The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
The release is, of course, confirmed as May 3rd, and it’s quite a long way away.
Most speculation in the ninty forum was on a date rather closer to the xbox’s mid-March launch, and this, if properly planned, would almost certainly have been possible, and would have mirrored the same timing seen in America.
So why didn’t it happen?
Well, there has been speculation about alignment with various other big events, such as the world cup, high-profile film releases, and other such potential marketing tie-ins. Perhaps a contributing factor, but given that these connections could be made, almost as effectively, with an earlier console release, I can’t see this factor having had much weight when Nintendo made their decision.
Console production times? Well, the European release will mean Nintendo have to produce enough machines, and games and peripherals for that matter, to meet the demands from three large markets. Perhaps they did need more time to build up to the 500,000 machines for Europe’s launch, and the additional 500,000 to follow by the end of the year. While the delay between Japanese and American launches is less than that between American and European, there are of course now two other markets selling cubes during Europe’s launch. Surely though, nintendo are big enough to make it happen without *such* a large gap?
Also, games: Nintendo have stated how important the large number of launch titles is to them, but with the highest quantity ever, and dwarfing the range at launch in America or Japan, the number of launch titles is virtually at breaking point. Recently it was announced, for example that Soul Fighter, originally planned as a launch title, have been delayed because of the competition at launch. Admittedly a port of a dreamcast title that wasn’t that great anyway, but it shows the point non the less.
My theory?
Nintendo don’t want another match-up with the x-box. Without relying on stats (please!), in America, the cube’s alignment with the x-box release hasn’t been particularly positive for Nintendo’s sales. The benefits of the gap between the release dates could give Nintendo longer to power up the hype machine than Microsoft (their budget reportedly in the region of a hundred million euros), and when people think about the x-box around launch time, the month and a half until gamecube’s release won’t seem too long.
With the gap, it might not be the situation of consumers having to chose between the two. After a month and a half upwards, a few of those spending 300 pounds for the x-box may be coming round to the idea of also investing in a new-looking gamecube for a lot less.
While the vast number of ports we’re seeing won’t exactly help this cause (no need to buy a new machine to play games available for the old one), there seem sufficient exclusives to give this argument some weight.
Of course, in deciding on their launch date, nintendo will have considered all these factors, and probably many more besides, and all will have played a role in their decision. But to me, the biggest factor wasn’t the logistics of machine production, or anything else for that matter, but, if you will, fear or reliving America’s launch, when the gamecube can be so much more.
Thanks for reading.
Or skimming over the bits that looked important.
Or jumping straight to the end.
: )
Most speculation in the ninty forum was on a date rather closer to the xbox’s mid-March launch, and this, if properly planned, would almost certainly have been possible, and would have mirrored the same timing seen in America.
So why didn’t it happen?
Well, there has been speculation about alignment with various other big events, such as the world cup, high-profile film releases, and other such potential marketing tie-ins. Perhaps a contributing factor, but given that these connections could be made, almost as effectively, with an earlier console release, I can’t see this factor having had much weight when Nintendo made their decision.
Console production times? Well, the European release will mean Nintendo have to produce enough machines, and games and peripherals for that matter, to meet the demands from three large markets. Perhaps they did need more time to build up to the 500,000 machines for Europe’s launch, and the additional 500,000 to follow by the end of the year. While the delay between Japanese and American launches is less than that between American and European, there are of course now two other markets selling cubes during Europe’s launch. Surely though, nintendo are big enough to make it happen without *such* a large gap?
Also, games: Nintendo have stated how important the large number of launch titles is to them, but with the highest quantity ever, and dwarfing the range at launch in America or Japan, the number of launch titles is virtually at breaking point. Recently it was announced, for example that Soul Fighter, originally planned as a launch title, have been delayed because of the competition at launch. Admittedly a port of a dreamcast title that wasn’t that great anyway, but it shows the point non the less.
My theory?
Nintendo don’t want another match-up with the x-box. Without relying on stats (please!), in America, the cube’s alignment with the x-box release hasn’t been particularly positive for Nintendo’s sales. The benefits of the gap between the release dates could give Nintendo longer to power up the hype machine than Microsoft (their budget reportedly in the region of a hundred million euros), and when people think about the x-box around launch time, the month and a half until gamecube’s release won’t seem too long.
