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GameCube Demand Spiking in U.S.?

Posted by simoniker on from the return-of-the-mack dept.

LlamaRama writes "Reuters reports that Nintendo has nearly sold out of GameCubes in the United States, with Nintendo spokeswoman Perrin Kaplan explaining: 'Store shelves are just running very dry... I'd say about 50 percent of our stores are out.' Seems like the holiday rush on GameCube might last a few months past December!" Kaplan also indicated that "...January hardware sales were up 60 percent year-over-year, while January software sales were up 101 percent" following last year's GameCube price cut to $99, though it's unclear how these increased totals compare with current PlayStation 2 and Xbox sales.

111 comments

  1. Actually no by gasaraki · · Score: 5, Funny

    According to wordwide sales and ownership, Gamecube is not dying. In fact, in many countries it out-sells... Oh wait, sorry. I just assumed this was like all the other Gamecube articles.

  2. January... by oOMeggieOo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    But doesn't January typically increase sales for nearly every product out there? I mean, that's when the stores are trying to get rid of their old items and cutting down prices 'n whatnot. And...if you're a person that's not really loyal to any one gaming system, the gamecube would be the easiest to pick right now considering its cheap price. Well, at least, it has a cheap price compared to the PS2 and XBox. Personally, now I'm tempted to go get one. The only reason I wanted a gamecube was for Super Smash Brothers Melee..but now that they have Zelda, Final Fantasy, and a few other good games offered only on their system. And, of course, the cost is lower, though not so significantly lower to really save any money..but..significantly lower to make my mind automatically think I would be getting quite a bargain deal.

    1. Re:January... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      I mean, that's when the stores are trying to get rid of their old items and cutting down prices 'n whatnot.

      The gamecube has remained at $99.

    2. Re:January... by oOMeggieOo · · Score: 1

      Ach. Sorry. Mis-read the article. Thought it stated that the gamecube price had gone down again.

    3. Re:January... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You do know it's March, right?

    4. Re:January... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lousy Smarch weather...

    5. Re:January... by edwdig · · Score: 3, Insightful

      They aren't saying that January's sales were higher than average sales or anything like that. They said that this past January there was a huge increase in GameCube sales compared to the previous January.

      Microsoft and Sony are both showing decling system sales. Nintendo is the only one who's sales are inreasing.

    6. Re:January... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      holy crap. I think you might be right about that.

    7. Re:January... by nelsonal · · Score: 1

      No usually they are down signficantly, think of Christmas as an annual 6 week long shopping bump. Many stores will get more than 1/4 of their sales in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Then typically you have signficant decline in sales in the weeks after Christmas, back to the usual level of sales, with some bouncing around, pre-holiday weeks are generally up weeks. I know with video game software December sales are about 5 times most monthly sales (Novemeber is generally about half of December's level). Summer is the slowest selling period.

      --
      Degaussing scares the bad magnetism out of the monitor and fills it with good karma.
    8. Re:January... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is the first post that has made me laugh on slashdot in about a month.

  3. I can verify this in New York City by galaxy300 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I decided to buy a GameCube last week. I went to *every store in Brooklyn* trying to find one. None of the game stores, none of the electronics stores. After about two hours I finally got to Toys-R-Us, which happened to have 2 in stock. No memory cards, though. Had to go back to Gamestop to get that.

    Sheesh. It was worth it, though. I love the thing.

    --
    seriouslyexcited.net
    1. Re:I can verify this in New York City by BigDork1001 · · Score: 5, Informative
      http://central.masterzen.net/uploads/post-38-10569 41764.jpg

      Gee I dunno. Hrm...fun games that everyone can enjoy. I know with every GC topic there's a list but here it is again because perhaps you haven't seen it before

      Super Monkey Ball
      Pikmin
      Viewtiful Joe
      SSMB
      Zelda
      Metroid Prime
      Mario Kart
      Mario Golf
      Bomberman(Great Multiplayer)

      --
      "Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home" - Cicero
    2. Re:I can verify this in New York City by BigDork1001 · · Score: 1
      Aw dammit, had the wrong thing copied. I even hit the preview button, just didn't catch it. Well, everyone enjoy my picture.

      --
      "Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home" - Cicero
    3. Re:I can verify this in New York City by hambonewilkins · · Score: 1
      Exactly. I posted the same thing a while back and got modded as a troll.

      A couple years back I could have claimed that the Dreamcast was a huge success because I couldn't find it on any store shelves and that games were becoming hard to find.

      The truth, of course, is that the Dreamcast was not being restocked and that stores had stopped carrying it because it was dead as a system.

      It's funny to me that people say: "It's not on store shelves? It must be insanely successful!"

      Remember the Dreamcast. I have nothing against the GameCube (I don't own any next-gen systems), but it is a wierd conclusion to draw.

