Are these Portable GameCube pics real?
by Ben Zackheim 
{ May 5th 2005 at 2:13PM }
This could be a proof of concept design (in which case it looks successful to me) or it could be what we've been
hearing about for the last several months. Rumors have been flying that The Big N was about to release a new portable
device, hot on the heels of their DS. We were pretty up in arms around here about it. Why would Nintendo step on their
own product? This could be the answer. I hope this is the answer.
Yeah, it looks a little clunky, but the DS and PSP have already lowered the bar on ease-of-portability.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
A. Nonymous @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
These are fake. They're clever, but fake.
How can you tell? The system has play, stop and rewind buttons like a CD player. Except the GameCube doesn't use CDs, it uses its own media.
Okay, okay, yeah there was the Panasonic Q, which could play gamecube games as well as CDs and DVDs. Okay fine. But that would mean the system would have to be wide enough to incorporate full-size DVDs, which adds a bit of heft to the thing. Certainly more than you'd want if you were going to put your hands around it.
Other proof: the branding. There's no *way* it would be called the "GameCube Advance." Knowing Nintendo's branding, they just wouldn't do it. They might call it the "CubeBoy" or something like that, but "Advance" only applies to the GBA, not the entire GameBoy line.
It's a clever mock-up, but it's fanboy wishful thinking. It ain't real.
Brian @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
droooooool~
breath @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Yeah, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that this image is a render.
Useful_Arts @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Cool looking fan art, I not see N ever making an MP3 player. I personally would not want the PSP to be any smaller, I think it is a great balance right now between size and function, until they come up with folding screens.
Jesse J. Anderson @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Is that a normal size cd or a Gamecube style disc? If it's a GameCube disc then that's a pretty small system (which would be sweet) but if that's a cd then it's gotta be a fake... with a slot load it would just be too much of a pain and too easy to break with trying to get a gamecube disc in there at the exact spot in he middle.
Seph Vellius @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Play and stop buttons? Why can't it be an MP3 player too? It looks to me like the closed system would make a great MP3 player... making the buttons relevant.
As far as the logo... names change, it could be the final name or just a placeholder
Seph Vellius @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Folding screens? Try roll-up screens. They are already capable of being produced... it is only a matter of time before they are cheap enough to mass produce.
chris @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
It def looks fake, but the play controls could be for media stored in an sd card on the other side of the device. So you load an sd card, close the device and you have an mp3 player.
optimiss @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Did anyone notice the date on the outside. Not only is it a pic of the GCA but it comes from the future!!! Oooooooh!
optimiss @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Did anyone notice the date on the outside. Not only is it a pic of the GCA but it comes from the future!!! Oooooooh!
Andi Smith @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Maybe we'll know on the 10th May at 12.30, like the player suggests?
nakamitsu @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
total fake, but the concept is sound - take away the mp3, oled and slot loading, reconfigure the control layout/interface (where are the analog shoulder buttons on that fake?) and you have a product that *might* be commercially viable.
oh, #1 you nailed it on the head with the branding, no f'in way it would be called a gamecube advance - maybe 'gameboy cubed' or something.
Billy @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
It's official... the editors of joystiq are all total idiots. The Nintendo Power thing yesterday, and this thing today. This is a cool concept, but even thinking they're real is kinda dumb. The LIN thing yesterday had me laughing my ass off that the submitter of the article couldn't think omg what if LIN stands for LINK :O!!!
Cristopher Boyer @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Another vote for fake, but boy wouldn't that be something if it weren't?
Exbzurg @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
yeah its fake... more evidence: how does it close all the way with the analog sticks sticking up?
Dean @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Man, I wish that was real, it looks pretty sweet...imagine playing the many gamecube games you ALRADY have, on that system...and #1...there could always be movies released on minicd's *ehem UMD*
shame its not real...
Benny @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
#10
If you look, the screen is recessed. It looks like it'll close just fine to me. I'm giving this one the real deal stamp. Guess we'll find out in 5 days.
Andrew Guyton @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Actually, the system says May 18- right in the middle of E3... However, do the customizable buttons on the screen (sword & other stuff) look different to you? That screen looks hella weird.
dtrinh @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
fake - look at the logo - "Gamecube Advance". Why would Nintendo try to sell something that is a gen old?
Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
It isn't playing an audio CD FYI. That's a gamecube disc. The closed cover lists at the time 'GAME DISC - Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker', while the track reads off an mp3. Possibility of it having a mem stick slot of some sort I'd imagine.
Also, if you look at the screen you'd see it's 'deep dish' style, so the controls wouldn't touch the screen. There's a deep enough gap if you look so it'd fit comfortably.
One reason that makes me think 'FAKE!' is the fact that there's a WiFi connection logo on the inside upper left of it. Why would they do that, when only one gamecube game supports online play... And only like other games (kirby's Air ride, mario kart DD) support LAN gaming?
