Nintendo didn't get to where it is today - "History's most successful video game manufacturer today" (yes, but what about tomorrow?) - without knowing a trick or ten about marketing.

Today's ploy, announced hard on the heels of E3, the world's most important games show, was to strike the US retail price for the GameCube, Nintendo's next-gen games console. It'll cost $199.95 when it hits America's shops on November 5. Six games exclusive to Nintendo will be available on launch day, carrying a retail price of $49.95. Nintendo says there will be a rapid ramp-up of licensee games by the end of the year.

The Gamecube launches in September in Japan. As Ever Europe is the laggard, with the box making its debut on the continent "in early 2002".

Nintendo's will drip feed some more pre-launch marketing on May 24, when it announces shipment quantities for Gamecube, as part of its next financial statement. ®