      --

      God Bless America. Why? Did it sneeze?
    4. Re:I can verify this in New York City by galaxy300 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Right, except in this case the sales people said that they were having trouble keeping them in the stores. Every time they got a new shipment, they'd sell out within a few days. Doesn't exactly sound like a dead system.

      --
      seriouslyexcited.net
    5. Re:I can verify this in New York City by devnull17 · · Score: 1

      You're forgetting a few. Mario Sunshine was definitely not Mario 64, but it was a fantastic game in its own right. And if you have three friends, four Game Boys and four link cables, you can't find anything more fun than Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. (Except maybe binge drinking or bong hits.)

    6. Re:I can verify this in New York City by galaxy300 · · Score: 1

      I'm a big fan of Sunshine as well. I'm also enjoying Eternal Darkness a hell of a lot.

      --
      seriouslyexcited.net
    7. Re:I can verify this in New York City by OuD · · Score: 1

      I just have to add F-Zero GX to that list, man that game is the shit. The sense of speed is just amazing. I had some friends over last night, and they could barely put down the controllers in order to drink from their coffee cups. That's how much they enjoyed racing against each other.

    8. Re:I can verify this in New York City by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The truth, of course, is that the Dreamcast was not being restocked and that stores had stopped carrying it because it was dead as a system.

      But you have to also remember that Sega stopped producing and supporting the Dreamcast before it became hard to find. In this case, Nintendo is producing the system (they started the manufacturing back up near the time of the price drop) and is definitely still supporting the system.

      Additionally, since hardware sales are up over the previous year, comparisons to the DreamCast become even more problematic. The DC really didn't even have a 2nd year in which sales could be compared to the previous year, because it was cancelled 15 months after the US release.

      --
      -PainKilleR-[CE]
    9. Re:I can verify this in New York City by TechniMyoko · · Score: 0

      oh god I hated sunshine. It required a lot more patience than I could give it. I hated how you fall once you start the level over again, and how many ways yoshi can be killed.

    10. Re:I can verify this in New York City by Frizzle+Fry · · Score: 1
      Remember the Dreamcast. I have nothing against the GameCube (I don't own any next-gen systems), but it is a wierd conclusion to draw.

      With whom are you arguing? No one is drawing any conclusions based on the fact that they are hard to find in stores. The conclusion that the gamecube is selling well is based on the fact that the article explicitly says that "January hardware sales were up 60 percent year-over-year". He was just explaining that a result of this is that they are hard to find. We already know the cause, and he's pointing out one effect. You claiming that we are reasoning from the effect back to the cause is ridiculous and is probably why the parent was moderated troll.
      --
      I'd rather be lucky than good.
    11. Re:I can verify this in New York City by hambonewilkins · · Score: 1
      With whom am I arguing? Half of the posters here. Everyone is saying: "no joke, they must be selling well I can't find any anywhere..." etc. They take what they have seen (can't find the GC at BestBuy, CC) and assume that its because the units have sold so well, not that retailers have stopped selling them.

      Everyone reads the Nintendo PR from Reuters and assumes, "Hey, everything is peachy!"

      Here are what they are missing from the very short article:
      "A number of publishers curtailed or stopped production on GameCube games and the Japanese company, faced with excess inventory and sales far below its expectations, temporarily halted production of the gaming machine."

      So, in response to flagging sales, Nintendo lowered the price to $99, which drove sales back up. But, because of the way videogame ordering is done (often months in advance), retailers may have started canceling orders when the GC was in the dumps, before the price cut. They may be hesitant to start ordering up again as the profit margin is likely smaller and it may not be that Nintendo can't fill orders but rather that companies are hesitant to order. All we have from the Reuters article is Nintendo's point of view, which is designed to spin in their favor. Be wary.

      --

      God Bless America. Why? Did it sneeze?
    12. Re:I can verify this in New York City by Cthefuture · · Score: 1

      Right, except in this case the sales people said that they were having trouble keeping them in the stores. Every time they got a new shipment, they'd sell out within a few days.

      WTF are you talking about? Did you read the same article as me?

      Nowhere did I see them say that they're having a problem keeping them on the shelves every time they get a shipment. The only thing even close to that is where they mentioned sales were up 60 percent then 101 percent. But Nintendo hasn't been making the damn thing for quite some time because they weren't selling. So now when the sales picked up a little the stores ran out of stock. Because the stores were not restocking them. Nintendo stopped making them remember???

      The fact that your post is modded +4 while I'm a troll just goes to show what a immature fanboy crowd the GC has.

      --
      The ratio of people to cake is too big
    13. Re:I can verify this in New York City by galaxy300 · · Score: 1

      Me: "Right, except in this case the sales people said that they were having trouble keeping them in the stores. Every time they got a new shipment, they'd sell out within a few days."

      You: "WTF are you talking about? Did you read the same article as me?"