That and wtf would they bother releasing this? They mocked PSP for its battery consumption, and with a screen this big / optical drive, it'd destroy the battery just as fast. That and the gamecube is only $100, this would probably run $200 or so. The games would cost $50 for new titles, and no exclusive library. Sorry folks, not happening - although the picture does look nice.
Andrew Guyton @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
The logo is there because other companies would release games that could use LAN play on the GCP (GameCube Portable). Just because the next generation of systems is starting doesn't mean that all the GCN dev kits are being thrown away.
team steve @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
i would buy one of those in a second
john @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
These responses are entertaining. Everyone is crying "Fake! Fake!" whereas nobody is telling you that they are real. Where on this page did you read that they are real? Please indulge me.
Until then, do us a favor and shut up.
That said, I think it looks cool.
sam @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Yep, the 5/18/05 would put in right during E3 and scheduled not to compete with Sony and MS's big anouncements.
Maybe the 12:30:05 is the release date? Though December 30th would be after Xmas and probably not a good target date. This would be a smart device for N to release. Here's hoping it's real.
NeWaVe @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
that would so not be ergonomic.....
Belgand @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Uhm... the title is "Are these Portable GameCube pics real?" so that's where it comes from. Personally it just plain looks rendered. The depth and shadows look far too flat and digital to me.
Not to mention having a screen on both the top of the case as well as inside, a slot that appears to be far too large, a disc that doesn't look anything like a GameCube disc, a game that's playing while the disc is halfway out and everything else that's been pointed out to make this look utterly wrong and the object of some fanboy's poorly realized lust.
Check out the design though. It looks very much like a cross between a Gameboy Advance SP and an N64 (check the footprint).
Zeo @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I'm not sure what's worse, the fact that people are even questioning if this is real or the fact that Joystiq made a post about it. :P
Andrew Guyton @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
The fact that "Easy Breezy", a Utada song, is playing, gives me hope. That is just the sort of Japan-Pop song that people at Nintendo might listen to. I agree- here's hoping it's real.
Vinnk @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Well "Easy Breezy" is the song playing in the background of all th DS ads here in Japan. I still say this is a fake, but if I'm wrong, I'm buying one. Oh, and the wi-fi cound just be for multiplayer as there is only one controller.
klinko @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
The lighting is coming from the wrong direction on the buttons, particularly the C stick.
Zeo @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
wtf how can you even HOPE this is real? It is WITHOUT A DOUBT not real.
Cooleeo @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I think the buttons are a touch screen with a picture of the gamecube controller on it. That would be sweet!
Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Vinnk
"Oh, and the wi-fi cound just be for multiplayer as there is only one controller."
-Couldn't be, they'd have to COMPLETELY redesign the game to work that way. There's no quick jump you could make hardware wise to reconfigure the programming that dramatically.
I also thought the reflection on the CD looked unaligned compared to the screen.
PrettyObvious @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Of course this pic is not real, cool but not real. With that in mind its pretty obvious whatever the next Gameboy is, im willing to bet anything it will be playing Cube games. If Nintendo is not already planning this then their not as smart as Id like them to be. When Next Gen creeps around developers who are already experienced with creating Gamecube games could very well extend the life of the gamecube by bringing them to this handheld. And whos not to say they cant include WiFi in the next wave of cube games. This will happen, its only a matter of time. Who knows maybe Nintendo will blow everybody away at E3.
Joe @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
WOW this is the sweetest thing ever!
Gamelver @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
there is no possible way that thing is real.....I would know, I've built my own handheld gamecube :D......and believe me, even with a whole team of engineers working for Nintendo it would be almost impossible to fit everything in that case...there's the system motherboard, the disc drive, controller, and of course, batteries. since that screen is so huge, it'd take quite a few expensive batteries just to give a decent battery life...basically, that GCp would cost too much to make, which means less people would buy it, and since you can use all your old GC games on it, Nintendo would not make as much money reselling games for it's handheld....which is basically why I'm 99.9% sure Nintendo will NOT release an official portable Gamecube :'(....
and if you don't believe I built my own portable Gamecube...then just click my name and a pic will show up :)
Carl @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Why do you people insist on practically double posting?
There are over like 70 comments on the exact same news at engadget.... should just link to that
o_O
Seph Vellius @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Is the picture fake? Yes, It is definately a computer generated render.
Is the concept fake? I'm certain Nintendo has at least THOUGHT of it.
Will it happen? I'm thinking "why not?" electronic components will keep getting smaller until we are stuck with nothing but strings of carbon atoms. So what if it costs $300+ People (as this posting seems to show) would buy it.
I'm voting a cautious yes because I think it COULD be done. As for the name, Nintendo named the gamecube and the gameboy advance... put 1 and 1 together, Gamecube advance is completely feasable... besides they could always change it.
Sergio @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Whether or not this is fake, I think Nintendo would be smart to release something like this.
1. While the PS2 might've won this generation given its installed base, the Gamecube was technologically superior. A PGC would be much more superior compared to a PSP.
