Topic: GameCube Microphone Revealed

[Jonnyboy117]

Now we know how it plugs in and still allows for all four controllers.

The new issue of Famitsu Weekly, Japan's premiere gaming magazine, shows the GameCube Microphone first mentioned a couple of weeks ago in conjunction with new Mario Party 6 information.

As you can see in this picture, the microphone is handheld, not attached to the system or controllers, and it plugs into one of the GameCube's memory card slots.  This feature allows it to be used while still having four controllers plugged in.

The microphone is compatible with Mario Party 6, the upcoming Eidos game Get On Da Mic, and possibly other unannounced titles.

Thanks to the Gaming-Age Forums for the scan!

[Cheat Freak]

being able to use all four controller ports is fine but
well lets just hope that the cord is long enough to use
cause i cant see anyone making ext cords for mem cards

[Bill Aurion]

Yeah, the cord length is my only concern...Other than that it looks acceptable...

[SgtShiversBen]

I actually think that looks alot better than some EyeToy thing.  I'd much rather be sitting down doing nothing than having to dance or whatnot.  But it does give some amazing possiblities......like say...perhaps......online games with voicechat??  JK, I know it's pointless.  But at least it's already supported by two games...one a third party, unlike the EyeToy that's already obsolete.

Never HappeningNever HappeningNever Happening

[Jonnyboy117]

Actually, Sega is releasing a set of mini-games for EyeToy, and Sony has already released two expansion discs.  Considering its sales, I think the EyeToy is going to be supported for quite a while.

[Pale]

The new DDR is supposed to incorporate some sort of eyetoy side mini game thing as well.  As for the microphone, I have a feeling the cord length is gonna absolutely suck, seeing as no Nintendo product has a long enough cord for my liking.  Thank god for wave birds.

[Ian Sane]

"But it does give some amazing possiblities......like say...perhaps......online games with voicechat??"

HA HA HA HA!  I'll magically wake up trapped in a woman's body before the Cube goes online.  It ain't happening.

I hope that cord in the picture isn't to scale.  It looks like it's about the length of my arm in that pic.  I wouldn't even be able to stand up (while standing right up to the screen) with that cord length.

[Kirby_PopStar]

It looks like some sort of marital aid. The button makes it vibrate. Yeah, microphone rumble features, that's it...

[Giolon]

It looks like a tampon.

[joshnickerson]

Sigh... it looks like a feminine hygene product...

But still, I'm glad it doesn't hog up any of the control ports. Now if only they'll come up with some good titles to use with it...

[Perfect Cell]

online games with voicechat??


Its Handheld...  so you would have to hold the controler with one hand and the mike with the other... kinda hard.



It seems actually limited, by making it Hand held instead of the head set type Mikes. I suppose its simply to avoid making people think the Cube would go online.... A  Shame, the Logitech Mike on the PS2 actually gives you more posibilities for games. Try out Manhunt with it for instance... You would never be able to do something like that with this Mike...


IT seems its going to be type cast for Mario Parties, and Kareoke Revolutions... A Shame.  

[RareWare]

Many times they clip the length for pictures.  Don't freak out about the cord length until we actually see the product people.  I'd be more interested on how exactly it is used....

[King of Twitch]

Hopefully it's long enough to spin it around in the air

[Ian Sane]

"Its Handheld... so you would have to hold the controler with one hand and the mike with the other... kinda hard."

Hey you're right.  Why did they make such a big deal about not using up a controller port when someone can't even use a controller at the same time?

[Pale]

Its cause i'm betting it will have to be passed among players whilst 4 or playing.   Its to avoid having to swap plugs in or out or passing a controller instead.

[Ian Sane]

"Its cause i'm betting it will have to be passed among players whilst 4 or playing. Its to avoid having to swap plugs in or out or passing a controller instead."

That's true and a headset wouldn't work too well for passing around.  Still I think designing a mic accessory that doesn't provide the flexibility of being about to be used while holding a controller is very short sighted and is going to greatly limit the potential of games that use this.

[nickmitch]

Will the mic be included with Mario Party 6? I'm assuming it will'cause Donkey Konga comes with bongos.

[Bill Aurion]

Yes...

[EricEnder]

so im guessing it's only necessary to have one mic since you have the memory card on the other....

nintendo wasn't thinking of actually designing it for future online use....

[joeamis]

hmm it does look like a tampon or a uh.... D to the O if you know what I'm saying.  It's design shows that it's ment to be passed around among players as they momentarily put down their controllers.  I think this aspect, of using it for multiplayer, like it being used for the question game mode in MP6, may very well be what it's primarily used for in the future.  Hopefully they make more use out of it than gba/gc connectivity...  One interesting thing is that it appears to have holes around it's entire circular body for accepting voices, meaning it could very well pick up voices from a full 360' instead of say 45'.  As far as using it while playing a single player game that uses both it and the controller, I won't mind taping it to the top of my gc controller, so I won't have to hold it and the controller.  I think it would be cool if they design a game that accepts voice commands for some of the actions you would do with a controller, while still maintaining primary controls with the controller itself...  There are some games that just have too many button combinations, alas it would be best for computers say in a RTS title, all the different freaking hotkeys on the keyboard could be activated by voice commands instead... now that would be cool.

[Mario]

Quote
Originally posted by: EricEnder
so im guessing it's only necessary to have one mic since you have the memory card on the other....

Two mics on one GameCube wouldn't work, both would pick up what both players are saying, unless they whisper really softly, which is stupid.

And yeah, the mic going in the second memory card slot is pretty smart, so you can have four controllers AND the mic plugged in at the same time! zomg five player gaming revolution!

[couchmonkey]

If it comes bundled with Mario Party 6 for free (or cheap), and if Mario Party 6 is a significant improvement over the previous games, then it won't matter if it's other uses are limited.  Just like it doesn't matter that Mario Paint is just about the only Super NES game that uses the mouse....

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!! I KILL RADIO ADVERTISING!!!

...sorry about that.  Anyway, yeah, I hope it gets used for more than Mario Party 6, but it won't be the end of the world if it isn't.

[seen33]

it better not come with mp6 or mp6 REquire u use it.  I find things like using a mic or eyetoy to be really stupid when i play my games.  I dont want these features.  I would only use a mic if im playing online for voice chat.. im not using a mic to play minigames and wahtnot.  And what if u play games at night?  I cant talk in my house at night or ill wake people up.  does this mean i have to play mario party 6 in the day time?

[Perfect Cell]

but it won't be the end of the world if it isn't

yes but by Nintendos comments... it was supposed to extend the life of the Cube... using it just for Mario Party doesnt exactly cover that

[Bill Aurion]

Wah?  I don't recall Ninty ever saying that...

"it better not come with mp6 or mp6 REquire u use it."

Too bad...