Latest news with #GameCube
Engadget
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Nintendo is putting an extremely rare GameCube game on Switch 2 next week
When Nintendo announced that it was adding GameCube games to its (inexplicably Switch 2-only) Nintendo Switch Online offering, people were understandably excited about the likes of Super Mario Sunshine and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker joining the service. And I was one of them (even if I'd personally lose little sleep if Super Mario Sunshine was fired directly into the sun). But as much as I want the obvious GameCube classics on my Switch 2 , it's the more underrated gems I've heard so much about from hardcore Nintendo fans over the years that really pique my interest. Games like Chibi-Robo! , for example, which Nintendo has confirmed as the next title joining the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion pack library on August 21. Chibi-Robo! is a 2005 platform-adventure game about a friendly little robot whose main goal is to help the Sanderson family by taking on various housework-related missions and performing generally good deeds on request. Chibi-Robo's helpfulness isn't limited to humans, though. In its quest to spread happiness, it also assists several animals and even enchanted toys along the way. As a player, you have to keep an eye on the robot's battery life and use power outlets dotted around the house to recharge it. Fail to do so and it'll collapse, and you'll lose a chunk of the in-game currency you've collected. Chibi-Robo! looks like a typically charming Nintendo game in every respect, but it was actually originally conceived by now-defunct developer Skip Ltd. as a point-and-click adventure game, with Bandai as the publisher. Exactly how or why the game ended up moving over to Nintendo remains a mystery, but director Kenichi Nishi told Time Extension that Shigeru Miyamoto took a particular liking to the character design. The legendary Mario creator then went on to play something of an overseer role in the game's development under its new publisher. Chibi-Robo! spawned a number of handheld spinoffs, but the original game remains the one with cult classic status. It's also become increasingly hard to play over the years, with Nintendo choosing not to port the game forward. These days you can expect to pay as much as $200 for a second-hand physical copy. As someone who categorically does not have that kind of cash to chuck at a 20-year-old video game (or any game for that matter), I'm looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about when it lands on Switch 2 next week. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Games Inbox: Is an Xbox Game Pass subscription worth it?
The Wednesday letters page has some detailed advice for anyone trying to build their own gaming PC, as one reader enjoys Fast Fusion on Switch 2. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ Too much of a good thing Back when I bought my Xbox Series X I got 24 months of Game Pass included. I tried a few games now and then, but mostly for 20 minutes or so, and then tried another and after a few months I didn't use it at all really. I think having so much choice actually made it feel cheapened, if that makes any sense. I think if I'd paid £40 for a game I'd feel more inclined to play it but Game Pass was like a buffet just to sample lots of games but not actually play them properly. I didn't renew it when my sub expired a couple of years ago now. Mark Matthews GC: It's a common sentiment, but not one anyone really anticipated before game subscriptions became a thing. Executive logic With the next generation of consoles just around the corner, and with the Switch 2 kind of starting it off, will developers be held back by the difficulties of getting their games to work on all consoles? We saw how the Xbox Series S complicated releases on both it and the Xbox Series X (Baldur's Gate 3). Will developers now have to think about the Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and Switch 2 when making the next generations games? When new generations of consoles come out they usually make sure that their new games can be played on their older iterations of their systems. With development time and costs skyrocketing, I think the video games industry is in serious trouble, and I don't think kickstarting the next generation is the right answer. There's plenty of life left in the PlayStation 5 (and Xbox to a lesser extent) and it feels like the next generation is more trouble than its work. But then again what do I know? dan69247 Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Life after death RE: the short life cycle of the beloved Dreamcast. Two years and four months from start to finish is very, very short. But suppose I don't dump a console once it's shut down, there are still plenty of games to seek out and play. I would suppose I had it for at least another two years after that, all while quietly having an affair with the GameCube. I gave it to my nephews when I finally left her for the GameCube full time and they still have it bundled away in the back of a cupboard somewhere, promising to show me that the apprentices have become the masters at Soul Blade/Edge/Calibur. I'll bet those LED Chao memory card Tamagotchis don't work though! big boy bent Email your comments to: gamecentral@ Do it yourself I never cease to be amazed at the amount of technical know-how and skill you can happen upon after just a cursory search on YouTube. If you have a problem, any kind of problem, chances are someone's already made a how-to video about it. I've had a long-standing issue with my original Xbox, in that the DVD drive has been reluctant to open and close. It turns out this is a common problem that can be solved by fitting a new drive belt, which can be purchased easily online. These belts are so much smaller than you'd think. A spare Xbox DVD drive belt (I bought two) is no bigger than an American quarter (25 cents). Fitting the belt was a fiddly but non-invasive procedure akin to