Rodtod asks, Where’s the anime at?! When it

comes to TV and DVD, there isn’t that much of a problem. Especially since it’s

easy to buy anime from the web. But when it comes to gaming, we’re limited to the

dearly departed Dreamcast’s library. Sure the PSX and PS2 have, or will have, their

share of Japanese cartoon goodness, but what about the GameCube? I was just wonderin’

if you knew anything about anime titles for GCN (Pokémon doesn’t count!)

TYP Says: So far, we don't know that much about

Anime or anime-style games on the GCN. Infogrames is working on many Dragon Ball Z titles,

which should be multi-platform (including GBA.) If their promise of a good quality DBZ

game is worth anything, you may find some comfort in that. As I understand it, they have

hired some of the original artists for DBZ, but that may be just a rumor--I'm not sure.

Also keep in mind that there are a lot of Japanese

companies making games in a very Anime style for the GBA. Hopefully the better of the crop

will make it over here.

Ed Says: Well, as everyone should know, Infogrames

will be making some games based on Dragonball Z. As for other anime-based games, I think

the PS2 may see some in the future (in Japan anyway). Whether the GameCube will get any

anime-based games remains to be seen. Last generation, the PSX got most of the anime-based

games in Japan while the N64 only got 1 or 2 (like Evangelion 64...ugh). Of course, what

you should probably be more concerned about is the general lack of quality in these

anime-based games. Like many games based on movies, anime-based games have more often than

not been duds. So while I'm a fan of anime and would like to see more games based on it in

the future (whatever the system), I'm more concerned about the quality of these games than

the quantity. Wow, was that an N64 PR flashback or what?

Dragona Says: From my vast experience from the

genre, games based on animé shows are usually subpar and fail to capture the spirit of

the show.

However, I do believe that all games should feature a good animé art style. Look

at games such as Valkyrie Profile or Grandia and you'll see why I tend to

like Japanese art over Western. I am not implying that there are no good western artists,

but it is the fact that in Japan, game companies hire professional animation

artists, while western devs rarely do...

By the by, if Tri-Ace doesn't make a sequel to VP, there's going to be a

firebombing on the way...

Mike Orlando Says: Well, I know that a game based

on the movie 'Akira' is currently being developed (for the PS2? Can't remember). Even

though I know that they would probably butcher it, I still pray for a Princess Mononoke

game. One strip that you all should check out (and if you already have..do it again!

Chapter 6 is live) is Broken Saints. With the lack of schoolgirls and floating cat heads

with semi circles acting as eyes, it really isn't a true anime, but it freaking rocks.

Keep your fingers crossed, as there's a chance it will be made into a game, and it will be

Gamecube exclusive if so.

Max Says: I’d just like to remind everyone

that Dragon Ball

Z is coming to GameCube and I am pretty sure that PGC was the first site to confirm

this. Dragon Ball Z not the most profound anime by far but it certainly is action packed

cartoon ever and I love it.

With anime’s popularity ever rising in North America (and what a wonderful thing it

is too) thanks to Pokemon and Tonami, I’m sure we’ll see many anime-themed games

manifest themselves. There’s a better chance of Japanese games based on anime shows

reaching audiences outside of Japan without the need to import. There’s also the

possibility of non-Japanese development teams licensing popular anime shows, such as

Infogrames & Dragon Ball Z to make games… A few licenses might even be up for

negotiation right now; it took Infogrames a lonnnng time to get the DBZ license (a couple

years ago, I heard Midway was vying for it!) so who knows what’s going on behind the

scenes.

I’m glad Mike mentioned Broken Saints; it

definitely isn’t anime but it is done in the anime style. Plus, unlike most other

comics and/or anime Broken Saints is FREE! It’s still really amazing and I can’t

wait until the B.S. is able to realize the comic as a game.

I definitely think the anime “art style” Dragona mentioned will be seen in

plenty of GBA and GameCube games… Off the top of my head, I know we’ll be seeing

this art style in Advance Wars for GBA. It’s all too common in games these days.

Trust me, I’m not complaining.

Robert asks, I know that Nintendo is

keeping mum about GBA and GC connectivity for the moment, but has there been any

indication if you will be able to play GBA games on a regular TV by connecting your GBA to

the GC?

