Editing GameCube

| logo        = Nintendo_Gamecube_Logo.png

| discontinued = WW: 2007

* [[YPbPr]] [[component video]]/[[d-terminal]] <small>(DOL-001 models only)</small>

| releasedate  = JP: September 14, 2001<br />NA: November 18, 2001>br />EU: May 3, 2002>br />AUS: May 17, 2002

* Other regions: 4.77 million

| topgame      = ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', 7.09 million <small>(2008-03-10)</small>

The '''GameCube''', abbreviated '''NGC''' in Japan and '''GCN''' in Europe and North America}} is a <!-- Do not add 128-bit! -->[[home video game console]] released by [[Nintendo]] in Japan and North America in 2001 and Europe and Australia in 2002. The [[Sixth generation of video game consoles|sixth generation console]] is the successor to the [[Nintendo 64]] and competed with [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony]]'s [[PlayStation 2]] and [[Microsoft]]'s [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]].

Howard Cheng, technical director of Nintendo technology development, said the company's goal was to select a "simple [[RISC]] architecture" to help speed development of games by making it easier on software developers. IGN reported that the system was "designed from the get-go to attract third-party developers by offering more power at a cheaper price. Nintendo's design doc for the console specifies that cost is of utmost importance, followed by space."  Hardware partner ArtX's Vice President Greg Buchner stated that their guiding thought on the console's hardware design was to target the developers rather than the players, and to "look into a crystal ball" and discern "what's going to allow the Miyamoto-sans of the world to develop the best games".

''We thought about the developers as our main customers. In particular for GameCube, we spent three years working with Nintendo of America and with all sorts of developers, trying to understand the challenges, needs, and problems they face. First among these is the rising cost of development. The GameCube can see high performance without too much trouble; it isn't a quirky design, but a very clean one. It was important we didn't require jumping through hoops for high performance to be achieved. On top of that, it is rich in features, and we worked to include a dream group of technical features that developers requested.''

Initiating the GameCube's design in 1998, Nintendo partnered with [[ArtX]] (then acquired by ATI Technologies during development) for the system logic and the GPU, and with [[IBM]] for the CPU. IBM designed a [[PowerPC]]-based processor for the next-generation console, known as [[Gekko (microprocessor)|Gekko]], which runs at 485&nbsp;[[Hertz|MHz]] and features a [[floating point unit]] (FPU) capable of 1.9&nbsp;[[GigaFLOPS|GFLOPS]]. Designed at 0.18 microns and described as "an extension of the IBM Power PC architecture", Gekko features IBM's reportedly then-unique copper-based chip manufacturing technology. Codenamed "[[Nintendo GameCube technical specifications|Flipper]]", the GPU runs at 162&nbsp;MHz and, in addition to graphics, manages other tasks through its audio and [[input/output]] (I/O) processors.

The GameCube introduced a proprietary [[miniDVD]] optical disc format as the storage medium for the console, capable of storing up to 1.5&nbsp;[[Gigabyte|GB]] of data. The technology was designed by [[Panasonic Corporation|Matsushita Electric Industrial]] (now Panasonic Corporation) which utilizes a proprietary copy-protection scheme – different from the [[Content Scramble System]] (CSS) found in standard [[DVD]]s – to prevent unauthorized reproduction. The [[Famicom Data Recorder]], [[Famicom Disk System]], [[SNES-CD]], and [[64DD]] had explored various complementary storage technologies, but the GameCube was Nintendo's first console to move away from cartridge-based media altogether. The GameCube's 1.5&nbsp;GB mini-disc have sufficient room for most games, although a few games require an extra disc, higher video compression, or removal of content present in versions on other consoles. By comparison, the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, also sixth-generation consoles, both use 8.5&nbsp;GB [[DVD-R DL|Dual-Layer DVDs]].

Like its predecessor, the Nintendo 64, GameCube models were produced in several different color motifs. The system launched in "Indigo", the primary color shown in advertising and on the logo, and in "Jet Black". A year later, Nintendo released a "Platinum" limited edition GameCube, which uses a silver color scheme for both the console and controller. A "Spice" orange-colored console was eventually released as well only in Japan, though the color scheme could be found on controllers released in other countries.

Nintendo developed [[stereoscopic 3D]] technology for the GameCube, and one launch game, ''[[Luigi's Mansion]]'', supports it. However, the feature was never enabled outside of development. [[3D television]]s were not widespread at the time, and it was deemed that compatible displays and crystals for the add-on accessories would be too cost-prohibitive for the consumer. Another unofficial feature are two audio [[Easter egg (media)|Easter eggs]] that can be invoked when the console is turned on. When the power is activated with the "Z" button on the Player 1 controller held down, a more whimsical startup sound is heard in place of the standard one. With four controllers connected, holding down the "Z" button on all four simultaneously produces a "[[ninja]]-like" tune at startup.

[[Nintendo]] originally offered a digital video output on early [[GameCube]] models. However, it was determined that less than one percent of users utilized the feature. The company eventually removed the option starting with model number DOL-101 of May 2004.