keyhole surgery using tweezers, but I saw how to do it on a YouTube video. Last night I watched some guy revive an old non-working Xbox that he'd bought. Apparently, the capacitor had leaked over the motherboard (another common problem with the original Xbox) and he expertly mended the console and got it working again. Impressive stuff. It's so gratifying when experts turn what might be considered worthless junk back into something useful. I guess the advice that you'd give to anyone with a malfunctioning console that's over two decades old is to get a professional to fix it and I believe retro console repair shops are scattered around the UK. I expect a lot of people would be inclined to buy another old console and commit their malfunctioning machine to landfill but I wanted to try and fix mine myself. Michael Veal / @msv858 (X) Bad timing I think Game Pass is a really good idea, the only problem is it came about 20 years too late. Just hear me out! 20 years ago games were so cheap to make. I mean, 20 years ago games were around £40, half the price to make compared to now. That means a shorter time to make them, which means they could of made more in the same time frame to be able to keep the list fresh. Also, now everyone has had enough of subscriptions. Not only have you got the video subscriptions online, everything is going on a subscription – even going to the gym. And I think everyone is saying not another subscription. But 20 odd years ago there wasn't any subscription services, which would of been perfect for Game Pass. So it's really a great idea, just a shame it was 20 years too late. David GC: 20 years ago, nobody downloaded AAA games, due to slower broadband speeds and limited hard drive space. Fast catch-up Just picked up Fast Fusion on Switch 2. Bought it mainly for the Switch 2 graphics showcase but the gameplay is rather good. I've jumped in just as the game has had a free update. The new additions are another graphics option and also three extra new circuits. Not bad for free DLC. I shall wait for more of that. GC, is there any point me buying the older games in the series or should I leave them alone? Is it going to be a big step backwards playing fast RMX? Nick The Greek GC: They're all just minor variations of each other, so we'd stick with Fusion. Even if the Fusion gimmick is one of the worst things about it. Under budget Regarding Andrew J.'s PC purchase, as others have said, you'll get a very capable machine for £2,000 if that's what you want to spend, easily capable of at least 1440p at 60fps in most games for many years to come. PCPartPicker has good user submitted build guidesif you want to get an idea of which CPUs and GPUs are within your budget, and r/buildapc subreddit is also good for advice. Generally speaking, I'd say an AMD CPU is probably your best bet unless you have a good reason to go with Intel: a 7800X3D (or 9800X3D, if you're willing to pay a wee bit more) would do you for years to come. On the GPU side it's worth getting something with 12GB VRAM minimum as the 8GB cards are struggling to keep up – a RTX 5070 or 5070Ti (if you can stretch to it) would also keep you going for a while, and gives you access to Nvidia's full feature set (upscaling, frame generation). If you're not too bothered about that, then the 9070XT is a really good AMD card which has better ray-tracing and machine learning powered upscaling capabilities than the previous generation cards (I have a 7800XT which is fine for my needs, but relatively rubbish for ray-tracing). This build (from the website you suggested) comes in around £2,000 and could be a good starting point: If you really just want a 1080p machine then you can lower your budget a lot , but you'll maybe need to upgrade sooner. I really like what Intel are doing in the budget GPU space – they have some nice cards with good VRAM capacity that would make great 1080p/1440p machines. Happy hunting! Magnumstache Skimping on power As others in the comments have mentioned, £2,000 to target 1080p at 60fps is overkill and could be achieved for less than half that price. Assuming you actually do want to spend £2,000 then I'd recommend a 7800X3D processor with ideally a 5070 Ti graphics card (Ti over the base 5070 for the extra VRAM), although if you need to shave £150 on your spend this could drop to the 5070. You could probably run many current games at 4K 60fps with this set-up. Ultimately, I would recommend getting in touch with whichever company you plan to use to build the PC and discuss the requirements in more detail with them. I just put a theoretical build through Parts Picker and it came in at £1,900 but there is no upcharge on parts for building it this way. Two suggestions, though. Firstly, add a second 2TB drive. You won't be running games off your old mechanical drive so having extra space now and being able to dump game installs on a separate drive to the operating system is worth the extra £100 at the build stage. Secondly, don't skimp on the power supply, I often see build sites using the cheapest PSU possible, so ensure you're getting a good rated one (gold+ or better). 750w should be fine but you can always go a little higher if you think you might swap out GPUs at a later date to something more powerful. Adam W Inbox also-rans Not an exact response to Andrew J but if he's struggling on compatibility between parts then this is a great site which when you start building out your machine it only shows compatible parts. Steve And people thought GTA 6 would have a big price! Thanks for this great sale at Very, it's more affordable. Mark Matthews Email your comments to: gamecentral@ More Trending The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers' letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader's Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don't forget to follow us on Twitter. MORE: Games Inbox: Does it matter that physical video games are dying? MORE: Games Inbox: What's the best way to play Nintendo Switch 2? MORE: Games Inbox: When will Switch 2 get a new 3D Mario game?
