How is the GameCube?

[charlie5]

Pardon my ignorance but I know nothing about it -- literally. I am selling my XBOX and I fancy a change. Please don't ask why because I couldn't answer that question, I just feel like a new console and I was aiming at a PS2 but the GC has caught my attention.

Can anyone give me a very brief rundown on; game range, online stuff, general features (like DVD player on xbox etc) and modding capabilities (and how that relates to online or whatever).

Thx

Edit: also, how does it stack up as a "budget console" in comparison to, say, the PS2? For example, I played Time Splitters 3 last night for PS2 and was impressed by it in general.......would it let me down on GC?

[charlesr]

The Gamecube is great (at playing games - there's no dvd player, cos it's tiny - the discs are much smaller than dvds), but don't sell your xbox. They play different sorts of games and you will want your xbox back.

I suggest you visit ign.com and look at their gamecube overview to start with, because this forum is more for specific questions, like "How do I modify my Japanese Gamecube to play USA games?"
Hopefully once you've checked there, you will have a better idea about what questions you need to ask.

[sj33]

GameCube would certainly offer a 'change' from your XBox... something you might not find quite so much on a PS2.
From a graphical standpoint, it's a large jump ahead of the PS2, but slightly lower than the XBox.

No special 'features', Nintendo were against the idea of intergrating anything like a DVD Player from day one, but some games do link up with the GBA.

Online stuff is where it falls flat on it's arse. Officially, there only 1 online title, Phantasy Star Online (2 if you count the semi-sequal, PSO Ep3). There's an online game coming out in Japan called Homeland... alas, Japan only.
You can 'unofficially' play Mario Kart: Double Dash, 1080 Avalanche and Kirby Air Ride by using an app such as Xlink Kai to use the LAN mode online. This works identically to XBConnect on the XBox.

Modding? To run imports, you just need a bootdisc - Freeloader. That simple. To run 'backups' there are both modchips and a softmod.

[charlesr]

As to your specific question at the end there, graphically, the difference between the consoles is very small. The PS2 is generally slightly weaker than the other two (Xbox and GC), but really, you aren't going to notice.

[charlie5]

Thx guys. Okay, so it's not great for online m/player. Hmm...that sucks.

No features but TBH I never used the features on the XBOX.

Modding is quite important. Although I buy 99% of my games, I like to try them out without buying first off (perhaps borrowing and making a copy from friends) to see if I like.....

Impressed with the graphics side of things. I had a look at GameSpot tho and I looked at games that I know of released on multiformats and the GC tended to have lower ratings on identical games, leading me to believe they think the console is letting the game down.

All-in-all, so far it seems the GC is worth the, well -- approx ?40 i've seen them going for. Seems like a good price.

Then again, i'm only selling my XBOX for around ?80-85 and that has 4 games, 2 pads and extra cabling etc.....maybe not heh.

[in5ane]

I would say the PS2 lags quite a long way behind the other consoles in terms of graphics. Whether that's actually important is debatable.

The GC has some great 'party' games- but you can get Super Monkey Ball on the Xbox now, so that's my biggest multiplayer recommendation out the window!

[charlie5]

Put it this way -- my fave game of all time has to be Zelda - Ocarina of Time.

I think I have a soft spot for Nintendo. I will say that i'm not a hardcore gamer, not in the slightest really. I really like those Zelda type of games and TBH I always found the 64 to offer the best range of them. I'm not too into FPS on consoles as i've always sucked majorly and not been able to adjust from PC control style.

I like sports games a lot also.

[Mr-Niceguy2001]

I'm going back to play my Gamecube again despite having all the other consoles as well as a PSP. Too be honest, the only games I've been playing recently have been Counter-Strike on the Xbox, and this lot on the ps2: Tekken 5, Initial D, Pro Evo 4, Kof 2003 and Dynasty Warriors 5 and only DW5 and Pro Evo 4 are being played regularly.

I've missed something and I've gone back to the cube to find it with such games as Tales of Symphonia. I've bought a few new titles recently which I need to start (Just bought Baten Kaitos off here too ) and I'm looking forward to picking up Resident Evil 4 tommorrow.

I think you'll enjoy the cube but you should see what games are on it first that grab your attention.

[Ginger Tosser]

The cubes so cheap at the mo, especially the Resident Evil 4 bundle at Toys'r'us for ?99 or the Donkey Gonga bundles for ?59 (or was it ?69?). I think it an instore offer only.

I dont know if its worth hanging on to your xbox or not, really depends if there's games on it you cannot do without. For me there wasn't so i haven't missed mine.

[sj33]

Modding is quite important. Although I buy 99% of my games, I like to try them out without buying first off (perhaps borrowing and making a copy from friends) to see if I like.....

Well the modding side of things is kinda confusing.

There are modchips, the main one being ViperGC, others being RipperGC, NinjaMod, Qoob. ViperGC is kinda the standard though.
GC mods literally first appeared this year though, so they aren't as advanced as what you'd find on the XBox or PS2.

You can run mini-DVDR's through software now though, using a homebrew app called GCOS. There are various ways of running this, all kinda annoying in their own way... using a MaxDrive Pro, the 'PSO Exploit' etc...

To be honest, if you have modded a console before, you can feel safe installing a Viper, it's supposed to be easy.

[mattSix]

the cube is an importer's wet dream. the freeloader (import boot disc) works for all games, but beware of potential memory card issues (some of which make a few games unplayable).

an imported us cube can be mod'd to (switchable) us / jpn & vice versa without the need for a chip - just solder, a couple of wires & a switch.

rgb out is standard for pal cubes, only ntsc cubes have s-video. 1st gen cubes come with a component out & a component cable can be mod'd to give rgb out for ntsc cubes & vga (480p) for ntsc cubes playing progressive scan games. that means you can hook it up to pretty much anything. the cable mod requires solder, wire & one resistor - nothing fancy.

[charlesr]

At the price cubes are now, it would be worth it even if you only bought 2 games (perhaps 2nd hand?)
Resident Evil4 is a must
Metroid Prime is dirt cheap 2nd hand now and has a similar sense of wonderment to Zelda OOT

[Resonance]

How well do the GC mod chips do at playing import games? I am thinking of getting a US/JPN cube and modding it to play uk games. Are there any compatability issues and which is best?

[johnkiddier]

I was completely unaware that you can get modchips for the cube now. I've recently bought a cube for the second time and I simply use the freeloader disc. It worls a treat.

The cube is worth considering for the Resident Evil games, Viewtiful Joe, Ikaruga and Metroid Prime.

I've bought it to play just these few titles. For about ?40 for the hardware you can't go wrong.

If you enjoy Zelda and Mario titles there's even more to pick up. It's worth mentioning that second hand cube games are unbelievably cheap both on the sellign forum here and on Ebay.

It currently represents a bargain in my opinion.

[buster_broon]

i've had my switched cube from when they first became available - way before the uk launch

i'm a abit of a nintendo fanbois and its my favourite console of this generation - it has loads of great games, sure it has a truckload of poor games as well but just not as many as the xbox or the ps2 (which i also own btw)

now i own a few consoles - just for the special editions and a Pana Q which i adore