With the gap, it might not be the situation of consumers having to chose between the two. After a month and a half upwards, a few of those spending 300 pounds for the x-box may be coming round to the idea of also investing in a new-looking gamecube for a lot less.
While the vast number of ports we’re seeing won’t exactly help this cause (no need to buy a new machine to play games available for the old one), there seem sufficient exclusives to give this argument some weight.
Of course, in deciding on their launch date, nintendo will have considered all these factors, and probably many more besides, and all will have played a role in their decision. But to me, the biggest factor wasn’t the logistics of machine production, or anything else for that matter, but, if you will, fear or reliving America’s launch, when the gamecube can be so much more.
Thanks for reading.
Or skimming over the bits that looked important.
Or jumping straight to the end.
: )
Page:
to be honest, i'm a big nintendo fan, and would love to see em whup some sony and MS hide with the GC. but, frankly, it won't, and we all know it. all i really care about is that enough people buy the console for it to be a success and for nintendo to keep goin strong, cuz with the death of Sega as a console manufacturer, the only "good" left in computer games is Nintendo. even though its all about money to every company, nintendo at least gives us great quality for our money, and charge us reasonable prices. i'll just buy my GC and love it, ISS2 at launch, thank you very much, and Smash Bros (best multiplayer game ever, you'll find. not officially or anything, but come on, you know it is) the second it comes out.
PS i don't know if anyone reads digitiser on channel 4 teletaxt, but it seems to me the PS2 fans are runnin scared of nintendo latest in their line of masterpieces. lets see, how did their argument with ABSOLUTELY NO evidence or thought put into trying to think an argument go...
kmmm kmmmm.... "the GCs gonna cost £150, but so are its games"
i wonder could that person really have been pleased with that useless, made up s**g. i mean, you gotta laugh at the desperatness of them
PS i don't know if anyone reads digitiser on channel 4 teletaxt, but it seems to me the PS2 fans are runnin scared of nintendo latest in their line of masterpieces. lets see, how did their argument with ABSOLUTELY NO evidence or thought put into trying to think an argument go...
kmmm kmmmm.... "the GCs gonna cost £150, but so are its games"
i wonder could that person really have been pleased with that useless, made up s**g. i mean, you gotta laugh at the desperatness of them
Nice post!
I think that Ninty don't want to rush out the console, which is the only solution to leaving the console until May 3rd to be released. It may have something to do with not wanting to compete with the X-Box but I'm not sure if Ninty would try and avoid a battle.
By the way, Ninty rules! :D
I think that Ninty don't want to rush out the console, which is the only solution to leaving the console until May 3rd to be released. It may have something to do with not wanting to compete with the X-Box but I'm not sure if Ninty would try and avoid a battle.
By the way, Ninty rules! :D
Not for me i want the best i choose Nintendo.
Lord Semajal wrote:
> nintendo ownz
:-D
Nuff said
What is it that they own?
> nintendo ownz
:-D
Nuff said
What is it that they own?
The Game wrote:
Just imagine your collection:
Luigi's
> Mansion
Super Monkey Ball
Smash Brothers Melee
Pikmin 1 and 2
Mario
StarFox
> Adventures
Donkey Kong Racing
Metroid
Zelda
Soul Calibur II
And that's
> just this year (Japan)
*Dr Duck wipes drool from chin*
Dringo, in fairness, i think you're a little way off the mark there, games, dvds, price, and yes, release dates all figure in peoples' minds. Maybe to different extents, and everyone will weight their values differently, but they're all there.
You can wait for what is otherwise the best, but you have to consider the benefits of having second best instead, for so much longer.
Just imagine your collection:
Luigi's
> Mansion
Super Monkey Ball
Smash Brothers Melee
Pikmin 1 and 2
Mario
StarFox
> Adventures
Donkey Kong Racing
Metroid
Zelda
Soul Calibur II
And that's
> just this year (Japan)
*Dr Duck wipes drool from chin*
Dringo, in fairness, i think you're a little way off the mark there, games, dvds, price, and yes, release dates all figure in peoples' minds. Maybe to different extents, and everyone will weight their values differently, but they're all there.