Metro
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Nintendo has got as arrogant as Sony and it's hurting the Switch 2
A reader is deeply disappointed by the recent Nintendo Direct and suggests it's part of a recurring theme of Nintendo making a minimum effort with the Switch 2. I've been a gamer for the best part of 30 years now and for all that time Nintendo has been one of the few constants. Not in terms of success, as anyone who owned a GameCube or a Wii U can tell you, but in terms of quality, ambition, and a general sense that they're trying to do their best and move the industry and artform forwards. During the Wii U era is the only time where I've felt this attitude has wavered, although I don't really understand anything about what they were doing with that console. My best guess is they realised it was a dud from the start and were just treading water till they could get the Switch ready to replace it. One of their darkest hours but they got through it. Looking at the sales figures for the Switch 2 it is clearly the opposite of dead and arrival and yet that's kind of how it feels to me. Neither of its big games have blown me away, the upcoming line-up is weak, and the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase this week was flat out pathetic. Like many people, I started to have doubts as soon as the Switch 2 was revealed in April, when it had a bare minimum of reveals and really nothing in terms of surprises. Well, Kirby Air Riders was a surprise, but not in a good way. That Direct wasn't a disaster like this week, but it was nowhere near as slick or exciting as I expected. At first I thought it was just me being negative, but I saw lots of people saying the same thing online, that it seemed like Nintendo was caught unprepared and this was just the best they could do with short notice. Except that doesn't make sense because they were under no rush at all. They'd had more than eight years to prepare, the PlayStation 6 and next gen Xbox were not imminent, and there was no reason for them to have to release the console in June if they weren't ready. I know one theory is that they were trying to avoid GTA 6, but they would've known, like all of us, that there was no guarantee of when it was coming out (I'm also not sure Rockstar wouldn't simply have told them, if they asked) and in any case, better to delay to next year then get caught with your pants down. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. After all, they already had Metroid Prime 4 and Pokémon Legends: Z-A for Switch 1. Add in a few more remasters and they could've easily scrapped through till next March (and ironically still missed GTA 6). We could go in circles forever trying to make sense of it but both Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza feel like they were missing six months or so of polish. Everything to do with Mario Kart's open world is super weird, and they still haven't talked about any DLC plans, while Donkey Kong is good, but that camera is rough and there are few minor bugs, which I do not expect from a Nintendo game. As you can gather, I did buy a Switch 2 at launch and while I don't necessarily regret it (I have issues with most things Nintendo has done this year but I have no complaints about the hardware itself) I am disappointed and confused. I basically have no Switch 2-only games to look forward to this year, just Metroid Prime 4, and nothing at all for next year. And now I know that third party companies will not be picking up the slack. Even if I had been interested in anything shown during the Partner Showcase, which I definitely was not, hardly any of it is coming out this year anyway. I worry that this is all the Nintendo version of what's been going on at Sony this gen. It's not as bad, because Nintendo isn't interested in live service games, but it seems to be the result of games taking longer to make and being more expensive to produce. It also, and I hate to say this, smacks of Nintendo getting a touch of the old Sony arrogance. This is definitely not the Nintendo of the Wii and Switch eras, where they were on the back foot and pushing themselves to put out their best stuff, because their very survival depended on it. This is a Nintendo that is feeling pretty comfortable with itself and no longer feels it has to go all out or work to win over fans. More Trending Luckily for them, Nintendo's bare minimum is well above most other company's very best, but it's still worrying to me. My first thought was to wonder when they'll get over these launch butterflies but I then look at Sony and think maybe they never will. Maybe this is just how Nintendo is going to be now. And that's not an encouraging thought. By reader Granola The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: The Nintendo Partner Direct left me wondering: where's the ambition? – Reader's Feature MORE: Why is Sony trying to kill the concept of the video game console? - Reader's Feature MORE: The Nintendo Switch 2 is the closest thing to a modern day Commodore Amiga – Reader's Feature
Buzz Feed
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
I'm A Lifelong Gamer — Here's Why Nintendo's Switch 2 Is Worth Every Penny
