I'm getting my kids a gamecube, I need some advice.

digitalwanderer · Dec 1, 2002, 03:56 PM

It all started with this thread here.

and in particular this great bit-o-wisdom from brc64:

Quote:

Originally posted by brc64
I'm going to have to disagree with the others here and suggest a Gamecube. For that particular age group, I think the cube is the best system to get them. It doesn't have quite as large a library as the PS2 (which came out quite some time sooner), but if you were to actually look at the PS2 library, you'd find that an extremely large number of games are, well, not very good.

I have a PS2 at home, and that's it. If I could afford it, I'd have all 3 systems. Just like everybody else said, I'd stay away from the Xbox for 5 year olds. There are a few kid-friendly games on the box, but most of its big name titles carry a mature rating. If you do go the Gamecube route, I suggest looking at the Mario Sunshine bundle pack. If my memory is accurate (and it better damn well be since I sell them), it contains the system, one controller, the game (Mario Sunshine), and a memory card all for $189.99 (which is $10 less than a PS2 with no game or memory card). A Gamecube by itself is $149.

One last bit of advice.. if you do go for the PS2, BUY A WARRANTY FOR IT. You would not believe how many defective PS2s I've seen traded in at work. It's like $20 to cover the system for a year.. and if something should go wrong, it's totally worth it ('cause it costs over $100 to send it back to Sony for repairs).

Aren't you glad there are so many different options out there?

- Me

My son got an ear infection recently, (We went to the docs on Weds, half his kindergarten has got it; he's doing fine, thanks.

), and since it looked like a long weekend all couped up together Daddy decided to play Mr. NiceGuy and rented a gamecube to check it out....

....we're DEFINATELY picking up a gamecube! No question or doubt, my son has tried PS2 before and Xbox just ain't got the kids titles (plus I'd rather stay away from M$ just on principles

) and both my kids are smitten with the gamecube set-up. It's VERY inuitive and simple for kids to figure out, and I'm pretty sure it's the right choice.

I'm gonna try and find the above mentioned deal, but am also looking for a few game recomendations for both the kids and the wife & me. (Hey, it's a cool console! There must be some cool grown-up games for it.

)

Anyone recomend any games to me?

While I'm on the whole Nintendo kick, I'd best mention that his Grandma is going to be picking him up a Gameboy Advanced. Can't those interface with the Gamecube? Anyone know any good, MUST own games for it?

TIA,
Dig

DarkFoss · Dec 1, 2002, 08:18 PM

Dig, you can indeed link the game boy advances to the gamecube with a special link cable, I'm not sure if it's the same that used to link 2 gameboys probably not more $$ in seperate acessories . As for games I'd rent'em and buy what you enjoy since they're all about personal preferences and tastes. Personally I loved the metroid series for the org nintendo and the super nintendo. I'm sure the Metroid Prime for the cube is an excellent game as well. The Godzilla game looks like fun for you and the kids to go Rampaging about too

Zardon · Dec 1, 2002, 08:22 PM

im buying my wee brother the gamecube for xmas, he is getting mario sunshine, luigis mansion, star foxs adventures and super smash bros melee. some really cool kid games on that console. he is excited (plus I can play them as well hehe).

digitalwanderer · Dec 1, 2002, 08:33 PM

We picked up Mario BD 4, Smash Bros, Smasing Drive, & some BMX title. All the games are fantastically made & totally high-quality, it's just which do ya like. I'm leaning towards Metroid Prime for sure, (I was a nintendo Metroid nut too), and just do as advised with the rent before buying scheme.

Zardon · Dec 1, 2002, 08:44 PM

nintendo games always have been well polished and good all round family fun, I think my brother is collecting every single console ever made. every time I see his room I almost freak with the amount of games he has in there from the SNES, megadrive, dreamcast, PS, and his fav the PS2.

