My secret passion

Ok, I admit it, I love the gamecube. It might not have the most games out of the current systems, it might not have the best graphics, but its got it where it counts, gameplay.

The Cube definatly has a smaller library then the Xbox, or PS2, but thats not necessarily a bad thing because its got a higher percentage of good titles as a result. Because the Cube is targeted towards a smaller audience less crap makes its way on to the system, as 'bargin value' titles just won't be able to realize a profit. Now with any other company also end up with less inovation as well. The smaller more risky titles are the ones in which companies usually try something new or creative in order to grab market share away from the big budget blockbusters, but this is Nintendo, the home of inovation. Nintendo is fully aware that they aren't going to be around if they continually release the same old shooter but with a different gun every year. Sure they'll recycle their classic characters in many of their games, but the games themselves are very creative.

Mario Baseball, out for the Cube now, is easilly one of the most enjoyable sports games I've ever played. Its not targeted at people wanting a Baseball Sim, its aimed at folks like me, who aren't looking for a perfect recreation of the game, but something fun to play, especially against friends. To make the game more approachable for young people, and the less then sports enthused (again me), Nintendo recycles the classic Mario characters. The game itself is a delight to play full of lots of interesting ways of doing things that you just couldn't manage on a traditional sports sim.

In the end its this innovation and creativity that will end up saving Nintendo in the next round of console wars. While everyone else is going to try and wow us with the same games but with slightly better graphics, Nintendo could potentially change the way games are played in peoples homes. There's always the potential that the Revolution could nose dive like a few of their other 'creative' ideas such as the Virtual Boy, and Powerglove, but to be perfectly honest, I'd rather stick with a company thats actually going to attempt something new even if it doesn't work, then with someone who is just going to rehash the same game, and serve it back to me for 60 extra bucks.