Not only is Nintendo losing money right now, but even Next Generation is saying the Dolphin will be delayed. You know I'd like to keep hope alive, but....well I'm still keeping hope alive. It would be nice to get some good news. How 'bout a bit more on the specs front Nintendo. Damn that soapbox for creeping up on me again. ;)

Nintendo's profits for the fiscal half-year ending September 30 show a 72 percent year on year decrease.

The Japanese entertainment giants reported pre-tax profit of 20 billion yen ($189 million) as compared to a projected 60 billion yen ($566 million). President Hiroshi Yamauchi blamed "huge foreign exchange losses from the higher yen." The game machine maker faced about 50 billion yen ($472 million) in exchange losses due to the yen's strengthening toward the end of September.

As well as exchange losses the figures can be partly explained by a delay in two Pokémon titles for Game Boy Color and the N64 console's price reduction. Projected earnings for the whole year, to end March 31, are 100 billion yen ($945 million), down 26 percent from last year's 140 billion yen ($1,318 million). The company is expected to pay shareholders 120 yen ($1.13) per share, equal to last year.

Hot on the heels of the financial figures comes news that Nintendo is only to debut its next-generation Dolphin console at Nintendo Spaceworld next August. If this is truly to be Dolphin's first public unveiling it would appear that speculation about the console ever making deadline is right. Dolphin's slated release is a scant two months after Spaceworld. At least a six month interim between first public viewing and a product hitting shelves is more usual.

Nintendo of America spokespeople are still insistent that Dolphin will release winter 2000, although online speculation is unanimous in 2001 being more likely. The slippage would not be a complete disaster. A limited showing behind closed doors at E3 may be enough to distract some media attention away from PlayStation2.