      If you paid attention to the thread, I was talking about my own experience in trying to buy a GameCube last week. Not the article. I was not suggesting that I'm right or that anyone is wrong...just that I tried to buy a GameCube last week and very few stores had any in stock. When I asked them about it, a few of the sales people mentioned that they were selling briskly and were having trouble keeping them in stock.

      Next time, try reading the context of the thread before replying.

      --
      seriouslyexcited.net
    14. Re:I can verify this in New York City by scot4875 · · Score: 1

      But Nintendo hasn't been making the damn thing for quite some time

      Nintendo resumed the production of the Gamecube a long time ago -- seems like it was somewhere around July/August of last year?

      How else would you expect them to have sold better than one million in the US alone last holiday season? You think there were 1 million + leftover 'Cubes sitting on store shelves?

      The fact that your post is modded +4 while I'm a troll just goes to show what a immature fanboy crowd the GC has.

      No, it just shows that you're an uninformed troll that, for some reason, takes moderation personally.

      --Jeremy

      --
      Jesus was a liberal
    15. Re:I can verify this in New York City by rhuntley12 · · Score: 1

      ? Here in Boise they are easy to get. Bestbuy had a whole stack of them.

  4. Well, Nintendo better fix that problem soon... by Zangief · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It would be stupid for them to not have enough GCs to meet demand. This makes me remember when PS2 was launched, and there were not enough units in America to meer demand.

    Since Nintendo, at some point stopped the manufacturing of GC, they must have keeped all this time a low hardware stock (at least GCs...GBA's stock must be huge). That hit them now.

    Oh well, Nintendo moves in misterious ways.

    1. Re:Well, Nintendo better fix that problem soon... by b0r0din · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I doubt this will be the case. If you can't get them at your local store, just go to amazon or ebay. Hell, I just bought one myself on ebay for 60 bucks. Believe me they aren't selling out anywhere on the web from what I can tell. I've noticed the Platinum color is more popular, but you can still get Indigo, and it's the same thing.

      Anyway, I'm guessing this movement is the result of a lot of things. The big one is the price. $99 bucks for a new game system is not unprecedented, but it has certainly been a while since they were selling that low.

      Two, they've tied in their best-selling GBA portable into their system very well, people who have that GBA are now interested in the games that run on both, etc.

      Three, have you looked at their games lately? Mario Party 5 and Mario Kart Double Dash are amazingly fun, family games. I recently switched from PS2 to GameCube because my girlfriend loves Mario Kart and she thinks Manhunt is disgusting
      (it really is, too). They've got a really wide variety and they focus less on adult-themed games.

      Four, the DVD market has expanded fully. Back when the PS2 and later the Xbox was launched, very few people had DVD players - the PS2 was an attempt to get people to buy a device that could play games and DVDs. Now that the market is flooded with 40 and 50 dollar DVD players, people don't need the PS2 for that reason, plus most PS2s don't have the kind of full-feature DVD aspects like 5.1 surround. Plus, the PS2 has maxed out on graphics. The Gamecube's graphics are better.

      Five, it's trendy. Nintendo is sort of like the Apple of the video game world. They release different gamecube and gameboy colors, they appeal to old school by re-using old games like Mario 3 and incorporating a gameboy player so you can play those games on a TV, and they stick to their niche market. 2-D games, 3-D games, they have it all. Sure it costs more, but that's just smart marketing.

    2. Re:Well, Nintendo better fix that problem soon... by edwdig · · Score: 1

      Nintendo always has problems figuring out the right levels to produce things at.

      The GameCube significantly outsold the Xbox in the US at launch, but Nintendo was unable to provide more systems for months. This enabled the Xbox to surpass the GameCube in US sales, where it has stayed since.

      If you didn't preorder Smash Bros when it was released, odds are you weren't getting it for a few months. I know it was the same story with Ocarina of Time back in the N64 days. Nintendo's holiday games generally don't get a second shipment until February/March.

    3. Re:Well, Nintendo better fix that problem soon... by mahdi13 · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Nintendo always has problems figuring out the right levels to produce things at.
      Keeping from overstocking is not a problem. Nintendo tries very hard not to overstock their products and do not saturate the market with something they want everyone to think is the 'new hot thing'. They let the customers figure out what they like, when they want it.
      Sony is a completely 'in your face' company that wants you to get this and get it now.
      Overstocking is a very dangerous thing for business. If it doesn't sell as well as you hoped, you're left with warehouses of product that nobody wants, which has a huge overhead of
      1) Paying for the warehouse space
      2) Holding onto products that don't move which forces you to considerably drop prices in hopes that it will make people want it more.
      3) Causes them to release the old products at a considerable discount in hopes to move the product and avoid more of a loss by landfilling the overstock.