This "built in" Super GameBoy-like

ability seems to be a logical feature IMO. GBA sales would not be hurt because the GC is

acting as a "pass-through" system here and not an emulator. Nintendo would be

able to advertise this feature as an early advantage of GBA/GC connectivity. Multiplayer

requirements (i.e. one or multiple cartridges) for any given game could be maintained so

as not to reduce cartridge sales. Although some would argue that there is no advantage in

playing a portable systems' games on a TV, I have always found my SNES/Super GameBoy combo

to be useful.

Mike H. Says: Nintendo hasn't said anything about

this type of connectivity, but I think it'd be a great idea and very logical, as you said.

An "interface" N-ROM (Nintendo's name for the disc media) shouldn't be too

complicated to develop, and multiplayer would be well-handled with Gamecube's 4 controller

ports. Works for me.

Rick Says: While it seems like a great idea, I

think that Nintendo may try to keep the systems "separate, but equal." All that

Nintendo has divulged thus far has pointed to the Game Boy Advance alone being used

in conjunction with GameCube, without the need for GBA games.

However, I could definitely see a GBA64 cart long the lines of the Super Game Boy being

released so some of these great games could be played on the Nintendo 64.

It could really go either way. Still, I can't see this happening unless sales of GBA

software begin to slow.

Rize Says: There are a few problems with this

idea. The main problem is that the controller port and GBA link port have too small of a

bandwidth. It's the same thing that makes the single game multi-player limited at times.

For this to work, the GBA cartridges would need to be directly in the GameCube by some

means. Perhaps the memory card ports would serve since they need to be equipped to deal

with 64 MB SD cards, they would have a very high bandwidth. This would require a separate

accessory though. So, let's just hope Nintendo makes one. I doubt there is anyway to just

hook a GBA to the controller port, plug in a game and then play it on your TV. Too bad.

Mike Sklens Says: It seems like a good idea, but

Dave is probably right. The bandwidth on the link cable port is probably too low. Which is

too bad, because it seems like a really good idea. I know lots of people would love to

play their GBA on a big screen.

Billy Says: I thought this was going to happen?

Maybe it's just me but I remember hearing something about this. I know it's never been

confirmed, but I think it's possible. And hell, I would applaud it too.

But after being at E3, and having the opportunity to play on a larger screen...it really

wasn't all that great! I actually preferred to playing on the GBA.

Max Says: Actually, supposedly following

SpaceWorld 2K, Nintendo of Europe's webpage mentioned that this would be a feature

(NOE aren't very good at keeping secrets are they?) we could look forward to. However,

this was ages ago and nothing official has been said about it at all.

I think it's an obvious application for the GBA/NGC hook-up and hope that it is indeed

exploited. I dunno how it would work, especially with the limitations that David points

out but I'd like to see it. If for no other reason to get a bigger view on some of the GBA

games and presumably some better lighting.

Mike Orlando Says: NOE said that? Cool. I was

checking out Nintendo of Sweden's webpage, and they had some mad exclusive info about the

StarCube. Anyway, I really hope this feature is implemented one way or another, as my

Castlevania cart is beginning to piss me off when it comes to having very dark enemies on

the screen. Though the darkness, in reality, is starting to get as bloated as Jaggie Watch

2000, it would be nice to get rid of the quibble by playing the games on your TV.

Jonathan Says: I think the bandwidth stuff Rize

mentioned could be avoided by just outputting the visuals to the TV screen, and not the

entire game data. Nintendo's GBA setups at E3 seemed to be doing something like that, but

we don't know what kind of hookup they were really using. I have no doubt that Nintendo

could find a way to do it though...the question is whether they will, and that depends on

how they want to market the system connection and whether such a feature would appeal to

gamers very much. Remember, the Super Game Boy sold mainly on the fact that it added color

to GB games. It's doubtful that GameCube could offer such an enhancement for GBA titles.

Plus, as Billy said, the GBA's graphic resolution looks MUCH better on that little screen

than on a big one.

TYP Says: Also, there were sometimes errors when

being displayed on the TV screen. I think the biggest errors were on Mario Kart

Advance.... Add that to what Jonny said about resolution and you have a pretty good reason

for why Nintendo may not want to do this. Also, don't forget that people would probably

want the audio to be passed along to the TV setup also. That just adds to the bandwidth

issue.

