GameCube Resurgence Via RPGs?

Daetrin writes "GamesAreFun.com is reporting that Namco's Tales of Symphonia RPG for GameCube sold 200,000 copies in its first day of release in Japan. It also reports that Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles for GameCube has sold over 350,000 units since its Japanese release last month. Perhaps the influx of RPGs will help revitalize the low GameCube hardware sales in Japan?" IGN Cube has hands-on impressions of Tales Of Symphonia, and GamesAreFun also mention the "73,000 pre-orders in Japan" for GC farming RPG Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, which comes complete with a plush cow if you pre-order Stateside.

Comments

Every single person

[ihatesco]

Every single person who commented on the low profile of Nintendo 64 (we can't say demise or total failure because N64 continued to bring a positive cash flow to Nintendo and had several hit games like Mario 64, Perfect Dark, the two Zeldas and an F-Zero, not talking about Pokemon Stadium) said that it was because they mainly scared Square and Enix off, and the other producers followed suit.

But the problem with N64, imho, and with Gamecube (which was instead going the Dreamcast way) was that there are no crappy games produced for the masses, no serial soccer/american football/whatever (like that ugly game series of FIFA and EA sports series).

Normal People love to be able to buy a simple game for a party, yet to be able to access to good games as well, like Gran Turismo.

Long Time Videogame Fandom (which is still an important market) instead likes to be able to buy great games, like Tales of Symphonia and FF: Crystal Cronicles, and sometimes to buy also a party game as well.

If Nintendo wants to be again the number one, they have to lower the prices of SDKs, and win back the hearts of the videogame publishers. But if they want to continue like they are now they can only count on a shrinking fanbase... not everyone wants to play the same game with the same "childish atmosphere" (albeit if they have a "really adult gameplay").

Farming is fun. Who knew?

[gklinger]

Along side Grand Theft Auto and Unreal Tournament, games like Harvest Moon are easily overlooked and it's a real shame. The first time I encountered Harvest Moon was on the N64 and admittedly, I thought the idea of a game based around farming was ridiculous but I gave it a chance and I'm glad I did. It's fantastic. The Super Nintendo and Playstation versions are also quite good although I didn't enjoy the Playstation 2 version (called Save the Homeland) as much as it was too goal oriented. From what I've read Natsume is getting back to its roots (roots, farming, get it?) with A Wonderful Life. I can't wait.

It's impossible to explain this game's charm. You just have to try it.

If you want more information about the Harvest Moon franchise, check out the Harvest Moon Farm. There's a lot of good info there.

Re:Farming is fun. Who knew?

[muirhead]

It's impossible to explain this game's charm. You just have to try it.

That's what they said about crack!

Maybe. Perhaps you need to look at what happened.

[Inoshiro]

Nintendo has done a lot to win back video game publishers: witness such amazing events as lowered royatly rates, parterships for developing titles (Sega/Namco/Nintendo F-Zero), and farming out franchise characters for use in third-party titles (Link in Soul Calibur 2).

Nintendo also has the crap games for the masses. They get the EA games the same as the PS2 or Xbox.

So why isn't the GameCube more popular, since they did everything you said to do (except they did it before you posted here)? Because no one cares. They have a PS2 already (single console owners), or they have an Xbox (multiple console owners). Almost everyone who wants a GameCube has one; the rest either don't know they want it because of Nintendo's less than stellar advertising campaign, or will buy the Xbox version.

Soul Calibur 2 and Madden 2004 prove exactly how different the audiences are. Right now, for every 3 PS2s in the North American market, there is 1 GCN and 1 Xbox (numbers aprox: PlayStation 2 18,485,673; Xbox 5,682,847; GameCube 4,429,930).

How are these two games proving this? Madden 2004 came out on all 3 systems the same day. Madden 2004 for the PS2 has sold 35 to 1 versus the GameCube version (it has sold about much better on the Xbox; ~5 to 1). Soul Calibur 2 for the GameCube has sold 5 to 1 verus the PS2 version -- despite the number of potential PS2 Soul Calibur purchasers being 3x the number of GameCube purchasers. It's even managed to sell more than the Xbox version, again even though they Xbox market is bigger.

These numbers tell us a few things. Most people who only own a PS2 only care about the so-called "crap" games for the masses. They are happy with their crap games on their system with slow load times and jaggy picture, even if they could potentially get it better elsewhere.

If they person owns multiple consoles, chances are that the GameCube is a second console; the Xbox or PS2 is the primary. If they Xbox is the primary, they will probably by the Xbox version of multi-platform titles because the Xbox version "will be better." Even if the PS2 is the primary console, chances are the owner will play mainly Nintendo titles on the GameCube because their games come out first on the PS2 compared to the GameCube.

It also tells us that people will buy for the GameCube when there is incentive to. The PS2 and GCN versions of SC2 have PL2 and widescreen; the GCN version also supports 480p. The Xbox triumphs over this with its 720p support and Dolby Digital audio. So why is the GameCube version selling more copies? Because Link's in it, duh! ;)

I think the strong sales of Soul Calibur 2 on the GameCube despite the existance of an Xbox version will show third parties that GameCube titles will sell well when there is a reason to buy them. So far most of what the Xbox and GameCube get for third-party titles are warmed-over PS2 ports. Nintendo is trying to bump up the third-party exclusives because they know that people won't buy those titles in any noticable quantity because of the widely-held belief that, "the Xbox version is always better."

Hopefully this example from Namco will show third-party publishers that simply porting a title is not enough; if they are willing to put in the effort to make each version distinct and worth owning, they will sell more copies than they would've otherwise. If they support the more powerful hardware (Xbox and GameCube) by truly using the features available to them, they will also sell more copies as compared to the PS2 version recompiled and slapped on a mini-DVD.

Time will tell. Hopefully Nintendo will be able to make good on their promise to beat Sony to the 2005 next-gen console launches.

PS2 has the titles...baby.

[CheeseEatingBulldog]

The only reason I bought a Ps2 was because of 2 game titles..no more, no less. Gran Turismo and Final Fantasy. And seeing as FFX-2, FFXI and FFXII will be released on the Ps2, I am one happy puppy.

Now, If I were into furries and cereal box characters I would have bought a non dvd playable game cube. Nintendo just doesn't have the titles, and even if you have chronicals, I have heard that a gameboy advanced is almost a neccesity...I think I'll stick to the Ps2.

The Gamecube doesn't have the titles?

[Man In Black]

F-Zero GX, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Super Mario Sunshine, Mario Kart Double Dash, Wario World, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Metroid Prime, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Animal Crossing, Phantasy Star Online, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, Sonic Adventure DX, Soul Calibur II, Ikaruga, P.N. 03, Luigi's Mansion, Starfox Adventures, Mario Party 4, Super Monkey Ball 1 & 2, Viewtiful Joe, Pikmin, plus a horde of multi-platform titles like Tony Hawk and EA sports games.

I'd say that's enough incentive to buy a Gamecube. It certainly beats buying a system for two games like you did.

Re:The Gamecube doesn't have the titles?

[blueskatz]

No kidding. I now have more Gamecube titles than any of my other [currently supported] consoles. In my opinion, there are plenty of really good games on other consoles, but the best games are found on Gamecube (though they're mostly first party). I'm really looking forward to Tales of Symphonia and Crystal Chronicles as well.

All the gamecube really needs is more memory and a better advertising campaign. Maybe Nintendo will get that right next time.