Back in 1985, when my family acquired Nintendo's original NES gaming system, my life changed for the better — but when the Japanese tech brand released the hand-held Gameboy in 1989 and the Super Nintendo console in 1991, my parents put their feet down and refused to keep upgrading our video game systems every time a new one hit shelves. But my love and devotion to Mario, Link and Nintendo's other licensed characters did not die that day. In fact, it's been the complete opposite. I can't even begin to fathom the hours I've spent button-mashing my way through every console Nintendo has blessed us with including the original Gameboy, SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii, Wii U and original Switch. I will admit that when the brand revealed that the follow-up to the Switch would simply be the Switch 2 and it turned out to look quite similar, I had some doubts. Those doubts were quickly laid to rest the first time I picked up the newly magnetic joy-con. 'Mario Kart' has always been a favorite, taking me back to playing 'Double Dash' on GameCube in college and, more recently, playing 'Mario Kart 8' with my niece and nephew. My first experience with the Switch 2 was trying out 'Mario Kart World,' which gave me the familiar euphoric feeling I've experienced so many times throughout my life. It's the game so many of us grew up playing with added features like an open world mode and knockout rounds. It took a lot of self-discipline not to stay up all night trying to unlock all of the characters and vehicles. Since that first play, I have tried other titles including: 'Welcome Tour', 'Split Fiction', 'Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess' and 'Cyberpunk 2077.' I'm not the type of gamer who gets hung up on tech specs, but I've spent plenty of hours with my Switch 2 so far and there are noticeable improvements. The visuals are crisper. The load times are faster. One of my favorite new features is the ability to loan out digital game cartridges to friends playing on their own consoles. Another major add-on is the ability to use the joy-con as a mouse, which will come more into play with future game releases like 'Drag X Drive.' Nintendo is also selling a camera accessory to allow for video chats with friends while playing along with plans to incorporate that function into games like the upcoming upgraded version of 'Super Mario Party Jamboree.'The one main issue I ran into as I prepared this review was storage. Bringing games from my first Switch console onto the new one and adding some of the aforementioned titles I tested, the system's internal memory filled up very quickly. Some people might be happy to install and uninstall as needed when they move on from game to game, but I love having my own little arcade at my fingertips. I was dismayed to learn that the memory card I purchased for my original Switch (which still has plenty of space) no longer works for Switch 2. If you have any interest in exploring some of the more graphically advanced options, you will need to purchase a microSD Express card separately. I know many adults who think video games are just for kids or say there just aren't enough hours in the day to make time for playing. After gaming for most of my 40+ years on this earth, I can say they've helped not only my mental health, but also my brain function. It's worth making the time. I gravitate toward puzzle games and have found Nintendo rules when it comes to offering problem-solving and strategy-focused experiences that really require brain power. A lot of these options can also be played in quick stints as opposed to the hours of investment required to complete other titles. Once your Switch 2 is all set up, check out these games worth adding to your collection: A walkthrough game showcasing the Switch 2's features Consider this one an interactive instruction manual. "Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour" teaches users about the new functionality of the Switch 2 including the magnetic joy-cons. Get it from Amazon for $9.99. An action RPG featuring an all-star voice cast "Cyberpunk 2077" made a splash when it was first released back in 2020. This action-packed journey through Night City includes the voice acting talents of Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves and more. The Switch 2 version really shows off the advanced graphics this new system is capable it from Amazon for $68.70. A Nintendo icon refreshed for a Switch 2 Hyrule has never looked this gorgeous. This edition of "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" brings Link, Zelda and Ganon into the new Nintendo era with a new Switch 2-specific feature called Zelda Notes, which involves voice-assisted navigation to help you on your it from Amazon for $79. A breathtaking Japanese-inspired strategy game "Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess" is one of the lesser-known launch titles garnering a lot of buzz. The stunning visuals and immersive story make this one an automatic add-to-cart after setting up your Switch it from Amazon for $39.99. A new adventure for an old fan-favorite character DK is back, baby! "Donkey Kong Bonanza" stars the titular gorilla smashing his way through level after level with aspiring singer (and Mario's first love interest before Peach) Pauline along for the ride. Get it from Amazon for $69. A fight through 1980's Japan Sega's Yakuza series has been going strong for 20 years and the "Yakuza O" prequel is one of the best of the series. This director's cut was a launch title for the Switch 2 and takes players into the seedy underworld of organized crime in Japan. Get it from Amazon for $49.80.