      Granted that #3 worked very well with the system and people can see a good deal when they see one. But over estimating this is one of the things that killed (aided in) the Dreamcast, it took Sega over a year to clear out their warehouses of Dreamcast systems at $50 (over a 200% loss per system).

      I think Nintendo is doing a good thing by making only what they need, if it pisses someone off because that person is not resourceful enough to find one and they get an Xbox instead or wait a month...it's not going to bankrupt Nintendo because they have sold enough already to be able to eat the (few) lost sales.
      --
      "Some things have to be believed to be seen." - Ralph Hodgson
    4. Re:Well, Nintendo better fix that problem soon... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm confused. Even if Sega gave the Dreamcast away for free, they'd only lose 100% per console. Where does a 200% loss per console come from?

    5. Re:Well, Nintendo better fix that problem soon... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They cost about $150 to make...selling them for %50 is $100 less then even...thus, 200%

    6. Re:Well, Nintendo better fix that problem soon... by Shadow99_1 · · Score: 1

      Uh well at my store they need to take some of their damn GBA's back, cause we have way to many... It's like a plague of GBA's that never sell... We've sold like 2 GBA's in the last month. But we still get more of them in.

      As for the gamecube, well we have been out of gamecubes for quite some time, but no one has even bothered to ask about them. If people want a new system where I work they come in asking for a PS2 or xbox. Heck the last person I sold a gamecube to came in to buy a PSone, but I talked them into the gamecube instead...

      I just don't see this increased demand & frankly I don't believe it exists...

      --
      we are all invisible unless we choose otherwise
  5. Here's why - at least for me by seigniory · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I already bought an XBox, I already bought a PS2 - love them both. Variety is the spice of life, right? For $99, it's a great deal for something I know I'll use, but didn't want as my #1 system when I had a choice of 3. Probably the same for a lot of people.

    1. Re:Here's why - at least for me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here's hoping the X-box comes down to $129. I'd probably buy it then..

  6. You've got to be kidding me... by nicksthings · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is an effin' joke. My store hasn't received ONE Gamecube system since mid-December when we sold out during the holiday. Not one. Neither have any of our other stores for that matter.

    High demand during the holiday season is only half the story and in fact, it's a very skewed perspective. Why can't you find any Gamecubes? BECAUSE NINTENDO HAVEN'T SHIPPED RETAILERS ANY IN CLOSE TO THREE MONTHS. It's ridiculous to paint a picture like there's still this mad rush to buy Gamecubes, because that's simply not the case.

    On the regular, I'm still selling Xbox and PS2 systems AND also being restocked on these items. I'm sitting on a number of used Gamecubes, of which I sell every now and then.

    This isn't a knock on the Gamecube, but this story is absolutely ridiculous and total PR bullshit. By the same token, let's go ahead and say Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga for the GBA is the biggest selling, most popular game of the past three months because well, I haven't had but three copies, tops, sent to my store from Redmond, Washington in that time frame.

    This spin makes me sick. I am, however, receiving a whopping FOUR platinum Gamecubes later this week. Yes, FOUR! Thanks, Nintendo! Limited edition color my ass.

    Bottom line, Nintendo is notorious for under shipping and barely, if not at all, meeting demand.

    1. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by YomikoReadman · · Score: 4, Insightful

      For someone who works in a games store, you appear to be way out of the loop. The platinum color of the GC was reissued as a standard color around Christmas.

      --
      I have no regrets, this is the only path.
      My whole life has been "UNLIMITED BLADE WORKS"
    2. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      it couldn't possibly because THEY ARE SOLD OUT AND HAVE NONE TO SHIP TO YOUR STORE

      see, I can shout in all caps and be cool too. Now go restock the deer hunter Online display monkey boy

    3. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by MMaestro · · Score: 4, Insightful
      On the contrary, Nintendo is very good at meeting supply and demand better than some other company *cough*PS2launch*cough*.

      Nintendo is simply trying to avoid manufacturing costs since they already have enough units manufactured as it is. Its cheaper to do a little supply juggling than to start production of a few thousand units only to find out no one wants to buy them. Nintendo is simply trying to finish off selling what they already have out in the market instead of glutting it.

    4. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by tekunokurato · · Score: 1

      Dude, you should have listened to their last english conference call. They couldn't meet shit.

      --
      Read jack phelps dot net
    5. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by edwdig · · Score: 4, Informative

      Read the story. Nintendo currently has the production lines at maximum capacity. It just takes time to make the systems and ship them from Japan to the US.

    6. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People who work in game stores only THINK they know what's going on. Seriously, I had one asshole game store manager in the mall tell me that hackers were writing gameshark code viruses that were breaking the lasers on people's Playstation 2 systems. What a dumbshit.

    7. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by Nimey · · Score: 1

      I remember when Nintendo created an artificial shortage of Zelda II cartridges (late 1988), claiming manufacturing difficulties. Of course, *everyone* had to have it, especially since it was scarce.

