GameCube to get midnight UK launch

Cube route: The console launches in three UK cities

Nintendo's GameCube games console will have its UK launch at midnight in three UK cities on 2 May, the company has announced.

The first GameCubes will go on sale at branches of HMV in London, Birmingham and Glasgow.

The first 100 customers at each store will receive a free copy of the game Luigi's Mansion, which stars the fictional brother of Ninetendo's signature character, Mario.

Nintendo hopes to challenge market leader Sony

Large, transparent cubes featuring various entertainments will be deployed at the launch sites.

The world exclusive of the video for jailed So Solid Crew member Asher D's new single will take place in the cube outside HMV Covent Garden, in London, on 27 April at noon.

The double A-side single, Back in the Day/Why Me, is the debut single by the 19-year-old rapper, who is currently serving an 18-month custodial sentence in a young offenders' institution for possession of an illegal gun.

On 1 May, Chicago-based rockers SoiL perform inside the Covent Garden cube, which contain 343 cubic feet of space.

Teen group Allstars are due to appear in the cube on 2 May.

Earlier this week, Nintendo announced a price cut to the GameCube in Europe.

The machine had been expected to retail in the UK at about £150, but the company set a new, pan-European price of 199 euros (£129).