The console's technical specifications are as follows.

* 485&nbsp;MHz [[IBM]] "[[Gekko (microprocessor)|Gekko]]" [[PowerPC]] CPU based on the [[PowerPC 750CXe|750CXe]] and [[PowerPC 750FX|750FX]]

* 162&nbsp;MHz [[ArtX]]-designed [[ATI Technologies|ATI]] "Flipper" [[ASIC]] (9.4&nbsp;[[GigaFLOPS|GFLOPS]])

*System [[floating-point]] arithmetic capability: 11 GFLOPS (peak) (MPU, Geometry Engine, Hardware Lighting Total)

* [[Fillrate]]: 648 [[megapixel]]s/sec, with [[Z-buffering]], [[alpha blending]], [[Distance fog|fogging]], [[texture mapping]], [[trilinear filtering]], [[mipmap]]ping and [[S3 Texture Compression]]

*Raw [[Polygon (computer graphics)|polygon]] performance: 90 million polygons/sec

**40 million polygons/sec, with fogging, Z-buffering, alpha blending and [[Gouraud shading]]

**33 million polygons/sec, with fogging, Z-buffering, alpha blending and texture mapping

**25 million polygons/sec, with fogging, Z-buffering, alpha blending, texture mapping and lighting

**6-20 million polygons/sec, assuming actual game conditions, with complex models, fully textured, fully lit, etc.

* [[Memory bandwidth]]: 1.3&nbsp;[[GB/s]] Gekko to Northbridge, 2.6&nbsp;[[GB/s]] Flipper to main system RAM, 10.4&nbsp;GB/s texture cache, 7.8&nbsp;GB/s framebuffer/Z-buffer, 81 MB/s audio RAM

** Audio RAM bus bandwidth: 81 MB/s

** Capacities: 512 KB (59 blocks), 2 MB (251 blocks), 8 MB (1019 blocks, incompatible with some games)

Nintendo learned from its experiences – both positive and negative – with the Nintendo 64's three-handled [[game controller|controller]] design and went with a two-handled, "handlebar" design for the GameCube. The shape was made popular by Sony's [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] controller released in 1994 and its follow-up [[DualShock]] series of [[gamepad]]s introduced in 1997. In addition to [[Haptic technology|vibration feedback]], the DualShock series was well known for having two [[analog stick]]s to improve the 3D experience in games. Nintendo and [[Microsoft]] designed similar features in the controllers for their sixth-generation consoles, but instead of having the analog sticks parallel to each other, they chose to stagger them by swapping the positions of the [[d-pad|directional pad]] (d-pad) and left analog stick. The GameCube controller features a total of eight buttons, two analog sticks, a d-pad, and an internal [[Haptic technology#Computer and video games|rumble]] motor. The primary analog stick is on the left with the d-pad located below and closer to the center. On the right are four buttons: a large, green "A" button in the center, a smaller red "B" button to the left, an "X" button to the right, and a "Y" button at the top. Below and to the inside is a yellow "C" analog stick, which often serves a variety of in-game functions, such as controlling the camera angle. The Start/Pause button is located in the middle, and the rumble motor is encased within the center of the controller.

On the top of the controller are two "pressure-sensitive" trigger buttons marked "L" and "R". Each essentially provides two functions: one analog and one digital. As the trigger is depressed, it emits an analog signal which increases the more it is pressed in. Once fully depressed, the trigger "clicks" registering a digital signal that can be used for a separate function within a game. There is also a purple, digital button on the right side marked "Z".

Unique to the GameCube is the controller's prominent size and placement of the A button. Having been the primary action button in past Nintendo controller designs, it was given a larger size and more centralized placement for the GameCube. The rubberized analog stick in combination with the controller's overall button orientation was intended to reduce the dreaded "[[Nintendo thumb]]" – a term used to describe pain in any part of the hands, wrists, forearms, and shoulders as a result of long-term play.

In 2002, Nintendo introduced the [[WaveBird Wireless Controller]], the first [[wireless]] gamepad developed by a first-party console manufacturer. The [[Radio frequency|RF]]-based wireless controller is similar in design to the standard controller. It communicates with the GameCube by way of a wireless receiver dongle connected to one of the console's controller ports. Powered by two AA batteries, which are housed in a compartment on the underside of the controller, the WaveBird lacks the vibration functionality of the standard controller. In addition to the standard inputs, the WaveBird features a channel selection dial – also found on the receiver – and an on/off switch. An orange [[Light emitting diode|LED]] on the face of the controller indicates when it is powered on. The controller is available in light grey and platinum color schemes.

The GameCube is unable to play games from other Nintendo home consoles, but with the [[Game Boy Player]] attachment, it is able to play [[Game Boy]], [[Game Boy Color]], and [[Game Boy Advance]] games. The GameCube's successor, the [[Wii]], supports [[backward compatibility]] with GameCube controllers, memory cards, and games. However, later revisions of the Wii – including the "Family Edition" released in 2011 and the [[Wii Mini]] released in 2012 – dropped support for all GameCube hardware.