      I have to wonder if this is another PR stunt.

      --
      Hail Eris, full of mischief...

      E pluribus sanguinem
    8. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      On the contrary, Nintendo is very good at meeting supply and demand better than some other company *cough*PS2launch*cough*.
      Nintendo is simply trying to avoid manufacturing costs since they already have enough units manufactured as it is. Its cheaper to do a little supply juggling than to start production of a few thousand units only to find out no one wants to buy them. Nintendo is simply trying to finish off selling what they already have out in the market instead of glutting it.

      Dude, you need to put down the crack pipe. Where do you think Sony learned to use the technique of shortshipping, particularly at launch, to increase hype and demand? Nintendo has been doing it for years, ever since the original NES came out and probably a long time before. If you don't remember the notorious Christmas shortages of the Nintendo game/console-du-jour, than you're either physically or mentally 12 years old.

      As shocking as this may seem to some of you ignorant peons living in mommy's basement with no grasp of business or economics, Nintendo and Sony have employed these techniques as business strategies in order to drive demand and move product. It's not some sort of unplanned "oops we turned the Gamecube assembly line off overnight, now those good little American boys and girls won't have any for a week!" mistake, this is very well planned and thought out in order to maximize sales of units, games, and keep the demand at a high. Particularly after the thrashing Nintendo has received in terms of GC sales. Demand is up, certainly, thanks to the last price drop and the limited availability.

    9. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course it's another pr stunt. What better way to generate demand and hype but by issuing a statement to the effect that the system is so hot it's sold out. "If you don't have one now, you better be a good sucker and run to every store within a hundred mile radius and try to track one down. RIGHT NOW!!!"

      It creates a false sense of desire in peoples' minds that this is a rare thing, they need to have it, and they go out and buy one of the hundred that every BestBuy is inundated with.

    10. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by nicksthings · · Score: 1

      The boxes clearly still say "limited edition" on them, son.

    11. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by YomikoReadman · · Score: 1
      Yes, they do. They also stopped being limited Edition last year, during that time when you couldn't find one anywhere. Those boxes are rereleased overstock, and eventually will cease to exist.

      Thanks for playing, son.

      --
      I have no regrets, this is the only path.
      My whole life has been "UNLIMITED BLADE WORKS"
    12. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by MMaestro · · Score: 1

      Considering the original Nintendo was probably the first major console in in video gaming history, saying they had a shortage with the NES during Christmas isn't saying much.

    13. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Even worse, people think that Gord from acstofgord is actually more clued-in than your typical gaming retail monkey. He's a funny little asshole of a man, but he sure as hell isn't a games industry expert by any means. He runs a game store and has amusing idiots for customers, that's all.

      Whenever somebody quotes Gord's flawed market math, a kitten dies in a car accident.

    14. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sounds more like defensive spin than active PR. Rather than trying to get people to run out and grab what limited supply they can find, they are more likely just trying to avoid bad customer relations over their inability to meet current demand.

      This isn't a Nintendo-produced press release, after all. It is a Reuters article, which I might point out was quite inaccurate in its hostile analysis of the GameCube's performance.

    15. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by great+throwdini · · Score: 1

      Considering the original Nintendo was probably the first major console in in video gaming history...

      ...following in the wake of the Atari 2600, the ColecoVision, the ...

    16. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by prockcore · · Score: 1

      My store hasn't received ONE Gamecube system since mid-December when we sold out during the holiday.

      Maybe that's because you haven't ORDERED any? Gee, that couldn't be it, could it?

    17. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by prockcore · · Score: 2, Funny

      For someone who works in a games store, you appear to be way out of the loop.

      Who said he worked at a games store? For all we know, he works at Bed Bath and Beyond.

    18. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by Corbin+Dallas · · Score: 1

      While it's true that Nintendo did not ship any Gamecubes for over a month... ( I got a shipment in early January, and then again two weeks ago ), that does not dimish the fact that people want to buy Gamecubes. I had tons of customers looking for them in the last month, and keeping Preplayed systems in stock has been impossible. I literally took a Gamecube in on trade and sent it back out the door within 15 minutes.

      I don't know where you work, but there is generally a pecking order when a company looks to sell a batch of product. That might explain how my EB had a one month wait, while you waited three. And even if you are working at an EB, they distribute those based on your store's projected sales performance for the platform in question.

      --
      Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
    19. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by YomikoReadman · · Score: 1
      So I guess that Bed, Bath and Beyond carries video games, now, right? Go RTFC before you post.

      Well, I suppose /. really wouldn't be /. if you thought first tho, would it?

      --
      I have no regrets, this is the only path.
      My whole life has been "UNLIMITED BLADE WORKS"
    20. Re:You've got to be kidding me... by YomikoReadman · · Score: 1

      /bow You are totally my hero.

