The Nintendo GameCube (ニンテンドーゲームキューブ) is the home console that Pikmin and Pikmin 2 were released for. The two games have been released in 2001 and 2004 respectively. The console was released on September 14, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia, and has sold 21.74 million units worldwide.[1]
In 2006, the Nintendo GameCube was succeeded by the Wii, which can also play Nintendo GameCube games, and both Pikmin games for the Nintendo GameCube were released for the "New Play Control!" range.
Pikmin aside, the Nintendo GameCube also has Super Smash Bros. Melee, which has a few references to Pikmin. There is a canceled game titled Stage Debut in which Pikmin would have had a role.
History[]
Before being released in Japan, the GameCube's codename was project Dolphin. Due to this, some of the console's games have a reference to the codename, via an illustration or just a name. In Pikmin's case, it is the name of the ship, the S.S. Dolphin.
Controller[]
The Nintendo GameCube Controller constitutes of 6 buttons, 2 analog triggers, 2 analog sticks and the D-Pad. Pikmin and Pikmin 2 use the following general control scheme:
- A: Punch/pluck Pikmin/throw Pikmin/confirm options.
- B: Whistle/cancel options.
- X: Dismiss Pikmin.
- Y: View monitor (Pikmin)/change Captain (Pikmin 2).
- Z: Change viewpoint.
- Analogue stick:
- Lightly: Move cursor.
- Fully: Move captain.
- C Stick: Move group of Pikmin.
- L: Change the camera's angle to match the direction the cursor is pointing.
- R: Toggle zooms.
- D-Pad: Lay Olimar down (Pikmin)/use sprays (Pikmin 2)/change color of Pikmin (Pikmin 2).
- Start: Pause the game.
Memory Card[]
There are three official GameCube memory card varieties:
- 59 blocks (grey)
- 251 blocks (black)
- 1019 blocks (white)
In the Pikmin series, Pikmin uses 19 blocks whereas Pikmin 2 uses 27.