KliqDx2000 (somewhat) asks, Do you think the

GameCube will have a lot more RPGs than the N64? The N64 seemed to delivery very poorly

because of all the limitations.

Jonathan Says: First off, the lack of RPGs on N64

had nothing to do with system limitations and everything to do with developer limitations.

Games like Ogre Battle 64, Paper Mario, and both the Zeldas prove that. When you take the

lavish FMV crap out of any given PlayStation RPG, there's no reason it can't be ported to

N64...none of them were though, because there was a perceived lack of demand for such

games. It sickens me, but at least that's over with now.

Will GameCube have more RPGs? Yes, and I think we'll see

a few at Space World next month.

Andres Says: Let's run down the proverbial

list here:

Square - They are already hurting financially (due to various reasons), and sales

of a recent Wonderswan release have shown Square that they need to jump on board the GBA

wagon if they want to have a presence in the handheld market. On top of everything else,

Square reps themselves have said they need to go multiplatform in order to make their

online RPG Final Fantasy XI successful. Square will come in some form, it is only a matter

of time.

Enix - Enix loves the GBC, all reports say the love the GBA. Although the Dragon

Quest series is normally reserved for the leading platform (it remains to be seen which

that will be), it would be odd if Enix didn't try to take advantage of the GBA-GC

connectivity in some way. Perhaps with DQ Monsters 3? ^_^

Quest - Quest has always been a big supporter of Nintendo. They will be on board.

Capcom - Breath of Fire? Depends on the development team I'd imagine, but Capcom

has pledged full support for GameCube, and I wouldn't doubt that the next Breath of Fire

would at least be ported to the GameCube.

Game Arts - Normally a Sega-only developer, they have had some of their games

ported to other system (Grandia on PSX). Now that Sega is gone however, they have to

decide on a new target console. Nintendo's philosophy of quantity vs. quality seems to gel

with Game Arts, so don't be surprised if the GCN is their target.

Working Designs - Again, just like Game Arts, they used to be a primary Sega

developer. The whispers in the wind say that WD is very enthusiastic about the GameCube.

Overworks - As of now, all signs point to PS2. Does that rule out a port? No. As

with all Sega games, it remains to be seen whether their games will remain exclusive or

will eventually be ported to all viable systems.

I believe that covers it... Watch Space World closely. ^_^

Max Says: Leave it to Andres to do a detailed

breakdown on RPG makers & their current positions on GameCube! (Maybe that's

why they call him "Breaky Boy!") There are plenty of companies interested in

making RPGs... Anyway, here are some other games/companies/thoughts:

We are very much hoping that Nintendo releases its in-house mature RPG series by

Intelligent System, Fire Emblem, outside of Japan. Nintendo finally is bringing over the

Wars series, so cross your fingers.

Retro's RPG Raven Blade was just cancelled, though there were reports it was not very far

along anyway & was suffering badly. The demo at E3 looked great, but I'm with

Nintendo: Retro needs to put whatever talent its got left into making Metroid great - or

else.

The first Sega GameCube game from Sonic Team is Phantasy Star Online v.2, which will have

GameCube unique features, including an offline 4 player mode. This won't come at the

expense of online play as some fear, though we probably are going to have to pay-to-play.

My Dreamcast is an imported Asian one without a modem (I am proud to say I was an

EARLY-EARLY adapter of the Dreamcast...) so I never got to try PSO. I'm looking forward to

the NGC version.

Speaking of Sega, there's also that rumor of that Sonic/Mario RPG, though I think that

might've grown outta the fact PSO was coming. There are rumors of a project between Yuji

Naka & Shigeru Miyamoto though. (Can we really get that lucky?)

There was also the rumor (started in part by Louie) that Camelot might be in co-hoots with

Sega to bring Shining Force (which appeared on Sega consoles) to GameCube. When Naka-san

was asked about it, he replied "ask Camelot." Sega or no, a few of our sources

still suspect Camelot might be resurrecting the classic series for the Cube.

There are plenty of others making RPGs too! Before E3,

href="http://www.planetgamecube.com/rumors.cfm?action=profile&id=14">Louie caught wind

that a small, well-respected, Japanese company is producing a RPG game for GameCube

launch. The game and the company are not known but it's very likely it (and many other

RPGs) could be announced at SpaceWorld.

Maxzzz asks, If I get the Gamecube and use

the component video output with it, do I have to buy another audio cable to hear sound?

