Next-generation console won't arrive until first half 2001; X-Box to arrive six months later...

Nintendo of America finally confirmed yesterday that the Dolphin won't ship until the first half of next year - and significantly the news came just hours after Microsoft announced that it's X-Box will arrive in the second half of 2001.

Nintendo say the delay will give Dolphin developers more time to work on quality launch titles, but the timing of the announcement has more to do with the forthcoming battle with Bill Gate's X-Box, now timed for a release six months later than the Dolphin.

"A 2001 launch for Project Dolphin is not only in keeping with the normal product life-span for our home consoles, but provides two important benefits," said Peter Main, Nintendo's executive vice president of sales and marketing.

"First, it allows the millions of current Nintendo 64 owners to devote their video game dollars to the best line-up of new games in our history-without having to buy a new system. Secondly, the new launch date for Dolphin means that our system will come to market next year with a portfolio of game names across all genres that simply can't be matched by any other company."

Gamers in Japan may yet get their hands on a Dolphin before the end of the year, but at least the rest us know now what the score is: a titanic a three-way scrap is about to ensue. Keep watching this space.