Nintendo have just announced that the GameCube will debut in Europe just a few weeks ahead of its official European consumer launch at Milia 2002. The event will take place on the 4th to the 8th of February 2002.

There, Nintendo will apparently show 20 brand new games (what they mean by this is unknown) and also make the announcement we have all being waiting for. On the 5th of February European Managing Director - Sales and Marketing, David Gosen and Stephan Bole, Managing Director of Nintendo France are to host an exclusive press conference - where the European GameCube launch date will be marked!

Are you excited? You better be! Make sure you read the following press release to get all the low down surrounding the event!

Paris, 4 January 2002 / Nintendo, a world leader in interactive entertainment and videogames, will showcase its GameCube just a few weeks ahead of its official European consumer launch at Milia 2002, Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France - 4th to 8th February 2002. Nintendo will preview the GameCube alongside 20 brand new, revolutionary games affording Milia visitors a unique opportunity to see the GameCube for themselves. Already on the market in Japan and North America, GameCube has received unanimous praise from both the international press and consumers.

Nintendo has confirmed that it will take a 250 sq. metre stand dedicated to games for the Nintendo GameCube. These will include the long-awaited Luigi's Mansion, Pikmin, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Eternal Darkness together with the impressive catalogue from third party publishers such as Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2 Rogue Leader , FIFA World Cup 2002 and Sonic Adventure 2.

In addition, Nintendo has also confirmed that its European Managing Director - Sales and Marketing, David Gosen and Stephan Bole, Managing Director of Nintendo France, will host an exclusive press conference on 5 February 2002 at 12:00 in Auditorium A - Palais des Festivals Cannes. This must-attend press conference will mark the European launch of the console and highlight Nintendo GameCube's future developments underway in the major European and world-wide studios.

Stephan Bole said: "The best development studios around the world are now working on Nintendo GameCube. For its first appearance at Milia, we felt it important to present right from the launch a broad range of games featuring unrivalled originality and quality," said Stephan Bole.

David Gosen added: "GameCube has been a phenomenal success in Japan. In North America, sales have been so fast that we have had to upscale our stocks from 1.1 to 1.5 million items to meet high demand driven by the festive season."

"The GameCube is a fantastic games console. Nintendo's pre-launch Milia event will give Europe the chance to get its hands on the new system as well as getting a unique and exclusive insight into some of the fantastic new titles that GameCube promises" said Laurine Garaude, Director of MILIA.

She added, "As a first time exhibitor, Nintendo has seen the opportunities that Milia presents as central to its launch planning. In terms of timing and impact Milia will, I believe, be a tremendous opportunity for Nintendo, its partners and all Milia delegates and exhibitors."

MILIA is the world's premier interactive content event that brings together developers, producers and publishers of interactive entertainment, online games and digital media content with senior decision-makers from broadband and wireless networks, telecoms, interactive TV operators and major Internet portals.

This is some of the biggest news Europe has received in a long time surrounding the GameCube's launch. It appears as though Nintendo haven't forgotten about us yet guys! Expect more MASSIVE NEWS during this event regarding Nintendo Europe's launch plans!