Xmas will be good with the family for me. a week off work. Playing games with my wee bro on the PS2, XBOX, gamecube.... too much food and drink, and then falling asleep on the sofa !

cant wait

EcPercy · Dec 1, 2002, 09:49 PM

man i have to add my 2c here... i own a PS2, and i am into mature games such as Metal Gear Solid 2, but i recently headed to -www.gamespot.com- most know this site...so hopefully its not considered spamming, but there was a nice video review on Metroid Prime... and as being a fan or the serias i was shocked at how nice it looked.. and more shocked that there is actually going to be a game on GC thats more mature!!! also they said in the video review that if you had the link cable and a GBA with the Metroid Fusion game and hooked the systems together you unlocked many extras of metroid prime, such as a fully ported version of the original metroid, and also another outfit for samus...how cool is that? that would be a game i would buy! thats my 2c... if i could afford it i would also own all 3 consoles because there are some nice games i want to play... such as Rygar, which thankfully is on ps2... Splintercell for x-box which looks really tight! thankfully its coming to pc, Metal Gear SOlid 2 Substance for x-box, which i feel ripped off after getting MGS2 for ps2 to see it on the box with many , many more features... the gc...i dunno i can only think of Metroid ....hope that helps! kiddy games.. for GC the next Zelda looks like it would appeal to the kids...

Zardon · Dec 1, 2002, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EcPercy
for GC the next Zelda looks like it would appeal to the kids...

Didnt microsoft buy Rare? and did rare make zelda (would someone who knows please tell me)? I know GC will be losing alot of titles to XBOX due to this 250 million buy over.....

Starscream · Dec 1, 2002, 11:47 PM

About the GBA, Super Mario World, Super Mario Advance, Mario Kart and Bomberman are all great games.

DeathscytheFish · Dec 2, 2002, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zardon
Didnt microsoft buy Rare? and did rare make zelda (would someone who knows please tell me)? I know GC will be losing alot of titles to XBOX due to this 250 million buy over.....

Normally, us Nintendo fans would shoot you for making such a mistake like this... but NINTENDO MAKES ZELDA... not any third party. And as for Rare, they took the Banjo-Kazooie series, Perfect Dark, and a few other things that didn't really matter (especially since they are only a shell of who they once were... and by that I mean most all the people responsible for games like Goldeneye and whatnot are now with other companies)

Anyways, i'd maybe hold off on getting a GBA unless you really want the portability of it since in March or April Nintendo is coming out with a Super Game Boy Advance addition to the Gamecube. It's a platform that the GC will sit on top of that hooks into the high speed parallel port on the bottom of the GC that allows you to play GBA (and previous GB) games on the Gamecube.

Also, GET A WAVEBIRD WIRELESS CONTROLLER!!! This is an absolute must for anybody with a GC, just because it's the coolest damn controller ever made that works to perfection.

And now, some titles i'd recommend you check out not only for your kids but for yourself...

Metroid Prime
Swingerz Golf
Eternal Darkness
Resident Evil (and Zero)
Mario Sunshine
Zelda (comes out next year around Feb. I think)
Animal Crossing
Final Fantasy for GC (not an exact date on it yet)
etc...

for the GBA, here's a few titles...

Metroid Fusion
Golden Sun
Advance Wars
Castlevania (there's 2 games out for it, both are quite good)
Final Fantasy for GBA (not an exact date on this either)

That's just a few, i'm sure many others here can add many more.

but that's my 2 cents...

kinetic · Dec 2, 2002, 07:10 PM

Good news Digi! Hopefully Nintendo will follow suit.

Games price drop...
Posted on Monday, December 2, 2002 by Chris Wooloff

EA is testing the water down under by dropping the price of its GameCube titles in the run-up to Christmas. Clearly dissatisfied with sales of Cube ports, EA’s MD for the region Bob Katz used the opportunity to attack Nintendo. “Given Nintendo’s disappointing reluctance to compete with Microsoft and Sony, Electronic Arts are leading the way in helping to ensure that hit GameCube titles are accessible and affordable to the general public,” he said.

