Metroid Database.com

To cap off what could have very well been the biggest onslaught of major releases in one week in videogame history, Nintendo officially launched the Gamecube console today, November 18, 2001. The release of the GC comes just three days after Microsoft's launching of their Xbox game console and four days after Konami's release of what is probably the most highly-anticipated PlayStation 2 title to date, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Talk about a huge week for videogamers!

>[? Incidentally, the reports of Nintendo sending out memos to retailers telling them they could start selling GC units as soon as they received their shipments appears to have been a hoax. Nintendo never sent out such a memo -- however, it was an effective hoax, as many retailers panicked upon hearing the rumor and did in fact begin selling the Cube earlier in the week. In fact, Nintendo did send out a memo informing retailers that they were to stick to the November 18th street date, but either not everyone got it or they chose to ignore it. Regardless, the 18th was the official launch date of the new machine, and the majority of American game fans will have had their first taste of the new generation of Nintendo gaming by now. The Gamecube launched in Japan this past September 2001.

Six titles are available for the Cube's release, with only two of them -- Luigi's Mansion and Wave Race Blue Storm -- from Nintendo themselves. However, these will be followed fairly quickly by the early December release of Nintendo's Pikmin and Super Smash Brothers Melee -- and I don't think I need to remind you Metroid fans that SSBM will be our first chance to see what Samus Aran can do on the new system!

Enjoy your new Gamecubes, everyone!

--TJ