      --
      I have no regrets, this is the only path.
      My whole life has been "UNLIMITED BLADE WORKS"
  7. ooh profit by h0mer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    January software sales were up 101 percent

    This is bigger news, since games are what make the money. More systems being sold would mean more software being sold, chicken/egg etc.

    The most important part of the software sales is what games were bought specifically. I'd like to see if 75%+ is Nintendo first and second-party games. It would look great if Prince of Persia and some other third-party games sold well.

    It's very important that Nintendo keeps good relations with third-parties. Nintendo DS is going to need developers for this completely new hardware, the GameCube successor is going to need a lot of games also. In the meantime, support needs to be maintained for GBA/GC.

    I want Nintendo to start looking and sounding like a winner again. This is just the first step.

    --


    I'm on top of my game like I'm standin' on Xbox.
    1. Re:ooh profit by Ian_Bailey · · Score: 1

      While not exactly a direct answer to your question, IGN posted a list of the 25 most popular unreleased games. Their methodology isn't very clear, but it seems to be based on a variety of things.

      In any case, the notable point is that the most popular games are evenely split between 1st and 3rd party, but almost all the games are either exclusive or have some sort of exclusive feature on GameCube.

  8. This Explains A Lot by kannibal_klown · · Score: 3, Informative

    This explains a lot.

    My brother's unit died over the weekend. Fortunately, he purchased the extended warranty from BestBuy (you know, that thing they bug you about every single time).

    However, I found out the hard way that none of the stores nearby had a unit in stock (in any color). I visited 2 of the stores that are each within 15 minutes from my house, and then called a bunch of others. NOBODY had it in stock!!!!!

    Well, I guess we'll have to wait a while then. Personally, I'm annoyed I purchased an XBox instead of a GameCube. Those games are fun (I love the blue sparks).

  9. Haha, marketing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nintendo spokeswoman Perrin Kaplan explaining: 'Store shelves are just running very dry... I'd say about 50 percent of our stores are out.'

    It says nothing about demand increasing. Just that stores are running out. Like when the stores don't bother getting any more because they arn't selling enough.

    This is just an attempt to boost sales by saying "Oh no, we're running out"... Get one fast!!

    Sorry, but it's true...

    1. Re:Haha, marketing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A cynical opinion is no more accurate than a biased one.

      The facts at hand imply neither deception nor malice, only an inability to meet demand, however large or small that demand is. Your interpretation (that demand has decreased) is as invalid as the one you attempt to disprove (that demand has increased).

      Please raise your intelligence by at least 30 before attempting to battle the next miniboss, kthxbye.

  10. Easily Explained by tyndyll · · Score: 2, Funny

    Its all because of Linux. Viva the Revolution!!!

    --
    Morale seems good, considering, although high spirits are just no substitute for eight hundred rounds a minute
    1. Re:Easily Explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Too bad the specs on the GC suck so bad. Ugh.

      For $50 more you can get a faster processor, more memory, and a better video card (XBox).

      And don't give me that crap about PPC being faster per clock. Those old ~400 Mhz PPC's barely compete with a P2 at the same clock (yes, I've actually benchmarked my 450 Mhz iMac against my 450 Mhz Celeron machine).

    2. Re:Easily Explained by rhuntley12 · · Score: 1

      I think that is true also, with the GAmecube being fairly easy to hack with very little hardware knowledge nowdays. Selling more GC's but not as much games to match? PR spin time baby!

    3. Re:Easily Explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      RTFA.

      System sales are up 60%. Game sales are up 101%. That is more than enough "games to match."

  11. From Experience by V50 · · Score: 3, Informative

    About a month and an half ago I decided to buy a GameCube. The first store I went to was sold out of several of the games I wanted, but had a few Cubes. The second store had no Cubes, and only one copy of Super Smash Bros Melee. Both were sold out of Nintendo Memory Cards, so I had to settle for a crappy 3rd party card. I ended up buying the lone copy of SSBM from store #2, and my Cube, memory card, and 2nd controller from #1.

    A week later I go to buy more games. All the stores in my town were sold out of good GameCube games, yet were mostly full of PS2 and full of Xbox games. I ended up having to buy my games at an out of town Wal-Mart, the only place that wasn't sold out of good GCN games.

    Additionally, while looking for my GCN games, I saw about 3 other parties come, and leave empty handed, which was more than I saw buying PS2 games.

    In my area, at least, it sure seems demand for GameCubes shot up.

    1. Re:From Experience by IWishIWasSmart · · Score: 0

      I find that stores like Wal-Mart and Target have a lot more GameCube games and systems. And they usually have good deals on the games too.

