Nintendo's Gamecube

Nintendo may have something else up their sleeve. The company expects, for example, to launch its
Gamecube system on a November 5, 2001 for $199 (September 14 in Japan). Nintendo touts the
system's low latency (enabled by 1T-SRAM technology), proprietary optical disc and
wireless operation (via a Wavebird controller that allows RF connections up to 30 feet away).
Though it won't play DVDs, the Gamecube willaccept a wide range of "future" peripherals
such as a 4 mb flash memory card, and adapters for SD-Memory, 56Kbps V. 90 modem, broadband,
and digital video. Nintendo plans to boost the sales of the Gamecube with its new Game Boy
Advance, the 32-bit version of the Game Boy. Launching on June 11 in the US (June 22 in
Europe), the Advance unit itself can be used as Gamecube controller. With 50% more screen
size and 500% more on-screen colors, the Advance supports four-player gameplay and
backward compatibility with the software for the 110 million Game Boy systems sold since
1989. Priced at $99.99, the Advance expects worldwide sales of 16 million by the end of
calendar 2001 (80 million by the end of calendar 2004).

Sony's PlayStation 2 Plans

Aiming to manufacture 20 million PlayStation 2 consoles (plus 10 million PS 1) during
this fiscal year (ending March 2002), Sony will increase production volume by 30% to 2.0
million per month by Fall 2001, while reducing its chip manufacturing from a 0.25-micron
process to a 0.18-micron process by September. On the Internet front, Sony announced that
Cisco will develop an IPv4 and IPv6 dual protocol stack for the PS2's Software
Development Kit (SDK) for the creation of online titles. Cisco will provide Sony with
IPv4 to prioritize network traffic, and then create an IPv4/IPv6 for next generation networks.
Sony Computer Entertainment's CEO Ken Kutaragi said, "By having the dual protocol stack, it
will be much easier for the developers to create content for the broadband network and
will further accelerate the arrival of the broadband era."

Timing also for a November 2001 US release, Sony will sell a $39.95 network adapter for
analog and digital connectivity. Combining high-speed Ethernet connection with a V90
analog modem, it will offer Web access and simultaneous connection to multiple home
devices. By linking to a broadband network such as cable and DSL through Ethernet, PS2
can also be hooked to analog telephone lines. In a strategic partnership with America Online,
Sony will also sell a hard disc drive that is configured to startup AOL features like instant
messaging, e-mail and chat. By enabling access to networked computer entertainment with Web
browsing through a Netscape browser, Sony hopes not only to foster development of
networked content but also to widen the PS2's offline audience with the PC and online markets