You can wait for what is otherwise the best, but you have to consider the benefits of having second best instead, for so much longer.
Oh no one cares about prices, release dates and stuff, if you wan't the best games then you will have to get a Nintendo console, if you want a DVD player, alright games and an expensive console get and x-box... sheesh.
nintendo ownz
:-D
Nuff said
:-D
Nuff said
I really don't get it.
Everyone goes on about how Nintendo are Trailing in third place - what crap!
You wait until the X-Box launches in Japan - No one will care! Even if they sell 400,000 units! PS2 AND GAMECUBE HAVE A MUCH BIGGER INSTALLED USER-BASE! - Damn Caps, I can't be arsed to change it.
Plus, Nintendo has Pokémon, GBA,... We've got Mario and Zelda to Come, not to mention StarFox and Metorid.
Just imagine your collection:
Luigi's Mansion
Super Monkey Ball
Smash Brothers Melee
Pikmin 1 and 2
Mario
StarFox Adventures
Donkey Kong Racing
Metroid
Zelda
Soul Calibur II
And that's just this year (Japan)
Then you've got another Zelda, if not two more. Another Mario. Mario Kart. Kameo. Perfect Dark. Conker. Too Human. Resident Evil Games (This year, sorry).
Frankly, I wouldn't complain one bit... and there's bound to be more announcements from people like Konami and Namco.
You've got the GBA link-up, WaveBird gaming (:D:D:D:D)...
Plus, there's that 60Hz NTSC thingy, which should see games get over here quicker, not to mention of a better quality.
Who cares about statistics... Nintendo aren't going to bail anytime soon! Look at thier backing!
Game: Cube
Everyone goes on about how Nintendo are Trailing in third place - what crap!
You wait until the X-Box launches in Japan - No one will care! Even if they sell 400,000 units! PS2 AND GAMECUBE HAVE A MUCH BIGGER INSTALLED USER-BASE! - Damn Caps, I can't be arsed to change it.
Plus, Nintendo has Pokémon, GBA,... We've got Mario and Zelda to Come, not to mention StarFox and Metorid.
Just imagine your collection:
Luigi's Mansion
Super Monkey Ball
Smash Brothers Melee
Pikmin 1 and 2
Mario
StarFox Adventures
Donkey Kong Racing
Metroid
Zelda
Soul Calibur II
And that's just this year (Japan)
Then you've got another Zelda, if not two more. Another Mario. Mario Kart. Kameo. Perfect Dark. Conker. Too Human. Resident Evil Games (This year, sorry).
Frankly, I wouldn't complain one bit... and there's bound to be more announcements from people like Konami and Namco.
You've got the GBA link-up, WaveBird gaming (:D:D:D:D)...
Plus, there's that 60Hz NTSC thingy, which should see games get over here quicker, not to mention of a better quality.
Who cares about statistics... Nintendo aren't going to bail anytime soon! Look at thier backing!
Game: Cube
The May launch has a lot to do with demand in Japan and America.
Not only did Nintendo have to ensure suffient units for the launch in Europe, they also have to make sure that the other markets have a healthy supply of consoles.
In Japan, the Gamecube hasn't been quite as successful as hoped just yet, but in North America it's exceeding expectations.
We had to wait until January for a launch date, because Nintendo didn't want to leave their other markets without enough units.
After assessing initial sales, it was decided that May was the right date for European launch, as that's the best thing in terms of production.
Not only did Nintendo have to ensure suffient units for the launch in Europe, they also have to make sure that the other markets have a healthy supply of consoles.
In Japan, the Gamecube hasn't been quite as successful as hoped just yet, but in North America it's exceeding expectations.
We had to wait until January for a launch date, because Nintendo didn't want to leave their other markets without enough units.
After assessing initial sales, it was decided that May was the right date for European launch, as that's the best thing in terms of production.
Nintendo wouldnt be able to reach a good enough ammount prior to x-box's release... surly releasing it near the x-box would dampen the x-box... but no nintendo chose a date where they can give plenty of consoles, builf up their £100 million advertisement campaign and have many titles andhave it near the movie launches and sports event...
S good ide me thinks.
S good ide me thinks.
Page: