lighting specific to the GameCube hardware. Click over to the game's official site for additional details.

Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo Co. Ltd., recently disclosed that worldwide shipments of Nintendo GameCube will likely come in 10% below Nintendo's revised fiscal 2002 estimates. Last October, the company revised downward its GameCube shipment target to 10 million from an earlier target of 12 million. In an interview with Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Iwata explained, "Sales of GameCube game machines fell below our expectations in Japan, and the market share of the machines has not dramatically grown in the U.S. and Europe. It will be difficult to achieve the initial target of 10 million units."

Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo Co. Ltd., recently discussed Nintendo's operations with Japanese business newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun. In the interview, Iwata discusses home console and handheld unit sales, competition from rivals, overseas...

According to Sega's web site, Sonic Adventure DX, a port of the original Sonic Adventure for Sega Dreamcast, will be released on Nintendo GameCube this summer in Japan. A release in North America will likely follow soon after.

Virtua Fighter Quest, an action-adventure RPG in development for Nintendo GameCube by Sega's AM2, was first unveiled by Yu Suzuki at Sega's GameJam event in March, 2002. In this week's company newsletter, chief of AM2 development, Oshaki Makoto stated that he would like to see development efforts focused on Virtua Fighter Quest so that it can be released in 2003, commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Virtua Fighter series.

Nintendo GameCube sales held at 62,100 as the holiday shopping period came to a conclusion in Japan. Mario Party 4 continues to defy all expectations, climbing the #4 spot on the software sales chart after seven weeks of release. Mario Party 4 sold... 

Ubi Soft reiterated today that it will release Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell for Nintendo's GameCube and Game Boy Advance by Spring 2003. "With its all-around stupendous reviews and now its record sales, Splinter Cell is blazing a trail the likes of which the industry has rarely seen. We are eager to take the run-away success of this game to an even wider audience," said Yves Guillemot, President and CEO of Ubi Soft.

For Nintendo fans in Europe, 2003 is the year Nintendo's most famous names make their resplendent returns. Samus Aran in Metroid Prime; Link in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening; 1080º Avalanche; Wario World...

Nintendo Co. Ltd. today unveiled the Game Boy Advance SP. The enhanced Game Boy Advance features a backlit flip top screen and an ultra-sleek square design measuring eight centimeters along its sides. It will be available in blue, silver, and black. The GBA...

Nintendo of Europe today claimed the number two position in home consoles, announcing that GameCube sold 1.5 million units in Europe in 2002. "We intend to make 2003 a strong year for GameCube in which we focus on new games and we intend to build on our number two position," European manager David Gosen told Reuters.

In an article for USA Today, professional video game journalist, Steven Kent, has disclosed the first reliable information on Game Boy Advance SP, an updated version of GBA featuring a flip-up backlit screen. The handheld will have an MSRP of $99 and...

Nintendo Co. Ltd. will hold a press conference later today in Osaka, Japan. According to Bloomberg, Nintendo will "unveil a new product" at the conference, which is set to take place at 4pm in Japan (2am EST). GameCubicle will update throughout the conference.

CNN/Money, a collaboration between CNN and Money magazine, is reporting that Nintendo is expected to unveil an enhanced version of the Game Boy Advance on January 7th. The handheld is said to feature an internal backlight and should come to retail for $90...

Nintendo Co. Ltd. announced today that between December 13th and the end of 2002, the firm repurchased 1.07 million of its own shares for ¥12.4b ($104m). The repurchase is part of a ongoing buying program Nintendo set forth on June 27, 2002 that called for the repurchase of a total of 14 million shares. In October, Nintendo bought back 2.2 million shares for ¥25.9b ($183m). In November, Nintendo bought back 1.4 million shares for ¥15.7b ($131m). The repurchase program was announced as a way for Nintendo to put to work a portion of its immense cash holdings of ¥800b ($6.5b).

Nintendo of America is set to hold a conference at The Four Seasons restaurant in New York City on January 7th. GameCubicle has confirmed that the conference will take place between 9:00am and 11:00am, preceded by an 8:30am breakfast. Though details on the conference have not been released, discussion will likely pertain to yearend sales performance, early 2003 marketing plans, and Nintendo's upcoming software lineup.

As GameCubicle.com first reported last week, Nintendo and fast-food giant Burger King today launched a kids meal toy promotion featuring Nintendo's best known characters. Among the collectable action characters to be included in the promotion, customers will find...

Nintendo Co. Ltd. is scheduled to release a Pokémon game for Nintendo GameCube in Summer 2003. According to Japanese newspaper, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, the game will extensively utilize the GBA Link Cable, actually requiring a GBA with a copy of Pokémon Ruby or Pokémon Sapphire to be connected in order to play. This would suggest a game more along the lines of Pokémon Stadium than a full-fledged Pokémon RPG. The good news is that the game will likely have an MSRP of just ¥4,800 ($39.99). 

According to The China Post, Nintendo has formed manufacturing alliance with San Hsi Technologies, a subsidiary company of the FIC, to supply 70% of GameCube's printed circuit boards (PCB) this year. The PCBs will be manufactured at the company's factory in Guangdong, China. Last October, Nintendo named another Taiwan OEM, Hon Hai Precision Industry, to assemble GameCube consoles. The firm will assemble between 500,000 and 600,000 consoles for Nintendo in 2003.

Recently, there's been some buzz about a possible significant announcement by Nintendo at the upcoming Consumers Electronics Show in Las Vegas. There's been some confusion as well because Nintendo is not listed in the official CES Exhibitor Directory. It is now known that while Nintendo will have a presence at CES, the company will not have a booth on the show floor. Instead, Nintendo will be displaying a portion of their 2003 GameCube and Game Boy Advance lineup in a suite at a nearby hotel.

Nintendo Co. Ltd. is set to unveil the first playable version of F-ZERO for the Nintendo GameCube on January 19th at Japan's upcoming World Hobby Fair. The playable version is said to include a standard single-player mode and two-player multiplayer mode.

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