Pros & Cons of the Nintendo GameCube

The Nintendo GameCube has been around for quite some time now. It has never gained the popularity of some of its rival game systems. This should not steer you away from this game system.

The Nintendo GameCube is the predecessor of the Nintendo 64. This system would be a perfect gift for that first time gamer. This game system is on the leas expensive side of video game systems currently out on the market. You can find the Nintendo GameCube at several retail stores for an average price of $99.99.

Although this system does not have the high tech qualities of the Playstation or Xbox, it does offer some quality games and accessories to add to on once you have purchased the video game.

If your child is too old for the Vtech or LeapFrog video systems, this would be a great choice for them. It is a simple gaming system that is basically built for playing games and that’s it. It does not play DVD’s or CD’s and is not compatible with your MP3 player. This is one of the reasons the price is so reasonable, you get what you pay for.

The GameCube is very compact and plays a unique 3.5″ game disc. This provides a minimal amount of load time. This proves to be popular with anxious players. The GameCube’s mini compact discs have 1.5 GB of storage. The disc drive and the processor work together with such a fast speed the load time is hardly noticeable.

The GameCube comes with four controller ports plus expansion ports for add-ons. The basic package for the Nintendo GameCube includes:
- Nintendo GameCube (generally comes in black, but does offer a blue system and currently out is the platinum GameCube).
- AV cables
- Power Cord/ AC adapter
- One controller

There are GameCubes that can be purchased in bundles. These usually come with two games of the same background and two controllers. Presently Nintendo is offering a gamers bundle with a sports theme. The price range for the bundles can cost around $120.00.

The Nintendo GameCube controller provides the crucial connection between the player and the game. Two analog Control Sticks, a built-in rumble feature and an awesome design will ensure the controller plays and feels perfect.

History of Video Game Systems: Knowing About What Started it All

Video games have come a long way in terms of graphics and sound technology. Although video games didn’t exist a hundred years ago, the enhancement in graphics and sound technology revolutionized on what people think of video games today.

Unlike what you see in video games today that has amazing 3D and realistic graphics and sounds, it all started out with a video game called the Computer Space. This video game was released by Nutting Associates in 1970 and was the first coin-operated arcade video game.

In 1972, the Odyssey 100 video game system was introduced. This particular video game can be attached to a standard television to display the graphics and play the game. In the same year, Atari launched Pong. This is a coin operated machine and is played with two short vertical lines that you move up and down to avoid letting the “ball” pass.

The real video game revolution began in the late 70’s. Atari introduced the Video Computer System or the VCS (renamed Atari 2600 later). This system uses cartridges and delivered colored graphics and sounds through the television. The game was played using a joystick or paddles.