Jonathan Says: Although I wasn't clear on it

before, the recently announced info on GameCube peripherals has shed some light on this

subject. The GameCube has two main output jacks on the back: one is the same multi-out

found on SNES and N64, and the other is for digital video. That digital video jack is

capable of sending out ONLY video data, so if you use it, you still have to hook something

up to the multi-out to get sound. As far as I can tell, the standard A/V setup and the

S-video setup will both employ the multi-out only, while the component video setup and any

future type of digital video setup (such as a VGA adapter a la Dreamcast) will use that

digital video jack. For those latter setups, you'll still need to run sound from the

multi-out jack. The good news is that it seems you'll just be able to use the A/V cords

included with the system, leaving the yellow plug (analog or "composite" video)

just hanging freely. Maybe there are some audio/videophiles on staff who can confirm this

stuff and clean up any errors in it.

Rize Says: Yeah, that's 100% correct as far as I

can tell. What's more is that you don't even have to take the new analog cables and rig'em

up to your stereo/tv. You can just unplug your N64 since you want be needing that anymore!

I'm seriously considering a digital TV myself.

Jonathan Says: Won't be needing the N64 anymore?

Are you crazy? I plan on keeping hooked up at least until Nintendo releases a

cartridge-slot add-on for GameCube. ;-) Hell, I still have my SNES and NES hooked up and

play them both. Don't you start on this "dead system" trash, Rizey!

TYP Says: Rize, I seriously hope you meant using

the same A/V for both the N64 and GCN (Though it doesn't sound like it).... I do that with

my N64 and SNES: it really is the only way to hook up both of them with the A/V for many

TVs and VCRs.

On a side note, I hope that N64 Multi-out to RF adapter

fits into the GameCube! The old TV in my game room needs it!

Billy Says: Seeing is my FREAKIN' TV still doesn't

work, I would love a Digital TV. But I'm happy to hear that my S-Video cable from my

SNES/N64 will work just fine. The audio cables are built in.

If you can't do component video, go S-Video for sure. You'll be able to use it on your

N64, and SNES as well!

Jamesc asks, Is it true that Xbox will play

PlayStation, Playstation2, Dreamcast games, and whatever else you can stick in it? The

Gametraders Club near my town says it can, and I don't think so. They keep telling

customers this.

Jonathan Says: Honestly, I think Microsoft is

spending some really big bucks to brainwash mall store employees. Some of them in my

hometown think Xbox will cook breakfast for you. The truth: Xbox will only play Xbox

DVD-ROMs, and for an extra fifty bucks or so, it'll also play DVD movies. I think the only

system that can play games for other systems is Dreamcast, through various haX0ring.

Mike H. Says: Yes, it's true. The Xbox plays

everything under the sun, and sells you an optional bridge along the west coast. My GBA

and N64 games never looked better. XB0X R0XORS THE HOUSE!!!!11

No, seriously, someone's duping the store chains big time.

Andres Says: Just want to remedy a statement

Jonny made: Reportedly the DVD remote which unlocks the DVD movie playing abilities in the

XBox will sell for around $30.

TYP Says: Unless Microsoft is spending all of its

resources on Bleem!-like programs (which it isn't) this is a bunch of hooey. Come on, it

would really hurt Microsoft: it plans on making its money through SOFTWARE, and if Xbox

played competitors' games, people would buy them instead, leaving M$ at a loss, while

helping Sony and the rest.

And ANYTHING you can fit into it? Microsoft wouldn't be dumb enough to work on support for

the likes of the CDi or Sega CD....

Max Says: You need to tell the people who work at

your local GameTraders they need some psychiatric help immediately. Even Bill Gates isn't

that diabolical!

Of course, around X-Mas, I had some cheesehead at my local EB tell me the X-Box would play

all PC games and all DC games too... Because "Sega is going broke and Microsoft is

buying them." OH-kay...

Such gross misinformation at the retail level is one reason I take endeavors like

PGC so seriously.

Mike Orlando Says: There was this rumor floating

around just before E3 that the XBox could emulate XBox games without loss of detail or

frame rate. Of course Microsoft shot down that rumor once the doors to the Expo were

opened. I kid, I kid.