The GBA cart-to-Memory Card is probably easier, and

therefore more likely. If the GCN comes with "GBA emulation," you could

potentially play a GBA game split-screen with full support, as if there were 4 carts.

Nintendo may not want to do this, but 3rd parties could possibly do such a thing.

Cruzn15 asks, Nintendo seems to be porting

a lot of old games over to the Game Boy Advance, such as Mario Advance (Mario Bros. 2),

Mario Advance 2 (Super Mario World), and Mario Advance 3 (Mario Bros. 3)... But they have

also been remaking older titles for sequels such as F-Zero: Maximum Velocity and Metroid

Advance.

I've heard a rumor about a new GBA Zelda title in

the works, but could you give me your educated guess as to whether you think it'll be a

port of, say, the original Legend of Zelda for the NES or a completely new sequel?

Rick Says: While we have yet to get any solid

confirmation of a GBA Zelda in the works, it stands to reason that Nintendo would likely

port probably the best Zelda of the 2D era, A Link to the Past, to Game Boy Advance.

However, I can't see this happening any time soon, as Nintendo has just released not one

but TWO Zelda Game Boy Color titles this past May. Nintendo's going to want to let these

games sell as word of mouth gets around about these outstanding titles.

You may see something in conjunction with the GameCube Zelda title, but part of me thinks

we're going to be waiting for a while.

Mike Sklens Says: Don't worry, I'm sure that we

will see a Zelda game on the Game Boy Advance. Maybe not soon, but it will certainly

happen eventually. I don't think that it will be a port of another Zelda game. We will

probably get a totally new Zelda game that will be just as classic as the others were.

Billy Says: Please God, let there be no more

rehashes! Or...at least have a Zelda All Stars with multiple games.

Max Says: Yeah, with all the rehashes on GBA,

you’d definitely think that Zelda games will be in there somewhere.

There were rumors of a

href="http://www.planetgamecube.com/games.cfm?action=profile&id=253">Zelda Advance

game but it turned out to be bunk.

I’ve heard other stuff that makes me think the Zelda game for GBA is underway but

whether it’s all new or a special edition of an older title, it’ll be awhile

before we see it. As Rick points out, the recent release of the GBC Oracles game (they are

GREAT games) are all that Zelda fans need (or will likely get) for some time to come. I

hope (and expect) we might get both in the long-run: new Zelda games and handheld versions

of some of the older ones to introduce today’s generation to the games that

captivated the hell out of us while were growing up.

Incidentally, shortly after we launched as PGC,

href="http://www.planetgamecube.com/rumors.cfm?action=profile&id=4">Louie the Cat had

some interesting ideas about Zelda & the GBA … You might want to check that

out if you can withstand Louie’s atrocious “two paw typing.” (That and his

filthy cat mouth!)

Ed asks, In an interview with Miyamoto that

I read, he commented that the GameCube disc could hold as many as 190 copies of Super

Mario 64. Bearing this in mind and considering that GameCube has no backwards

compatibility, do you think that Nintendo will make compilation discs of 64 games like

Midway Arcade Classics Collection for the N64?

Mike H. Says: Miyamoto has indicated that classic

ports were not only possible, but probable. It would be our guess as to which franchises

Nintendo or other developers would carry over. The GBA currently seems to be the platform

of choice for 2D upgrades, but that may simply be because it's released and available. We

only know the tip of the iceberg about the GameCube.

Considering the Mario ports to GBA, I'm hesitant to think they would also bring

them to the GameCube unless it were an add-in feature to a bigger Mario title (drool).

Zelda ports would be killer, if they don't come to the GBA first. I'd personally also like

to see the SNES DKC series make the jump, this time using real 3D characters on a 2D

plane.

Rick Says: They will probably come, though not

right away. Nintendo knows of the resurgent popularity of their old "classics"

on the emulation scene, so it makes good business sense (not to mention enforcing

copyright) to re-release these titles. However, GameCube would be vastly underutilized

playing 8-bit games, so I don't expect that we'll see any mega-discs like Super Mario

All-Stars.

