George Harrison, US vice president of marketing and a fellow who has been admirably frank and open in the past, has suggested that Mario 128 isn't necessarily going to appear on the GameCube after all, saying in an interview with CNN Money that the game's appearance on the GameCube is "definitely not certain".

Mario 128 was originally shown as tech demo ' 100 Marios', but following Mario Sunshine, legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto said that a full game featuring innovative gameplay was in development. Indeed, the gameplay's innovation was the reason given for the title not being shown at this year's E3 show.

Harrison's comment suggests that while the title is still in development, Nintendo is undecided as to whether to keep the game on 'Cube or instead use it, most obviously as a killer launch title, for its successor to the GameCube, in the same way that Factor 5's Pilotwings sequel is believed to heading to Nintendo's next hardware. Either way, the lack of a Mario title for the launch of GameCube was definitely a blow and may be a key factor in the company's current thinking.

Nintendo of Europe had no further comment to add.


[source C&VG online]


Say it isn't so............



Emma :kisses:

[Miyazaki]

If that is true, it certainly looks bleak for GC doesn't it?

What a shame that would be, as it would look like even the Ninty head honchos are abondoning our cube!

Oh no!


I was hoping that Pilotwings was going to appear.

Another nail in the GC's coffin

No big deal atall in terms of Mario 1 game per nintendo console is more than enough, it will be an awesome launch title for N5,
As for pilotwings i think its anouther metroid type game where they have to get it just right afterall metroid took along break by not appearing on N64 and its the same for pilotwings will be great when it arrives though,

moral of the story is who cares? theres enough big games right now to not worry about 2 moving over to N5

As for what games guru said i think its the opposite things could not be better right now sales have rocketed and market share is getting bigger by the week, should be a superb XMAS for nintendo (Unlike last XMAS)

[Miyazaki]

We'll see won't we

[Sinzer]

Considering the market share for Nintendo in Europe (according to Gamespy) has gone up 5% and increased to 25% at the expense of the X-Box, I believe it is premature to start smacking in those final nails into the coffin.

My only gripe about the GC is that we still don't have a decent amount of RPGs being released for it, no final fantasy, no grandia, no mana, nothing nowt zip.

It is this which is making me want to look at a PS2, although I am hoping FFXI on the PC will keep me happy

Not really interested in another Mario game unless it was a 2D side scroller (I am sorry but none of the 3D games have come close to Mario 3, Mario World or Yoshis Island). Pilotwings I could live without as well.

[Miyazaki]

Knights of the Old Republic is out on PC soon.

Thats the best RPG ever IMHO.

When is Final Fantasy Chronicles Due for release?

I'm all for honesty to consumers, but considering the Gamecube sales surge as of late, that's a pretty dumb thing to be telling the public, especially if it's true.

Course, you could say that this is just Nintendo's way of saying that they're cutting out on the GC and starting to build the hype for their next system. I don't think this is the case, however.

[Sinzer]

Sorry to hijack the thread. I believe FF:CC does not have a release date set for Europe yet, I think it is sometime in Q2 maybe 3 of 2004. I know my US copy is pre-ordered and due for release on 2 Feb 2004. It will be an interesting game, I am hoping that it is at least decently playable in single player mode, otherwise it will be expensive to buy all those GBAs for mulitplayer (although I am planning to upgrade to a GBA SP when it comes out so my mate can play FF:CC with me).

KOTOR will be a great RPG, but I am a little bored of PC RPGs (Morrowind, Baldurs Gate, Neverwinter Nights etc). I do prefer the old Japanese style ones.

[James45]

Ninty have announced that they are showing new hardware at next year's E3, speculation is it's either a replacement for the GBA or possibly Gamecube2.

I heard somewhere Nintendo was gona be launching Gamecube 2 end of 2004 i very very much doubt that will happen i would think they will announce the new console at E3 and release it in 2005 sometime which would make more sense,

[James45]

i wouldn't be surprised if they had a very basic prototype running something like Mario128 or maybe a pilotwings demo at E3.

[keyser]

Why has there never been made a sequel to the brilliant Gunsmoke for the NES??

[Miyazaki]

I dunno mate, but there is a sequel to Ninja Gaiden out soon, and i won't leave the house for several months when it's out ...