Nintendo has been criticised in recent times for failing to attract gamers to its system. Sales of ported software have been very limp since the system’s launch in Europe and Australia this May, with many now speculating that Cubes play second fiddle to PS2s in many homes, with ports being purchased for PS2 – often the system the games were designed for in the first place.

EA’s move is rather unprecedented, and means that often hard done by Aussie gamers will be able to pick up the likes of James Bond 007: Nightfire, Medal of Honor: Frontline, FIFA Football 2003, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 and others for a much lower price.
Let's hope they will do the same all over and not just down under.

DeathscytheFish · Dec 2, 2002, 11:02 PM

that wouldn't really be such a big problem if the people who make games for all systems would release the game on all 3 systems AT THE SAME TIME...

There's been way too many games that came out for all 3 systems and PS2 and Xbox would hit the market at least a week or 2 before the GC version.

The people releasing the games are the ones shooting themselves in the foot, not Nintendo

gibbon565 · Dec 2, 2002, 11:24 PM

Here is my opinion and before I state it I'd like to say I own both the Xbox and the Gamecube

both great consoles. Though for future proofing I'd go Xbox as M$ have very VERY!!!!! deep pockets and dont intend to let the xbox go down and it does have lots of kids games like BlinX a classic

Star wars games, fps and RPG's loADS and LOADS OF GAMES

PLUS THE ICING ON THE CAKE IS THAT IS HAS LIVE ! and I was a beta tester and let me tell you it roxor's

. Plus Halo it's just sooooooo Good! it makes mew wanna

BUY XBOX

P.S if you insist on buying a cube make sure you have Mario and REZI

digitalwanderer · Dec 3, 2002, 12:09 AM

Me likey-likes the GC, and the kids are absolutely stark-raving loopy over it. It's gonna be a gamecube, it's just what else with it.

So far, I found the sunshine pack (Going to my local one tomorrow and intend to swing a copy of SSB too with it.

), the disk-saving Wave Bird RF controllers, and probably the Sonic Pack to round it out. (Plus anything else I can get away with picking up depending on what's on sale, what the wife will let me get away with, etc.)

I'm planning on the original Super Monkey Ball for sure, as well as Luigi's Mansion if they have them. I figure it'll make for a decent start. (And probably also cheat and rent some before the big day.

)

digitalwanderer · Dec 3, 2002, 12:21 AM

....is this cute lil mobile adapter set-up something new or is it just coming out soon? (I don't need it, but it's neat and would go a long way to explaining the handle.

)

DeathscytheFish · Dec 3, 2002, 02:56 AM

those things are cheapass crap... not worth it

If you wanted a mobile screen, then take a gander at this...

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=801552

I hear those are quite excellent!

brc64 · Dec 3, 2002, 05:32 AM

wtf? Somebody actually listened to what I had to say?

weird..

I really do think you made the right decision, and I'm sure your kids will be quite happy this Christmas.

Heck, I bet you'll be pretty happy, too.

I wish somebody would buy me a Gamecube for Christmas. Xbox, too, for that matter. A new computer would be nice as well (perhaps an Athlon XP 2000+ w/motherboard would be a good start :cough:4242:cough:

)

Happy shopping, and thanks for making me feel like I helped.

- Me

URWORSTENEMY · Dec 22, 2002, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zardon
Didnt microsoft buy Rare? and did rare make zelda (would someone who knows please tell me)? I know GC will be losing alot of titles to XBOX due to this 250 million buy over.....

what about this guys?
i believe i heard somewhere that Rare was originally 'Ultimate Play The Game'
the great software house of the very excellent (in its day) Sinclair ZX Spectrum!

Is this true?
Just wanna know
thx

myztik19 · Dec 23, 2002, 02:38 AM

8888

brc64 · Dec 24, 2002, 12:43 AM

I really don't remember the details of the Microsoft/Rare deal.. but what I do remember is that Nintendo kept the rights for all of their trademark games/characters (Starfox, Donkey Kong, etc). As far as I know, Rare is not affiliated with Zelda.