Thus, don't expect to see many on GameCube. Nintendo would likely make more money by

porting these older titles to Game Boy Advance, as has been shown by the releases of Super

Mario Bros. Advance, Mario Kart, F-Zero, and the plans to release Super Mario World and

Super Mario Bros. 3 for GBA. The best part is, we get some of this great old gameplay,

plus Nintendo's dedication usually leads to updated graphics and extra features.

The GameCube is much better suited to newer titles, while the Game Boy Advance is perfect

for reviving old franchises so that GameCube sequels have a wider audience. Another

example of the one-two punch Nintendo is going to deliver this winter.

TYP Says: We'll see some ports of old games in a

compilation on the GCN. My guess is that these will be the games that just wont fit on the

GBA screen. I'm pretty sure that if Nintendo, or any company, has a choice with an old

game, it'll go to GBA. Of course, some old SNES RPGs may be upgraded with audio, cinema

sequences, etc. (like Square did with Chrono Trigger) and port it to a console. Let's hope

the GameCube will be looked upon as an option for such an act.

Ed Says: If we see classics NES games (or SNES

games for that matter) on the GameCube, I think it'd be done in a manner similar to Animal

Forest, Donkey Kong 64, or Excitebike 64 where the game is an extra bonus. Releasing the

games by themselves or in a collection seems like something you're more likely to see on

the GBA.

Mike Orlando Says: I honestly can't see Nintendo

selling stand alone compilations discs for the Cube. When it comes to NES and SNES ports,

they can easily be achieved(and would be more profitable) on the GBA, and N64 ports would

just be too soon. Was Super Mario World a 'classic' when Mario 64 was released? It was an

amazing game released 5 years before, but I don't think that classifies as a classic. I

think there's a chance we may see N64 compilations on the Gamecube's successor, but

nothing short of GBA discs, or (as Ed mentioned) games within games ala Animal Planet.

Max Says: Nintendo has hinted that compilations

are a very strong possibility; they'd sell (nostalgia does) and are something that would

definitely help resolve issues with emulation.

I agree with everyone that GBA may be better suited for classic compilations than GameCube

but I'd still love to see "special editions" of some of the N64 greats on

GameCube. Or maybe something like a "Nintendo Smash Pack" with a compilation of

games from Nintendo's history - from arcade to N64... Just a thought but a good one. I

mean, who wouldn't pay to play the arcade version of Punch-Out? If Nintendo could release

a ton of retro games (including a couple N64 greats) on a disc it could have its own

series of "classics collections" and who wouldn't want that?!?

Jonathan Says: The only GameCube compilation I'm

expecting and hoping for is a Zelda All-Stars collection including the two N64 games and

probably Link's Awakening too. It's long overdue, and since Nintendo hasn't announced GBA

Zelda remakes like they have with the Mario games, I think it's a very real possibility

right now. Just imagine the sales...and to have upgraded versions of the 2D AND 3D Zelda

games would just be a dream come true.

Brad asks, I would like a hands on report

on how the GBA handles the older GB and GBC games, especially since 2 brilliant new Zelda

games have only just been released for the GBC. Is there any enhancement to the games? How

does the GBA handle the screen size differences? Are there any glitches or problems to be

aware of?

Rick Says: GBC games are played

just like on the original hardware, but "windowed" on the Game Boy Advance. The

only real "enhancement" to GBC games is the fact that you can stretch them

horizontally to fit the GBA screen.

Of course, the two new Zelda games play very well on the system, not to mention having a

special GBA-only store in them. Don't let the release of these outstanding GBC games keep

you from getting a GBA ... Enjoy both!

Mike Sklens Says: The GBA plays GBC games

fantastically. The stretch mode is hit or miss. On some games it looks fine, great even,

and one others it just doesn't. The new Zelda games look fantastic in stretch mode. I

always though Link was too thin in the GBC Zelda games, but in stretch mode he looks

awesome. Plus, there's that GBA only shop that you can get into.

Rize Says: I never actually owned a Game Boy

Color. So, when I imported by GBA, I picked up Metal Gear Solid from Wal-Mart for 10 bucks

before E3! It's an excellent title and it plays fine on the GBA. As Rick said, the game

can be windowed or stretched. Unfortunately, the windowed version looks a bit small, and

the stretched version looks a bit weird. After playing a GBC, it may take some getting

used too, but there are no glitches or bugs that we're aware of.

