Twilight Princess. Yeah, that game. Yes, that game being the only reason you still own your dusty Gamecube. (All 7 of you.) TP was scheduled to be the last big release for the system. In fact, it probably would have been the game of the GCN. (Yes Cain, we all know about Resident Evil 4.)

But when Nintendo announced their Wii TP version, that gave everyone little reason to buy the GCN version. Wii TP version has advantages over the GCN - better graphics, use of Wii-mote and nunchuck. So who will be buying the GCN TP? Well, me for one. I want the original TP experience, not some crap so I can swing Link’s sword around and pretend I’m a warrior. (I have Red Steel for that.)

We’ve all heard that the Wii version of TP will be launching with the Wii, on their respective worldwide launch days. But what about the GCN version? Naturally, you’d think the GCN version would be released first, but nooo. It hasn’t even been given a release date yet, instead it gets delayed and delayed and delayed, while Wii TP moves along at a steady pace. What the hell!? Nintendo, who are you? Since when did you turn into money grabbing crooks?

Nintendo are a business. And business’s want to make money - the most money they can make. They know Wii TP will outsell GCN TP; and as I explained above, why buy one product when the same product has better features for the same price? That got Nintendo thinking. Why even release GCN TP? So they got to work. Nintendo are pushing back the GCN release of TP to sell more Wii units. Ohh! Shocking, I know. That’s reality kid. Let’s be honest, GCN is a failing system. Australia, Japan, Europe, USA – everywhere. The only reason it’s still on shelves is because of TP’s impending release. And Ninty want to push the Wii everywhere – Wii fails, Nintendo fails.

Japan, really the only market in the world where Nintendo can guarantee a definite win, will no longer be receiving GCN TP in stores. They have to order it online. Same for Greece. (Greece gets video games?) This news put the rest of the world on edge.

I mean, if Nintendo can’t trust releasing GCN TP in Japan, why bother giving it to anyone else? Well, Europeans (except Greece) can rest easy, for Nintendo have assured them that GCN TP will be released through retail, not online. This is a good thing, I hear you say? No. Nintendo generally fail in sales for Europe, so they can afford to “lose” money (unlike Japan) and release GCN TP for them. Still no word on North America or Australia. You’d think it’d be stupid for Nintendo not to release GCN TP in NA or Oz, but stranger things have happened. (Rare! Come back! Rare!?)

Will Australia get GCN TP? Considering the way NOA treats us, I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t. We’ll have to wait and see how Nintendo handle this; the situation has already gone too far.

Update: Nintendo Of Australia have revealed that they will be shipping one shipment of Twilight Princess on the Gamecube, exclusive to EB Games, to be released on January 14th. Wii version is still releasing on Wii Launch Day - December 7th. Game has been updated with an ‘M’ rating, for both GCN and Wii. So this means if you want a GCN copy, you better get moving. TP GCN will launch for $99.

- Aaron Kleemann.