Apparently Nintendo have an announcement planned. And not just your every-day one but a massive one that will boost sales tremendously in Japan. See what our staff think it is.

What could Nintendos so-called "BIG" announcement be?

Ben: Nintendo's big announcement is to boost "Japanese sales", so it won't affect us. If it does, I doubt it'll be for a while. I think that Nintendo will have replaced Rare, probably with Capcom or Namco. Not Konami, as they have given us four Disney sports games... Or, it could be a massive craze, like Pokémon. It has to be more than a game. It won't be a new Game Boy Advance either. A company, or a new craze. One of the two. I'm not bothered either.

Richard: I don't know if I can make a specific guess, because whatever I said, I'd be wrong. Nintendo know how to surprise people, look at Zelda, they are so unpredictable.

I do have some thoughts on it, however. If it's about one specific game, it must be a franchise we already know and love, announcing a new franchise, no matter how wonderful they assure us it will be, won't make GameCube sales boom. Perhaps this Pokemon Online rumour has more truth than you may think?

People are talking about buying out this company, and that company etc. As with games, the company being bought out would have to be a huge company already, if it were to make sales soar. People are talking about Capcom, Namco, even Sega, but this seems unlikely to me. Nintendo don't want to buy out large companies, work with them yes, but not buy them out. But you never know, especially with Nintendo.

I don't have a definite idea of what the announcement will be, I don't want to stress myself out over it, I'm just going to sit back, relax, and play some great GameCube games whilst I wait for Nintendo to do their (no doubt magical and surprising) thing.

Ash: Nintendo do have a way of suprising us so it could be anything.

It's timing is December so maybe they are trying to built up hype just before Christmas. They won't announce a game is coming out a few weeks after the announcement, there won't be enought hype. On the other hand, they could announce a new game or even news on a much unknown game, Giftopia perhaps?

The Pokémon games come out November 21st so the only way it could be about them if it is the GameCube game that should be arriving at some point). December would be the perfect time, the Japanese people (and a few importers) will have gotten the game and be catching 'em all. And with Nintendo recently trademarking the following names, who knows:

Pocket Monsters Topaz
Pocket Monsters Tourmaline
Pocket Monsters Amethyst
Pocket Monsters Moonstone
Pocket Monsters White Gold

As speculated it could be a company buyout, which company, nobody knows. I don't think it will be so I won't delve into this much.

It could just be to build up our hope and anticipation just to tell us the upcoming games of 2003, which will be funny and annoying at the same time. How...Nintendo.

And the worse that could be happening is Miyamoto might be retiring early, but I think Nintendo would pay him a lot not to, so again, this isn't likely.

All we can do is wait and see, but come December, we will probably all be happy with the result.

Dan: The big annoucment...people could speculate for hours about what it could be, because Nintendo is so darn secretive. It could be a completly new Nintendo franchise (Like Zelda or Mario). Or it might be some announcement about their online plans. Maybe, it is concerning their first online game. And maybe that game could be Mario Kart. What ever it is, it will most likely be something all Nintendo fans will be glad to hear.

Jim: There's only one thing it can be in my mind, and that's Pokemon Online.

Think of it, one huge world where people start their adventure in the town of their choice, and travel around a massive world catching pokemon, talking with and battling with other trainers, and tyring to collect gym badges and what have you. Imagine it, walking around a massive 3D world, tracking down 3D Pokemon, and interacting with other players! It would certainly be something HUGE.

If this isn't the big announcement, then im in for one heck of a big dissapointment, as i've been gearing up for this for weeks now. It's getting me just a little excited.

Javid: I'm baffled as to what it is going to be, but insytead i'll say what i want it to be. Online gaming. Think of it, Mario Kart and Pokemon online, maybe even Mario party 4 and who knows what else. It would be incredible in my opinion. However, we've heard Nintys opinion on this and they dont seem ready to launch an online plan for quite a while so...

I would be just as exited to find out its a new gaming franchise or well, basically anything. Im sure whatever Ninty come up with it will be enough to leave us shocked, something maybe none of us thought of, they have that essence that makes them be that original that they just cannot be predicted. My advice; dont get your hopes up on something you really want, chances are it wont be that and you'll be upset denying that what they do come up with is better anyway. Sit back, have a cup of cocoa and wait in anticipation...

Conor: As I said in the Digest I think the announcement will be Dragon Quest VIII on GameCube, exlusive. I once heard that schools in Japan actually had a holiday on one of the DG games release. Don't know whether or not that wa true but I wouldn't be surprised if it was. That shows how big the series is in Japan.

Some here have said revealing GameCubes online system (with Nintendo games) would be the announcement, but would that have all that much pull in Japan? If done right, then possibly, but I can't see it happening, I really can't.But Nintendo being Nintendo, you can be sure it'll be a shocker. Who knows, it could be something none have us have even thought of. Could be anything really.

Well, that wraps up another Roundtable, join us next time (this Sunday barring more downtime) when we'll be looking at the situation in Japan, concerning GameCube and its rivals.