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Nintendo started as a small business company manufacturing playing cards in Japan in 1889 and now has the reputation of being one of the oldest and most successful manufacturers of video games and gaming consoles.

The 1980s saw the rise of Nintendo with classic handheld console games like Mario Bros and Donkey Kong . Nintendo had been producing handheld and cartridge loading video games until the arrival of the Nintendo GameCube (GCN). This was the first optical disc operated video game system from Nintendo. Part of the sixth generation era, the GameCube was Nintendo’s fourth game console and was released in September 2001.

Known as Dolphin until it was unveiled, the GameCube is very compact and also the least expensive game console in its bracket. Its compact size and design set it apart from the other video game systems. All the accessories and peripherals begin with the codename DOL and the GPU or graphics processing unit is referred to as Flipper.

The Nintendo GameCube was made clearly to be used as a video game console. It cannot store data or play music or movies. A powerful 485 MHz custom IBM PowerPC ”Gekko” processor reduces the start-up and loading time. With a capacity to create 6 to 12 million polygons per second, the Nintendo GameCube ensures that it is up and running quickly without slowing down between games. It includes top quality audio with 64 sound channels, making you feel like you are a part of the game.

The systems come with four built-in controller ports for extra players. There are two memory card slots with the capacity for future expansions to save your games. It is 4.3 x 5.9 x 6.3 inches in size and this, together with the handle, makes it very easy to move around. The GameCube game library currently has over 700 games available including classics like Mario, Metroid and The Legend of Zeld a. As an added extra, the GameCube will show up an Easter egg present on the screen every time the machine is switched on if you hold down the Z key while it is loading. Holding down the Z key will also produce marimba sounds, monkey noises, a child’s laughter, Taiko drums and sumo wrestlers chanting!

The Nintendo 64 is the predecessor to the GameCube and its successor is the Nintendo Wii. The game console is so successful that it sold 21.72 million sets around the world in 2007.