It's been a while since I've talked about consoles, last time was all about the PlayStation 2, this time will be about Nintendo and the Dolphin.

If you don't know already, Project Dolphin is the code name for the next Nintendo console. Nintendo annouced this a little bit over a year ago, I think. Ever since, Nintendo has been super secret about this thing (a lot like Apple whenever they release new models) so it's hard for many of gaming "things" (magazines, web sites, etc.) to produce information about it.

Apparently, Project Dolphin will officially be called Star Cube (Star, coming from the Mario series; cube coming coming from probably what the system will look like. Well, that's what I can figure.). As weird as that name sounds, Dolphin was weird the first time I heard it and now it seems normal, so I'm sure Star Cube will be normal a few months from now.

The controller for the Star Cube has been completed. Several developers have seen/possess it, and they say that it's something special. Personally, I've always loved the Nintendo controllers, they've always been extremely comfortable (except for the NES, but that was a looong time ago.). I could hold a Gameboy in my hands for hours on end and not feel sore (if the batteries lasted longer then _maybe_ my hands would get sore). The N64 controller is rather big, but very light and comfortable . Dreamcast's one is the ugliest and uncomfortable pieces of sh*t I have ever held. PlayStation's isn't bad, a big rip-off of the SNES one though. I haven't a clue about PS2.

My guess is that the SC (Star Cube) controller will have an analog joystick, built-in rumble pak (or two), Start, A and B buttons, 2+ trigger buttons (one under each side), L & R buttons, _possibly_ a control pad (how many N64 games do you play that only use the control pad? My hand never even reaches past the analog anymore.), and some sort of camera buttons with zoom-in and zoom-out buttons. A slot on the bottom for memory paks, additional rumble paks (hehe), and anything else you could insert there. Also a good prediction of mine is that it'll be wireless; hopefully nothing like Acclaim's Dual Turbo wireless controllers for SNES (damn things kept changing my TV's channels while playing! Plus if there was anything wider than a sheet of paper in the way, you couldn't play.).

Next month at the SpaceWorld 2000 expo (August 25-27) Nintendo should release a lot more information about the Star Cube, as previously stated a year ago when they annouced Dolphin. This information will include the specs of it. Personally, I'm hoping for a 256-bit console, but that may be a little high, although seems to be their trend (SNES 16-bit to N64 64-bit; 16x4=64, 64x4=256). Realistically, it'll probably be anywhere from 128- to 196-bit. Plus information about their online network (more on that later). And whether or not the games will be cartridge-, CD-, or DVD-based. My guess will be CD and DVD playable games; nothin' beats digital. Hopefully they'll have a set of guidelines for developers to reduce loading times as much as possible (There are a few PS games out there that have super short loading times, mainly Konami ones (Castlevania: Syp. of the Night and Metal Gear).). And if we're lucky, any information about ports on the back and what they can hook up to. Come on digital (sound) and composite (video) out, come on digital and composite out!!

Many developers who have received information from Nintendo (as little as it was) say that the Star Cube will be very Macintosh-like (that includes the hardware and I think programming language, too.). Which makes a warm and fuzzy feeling in the pit of my chest where my heart should be. And you die-heart PC people should jump up into arms, any programmer who has programmed for several programs knows that programming for Mac is the easiest way possible (Unlike reports saying that developers dispise programming for the PlayStation 2.).

Nintendo is very serious about the outcome of this console. Even so far as to make partnerships with IBM and Panasonic (Looks like Nintendo hates Sony as much as Panasonic does, haha!). IBM will be making the processors for the Star Cube, and I will tell you this again, this processor will be sick when it comes for raw power and proformance (and environmental/energy friendly for you nature buffs). IBM supplies the processors for super computers, huge servers (with their Power4 line, which is easily the best for big ass companies with big ass networks), and Macintosh's, and now IBM will be powering another big bad system: a Nintendo console.

Back to Nintendo's secrecy about this whole thing. A big question is why. Why won't Nintendo release information about their biggest and baddest console ever? Why must they torture all those die-hard Nintendo fans? Well it's simple: They don't want the greedy bastards at the Sony and Sega offices to steal their ideas. That what all those big companies do, is just steal all the good stuff the competitor's made and make it bad. Take Micro$oft for example...

And one last thing: please god, do not let the Star Cube be multi-colored. It worked for Apple with the iMac (yes, yes, everyone shivers at those words except for the pokemon-crazed kiddies and the adults who can't stop the "12:00" from flashing on their VCR's (unless they get their bad ass adolescent teen to fix it, who hates that multi-color crap.)) but it will not work for you, Nintendo. Just give me an awesome system with more great games (as much as I loved Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, and Zelda, 3 titles aren't enough for me.) that has some super duper upgrades/peripherals (ie: cable modem and more RAM! Hell, let me be able to take my RAM outta my Mac and just snap 'em into my Star Cube) I'll be fine and content until the next Nintendo console.

- SS3 GokouX™ -