So it has been 15 years since I have bought a new console - sue me. Up until now, the PC has given me all that I have needed in terms of gaming. Times are changing though (what else could explain the outrageous amount of money I have spent on the Playstation 2, a new TV, and accessories?). Console manufacturers are tapping into the aggressive graphics industry to create powerful gaming machines and the key question remains: Where will Nintendo's Gamecube fit in?

It has already been stressed that the GameCube will focus on quality rather than quantity. Does this mean that Nintendo will rely on Mario IX, Return Of Zelda's Grandmother, and Metroid: Again? Hopefully not - the Gamecube was designed to be a more appealing platform to develop for than the preceding Nintendo 64. While it is possible that the lack of DVD support will scare off a few customers, the move to optical disks and a powerful new architecture makes Nintendo's GameCube a force to be reckoned with (late 2001, that is).

Look for further console coverage as I (and other Sharky Extreme staffers) throw my life savings into the latest wave of next-generation console machines. Until next time...

Chris Angelini
Editor