Super Smash Bros. Melee (大乱闘スマッシュブラザーズDX, Dairantō Sumasshu Burazāzu Derakkusu, lit. Great Melee Smash Brothers Deluxe), often abbreviated SSBM or Melee, is a crossover fighting/action game released for the Nintendo GameCube shortly after its launch in 2001 (2002 in the PAL region). It is the successor to the 1999 Nintendo 64 game Super Smash Bros., and the predecessor to the 2008 Wii game Super Smash Bros. Brawl. HAL Laboratory developed the game, with Masahiro Sakurai as head of production.