Business Wire
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Game Developers Conference Appoints Games Industry Luminary Mark DeLoura Executive Director of Innovation & Growth
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Game Developers Conference (GDC), the world's largest and longest-running event serving professionals dedicated to the art and science of making games, has appointed longtime GDC advisor and videogame advocate Mark DeLoura as the Executive Director of Innovation & Growth, a new leadership role to ensure GDC's strategy, programming and presence are future-facing and deeply connected to the industry it serves. Heading into its 40th edition, GDC is transforming into a Festival of Gaming, expanding its scope to represent the full game-making ecosystem and better meet the needs of the contemporary games industry. GDC 2026 will return to the Moscone Center in San Francisco next year, Monday, March 9 to Friday, March 13, 2026. Mark's career has been defined by an intellectual curiosity and an exploration of the endless possibilities of game development around education, inclusion, civic engagement and the public good. In his more than three decades experience he has held such wide-ranging titles as journalist, technical director, vice president of technology, consultant, advocate and senior advisor. On the console side, Mark helped launch iconic game platforms like Nintendo 64, GameCube and PlayStation 3. He has authored programming books and served as the editor-in-chief of Game Developer Magazine, helping generations better understand game technology. Mark's history with GDC goes as far back as helping oversee the original event's transition from the Computer Game Developers Conference (1988-1999) into the inclusive, globally relevant platform now known as the Game Developers Conference, and he has served as an advisor for the event for more than 10 years. Mark's technical and academic understanding of game development culminated in his role as the Senior Advisor for Digital Media at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under President Obama. In his ongoing advocacy of the positive influence of gaming technology, Mark's new role as Executive Director of Innovation & Growth of GDC puts him center stage in an exciting effort to shape the next chapter of GDC. In its 40th edition, the new GDC will be a reimagined platform that reflects the entire game-making ecosystem, and Mark's vision, grounded in years of industry insight, will help to shape this broader strategy and ensure it delivers meaningful value to every corner of the community. 'Mark has been a longtime member of the GDC family,' said Nina Brown, Vice President of Gaming at Informa Festivals. 'We could not have a better leader joining to help change the game as GDC becomes an inclusive Festival of Gaming to better serve the industry we all love. He is among the rare few that have the holistic perspective of the rapidly evolving industry from the inside out.' "GDC has always been a home for people who care deeply about making games and now it's transforming into something even more ambitious!" said Mark DeLoura, GDC's Executive Director of Innovation & Growth. 'It's incredibly exciting to step into this role to ensure that GDC remains connected to the community while expanding to serve everyone who is shaping the future of games.' For more details on the Game Developers Conference, please visit the GDC's official website, or subscribe to regular updates via Facebook, X or BlueSky. Official photos are available via the Official GDC Flickr account: About GDC The Game Developers Conference® (GDC) is the world's largest professional game industry event with market-defining content for programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals, business decision makers and others involved in the development of interactive games and immersive experiences. GDC brings together the global game development community year-round through events and digital media, including the networking meet-up's, GDC Vault, Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. GDC is organized by Informa PLC, a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organizer in the world. To learn more and for the latest news and information visit