TYP Says: Overall, the games work great, like

everyone else said. I've only run into one little problem. On SMBDX, levels with black

backgrounds can get you really messed up in windowed mode (you can't tell when the game

screen ends and the border begins,) and when stretched out, you can't judge distance, as

Mario and Luigi appear to be w as fast as Sonic ;-) I've gotten used to guessing the

border in windowed mode. A small complaint, but one worth noting, I guess.

Billy Says: Yes, I would have to agree with Rick

100% about the new Zelda titles. Just because it's not a GBA game doesn't mean it doesn't

have gameplay. I would recommend that highly. Outside of that, I don't see much use about

going back. I have a GBC, and continue to use that. Even though it's collecting dust.

But you CAN connect your GBA to your GBC. Obviously you will need to use two carts too.

Max Says: Like Rize, I never owned a GBC myself

though have played it some. I did buy a Game Boy Pocket & Pokemon Blue after Pokemon

was released in North America. I just tried out Pokemon on my GBA yesterday and it

“mocks up” the colors the same way GBC did.

The only real “problem” I’ve encountered with playing GBC games isn’t

really a problem at all—the carts stick way out of the device. It looks weird but

that’s it.

Also, I have to say that the new Zelda Oracles games are great! Get ‘em! Capcom did a

really great job with these Zelda games; they look like the old Zelda GB game but the

gameplay and story is there. It also looks great in “widescreen” mode and there

are the secret “Advance” shops in each game…

I can’t vouch for any other GBC games, though I am definitely planning on picking up

a bunch of titles; I’ve missed too many good handheld games! Metroid 2, Metal Gear,

Bionic Commando… The best part is that many of these GBC games are cheap now!

Mike asks, The complexity and costs of game

development seem to be ever spiraling upward. I read an interview with a couple of ASB

developers where they said that creating a stadium for the GameCube version takes a month

due to the detail involved, whereas creating a stadium on the N64 took a week. What is

going to happen in the long and short term in this industry? Will dev times spiral out of

control? I have a feeling game-making is going to be left to large companies that can

afford multi-million dollar budgets. Do you think that small dev houses may disappear, or

that we'll see major changes, such as 3D modeling being out-sourced?

Rick Says: Having worked in the industry myself,

I'd say I'm fairly qualified to answer. The problem is that with every new generation of

hardware, the bar is raised. Where a GBC title can be made with a staff in the single

digits, and N64 titles made with a staff in the tens ... the sheer amount of data and art

needed to fill a single 1.5GB disk (and 4.7GB with PS2's DVD format) is extraordinary.

Plus, the higher resolutions and advanced display quality of the new machines means an

even higher attention to detail is required, and that means TIME. More time, costs more

money, of course.

Super Mario 64 was an 8 Megabyte game. It's entirely possible that Luigi's Mansion is

going to be well over 1 Gigabyte (that's 1024 Megabytes for you novices). The textures

need to be higher quality, the models need to possess more polygons, the code needs to be

more complex ... it all adds up.

Developers have been complaining about rising development costs for some time now. The

first game on any new platform tends to be the one that costs developers the most as they

create tools and spend a lot of money before they see anything back. Thus, this is why we

see sequels ... developers need to start recouping those costs and quick, so they release

new titles using the same technology, amortizing (finance-speak for spreading) the cost

and reducing risk.

This is a big reason why you're seeing a lot of the smaller development companies being

snatched up by the larger guys ... the big-dollar corps are the only companies left (aside

from a few of the smaller, well-established talent pools) that can still compete in a

reasonable time frame.

Outsourcing isn't the answer ... the cost ends up being about the same. But your fears are

valid; most development these days is going to be coming out of larger houses because

they're the only ones that can afford it.

Of course, there are exceptions. New companies start every day. But the trend is

undeniable.

Rize Says: There's not much I can add here, but

one interesting thing to consider is: what if the cost of developing a cutting edge game

exceeds the amount of money that can be made? Will consumers be content to pay more money?

If not, will they lose interest in games if they technology doesn't continue improving at

the same pace? Even big development houses and publishers may have some serious kinks to

work out in the next generation or two. The games industry is always growing, but is it

growing fast enough? I guess it all boils down to whether or not that pretty new stadium

attracts enough new gamers to make up for the money spent in creating it. Even so, if

profits decrease, things will still be ok if there is a profit to be made.