      I brought a Gamcube when it first came out, gave it to my nephew cause he wanted it. Now I am gonna get another one. waiting for some kind of good package deal. I haven;t given my nephew my 2 wireless wavebird controllers =P

    2. Re:From Experience by nicksthings · · Score: 1

      You're mistaking the lack of product for a demand. My store receives a very small amount of Gamecube product because it doesn't sell like their Xbox and PS2 counterparts. For every 4 copies of a Gamecube title we get that's multiplatform, we'll get at least four times that many on the Xbox and PS2...because that's where the demand is.

    3. Re:From Experience by V50 · · Score: 1

      I am not mistaking the lack of product for a demand. When I went to the second store, I specifically asked an employee if they had any, and he said that they had all their shipments had sold out since Nintendo lowered the price. Likewise, when I went to my local Zellers to see what games they had, and found they were sold out, I was not the only one doing so. In my short (5-10 min) period of time there, three (3) other groups of people came looking for GCN games, and also left empty handed. Only one group each came to look at the Xbox and PS2 titles, and the kid who looked at the PS2 titles was mistaken, and really had an Xbox (after he realized this, he sort of looked foolish and disappeared). Likewise, when I bought Super Mario Sunshine at Wal-Mart, at the same time another set of people came and also bought GCN games.

      This is all anecdotal experience, but from that experience I got the general impression that the GameCube had become rather popular recently.

  12. Nintendo Caused Shortage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nintendo caused their own shortage by halting production of the system a few months ago.

    1. Re:Nintendo Caused Shortage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Correct, but there was nothing else to do at that point.

      Inventory control demanded that they temporarily cease production last year. The $99 price drop sparked demand that has not waned, and because of that they are in trouble with their inventory again (this time by not having enough stock, as opposed to too much).

  13. What Gamecube is all about... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...fun playing games!

    Ignoring those notorious XBox and PS2 fanboys with their FUBAR 1st_2nd_3rd_party_support, sony_stock_quotes_vs._nintendo_stock_quotes, and kiddie_design_vs._adult_design_vs._marketing argumentations i must say I love my GameCube for what it is.

    A great console system with great games for great $99. (End of commercial)

  14. Adult games... by JMZero · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Mario Party 5 and Mario Kart Double Dash are amazingly fun, family games. I recently switched from PS2 to GameCube because my girlfriend loves Mario Kart and she thinks Manhunt is disgusting
    (it really is, too). They've got a really wide variety and they focus less on adult-themed games.

    I've noticed that the adults that I talk to - professional people, parents, etc - uniformly prefer fun games with mild presentation: ranging from Mario Kart to Project Gotham to Super Monkey Ball to Halo. Nobody is crazy for Postal or Manhunt or Xtreme Beach Volleyball. "Adult" themed games, like "adult" movies, would be more aptly named "adolescent".

    Adults, typically, have grown out of their desire to see nothing but boobs and blood. Adults don't think "ooh, I can't enjoy this because the graphics are cartoony and that's baby stuff".

    When people complain about Nintendo making kids games, they should at least get the criticism right: Nintendo doesn't fail adults, it fails wide-eyed 15 year old boys.

    --
    Let's not stir that bag of worms...
    1. Re:Adult games... by scabb · · Score: 1
      "When people complain about Nintendo making kids games, they should at least get the criticism right: Nintendo doesn't fail adults, it fails wide-eyed 15 year old boys."

      Heh, exactly. Do people think that it's mostly adults that actually buy adult games? Nearly ever teen has the desire to mature as quickly as possible - illustrated beautifully by the girlie-magazine "Just17" having a key demographic of 12-13 year olds.

    2. Re:Adult games... by rhuntley12 · · Score: 1

      Since you used a small base I will to. I'm at work with 4 guys, I'm the only one who owns a Nintendo. All our laptops only have games where stuff goes boom and people get shot. Infact we just played some Call of Duty. I am the youngest at 24, and the oldest is 56.

  15. Here's what happened to me: by metroid+composite · · Score: 1
    My friend got a GameCube for Christmas, and my resistance to buying new consoles broke down a couple months after that since I couldn't get that SSB:M music out of my head.... Also, a few somewhat anti-Nintendo friends I have on the internet broke down over MK:DD around December-January, which caught me by surprise.

    Well, that and I was trying to complete most of the old PSX RPGs at the same time so I was just on genre overload, and GameCube seemed to have the freshest action titles.

    Either way, I'm greatly enjoying Metroid Prime (oh, and unlike most here, I didn't have trouble finding a system in Montreal).

    1. Re:Here's what happened to me: by BigDork1001 · · Score: 1
      Either way, I'm greatly enjoying Metroid Prime (oh, and unlike most here, I didn't have trouble finding a system in Montreal).

      Well that's good for ya. As you can see by the topic title though, GameCube Demand Spiking in the U.S.?, we aren't talking about you all from the frigid North. On the other hand, we could all go up there, buy all your stuff at a cheaper price, our dollar is stronger, and then leave you with nothing.