Have2Scrap asks, IGN Xbox has recently

updated their Xbox FAQ. In it, they sport a chart comparing the capabilities of the three

next gen systems. For Micropolygons/particles per second, Particle Performance, Pixel Fill

rates for no Textures, and Pixel Fill rates for one texture, all they have is a

"???" filled in for GameCube. What are these capabilities in simple terms, and

why do we not know yet how GameCube fares?

Jonathan Says: I'll let the spec-heads answer your

question more specifically, but suffice it to say that Microsoft has had that list for a

long time, and it's always been grossly inaccurate and/or ignorant. However, MS is getting

to the point where they have to show people proof and not just throw out numbers anymore,

and all the impressive (and fake) specs they've been touting for over a year are quickly

losing the impact they once had.

Mike H. Says: Hey, whatever you don't know about

the GameCube can't hurt MS, now can it? We could sit here and cherry pick GameCube

specifications and leave big 'ol Questions Marks under the Xbox category to make the

GameCube look as good as possible as well. But we'll leave the propaganda up to the

companies.

The fact of the matter is, Xbox is the newcomer. MS Reps are spreading lies to store reps,

who in turn spreading them on to the public. Meaningless, cherry-picked raw specs are

being thrown around left and right to make the Xbox look 10x better than the other

systems.

In the end, all spin aside, the playing field is almost entirely level. Winners and losers

will be based on the creativity of the developers. There are no excuses anymore.

Andres Says: Quick and dirty rundown of the

situation: It's tradition to throw around "theoretical" numbers when talking

about system performance. Truth be told, these theoretical limits will never come close to

being reached in the normal span of a system's life.

All the companies are (and have been) guilty of this at some point.

Nintendo has taken the high road this time out and has given out reliable, conservative

numbers.

Take that as you will.

Max Says:

href="http://www.msnbc.com/news/601653.asp?0si=-">Steven Kent's latest article covers

this really well. Since "bits" is no longer a terminology, game companies are

scrambling to define each other in terms of a competing console's technology. In other

words, it's almost useless to compare consoles accurately.

I like eye candy and quality audio, but all I really care about is the game experience.

There aren't too many technical specs that equate into how much fun you have. However,

anyone who saw GameCube in action at E3 can see the GameCube can do great things in the

aesthetics department. Incidentally, the GameCube games I saw at E3 were graphically more

impressive than X-Box titles by far.

Johnny asks, I've been thinking about this

for quite some time now and I'm almost positive that the L and R buttons digital click

isn't the real secret feature that Miyamoto was referring to back at Space World 2000. He

said that we had only seen 30% of the controller's functionality. At E3, he revealed that

the secret feature was the L and R buttons digital click. But do you guys honestly think

that the digital click feature makes up for 70% of the controllers functionality? I think

not.

One reason why Nintendo might hold out on revealing the real secret feature (if there

actually is one and I'm not just going insane), would be because if Nintendo revealed it

at E3, it would give Microsoft about 6 months to pop it into Xbox controllers.

What do you guys think? Do I just have to much time on my hands, or is the digital click

really all there is?

Jonathan Says: Nintendo's had

comfortable controllers out in the public for five years now, and Microsoft still couldn't

figure out how to steal that innovation.

Mike H. Says: I don't think there are any other

secrets. What we've seen is what we're getting. I'm quite happy with that.

TYP Says: Yes. I think much of that 70% goes to

actually holding the controller. At E3, people learned how functional the controller is

for themselves: comfortable and practical.

Max Says: I think the digital "click

action" is pretty revolutionary and is indeed the secret feature. If you don't see

what's so special about the ability, you should read David's informative editorial,

target="new" href="http://www.planetgamecube.com/editorials.cfm?action=profile&id=73">The

Click

This controller already has so much going for it, it doesn't need any more

"secrets." It's simple, it's streamlined and it is so comfy-cozy in your hands.

I can't wait to hold one again.

Billy Says: With Nintendo, you never quite know.

Nintendo could sneak in a quick design change before Space World easily. Well probably not

easy, but if Shiggy wants it, it's gonna happen.

I'm still bummed there's no word yet on the voice of IP stuff.

Mike Orlando Says: Shiggy mentioned that there was

a chance he may change the size or shape of the C-Stick, as well as a few other

intangibles. There is a chance that the full controller has yet to be shown, as your

reasoning behind Microsoft copying the innovation is sound, but I wouldn't get your hopes

up. Personally, I'm just praying that they release separate controllers in multiple colors

(at least silver!!).

