History of video games/Platforms/GameCube

Dolphin Development
The GameCube was proceeded by the Nintendo 64. Planning for a successor console began by May 1998.

The GPU of the Gamecube was developed by ArtX, a company formed in 1998 by former SGI and MIPS employees, many of whom worked on the N64. The system launched with the Flipper chip for the GPU, following an acquisition of ArtX by ATI.

An stereoscopic LCD attachment was considered for a 3D display, but was not considered due to cost. An attempt was made to implement this on the Game Boy Advance SP, and finally actually implemented on the Nintendo DS.

Both a dockable portable hybrid console GameCube, and HD supporting GameCube model was considered.

Launch
"Born to Play"

The highly anticipated GameCube was unveiled at Nintendo's Spaceworld 2000 convention, though playable units were not shown. Spaceworld 2000 included Meowth's Party, an interactive musical tech demo.

The Nintendo GameCube was released in 2001.

The GameCube was not well advertised.

In 2003 Nintendo President Satoru Iwata publicly voiced opposition against charging for online services for games which had already been paid for.

GameCube consoles made after 2004 did not come with a Digital AV port.

Legacy
Production of GameCube consoles ended in 2007. 21.74 million GameCube consoles were sold.

The GameCube was succeeded by the Nintendo Wii, which was backwards compatible with most (but not all) GameCube games and accessories, until late model Wii consoles dropped GameCube support. The base technical architecture of the GameCube would remain in use up to the Wii U.

Immediately following the release of the Wii, both consumers and the industry quickly moved on from the GameCube. Some gamers took note of the reduced interest to pick up extremely cheap used GameCube titles as space was made for more popular products. Over time the price of GameCube titles has increased dramatically, with used games often reaching or exceeding their cost new. By 2021 some older gamers expressed surprise when a reference to the GameCube was not understood by younger gamers, indicating a cultural divide.

The GameCube is remembered for its solid library of games.

Technology
"The GameCube is an optimized machine for gaming and really what we've tried to do is eliminate all the bottlenecks in the processing system so that the games will run smoother."

Compute
The GameCube is powered by a 32-bit PowerPC Gecko CPU, a modified version of the IBM PowerPC 750CXe processor which ran at a clock speed of 486 megahertz.

The GameCube has a virtual memory unit and two kinds of RAM: 24 megabytes of fast ram and 16 megabytes of slower RAM.

The CPU has a 5 watt TDP, relatively low for the time. The GameCube was capable of 9.4 gigaflops.

Hardware
Some Gamecubes had a digital AV port, which was intended for Stereoscopic output, though this feature wasn't advertised, and the only game to support it was Luigi's Mansion.

GameCube disks are 80 mm in diameter and hold 1.5 gigabytes of data.

A handle was included to increase system portability.

The circular plastic "jewel" featuring the logo on top of the GameCube could be swapped.

Controller
The GameCube controller has dual analog triggers, allowing for pressure sensitive contexts in games.

Luigi's Mansion
Luigi's Mansion was a launch title for the GameCube, and gave character to Luigi. This game focused on exploration, and using new powers to further that exploration.

The game was also seen by reviewers as a demonstration of the GameCube's graphical power.

Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee is a fighting game which was praised by reviewers at the time of release for improving graphics, as well as for adding 14 additional characters and generally providing a fun multiplayer experience.

In 2020 Super Smash Bros. Melee was still a significant game in eSports. The game has also been used in AI research.

Pikmin
Pikmin has a unique take on real time strategy, focusing on orchestrating as many as 100 Pikmin creatures at once.

Pikmin was well received, in part for its innovative gameplay mechanics such as allowing for up to 100 followers.

To promote the launch of Pikmin, a new breed of Sutera genus flower was developed called "The Pikmin Flower".

Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing is a port of the Japan only Animal Forest for the Nintendo 64, which was originally intended to release for the failed 64DD add-on. The game centers around a simulated town, where time in the game corresponds with time in real life.

Animal Crossing was praised by reviewers for encouraging player creativity and expression.

Uniquely for the time, Animal Crossing contains a number of NES games, and can download these games to a connected Game Boy Advance. The game also supported the E-Reader and other functionality with the Game Boy Advance.

Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
A launch title that sold two million copies, Rogue Leader was praised for its excellent graphics, intuitive controls, and epic scale battles.

Read more about Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader on Wikipedia.

2002

 * Star Fox Adventures
 * Metroid Prime
 * The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
 * Eternal Darkness
 * Mario Party 4

Super Mario Sunshine
This game is noted for its impressive water visuals.

Read more about Super Mario Sunshine on Wikipedia.

2003

 * Kirby Air Ride
 * Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
 * Pokémon Colosseum
 * 1080° Avalanche
 * Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
 * Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
 * Viewtiful Joe
 * Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life
 * Mario Party 5
 * Mega Man Network Transmission

Mario Kart: Double Dash
16 players could play at the same time by using multiple GameCubes with broadband adapters.

Read more about Mario Kart: Double Dash on Wikipedia.

F-Zero GX
A version of the Arcade game F-Zero AX was hidden on the F-Zero GX disk.

Read more about F-Zero GX on Wikipedia.

Tales of Symphonia
This game was an incredibly important release in the Japanese market, and its release helped promote GameCube sales in Japan.

Read more about Tales of Symphonia on Wikipedia.

Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
Read more about Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg on Wikipedia.

2004

 * Pikmin 2
 * Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
 * Mario Party 6

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
A quality RPG widely regarded as one of the best in the series,  and is sometimes considered among the finest RPGs ever made.

The game would have a lasting influence, due to its discussion of surprisingly deep themes. In non English language releases, the character Vivian is represented as a transwoman, a notable inclusion for a major title at the time. Later on Vivian became a symbol of Transgender gamers, due to her positive portrayal in the game, and her storyline discussing themes of familial rejection for expressing her identity - an unfortunately common issue faced by many transgender people.

Read more about Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Vivian on Wikipedia.

2005

 * Resident Evil 4
 * Chibi-Robo! (video game)
 * Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
 * Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
 * Killer7
 * Harvest Moon: Magical Melody
 * Mario Party 7
 * Mario Superstar Baseball

2006

 * The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
 * Odama

Special Edition GameCubes

 * Panasonic Q - A version of the GameCube that can play full size DVDs and had optical out for audio.
 * Char edition - A late 2003 version of the GameCube themed in brilliant red after Mobile Suit Gundam character Char Aznable.
 * Tales of Symphonia - Japanese only "Symphonic Green" (lime green) GameCube including Lloyd decal with matching color GBA Player add on and controller, as well as a 59 block memory card and a copy of the game.
 * McDonalds Kiosk - A kiosk using a GameCube for use in McDonalds restaurants.
 * Starlight Gaming Station - Kiosk for hospital use.

External Resources

 * Video Game Console Library - GameCube page.
 * Video Game Console Library - Panasonic Q page.