Max Says: Although I haven’t worked in game development and really can’t

personally offer too much. The ever increasing time (and costs) of development are

certainly factors that are setting into motion a “survival of the fittest” where

even the “fittest” companies are having some problems! There is no way to

guarantee that the costs put into making a game will be recouped either. As more and more

games fall short of expectations despite all the time, money and hype put into them, a lot

of developers are getting hurt.

I was just re-reading an interview

with NCL President Hiroshi Yamauchi over at Video

Senki, which touched on some of these issues. Although it is a little harsh and

opinionated, who better to answer some of your questions than the head of Nintendo itself?

Theses statements come from late February this year, so not too long ago. Yet

they still hold very true, and eerily echo what Rick & David have said… Tell it

like it is, Mr. Yamauchi!

Hiroshi Yamauchi - NCL President & sunglasses pimp

Yamauchi – talking about too many

people don’t realize how difficult it is to make games:

H.Y. said: "The more

amazing graphics and sound you put into a game, the longer it takes to finish. Not just a

year, but now, more like a year and a half or two years. So then your development costs

balloon, and when you finally put it out you have zero guarantee of it selling. That's

what the game industry is today."

On a note somewhat unrelated to this question, Yamauchi

talks about the changing focus of gamers and how graphics are not where it’s at…

H.Y. said: "The average

gamer's perspective has gradually shifted over the years. They're getting sick of games

that are nothing but graphics and force; they want something to play that's actually fun.

So why are companies still aiming for nothing but graphics and force?

"The most impressive phenomenon that occurred last

year, in my opinion, was when Enix released Dragon Quest [VII] on the original

PlayStation, and not the PlayStation 2. It was the newest game in the series, but it ended

up selling far more than I predicted -- something like three million or so copies.

However, when you look only at its graphics and sound, it looks very rudimentary compared

with other PS games. If you compare it to other titles, you'll find that there are

hundreds of PlayStation games that have far more impressive graphics.

"Despite that, out of everything released last year

only DQ was able to rack up such high sales figures. Meanwhile games with incredible,

utterly beautiful graphics were completely dead in the marketplace. This just backs up

what I've always been saying -- games have nothing to do at all with graphics."

Finally, Yamauchi’s somber predictions for the

future:

H.Y. said: "Up until now

games have had nothing to do with movies, like I've kept on saying all this time, but now

people are going on about how every game will be like a movie from now on. We've come all

this way and somewhere along the line, we've forgotten that we're supposed to be making games,

and not movies. Now, as a result of that, game development is turning into a circus, costs

are skyrocketing, users get bored faster than ever before, and the development of truly

new games -- new ways of having fun -- has all but stopped. And now, because of all that,

it's getting difficult to make a profit producing video games.

"If we don't change the way game development is

carried out, I can't see the industry or the marketplace rejuvenating itself anytime

soon."

Jonathan Says: Well, to offset this pool of

doomsayers a bit, let me offer some hope for the development community. First, game

publishers are getting rich as hell off this industry's growth, and eventually some of

that money seeps down to the smaller developers, who can then use it to make something

truly unique and creative. With publishers making so much money, they can afford to take

some risks with oddball games in the hopes of creating a cult following or even a runaway

smash like Tetris, which was created essentially by a single man who was on salary pay at

the time and for years afterward.

There is also the element of middleware engines, which are becoming increasingly popular.

I'm amazed at how many types of games have come out of these generic development tools,

some of them very good. Middleware can be a great way to save money, because it means the

developer won't have to create an engine from scratch, which can often take up to a year

(and plenty of money).

Then you have developers who make games that don't necessarily cost a ton of money to

make...many handheld games can fall into that category, and even console games like those

in the puzzle genre can be developed relatively cheaply and still contain fantastic

gameplay with great profit potential. Many companies, and perhaps some gamers, think that

more money poured into a project equals a better game. Poo.

On top of all that, you have Nintendo's GameCube, which is designed from the ground up to

make a developer's job easier. The goal is to have developers spend less effort on

technical challenges and more on content...if and when that works on GameCube, we'll get

better games that cost developers less money to make.