gamecube

The GameCube is a home video game console released by Nintendo in 2001 as part of the sixth generation of video game consoles. It competed with Sony's PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's Xbox and is known for its compact cube-shaped chassis and four controller ports.

Hardware: The console uses an IBM PowerPC-based central processor, codenamed Gekko, running at 485 MHz, and a graphics processor codenamed Flipper, developed by ATI. It reads 8 cm optical discs with a capacity of about 1.5 GB, a departure from the larger DVD formats used by its competitors. Memory consists of system RAM and dedicated video memory, with data and textures stored for rendering. The system offers four controller ports and four memory card slots for saves.

Connectivity and accessories: The GameCube supported optional online play via the Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter, with a limited catalog of online titles. It also offered Game Boy Advance connectivity through a link cable for certain games, and the WaveBird wireless controller as an accessory.

Software and reception: Nintendo published a strong lineup of first-party games, including Super Mario Sunshine, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Metroid Prime, and Super Smash Bros. Melee, which helped the console establish a dedicated library. The GameCube sold over twenty million units worldwide before production ended in the late 2000s, with the Wii succeeding it and effectively ending its lifecycle.