- Me

Dec 1, 2002, 08:33 PM	Thread Starter #4
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	Yeah, the gamecube does rock. We picked up Mario BD 4, Smash Bros, Smasing Drive, & some BMX title. All the games are fantastically made & totally high-quality, it's just which do ya like. I'm leaning towards Metroid Prime for sure, (I was a nintendo Metroid nut too), and just do as advised with the rent before buying scheme. __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Dec 1, 2002, 11:47 PM	#8
Starscream King of the Decepticons! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Cybertron Posts: 117 Rep Power: 0	About the GBA, Super Mario World, Super Mario Advance, Mario Kart and Bomberman are all great games. __________________ Over and outie...

Dec 2, 2002, 11:24 PM	#12
gibbon565 Bouncy BOUNCY! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 316 Rep Power: 0	Here is my opinion and before I state it I'd like to say I own both the Xbox and the Gamecube both great consoles. Though for future proofing I'd go Xbox as M$ have very VERY!!!!! deep pockets and dont intend to let the xbox go down and it does have lots of kids games like BlinX a classic Star wars games, fps and RPG's loADS and LOADS OF GAMES PLUS THE ICING ON THE CAKE IS THAT IS HAS LIVE ! and I was a beta tester and let me tell you it roxor's . Plus Halo it's just sooooooo Good! it makes mew wanna BUY XBOX P.S if you insist on buying a cube make sure you have Mario and REZI __________________ 3500 x64 ASRock Dual Sata 2 7900 GTO 512 1 gig OCUK HANNS-H HW13D

Dec 3, 2002, 12:09 AM	Thread Starter #13
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	Oh, I'm sure about the console choice. Me likey-likes the GC, and the kids are absolutely stark-raving loopy over it. It's gonna be a gamecube, it's just what else with it. So far, I found the sunshine pack (Going to my local one tomorrow and intend to swing a copy of SSB too with it. ), the disk-saving Wave Bird RF controllers, and probably the Sonic Pack to round it out. (Plus anything else I can get away with picking up depending on what's on sale, what the wife will let me get away with, etc.) I'm planning on the original Super Monkey Ball for sure, as well as Luigi's Mansion if they have them. I figure it'll make for a decent start. (And probably also cheat and rent some before the big day. ) __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Dec 3, 2002, 12:21 AM	Thread Starter #14
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	Uhm... ....is this cute lil mobile adapter set-up something new or is it just coming out soon? (I don't need it, but it's neat and would go a long way to explaining the handle. ) __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Dec 1, 2002, 08:18 PM	#2
DarkFoss HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Downers Grove IL Posts: 688 Rep Power: 0	Dig, you can indeed link the game boy advances to the gamecube with a special link cable, I'm not sure if it's the same that used to link 2 gameboys probably not more $$ in seperate acessories . As for games I'd rent'em and buy what you enjoy since they're all about personal preferences and tastes. Personally I loved the metroid series for the org nintendo and the super nintendo. I'm sure the Metroid Prime for the cube is an excellent game as well. The Godzilla game looks like fun for you and the kids to go Rampaging about too

Dec 1, 2002, 08:22 PM	#3
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	im buying my wee brother the gamecube for xmas, he is getting mario sunshine, luigis mansion, star foxs adventures and super smash bros melee. some really cool kid games on that console. he is excited (plus I can play them as well hehe).

Dec 1, 2002, 08:44 PM	#5
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	nintendo games always have been well polished and good all round family fun, I think my brother is collecting every single console ever made. every time I see his room I almost freak with the amount of games he has in there from the SNES, megadrive, dreamcast, PS, and his fav the PS2. Xmas will be good with the family for me. a week off work. Playing games with my wee bro on the PS2, XBOX, gamecube.... too much food and drink, and then falling asleep on the sofa ! cant wait

