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From what only appears to be a gaming rut of hell... Nintendo are sliding... fast.
The console has only been out a year but failing to reach tragets by just under 50% was a drastic disaster for Nintendo. GBA selling millions or not Nintendo will not keep a dead weight going as long as Microsoft will. Sales for Nintendo's Gamecube are at the stage where they ARE indeed making money... but recent reports show this is only a temporay thing.
Dixons and Argos have removed their Gamecube stock. Argos are only willing to stock under 50% of their normal Gamecube shipments but originally planned to cut the console all together. The GAME group have also scaled down its Gamecube size and so has Blockbuster/Choices who are removing Gamecube stock all together from certain stores. Despite shocking concerns it doesn't appear all TOO bad, Nintendo stock is still booming in certain retailers with Special Reserve indicating that they are enjoying some success with Nintendo's console. Also independant retailers across britain are enjoying some success.
Nevertheless it all looked grim but Nintendo have to face another problem... the 3rd parties. Whereas the N64 began with little 3rd party support and that grew, it is the opposite for the Cube. Codemasters already withdrew from Nintendo support and the success of Zelda was to define Infogrammes support. Capcom are trying to shift attention slowly back to Sony and SEGA's new plan includes a dramatic recline in Nintendo support.
In an attempt to counter-act the problem Nintendo are to produce a royalty scheme. Nintendo will also stop the high prices 3rd parties are forced to spend. EA, the biggest company that threatened to leave Nintendo, the company that broke SEGA, were the last straw for Nintendo and their 'wait and see' attitude. EA are vital to Nintendo's success and So Nintendo revealed that a deal broke last month, Nintendo offered Electronic Arts a fresh royalty break of the cost of game production, plus $1 US, resulting in the slew of titles announced by Electronic Arts during March.
A similar deal (although not AS great) is being done to all 3rd parties. Nintendo have their backs to the wall, the games that saved them during the N64 are NOT doing it this time. Zelda and Mario unsuprisingly hit the number one spot but for a mere week, Mario's success was similar to Pikmin's in Japan and this was a devestating blow. In an attempt to push Zelda Nintendo announced a bonus disc. It took record pre-orders but then, as it with Mario, the game dropped!
Metroid Prime did moderate success again and just as Nintendo had hoped... great but not world smashing. Nintendo realize that it is the other developers that can unleash a smash hit and so losing them would be killer.
It is the new titles that Nintendo are developing that look to save the company in the long run. Pikmin did VERY well and as the game gets a sequel, and another... the game will become bigger. Metroid Prime is also looking like a firm favourite for the west. Animal Crossing is also set to get bigger.
But these games will take time to reach critical success... the third parties and the dwindeling success of their ancient franchises Zelda and Mario are all Nintendo have left to stay alive.
Maybe it is time Pokemon returned to the home consoles... and then we may have that temporary revival that is so vital.
Dringo.
The console has only been out a year but failing to reach tragets by just under 50% was a drastic disaster for Nintendo. GBA selling millions or not Nintendo will not keep a dead weight going as long as Microsoft will. Sales for Nintendo's Gamecube are at the stage where they ARE indeed making money... but recent reports show this is only a temporay thing.
Dixons and Argos have removed their Gamecube stock. Argos are only willing to stock under 50% of their normal Gamecube shipments but originally planned to cut the console all together. The GAME group have also scaled down its Gamecube size and so has Blockbuster/Choices who are removing Gamecube stock all together from certain stores. Despite shocking concerns it doesn't appear all TOO bad, Nintendo stock is still booming in certain retailers with Special Reserve indicating that they are enjoying some success with Nintendo's console. Also independant retailers across britain are enjoying some success.
Nevertheless it all looked grim but Nintendo have to face another problem... the 3rd parties. Whereas the N64 began with little 3rd party support and that grew, it is the opposite for the Cube. Codemasters already withdrew from Nintendo support and the success of Zelda was to define Infogrammes support. Capcom are trying to shift attention slowly back to Sony and SEGA's new plan includes a dramatic recline in Nintendo support.
