Nintendo Delays GameCube Roll-Out in Japan

Nintendo Co. is delaying the introduction of its GameCube console in Japan by two months until Sept. 14, the game maker said. The machine, meant to rival Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 2, was to go on sale in Japan in July. The company still plans to introduce it in the United States before Christmas. Nintendo President Hiroshi Yamauchi downplayed the move and refused to term it a delay. He would say only that it would be embarrassing if Nintendo could not keep up a constant flow of shipments. That remark seemed to imply concern about a parts shortage, which hurt the launch of the PlayStation 2. Yamauchi acknowledged it will be a serious blow to Nintendo if response to the GameCube is poor at the Electronic Entertainment Expo next month in Los Angeles, but he appeared confident that reception would be positive.