Dec 1, 2002, 09:49 PM	#6
EcPercy HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Iraq Posts: 1,535 Rep Power: 0	man i have to add my 2c here... i own a PS2, and i am into mature games such as Metal Gear Solid 2, but i recently headed to -www.gamespot.com- most know this site...so hopefully its not considered spamming, but there was a nice video review on Metroid Prime... and as being a fan or the serias i was shocked at how nice it looked.. and more shocked that there is actually going to be a game on GC thats more mature!!! also they said in the video review that if you had the link cable and a GBA with the Metroid Fusion game and hooked the systems together you unlocked many extras of metroid prime, such as a fully ported version of the original metroid, and also another outfit for samus...how cool is that? that would be a game i would buy! thats my 2c... if i could afford it i would also own all 3 consoles because there are some nice games i want to play... such as Rygar, which thankfully is on ps2... Splintercell for x-box which looks really tight! thankfully its coming to pc, Metal Gear SOlid 2 Substance for x-box, which i feel ripped off after getting MGS2 for ps2 to see it on the box with many , many more features... the gc...i dunno i can only think of Metroid ....hope that helps! kiddy games.. for GC the next Zelda looks like it would appeal to the kids...

Dec 2, 2002, 07:10 PM	#10
kinetic DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Manchester England Posts: 2,559 Rep Power: 0	Good news Digi! Hopefully Nintendo will follow suit. Games price drop... Posted on Monday, December 2, 2002 by Chris Wooloff EA is testing the water down under by dropping the price of its GameCube titles in the run-up to Christmas. Clearly dissatisfied with sales of Cube ports, EA’s MD for the region Bob Katz used the opportunity to attack Nintendo. “Given Nintendo’s disappointing reluctance to compete with Microsoft and Sony, Electronic Arts are leading the way in helping to ensure that hit GameCube titles are accessible and affordable to the general public,” he said. Nintendo has been criticised in recent times for failing to attract gamers to its system. Sales of ported software have been very limp since the system’s launch in Europe and Australia this May, with many now speculating that Cubes play second fiddle to PS2s in many homes, with ports being purchased for PS2 – often the system the games were designed for in the first place. EA’s move is rather unprecedented, and means that often hard done by Aussie gamers will be able to pick up the likes of James Bond 007: Nightfire, Medal of Honor: Frontline, FIFA Football 2003, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 and others for a much lower price. Let's hope they will do the same all over and not just down under.

Dec 2, 2002, 11:02 PM	#11
DeathscytheFish DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 25 Rep Power: 0	that wouldn't really be such a big problem if the people who make games for all systems would release the game on all 3 systems AT THE SAME TIME... There's been way too many games that came out for all 3 systems and PS2 and Xbox would hit the market at least a week or 2 before the GC version. The people releasing the games are the ones shooting themselves in the foot, not Nintendo

Dec 3, 2002, 02:56 AM	#15
DeathscytheFish DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 25 Rep Power: 0	those things are cheapass crap... not worth it If you wanted a mobile screen, then take a gander at this... http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=801552 I hear those are quite excellent!

Dec 3, 2002, 05:32 AM	#16
brc64 Zeeky H. Bomb Join Date: May 2002 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 826 Rep Power: 0	wtf? Somebody actually listened to what I had to say? weird.. I really do think you made the right decision, and I'm sure your kids will be quite happy this Christmas. Heck, I bet you'll be pretty happy, too. I wish somebody would buy me a Gamecube for Christmas. Xbox, too, for that matter. A new computer would be nice as well (perhaps an Athlon XP 2000+ w/motherboard would be a good start :cough:4242:cough: ) Happy shopping, and thanks for making me feel like I helped. - Me

Dec 23, 2002, 02:38 AM	#18
myztik19 Tech Savvy Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: India Posts: 52 Rep Power: 0	8888 8888

Dec 24, 2002, 12:43 AM	#19
brc64 Zeeky H. Bomb Join Date: May 2002 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 826 Rep Power: 0	I really don't remember the details of the Microsoft/Rare deal.. but what I do remember is that Nintendo kept the rights for all of their trademark games/characters (Starfox, Donkey Kong, etc). As far as I know, Rare is not affiliated with Zelda. - Me