Kaygen asks, Nintendo's new motto is 'The

Nintendo Difference.' Even though they took out E3, do you think that the games are really

"revolutionary?"

Shiggy said that, "the revolution of the GCN would be as when you first played Mario

64." None of the games at E3 gave us this "revolution" What game(s) do you

think will?

Jonathan Says: Well, getting to test out a very

limited E3 demo is also a LOT different than taking your shiny new N64 home for the first

time and sitting down with a 3D Mario game for the next six hours. I'll save my verdicts

until November, as far as emotional impact and major innovation go.

Mike H Says: The games look terrific, but

revolutionary? Who's to say. I'll borrow a line from Miyamoto and say that the GameCube is

like the big brother to the N64, like the SNES was the big brother to the NES. The

"revolution" paradigm happened with the N64, by bringing us into 3D. The

GameCube, so far, only seems to be taking 3D to the next level, via effects.

I still think the next big thing will be network gaming if it can be optimized and

simplified for the general public. Whoever does it best will be the revolutionary.

TYP Says: Anything revolutionary on any of the

next-generation systems will be with individual games, as 3D itself isn't revolutionary

any more. As for the games at E3, Pikmin seemed rather revolutionary with its hybrid

gameplay. I didn't play it (I just couldn't get it,) but I watched Jonny briefly. Kameo

could be another one, but it's really too early to tell with that one. Eternal Darkness is

quite revolutionary for its intricate Horror plot (which remains hidden by Denis Dyack)

and the Sanity meter. ED is a good example of how a game can be revolutionary without

respect to any console.

Max Says: Revolutionary? I think what is great

about the GameCube is that it presents much of what has made Nintendo revolutionary and

does it better than ever. The Nintendo Difference is what's revolutionary. Game Boy

Advance and GameCube embody everything that make Nintendo so different, and great.

And although I don't know how much I'd throw around the term "revolutionary"

there were some pretty damn amazing games at E3. Rogue Leader looks like Star Wars movies

and plays like a dream; Eternal Darkness breathes so much fresh (er, fowl?) air into

horror games; Pikmin is a trip & will appeal to all kinds of people; Luigi's Mansion's

lighting effects & unique gameplay. Lots of impressive stuff! Oh yeah, and then

there's "rehashes" of some of your favorite N64 games that look & sound

incredible too...

The good thing is that Nintendo is marketing the games above all else; not netplay, not

emotion engines, not any of that. PS2 was overhyped & sold like crazy but there are

not many great games for it. GameCube has so many launch titles that are quality games,

it's almost problematic. Not only will it be impossible to afford all the quality launch

software, there simply won't be time to play it all. (Believe me though, I'll still try!)

Mystic4D asks, A bunch of SSBM fans ask, If

the total amount characters (hidden included) is 20, who do you think will grab these

remaining 6 spots? The public has already seen 14 and Ganon is a guaranteed 15th. What's

your take on it? What are the chances of Sonic appearing as a Smash Brother?

Jonathan Says: As much as we'd all love to see it,

I still think it's pretty unlikely that a non-Nintendo character like Sonic will be

playable in SSB Melee. I've got my fingers crossed though.

TYP Says: Like Jonny said, it's unlikely, but it

would be cool! But about that 20 characters figure, I'm not sure where that figure came

up. I believe that number is based on the E3 character select screen... that screen can

easily be altered to accommodate more characters! One of the unknown characters better be

Luigi, though...

Max Says: I just finished a

href="http://www.planetgamecube.com/previews.cfm?action=profile&id=40">massive preview

update about secret characters in Smash Melee. There are certainly secret characters,

but who knows who they will be? I'm really hoping the numerous characters being shown off

in "trophy mode" will find a playable way into the game, but at the very least,

a few should be.

As for Sonic, that's been one persistent rumor but as much as we all hope it is true, it

is a long shot at best. It keeps popping up though; EGM even ran it, going as far to say

Nintendo & Sega were in negotiations. Maybe, but to put Sonic's #1 mascot in a game

where he'll get beat up by Nintendo characters?!? Lordy, it'd be cool but it's just too

iffy. Maybe someday, some way we'll see Mario & Sonic together... It's certainly more

likely now.

Billy Says: Sonic - eh. I mean, he's got skills

and everything...but I currently like Shadow. At least if Sonic was in the game there

would be more Sonic to play with in SSBM than currently in Sonic Adventure 2!