2. Hardware is continually getting smaller. Compare the original PS2 with the PStwo. Nintendo could easily make things smaller than cramming the current GCN into a portable shell.
3. The Revolution is backwards compatible. While you might think it dumb for game makers to support this system, it would actually be very smart. You already have an installed base, even if it isn't as big as the PS2, that can play your games on the GCN; you have potentially more who make the Revolution their first/next system. Your development cost is pretty low when you consider you have 3 systems supported right off the bat (with some tweaking for multiplayer).
4. WiFi capability allows the PGC to communicate not only with one another, but also with the Revolution (which also may work with the DS).
This could be fake, but it could also be concept art of a future portable. I would be more likely to buy one of these than a PSP (or DS). A lot of potential. If only it were real.
MitGor @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Look at the headphones plug on the front side - the are very small to be real %) i think - about 0.4 mm :))))
K @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
OMFG!!!!!!
Thats not a GameCube.
That is 'TEH REVOLUTION'
Brad @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Listen up people, WiFi makes a lot of sense. Why wouldn't you want to include WiFi??? Ever think that Evolution might be able to communicate with Revolution??? We already know Revolution will have WiFi out of the box, so ANY Nintendo portable that comes out in the future WILL have WiFi. WiFi has 3 uses in this situation:
1. Communication with Revolution
2. Wireless multiplayer with other Evolutions
3. Online multiplayer
The DS has WiFi. This concept almost gets everything right in what Evolution should be. Of course gyroscopic control is in there too but you just can't see it. ;)
BTW who said this WiFi will only be able to play *existing GCN network enabled games*???
Also remember that Revolution IS backwards compatible with GCN, so future GCN titles will be able to take advantage of the built-in WiFi on Revolution AND Evolution since both could play GCN games. These new WiFi enabled GCN games could also work on a standard GCN with a new WiFi adapter.
ManSin @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
That WiFi symbol is OBVIOUSLY on there JUST to display the fact that when the FAN who came up with this rendered it, he thought WiFi would be cool and wanted something visual to make that obvious in his render so people would know it supposedly had WiFi capabilities.
ketch @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I read a few months ago something that teh Reggie said about making Gamecube portable, and if the Evolution would support it, he said "it could use disc format a la Gamecube but gamecube games are designed to constantly acces the disc, therefore it works well on a home console but it would be a nightmare for a portable device to handle, also multiplayer wouldn't work, or wifi" so, it might not be a real pick, and it may take a while to work out how to make the GCN discs portable friendly, but i think you are all missing the big picture, talks of Revolution have forsaken the Evolution (it's supossed to be a Portable Gamecube), and even if that's not the case, Nintendo agrees that a new revision of the old GBA SP is due, perhaps a GBA SP with a Play Yan built in (ebooks, music and video playback), and SD support and wireless conectivity or gyroscopes?
I personally think it would be a dumb move to release a substitute for the DS when the system isn't even a year old and has sold more than 5 million worldwide (wich was what Nintendo expected), I do however feel that Nintendo will make the move, maybe to be announced next year, for a new Game Boy.
In the meanwhile, the concept of the pictures is cool and I'll be awaiting E3 and specifically 5/18/05 @ 12:30 ;P
Matthew @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Hey all,
As much as I would like this not to be a fake, I have one point that certainly makes me think that it is one.
Look at the first picture: Game is playing, Zelda's on the screen but the DISC IS NOT IN THE PLAYER! Ummmm as far as I know, this doesn't make too much sense. Maybe I'm wrong.
Brad @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Not saying that it's fake or real, but when playing some GCN games you can take the disc out and the game will still show on the screen so that's not evidence it's fake.
Matthew @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Good point, thanks for the follow up Brad
Matthew @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
So does the concept behind this thing remind anyone else of the Sega Genesis Nomad?
PaulBlake @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
#30:
"-Couldn't be, they'd have to COMPLETELY redesign the game to work that way. There's no quick jump you could make hardware wise to reconfigure the programming that dramatically."
Why would the game need to be redesigned in order for a second wifi unit to work as a second controller/display? All you have to do is send the video signal and controller signal over the wifi connection. That's mostly a hardware issue, not a software one. It certainly wouldn't require any re-writing of existing games.
The GCA (or whatever it would be called if it existed) would listen for another GCA in the area. The bootup menu would allow you to connect other units to yours as a second controller, provided they weren't already doing something else. Let's say GCA-1 connects GCA-2 as its second controller.
Now GCA-1 listens for controller signals from GCA-2, and constantly streams video information to GCA-2. It can do all of this at the hardware level, not changing anything about the game software. To the game, you just have a second (or third, or fourth) controller plugged in. If you have multiplayer, then the units share the bandwidth load for the video signal.
Honestly, that's not a difficult thing to do in hardware and bios.
Naxu @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
That little lid under the disc drive looks like it could house a memory card full of mp3's. I definitely hope that this is true, it looks like the ultimate cool cadget - the device that DS isn't. Nintendo needs something like this to beat PSP.