The weekly roundup of everything Gamecube.

Hello, and welcome to Cube-Europe's weekly digest, the regular thorough news round up of Nintendo's glorious cubular console. Plenty of news to get through this week, so let's get stuck in, shall we?

This week, we've had a veritable mountain of rumours flying about- a prominent Japanese publication, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported in its Tuesday edition that Nintendo were putting the fabled N5 on hold for the 'forseeable future' and that the company were to concentrate on the GameCube.

This 'shocking' revelation was quickly scotched by Nintendo of America, who dismissed the article as 'speculation' while confirming that the N5 is on track to launch at a similar time to rival consoles.

It was also speculated this week that the forthcoming Nintendo DS dual-screen handheld is to feature a touch-screen interface- Nintendo of America were quick to 'confirm or deny nothing' indicating that it is a credible possibility. Several plausible sources worldwide also indicated during the week that the world is due to end in 28 days.

Now, let's move onto hard facts, ladies and gentlemen...

Nintendo of Europe have supplied us with 'firm' release dates for their spring/early summer line-up. And it's not looking half-bad, to be honest� Here are the highlights:

• Kirby Air Ride 26th February 2004 (well, hardly a highlight, but we'll let it pass)
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Times (Ubisoft)26 February 2004
• James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (EA)27 February 2004
• Beyond Good and Evil (Ubisoft)February 2004
• Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde (Jaleco)February 2004
• Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (Nintendo)11 March 2004 Exclusive
• Resident Evil Code: Veronica X (Capcom)12 March 2004
• Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life (Natsume/ Ubisoft) 26 March 2004 Exclusive
• Metal Gear Solid The Twin Snakes (Konami) 26 March 2004 Exclusive
• Pokémon Channel (Nintendo)1 April 2004 Exclusive
• Pokémon Colosseum (Nintendo)19 May 2004 Exclusive
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (EA) 28 May 2004
• Mario Golf (Nintendo)17 June 2004 Exclusive
• Phantasy Star Online III: C.A.R.D Revolution (SEGA) Q2 2004

Out of that lot, there's surely something for everyone. In my case, there's quite a few I'm very interested in...

In a piece of news set to rock the gaming world, EA have announced that they will be creating an in-house game developed around the 1995 James Bond film Goldeneye! It has absolutely nothing to do with Rare's seminal FPS, though. The publishing giant has already moved quickly to dismiss mounting speculation that any of the Free Radical Design Team will be involved at any level, saying that their Redmond and LA studios will be producing the game. Our take? Well, it's certainly a very bold move by EA- and quite possibly a very rash one. Granted, there's no harm in milking their Bond rights for all they're worth, but to go up against one of the most cherished games in living memory? We're not convinced its worth it. EA have proved themselves to be competent developers, but hardly great ones- and they may just be setting themselves up for a fall with this one. It's a 'make-or-break' game for the company- an opportunity to prove that behind their occasionally-maligned hegemony over their games charts, they are great after all. Or maybe not. Short of Sony announcing a 're-imagining' of Super Mario 64, there are few more dangerous choices to make. We wish them luck.

Gamers preordering highly-promising Pokémon Colosseum prior to the game's release date in America will receive a free bonus disk. The ability to download via Gamecube to Game Boy Advance link cable the legendary Pokemon "Jirachi" is the main boon. Also included will be a preview of the new Pokemon movie entitled "Jirachi Wish Maker" and a preview of Colosseum game on the disk.

No news on a similar European scheme, but bearing in mind the recent announcement that there will be a Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Collectors Edition released in Europe � it's just possible. That said, though- a similar Mario Kart bonus disk never made it over here. 50/50 chance, we say. The forthcoming Splinter Cell sequel, Pandora Tomorrow, has attracted some, ahem, 'top Hollywood talent' to it's voice acting line-up. Dennis Haysbert, Michael Ironside and composer Lalo Shifrin are all on board. Haysbert, of course, is widely known for his excellent portrayal as President David Palmer in the stunningly good TV series, 24. Ironside reprises his role as Sam Fisher (our central protagonist) and is known from his roles in Top Gun and Total Recall. Shifrin's most recognizable work is his memorable Mission Impossible theme tune. Of course, this whole news piece was absolutely not merely an excuse to mention 24.

Some more news on the ever-intriguing Killer 7, next. The game will span six scenarios, taking up to two hours each and containing real time cut scenes. Each personality will contain unique special abilities and they can be changed by 'changing the channels on the television' (no, not sure what that means either). Rather than moving around a 3D world you move on a linear path but can choose routes to take and go back to past actions. (Cue groans of dissapointment all round) While travelling around you will encounter 'Heaven Smiles', who must be scanned to be seen. Once scanned you zoom in with the left analogue stick. Each Heaven Smile has a weak spot which contains atoms pouring out of it. Hitting this guarantees a one hit kill. Odd. But we knew that already.

Also on C-E this week are reports of interviews with the irrepressible Hiroshi Yamauchi, who continues to speak as if he's still head of Nintendo. We still love 'em. Satoru Iwata also has some choice words for us. Read what the pair have to say here. Anyway, that's about all we have, er, time for this week. I'll be back next Sunday evening (of thereabouts) with a new edition (assuming my computer hasn't completely gone kaput). Until then,

�dh m�r,

[email protected]