In an attempt to counter-act the problem Nintendo are to produce a royalty scheme. Nintendo will also stop the high prices 3rd parties are forced to spend. EA, the biggest company that threatened to leave Nintendo, the company that broke SEGA, were the last straw for Nintendo and their 'wait and see' attitude. EA are vital to Nintendo's success and So Nintendo revealed that a deal broke last month, Nintendo offered Electronic Arts a fresh royalty break of the cost of game production, plus $1 US, resulting in the slew of titles announced by Electronic Arts during March.
A similar deal (although not AS great) is being done to all 3rd parties. Nintendo have their backs to the wall, the games that saved them during the N64 are NOT doing it this time. Zelda and Mario unsuprisingly hit the number one spot but for a mere week, Mario's success was similar to Pikmin's in Japan and this was a devestating blow. In an attempt to push Zelda Nintendo announced a bonus disc. It took record pre-orders but then, as it with Mario, the game dropped!
Metroid Prime did moderate success again and just as Nintendo had hoped... great but not world smashing. Nintendo realize that it is the other developers that can unleash a smash hit and so losing them would be killer.
It is the new titles that Nintendo are developing that look to save the company in the long run. Pikmin did VERY well and as the game gets a sequel, and another... the game will become bigger. Metroid Prime is also looking like a firm favourite for the west. Animal Crossing is also set to get bigger.
But these games will take time to reach critical success... the third parties and the dwindeling success of their ancient franchises Zelda and Mario are all Nintendo have left to stay alive.
Maybe it is time Pokemon returned to the home consoles... and then we may have that temporary revival that is so vital.
Dringo.
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All simply incredible games.
Yup.
And yet they make or break consoles. Stupidity.
Hang on. Is not the Cube in more homes than the Xbox? Er..........
I don't get the Mario/Zelda thing. Stupid people. Really are. But if Zelda got a record number of pre-orders......ar......
Who cares?
I have a list as long as my arm (i.e quite long, not Lanky Kong length) of games I want for my Cube.
Yup.
And yet they make or break consoles. Stupidity.
Hang on. Is not the Cube in more homes than the Xbox? Er..........
I don't get the Mario/Zelda thing. Stupid people. Really are. But if Zelda got a record number of pre-orders......ar......
Who cares?
I have a list as long as my arm (i.e quite long, not Lanky Kong length) of games I want for my Cube.
Medal of Honour, SSX, Shox, Harry Potter, James Bond, Duke nuckem, Need for Speed... etc....
EA = fifa..um.. Ah sims...um..
I was playing against my sister once and I laid a blue mine just before I won the race and my sister drove straight into it when she was in 2nd place and exploded causeing her to come last, she wasn't very happy so I blaimed on the computer instead lol.
I think I actually still have the game somewhere, in a box of mega drive stuff...
*wants*
*wants*
Yeah I have 2 particular memories of R&R Racing that stand out - my old friend Tony being the victim on both occasions. ;-))
1st one -
I can't remember the name of the track, but it was one that had a bend right at the end before going over the finish line. It looked like Tony was finally gonna get a win over me and you could tell by the look on his face that he was determined to get over the finish line. The comp had just blown me up and I wasn't too happy about it seeing as it was the last lap. Tony was coming up to that final bend and in frustration I swung my car around a bend further down the track and launched all my missles off in a hail of muttered swear words.
Me and my group of friends (including Tony) then watched in disbelief as the missles left my half of the split screen, then a couple of seconds later, flew accross his half - destroying him in a hail of missle fire right in front of the finish line !
He then had to watch as I passed him and took 1st place. ;-))
2nd one -
This time it was Tony against my cousin Jay. Again I don't remember the name of the track, but it had like 3 or 4 hills in front of the finish line. ;-)
The last lap came and with Tony taking a decent lead, he started to get a bit clever with the comments. He comes upto the hills laughing and my cousin, remembering my little moment of fortune, decides to fire off his missles. This time though they all missed - going either side of Tony. At this point, Tony realises he's avoided it all and decides to put out this annoying laugh along with the sarcastic git like voice with the comment "bye bye !"
At this point he hits a hill, loses control and flies off the track - exploding into several pieces. As his car goes into the air, its like slow motion with Tony going "Nooooooooooooooo !" and straight after the explosion we all watched Tony's half of the screen to see Jay's car go past with that little high pitched engine sound. Of course Jay had a big smile on his face and decided to give out a little comment of "Yeah bye bye !" Tony was once again not a happy bunny. ;-))
1st one -
I can't remember the name of the track, but it was one that had a bend right at the end before going over the finish line. It looked like Tony was finally gonna get a win over me and you could tell by the look on his face that he was determined to get over the finish line. The comp had just blown me up and I wasn't too happy about it seeing as it was the last lap. Tony was coming up to that final bend and in frustration I swung my car around a bend further down the track and launched all my missles off in a hail of muttered swear words.
Me and my group of friends (including Tony) then watched in disbelief as the missles left my half of the split screen, then a couple of seconds later, flew accross his half - destroying him in a hail of missle fire right in front of the finish line !
He then had to watch as I passed him and took 1st place. ;-))
2nd one -
This time it was Tony against my cousin Jay. Again I don't remember the name of the track, but it had like 3 or 4 hills in front of the finish line. ;-)
The last lap came and with Tony taking a decent lead, he started to get a bit clever with the comments. He comes upto the hills laughing and my cousin, remembering my little moment of fortune, decides to fire off his missles. This time though they all missed - going either side of Tony. At this point, Tony realises he's avoided it all and decides to put out this annoying laugh along with the sarcastic git like voice with the comment "bye bye !"
At this point he hits a hill, loses control and flies off the track - exploding into several pieces. As his car goes into the air, its like slow motion with Tony going "Nooooooooooooooo !" and straight after the explosion we all watched Tony's half of the screen to see Jay's car go past with that little high pitched engine sound. Of course Jay had a big smile on his face and decided to give out a little comment of "Yeah bye bye !" Tony was once again not a happy bunny. ;-))
Nah, it's good, means I can keep my money for Zelda and SoAL
maddmun wrote:
> Dr Duck, you say it's out do you?
Hmm, it's in the catalogue gameplay sent me last week. But if it hasn't been released, it wouldn't be the only game listed there that's not out yet.
Maybe it isn't.
Sorry if I got your hopes up!
> Dr Duck, you say it's out do you?
Hmm, it's in the catalogue gameplay sent me last week. But if it hasn't been released, it wouldn't be the only game listed there that's not out yet.
Maybe it isn't.
Sorry if I got your hopes up!
Savatt78 wrote:
>> Is it out already ?? Ooooooooo, think I'll have to pick that up.
> ;-)
> If I remember right, I used to use Jake (think that was his name).
> One of my friends used to use Tarquin - leaving a ton of mines for him
> to roll over never got boring. ;-))
that brings back memorys.
-Rip fades into last
-Shread is about to blow
-Jake scores a first place knockout
-Wipeout
-Butcher gets hammered
-Viper takes a weak third
-Ivon is in another time zone
>> Is it out already ?? Ooooooooo, think I'll have to pick that up.
> ;-)
> If I remember right, I used to use Jake (think that was his name).
> One of my friends used to use Tarquin - leaving a ton of mines for him
> to roll over never got boring. ;-))
that brings back memorys.
-Rip fades into last
-Shread is about to blow
-Jake scores a first place knockout
-Wipeout
-Butcher gets hammered
-Viper takes a weak third
-Ivon is in another time zone
FinalFantasyFanatic wrote:
> Zool!
> That's what we need.
YES BECOS IT SAVED TEH AMIGA LOLK
I wouldn't mind seeing a Gamecube update of Kidicarus, it's about time he was resurrected
> Zool!
> That's what we need.
YES BECOS IT SAVED TEH AMIGA LOLK
I wouldn't mind seeing a Gamecube update of Kidicarus, it's about time he was resurrected
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