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Dixons group stores set to drop GameCube
Massive blow for Nintendo, but is this a short-sighted move by Dixons?
UK newspaper The Mirror is reporting that the Dixons chain - whose stores include PC World and Currys - is planning to clear out its GameCube stocks and will be discontinuing support for the format.
A spokesman for the retail chain is quoted in the Mirror article as saying that "GameCube hasn't sold well, so for now we're concentrating on just Xbox and PS2. It's purely about shelf space." The Cube console bundle has been slashed to £99 to begin the clearance of stock.
The move seems poorly timed on Dixons' part, with Nintendo just about to roll out some of the first party software which many believe will make or break the long-term success of the console - namely Metroid Prime, which arrives on March 28th, and Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, which arrives in May.
The Dixons spokesperson did not rule out a return to stocking GameCube in future, however, commenting that "once we've cleared stock we'll review our next steps".
Although Nintendo is keen to play down the potential damage to the console from this decision, it's difficult to see this as anything other than a massive blow to the company. Dixons group stores account for a significant number of console hardware sales, and a very public decision to clear GameCube stocks could cause a knock-on effect with other retailers as well.
Commentators have strongly criticised Nintendo for its European strategy - or lack of same - in the past few months, after the company squandered a strong start in this territory with by far the weakest Christmas of all three major platforms. In the absence of decent software support, European consumers are seemingly voting with their wallets, and the performance of the Cube in Europe is by far its weakest showing out of the three major territories.
It remains to be seen whether the GameCube can be rescued by the late arrival of key titles such as Metroid Prime and Resident Evil Zero, which were released in the USA before Christmas; and perhaps more importantly, whether Nintendo takes this serious snub from a major retailer as a sign that it must pull its socks up in this territory.
> Cant argue with that, a propper games console only playes games, were
> as the xbox and ps2 play DVD's and music, there for, not a propper
> 100%games console...
> well pointed out...
Find the proper spelling of 'propper' and maybe I shall reply properly.
i didn't realize that you were so sophisticated and intelligent, i will try to spell every thing correctly just for you...
*very sad*
No-one cares.
And none of ou are going to win this argument because you're all too narrow-minded to take in anyone elses opinion.
Just drop the whole thing, it's getting overly tedious.
Tut tut tut.
Kids, who'd have 'em?
> Heh. Fanboys!
more like punks