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"Gamecube's release date is:"

Spring 2002.

Not what you wanted to hear right? This is a very frustrating time for a UK Nintendo fan, watching as Japanese gamers plays on their purple boxes and Americans get ready to receive theirs and we don't even have a release date!

Why?

Well we can't really blame Nintendo for hating us this time. They can't give us a firm release date until they know how well it does in America if it does shockingly well then tones of Gamecubeís might be needed for the European launch if it is as quite as the one in Japan then not so much is needed. So Nintendo can't tell us an exact date. The amount of systems that need allocating isn't the only factor, the March 14th date for the X-box is another as Shelly Friend, Nintendo of Europe's head of PR said "We want to avoid a clash with Microsoft."

Yes ok thatís why Nintendo can't give us a straight answer but why can't they make an educated guess surly they have an idea on how well they'll do and therefore give us a predicted release date?

You must be aware that the World Trade Centre disaster has had an effect on both the global economy and people's mood which could effect how well the Gamecube will fair so Nintendo may have an idea but with so many things going on in the world it won't be a very good one. And even if they could make an educated guess they wouldn't want because of the simple fact that we yelled and they listened. How many times have we been let down by Nintendo with delays? I personally don't mind them but Nintendo have promised to avoid delaying things again, so if Nintendo say it'll come out on March 26th and then have to change it to later I know how many of you will moan, so they don't tell you so they can get a date they can stick to and as soon as they do they'll let us know (it is in their best interests as well as ours to tell us as soon as possible).

So what can we do Iím fed up of just waiting?

Aren't we all and so there is only one thing for it letís guess. I could say early April very easy but if youíre going to guess at least make it a good one. Ok ok number one the X-box has announced a March 14th release date and Nintendo would rather avoid another scuffle with this new foe. What would they rather do? Wait until after the X-box and stick it at the end of March or towards the end of February? The end of February will probably be the wiser choice but can Nintendo get it all done by then?

I think they can there is plenty of time over the Christmas period and into January to produce enough Gamecube's and considering the US launch is about 2 months after the Japanese it proves it is defiantly possible. Secondly although the Japanese sales were not in fact bad they were not mind blowing, if a similar pattern occurs in the US then the amount of Gamecubeís that need allocating in Europe will be reduced and therefore less time will be needed.

So I predict late February not only because I would like it to be late February but also because it makes sense.

Now what about the release line up? We don't know that either!

A little easier than the date as even the head of PR in Europe agreed there will be loads of games ready for the UK launch but she also emphasized that there is no point shoving them all out at the same time as they can't be all purchased at once and she went on to say that it is more likely to be a game for everyoneís tastes like in America.

So what is the American launch line up?

Luigi's Mansion
Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2
Wave Race: Blue Storm
Super Monkey Ball
SSX Tricky
Madden NFL 2002
Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2
NFL Blitz 2002
NHL Hitz 2002
All-Star Baseball 2002
NFL Quarterback Club 2002
Extreme G 3
Crazy Taxi
Batman Dark Tomorrow
Universal Studios

So I would expect a launch line up similar to that with perhaps Pikmin and Smash Brothers Melee not far off (I am hoping that Smash Brothers will be very near the launch)

How about Price?

Convert the Japanese price and you get £146 and looking at the American price of $199.99 it will be just a bit higher than that. Many insist though that it will be about £200 in merry old England. I disagree I think a more accurate price will be £160. This is again judging on the past, The GBA was in America $100 in the UK it was supposed to be £80. Now the GBA American price is half the American price of the Gamecube so in theory doubling the English price should get us the English Gamecube price of £160. But if it works out like that or not remains to be seen.

So what your saying is that you think the Gamecube will get a similar launch line up to America possibly better, it will come out towards the end of February and cost £160.

That's about right!

Lets hope your right.

Here's to the Future

Dringo

Dringo smiles a little life returns to Prime just like the good old days ah TBN?

If SSX is anythign like SSX tricky on the Gamecube then you are all insane.

Turbonutter wrote:
> *TBN snorts and plays on the stupidly good SSX*

Oh my gawd, you still play on it?

Heh, I got bored after I completed it with every character.

:-D

SHOCKY

Res�vilfan wrote:
> *yawn*

Says a person who's favourite game is one that has easily made pre-rendered backdrops, easy to do FMV's which would be better done with real graphics, crummy acting, simple and cheating way to do things fixed camera angles.

Trigger Happy the book gave me that boy does he hate RE.

But i like it so you can say all that but the game is fun.

(Dringo walks away wondering why he said that)

Shocktrooper wrote:
> Great post, Dringo.

Although, however much I hate to say this, I doubt the GC
> will be £160. £199 is more likely, in my point of view, because
> consoles are a different matter, somehow, I think more VAT will be added
> :-(

Hmmm well i think it will be aroud £160 perhaps £175 possibly a little more VAT than the GBA.


I also agree on the launch day you
> mentioned. I think Febuary is also more likely, because I strongly recall
> Nintendo saying that they wanted to beat Xbox to every release date, even if the
> American plan went haywire ;). So, thanks to Microsoft, we are likely to have
> our sparkling, new, much-awaited GameCubes before March 18th (Xbox's release).
> Thank you Microsoft! d:-)

I thought Nintendo were trying to be ebfore the X-box but i couldnt be sure and so didn't add it in fear of telling a possible lie.

Dringo laughs and plays on 1080 then paper mario then onto perfect dark before setteling on Conker.

*TBN snorts and plays on the stupidly good SSX*

*yawn*

Great post, Dringo.

Although, however much I hate to say this, I doubt the GC will be £160. £199 is more likely, in my point of view, because consoles are a different matter, somehow, I think more VAT will be added :-(

I agree about the launch line-up for games, there is the possibility that we Europeans could have about 20+ launch titles, but of course, for reasons you have pointed out, that won't happen :D

I also agree on the launch day you mentioned. I think Febuary is also more likely, because I strongly recall Nintendo saying that they wanted to beat Xbox to every release date, even if the American plan went haywire ;). So, thanks to Microsoft, we are likely to have our sparkling, new, much-awaited GameCubes before March 18th (Xbox's release). Thank you Microsoft! d:-)

SHOCKY

Dringo kicks back and plays his N64 which he has had for 4 years and is in his mind better than a PS2 as it has Nintendo games.

He later gets bored and switches on his GBA.