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It’s tempting to say something clichéd, like “they never knew what hit them,” or “it was over before it began.” It’s tempting, but needs to be avoided because it just isn’t true. Sony and Microsoft have known this has been coming for a long time now. Nintendo’s plan to use Game Boy Advance as a wedge into gamer’s homes has been well documented. It’s one of those rare occasions where Nintendo lays all of its cards out on the table, and the competition is still powerless to stop the impending onslaught.
Nintendo spent over a decade marketing its handheld machine, slowly generating a userbase totaling over 100 million units. While critics have complained that the new GBA is nothing more than technology from yesteryear cleverly marketed into that existing userbase, it is in fact, a brilliant business plan that simply can’t be matched by the competition.
When Nintendo announced that the new Game Boy unit would also function as a controller for the new GameCube console launching in November, it was a calculated attempt to pre-sell GameCube consoles to everyone already convinced to get a Game Boy Advance. In effect, Nintendo is telling those consumers, “You’ve already got a controller for our next console; you might as well get the machine too.” And while the GBA is nothing more than an incremental upgrade, its ability to interact with a console that is considered by many to be nothing short of revolutionary will also sell the handheld to those that otherwise aren’t interested in portable gaming. It’s like a whirlwind kick in some regard; no matter which foot hits you first, you certainly aren’t expecting the second blow … even when you see it coming. Game Boy Advance and GameCube are perfectly positioned to feed off of each other.
For a handheld that is not all that special in terms of technology, Nintendo will have no problem selling it with the stranglehold they have on the market. While the Game Boy Color was released not all that long ago, it was really the same old machine with a color screen. The internals of the Game Boy have been updated with the GBA, and although it’s really just a Super NES in handheld form, it’s the first time that the Game Boy has undergone such a drastic overhaul. It’s all the Game Boy needed though; Nintendo is trying to position the Game Boy as a pick-up-and-play machine, and if you want something more engrossing, get a GameCube. It’s the right move from a business perspective, and the only way Nintendo can keep from cannibalizing one market for another. Coming to market with a handheld with the power of an N64, even if technologically possible, would risk cutting into GameCube sales.
More importantly than anything else, gamers now have several months to get used to new Nintendo games, and Nintendo’s style of games, before the next-generation war starts in earnest. Several months to remind gamers that Nintendo is solely a gaming company, while their competitors are diversified into other markets as well. Several months to convince gamers that they’ll be missing something without a GameCube in their home. Several months to stockpile cash from GBA sales to be used in a massive launch push for GameCube. Several months where Sony and Microsoft have to sit in near silence and simply accept that they lost this battle before it began, and that they never knew what hit them.
~ Cloudchaser.com
Nintendo spent over a decade marketing its handheld machine, slowly generating a userbase totaling over 100 million units. While critics have complained that the new GBA is nothing more than technology from yesteryear cleverly marketed into that existing userbase, it is in fact, a brilliant business plan that simply can’t be matched by the competition.
When Nintendo announced that the new Game Boy unit would also function as a controller for the new GameCube console launching in November, it was a calculated attempt to pre-sell GameCube consoles to everyone already convinced to get a Game Boy Advance. In effect, Nintendo is telling those consumers, “You’ve already got a controller for our next console; you might as well get the machine too.” And while the GBA is nothing more than an incremental upgrade, its ability to interact with a console that is considered by many to be nothing short of revolutionary will also sell the handheld to those that otherwise aren’t interested in portable gaming. It’s like a whirlwind kick in some regard; no matter which foot hits you first, you certainly aren’t expecting the second blow … even when you see it coming. Game Boy Advance and GameCube are perfectly positioned to feed off of each other.
For a handheld that is not all that special in terms of technology, Nintendo will have no problem selling it with the stranglehold they have on the market. While the Game Boy Color was released not all that long ago, it was really the same old machine with a color screen. The internals of the Game Boy have been updated with the GBA, and although it’s really just a Super NES in handheld form, it’s the first time that the Game Boy has undergone such a drastic overhaul. It’s all the Game Boy needed though; Nintendo is trying to position the Game Boy as a pick-up-and-play machine, and if you want something more engrossing, get a GameCube. It’s the right move from a business perspective, and the only way Nintendo can keep from cannibalizing one market for another. Coming to market with a handheld with the power of an N64, even if technologically possible, would risk cutting into GameCube sales.
More importantly than anything else, gamers now have several months to get used to new Nintendo games, and Nintendo’s style of games, before the next-generation war starts in earnest. Several months to remind gamers that Nintendo is solely a gaming company, while their competitors are diversified into other markets as well. Several months to convince gamers that they’ll be missing something without a GameCube in their home. Several months to stockpile cash from GBA sales to be used in a massive launch push for GameCube. Several months where Sony and Microsoft have to sit in near silence and simply accept that they lost this battle before it began, and that they never knew what hit them.
~ Cloudchaser.com
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Ha.... I won...
(Er-No...)
He's not here... stop interrupting!
I apologise for all this people... I did try to say it wasn't my work.... I just thought you'd like to read it, because let's face it, it is an interesting article!
I'm sure the webmaster can sort it all out.
Game = Honest Joe.
(Er-No...)
He's not here... stop interrupting!
I apologise for all this people... I did try to say it wasn't my work.... I just thought you'd like to read it, because let's face it, it is an interesting article!
I'm sure the webmaster can sort it all out.
Game = Honest Joe.
If Game did win though it would encourage lots of people to paste someone elses work as a GAD attempt. The forum would overflow with cut and paste jobs from various websites and people who write good posts would not be noticed as much as they are now.
I wonder if there is any other way of getting that music cd...
But anyway, I doubt *that* many people would be upset if Game kept his game... but however, in another topic that Bonus should be writing...
But anyway, I doubt *that* many people would be upset if Game kept his game... but however, in another topic that Bonus should be writing...
No offence to The Game, but if it does stand there will be an awful lot of upset. It shouldn't stand, but you have to wonder what SR are doing when they selected this. Maybe they're playing on their GBA's and so don't care.
It shouldn't win because it is not his own work. Please do not see me in a bitter light - The Game is a great person and almost got a Sonic edition pack (even more reason to like him), but this is someone elses talent. It should not win a game.
It shouldn't win because it is not his own work. Please do not see me in a bitter light - The Game is a great person and almost got a Sonic edition pack (even more reason to like him), but this is someone elses talent. It should not win a game.
I think Game's GAD should stand!!! It wasn't his mistake!!
I was suspicious about it, but I didn't want to accuse The Game of cheating seeing as he openly declares it is from CloudChaser. Now why are Special Reserve not reading carefully? Surely another winner should be found - but Game must NOT be punished as he didn't intend to win for copying and pasting.
Dan
Dan
Game stated twice that this article is from Cloudchaser. He won for it. It wasn't his mistake.
Good article, though. Well done Rick Powers. To choose your free game go to www.gameaday.co.uk/winners.php .
Game you t**.
Game you t**.
Good article though, the marketing strategy of Nintendo is superb. The GameBoyAdvance may only be a handheld SNES but because of it the machine will be cheap to manufacture meaning nobody can make a machine that can undercut it in terms of price.
With even Microsoft making games for the GameBoyAdvance the world is Nintendos Oyster.
With even Microsoft making games for the GameBoyAdvance the world is Nintendos Oyster.
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