Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, dubbed the GameCube's messiah, is performing miracles no more- as GameCube sales drop 17%- and the other consoles steam ahead. Figures released today show that the sales boost gifted by the release of Double Dash!! have reached their peak- and that sales of the purple blunder o' joy are dropping once again. After enjoying months of hype, a successful price drop and big releases- things are looking bleak as we enter the coveted Christmas period.

The PlayStation 2 is still steaming ahead at full speed- as it's 3rd birthday approaches, sales have rocketed. The console is enjoying the highest sales for nearly over a year- a scary thought taking into the account of its already excellent sales figures. Perhaps more worrying, sales of Microsoft's Xbox are rising swiftly as the 25th approaches. Sales went up 22% this week, and the console is set to pass the coveted one million sales mark just before Christmas.

Things aren't looking too good GameCube-wise, that's for sure- especially considering the big price drop and attractive bundles available for Christmas. One can only hope the looming GameCube Final Fantasy and Capcom's Killer 7 will give us a nudge in the right direction.

Don't get too disheartened though; if you're going to be playing the best games in the universe once you've finished your chipolatas, does it matter if the sheep down the street aren't? I know I'm not bothered.