The Nintendo GameCube is Nintendo's fourth home video game console, belonging to the sixth generation era. The GameCube is the most compact and least expensive of the sixth generation era consoles. It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 and the predecessor of the Wii. The home console was released on September 14, 2001 in Japan; November 18, 2001 in North America; May 3, 2002 in Europe; and May 17, 2002 in Australia. It was Nintendo's first console without a launch title starring Mario, but rather a game titled Luigi's Mansion, starring his younger brother Luigi.