After filling out an application at my local Toys R Us store, I wandered over to the video game section to see what was new. At least at my TRU, the section is partitioned, so everyone must go through a narrow gate (like at airports). Right outside of the gate was a lovely 21" TV (my guess) hooked up to a DVD player that was displaying GameCube love in action.

Footage looks a lot better on an actual TV! Besides the brief introduction to the system itself, the demo featured gameplay footage from Luigi's Mansion, Pikmin, Waverace, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Rogue Leader and NBA Courtside. For each game (lasting 1-2 minutes a piece), a male announcer would describe the game and some of its features.

The setup was apparently very new, since half of the workers were asking what the thing was. I guess the sight of GCN footage on a DVD system boggled their minds ;-) So although Microsoft may have a whole row filled with empty cases and large boxes, Nintendo's approach is less flashy and arguably more effective. Next time you visit your local store, keep an eye out for the footage!