Yes, I hate to have to type this. Each keystroke is a kick in the groin. It's official. The Dolphin will be delayed until the first half of 2001. Minoru Arakawa has finally released this death blow. Deep down inside you knew it was going to happen. No one wanted to admit it. But it seemed inevitable.

Arakawa puts as much of a positive spin on this as he can, but it will inevitably turn off a lot of people. Personally, I am not that upset. There are some quality titles coming in the N64 and GBC realm (as I have said before) and this delay will give Nintendo plenty of time for a high quality Dolphin line up. I would like to see a much better US launch than just 2 titles like the N64 did. Note...this delay is in the US and Europe as far as I can see. Japan could release this fall. Importers everywhere can only hope.

Nintendo's next generation, cutting-edge video game console, code-named Project Dolphin, will feature the largest and strongest library of hit games for any system introduction in Nintendo history when it launches in North America and Europe in the first half of 2001.

Development work on a wide variety of games for Project Dolphin's debut is well advanced. The launch will be supported with a variety of games featuring both Nintendo franchise characters and titles from many leading developers.

"We're building a machine with only one purpose--to play video games," says Minoru Arakawa, president, Nintendo of America Inc.. "This is what Nintendo has always known best, and what consumers have always wanted most. Project Dolphin's eventual success will come from the combination of Nintendo's dedicated, world-class game designers and our beloved franchise characters-the proven recipe for the world's best interactive fun."

"A 2001 launch for Project Dolphin is not only in keeping with the normal product lifespan for our home consoles, but provides two important benefits," adds Peter Main, Nintendo's executive vice president of sales and marketing. "First, it allows the millions of current Nintendo 64 owners to devote their video game dollars to the best lineup of new games in our history-without having to buy a new system. Secondly, the new launch date for Dolphin means that our system will come to market next year with a portfolio of game names across all genres that simply can't be matched by any other company." During the remaining nine months of 2000, N64 owners can choose from a long list of new, third generation games including Perfect Dark, Zelda 2: Majora's Mask, Banjo Tooie, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Excitebike 64, Mario RPG, Pokémon Voice Recognition System, and others.

In addition, this year Game Boy Color promises to remain America's number one selling video game system, supported with a total of more than 100 new first, second and third party releases including new Pokémon titles-- Pokémon Gold and Silver and Pokémon Trading Card, as well as games featuring such popular franchises as Donkey Kong, Perfect Dark, and Zelda.

Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than one billion video games worldwide, has created such industry icons as Mario and Donkey Kong and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda and Pokémon. Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems, including the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy - the world's best selling video game system. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Washington, serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in North America.