So since today is a crappy day weather wise, it's been brought to my attention that it's a good day for me to buy us a GameCube.

Does it have a digital out? And if so, is there a TOSlink option or coaxial only?

Looking to spend as little time in Future Shop as possible. I may bring a stungun.

Bren R.

Can't answer your question, as Roger is the gamer geek in our household. I can't tell you how many times he's suggested that we get a gamecube. I always respond with "how often do you use your PS2?" The answer is about 5x per year. He's a PC gamer. Spends countless hours sitting there slaying monsters in World of Warcraft. I tried playing. It was pretty cool, but it just doesn't hold my attention like it does him. I get bored after playing for just a few weeks usually. He hours a day forever. The only thing that stops him from playing one of those MMORPG's is when the next one comes out.

Lonely at home,

Game Widower

Nope...No digital audio out...

It does have a "digital out" which supplies Component output if your TV handles it...outputs progressive via some gamepad presses.

Audio is Stereo...claims to be PLII and sounds pretty good via PLII on my Sherwood...

Unless there is something I have missed.

Cool system nonetheless...

WhatFurrer

I haven't owned a console since the failed Christmas present of a SNES from my brother.

"It's... a Super Nintendo..."
'Yeah'
"Uh... thanks"

Bren R.

Sadly, no digital out. There are some dolby logic games (like RE4) but no digital. Still sounds fine on my Axioms though!

There is a component cable available, but my understanding is that the newer runs of GC's don't have that port anymore. The component cable is hard to come by, I got mine on nintendo.com. W/ component, it looks GREAT on my plasma.

Granted, the game library isn't as big as PS2 or the XBOX, but where else are you going to find the Mario franchise?

My personal GC favs are (no particular order)
1) Pikmin 1 and 2
2) Resident Evil 0, 1 and 4
3) Zelda the Wind Waker
4) Eternal Darkness (fantastic concept IMHO)
5) Mario Kart

Go here if for some GC specific info:

Cube Your Enthusiasm

I'm not knocking the Cube. I've not played it so I have no experience. But, are you wedded to it? What about the PS2? Or Xbox? Both have toslink outs (and I have them hooked to my reciever that way). Generally I recommend people look to see which one has the most games they want to play and chose that console (PS2, G-cube, Xbox). Oh, and M$ is going to 'reveal' their xbox2 (i think it's called the 360) on May 13. Not sure when one could buy it, but that will certainly effect prices for the current xbox and PS2.

jr

Oh-oh.... now this looks like a battle's a-brewin'...

I'm not sold on getting a console - between the two of us, we've got about an hour a week of free time.

Thanks for the input guys.

Bren R.

yeah...I think PS3 isn't all that far away either. My boss's son has had it for awhile as a demo. I've heard it's like watching a movie...the graphics are that good.

Hehe. I'm not trying to fling any poo. The g-cube has a couple games i'd love to play (zelda/metroid), but I've become too mature (damnit) to get a console to play only 2 games.

The best advice I have heard (and given) about the consoles is "Get the one that has the most games you like to play, and tell the fanboys to shove off."

jr

I have a 'cube, and I'm pretty pleased with it. Everyone above is right - PLII for audio, component pro-scan (480p) for video (provided, of course, the game itself supports pro-scan - most do, a few don't).

All three systems have great games. But if you play infrequently and are largely interested in a nostalgic experience with the kinds of games you recall from the SNES days, I think a Gamecube is a good choice. Mario, Zelda, Metroid, et al. Plus it gets the sports games from EA, etc.

I maybe game 5-10 hours a week these days, and as a result, this is the system that gets the most use out of me as a result. I think if you were really going to put in some serious time - with role playing games and/or long online gaming campaigns, I would suggest looking at the PS2 or Xbox.

I have all three. But given my time constraints, I tend to play games that I can just pick up and play for a while. I've just found that the 'cube meets MY PERSONAL preferences on that score the best.

As always, your milage may vary.

I got a PS2 pretty much just to play Gran Turismo 4. I'm sure I'll get a couple of other games in the bargain bin at some point, but GT4 is really all I wanted. I wish they would just make a PC version so they could have saved me some $.

I agree, get a console that has the games you want to play. That's all the counts. Of course, out of all my friends, I'm the only one w/ a GC, since I like the quirky stuff.

Maybe that explains why I was the one of the Mac users in engineering school back in the late 80's...

Bren,

My brother-in-law has a Cube, PS1, PS2 and an XBox. Every time I'm over at his house listening to my old M80's, the PS2 is always going. The Cube and the XBox are collecting dust! I have no idea if that helps or not but he has 2 boy's who seem to play 24/7 and they are always on the PS2.

My kids have a PS2 and other then GT4, I never touch it but they seem to like it!

In reply to:

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I have all three. But given my time constraints, I tend to play games that I can just pick up and play for a while. I've just found that the 'cube meets MY PERSONAL preferences on that score the best.

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That's what I'm looking at too... like "I have 20 minutes waiting for a render to be done... how can I kill some time?"

Bought it tonight. Gotta love Nintendo and proprietary cables...

Hmm.. power... a regular, run of the mill power cable like on every computer and monitor in the world? (what is that connector called anyway? IEEE0001?) No... it's some proprietary floorwart that terminates in the symbol for the Metis culture with pin 2 running 48 degrees out of phase.

And lessee... video and analog audio... RCAs, right? No. A 468 pin edge connector in the shape of the Sha-Na-Na logo.

Lastly - controllers. Come onnnn a D-sub connector... no. A series of tip-sleeve pins that look like they're from an elephant's tattoo gun slipped discreetly into a DIN connector that's been hammered flat on one side in the Dwarvish forges.

The games are fun, sitting 4 feet in front of a VP-150 brings a whole new life to gaming and I've discovered a brand new and annoying buzzing noise out of my STF-2.

Bren R.