      Sorry, I'm from Upstate NY, we're supposed to tease the Canadians. I think it's a law. :)

      --
      "Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home" - Cicero
    2. Re:Here's what happened to me: by metroid+composite · · Score: 1
      Actually the Canadian dollar has been up recently; maybe the problem is us canucks buying GameCubes down south because it's cheaper......eh?

      Though, point taken: I had forgotten that Nintendo finally set up a Canadian shipping company a few years back, so it's not the same warehouses anymore.

  16. Price Drop In Games! by superpulpsicle · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I have to admit if they keep dropping the price like that, it's pretty tempting to get a system.
    But the system you ONLY buy once.

    I'd rather see all gamecube games come out at $29.99 because they are on the lower end of the market. Is it me, or does it seem like PS2 games are always the cheapest?

    1. Re:Price Drop In Games! by Ian_Bailey · · Score: 1

      There are a couple of reasons why PS2 games seems more expensive:

      1) The PS2 games have ben out longer on average, and more have been dropped to bargin-bin or greatest-hits status.

      2) The PS1 games are there too, and some companies still release budget titles on the platform because they know the PS2 crowd can buy it too (Final Fantasy Orgins, for example)

      3) Sony has had lower royalty payments for each disk sold. This increases margins on cheap games to enable them to be sold better.

      To their credit, Nintnedo is trying to fight these forces. They have an A-list of Player's Choice titles (Metroid, Pikmin, Mario, and Smash Bros.) and there are a few budget titles if you're willing to look around. They've also reduced their royalties, and as a result some games have been released for lower prices. Some 3rd party titles are now released at $40 (Viewtiful Joe) and the new Bomber:Jetters coming out this week is only going to be $20!

    2. Re:Price Drop In Games! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What they need to do is drop their 'Players Choice' prices to $20 like XBox and PS2. How dare they charge $30 for SSBM and Metroid Prime.

    3. Re:Price Drop In Games! by UWC · · Score: 1

      I imagine they "dare" because they can sell them at that price. Once I have enough extra money and time, I fully intend to by SSB:M at whatever price it's at. Hopefully it'll be down to $20 by that time, but if it's still $30, then so be it.

      --
      Honor Among Slackers. A veri
  17. Let's say I'm really cheap by mattgreen · · Score: 1

    Anyone know of ways to shave off the already low pricetag? I'm trying to make good use of my tax return, and you have to get a decent number of accessories for the GC it seems like.

    F-Zero is very awesome though.

  18. Ebay? by metroid+composite · · Score: 1
    As long as you don't mind second hand...

  19. GC cheap, games expensive by Mr.+Piddle · · Score: 2, Insightful


    I was just about to buy a gamecube, but realized my cheap ass would have to pay more for GC games (on average). I am very used to paying less than $20 to $25 for PS2 games and was disappointed to see most GC games were still above $25 to $30. I saw $60 on the Zelda bundle and choked.

    --
    Vote in November. You won't regret it.
    1. Re:GC cheap, games expensive by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 3, Informative

      ). I am very used to paying less than $20 to $25 for PS2 games and was disappointed to see most GC games were still above $25 to $30.

      On average, I've paid $15-25 for most of my GameCube games, the exceptions generally being the newest titles (F-Zero, FF:CC, Mario Kart, Viewtiful Joe). Even the more expensive titles that were not new ran in the $25-35 range, and have since become "Players Choice" titles and dropped another $5-10. Generally speaking, though, the prices on the games seem to drop before they reach "Players Choice" status, to the point where they get the label around the same time they hit the typical price point ($30). If you look at the lists most people post of "must have" games for the Cube and take out the newest titles, you'll probably find that you can get most of the titles in the $15-30 range, especially if you're willing to buy used (but then new copies of games like Eternal Darkness have been going for less than $20 and it's almost not worth the couple of dollars difference for a used copy).

      The PS2 has been out longer, of course, and has far more titles. Eventually you're going to end up with a handful of titles worth buying in the $20 bin. I've got to say, though, that in terms of proportions of good to bad titles in the price range, you're still better off on the Cube. If you're looking for pure numbers of titles, of course the PS2 is going to hit it off, you just have to be careful what you buy.

      I saw $60 on the Zelda bundle and choked.

      umm what Zelda bundle? I'm sure Wind Waker may still be going for $50 in some places (I got it with my Cube after finding Metroid Prime for $20), but anything else I'm aware of Zelda-related has been freely bundled with either the Cube itself or with a pre-order of Wind Waker. Either bundled disc can be picked up used on occasion for $10 (which could explain finding a Zelda bundle for $60, but they're not supposed to be selling new discs that way afaik).

      --
      -PainKilleR-[CE]
    2. Re:GC cheap, games expensive by Neophytus · · Score: 1

      $60/35 is standard whack for a game in the uk

    3. Re:GC cheap, games expensive by Mr.+Piddle · · Score: 1


      umm what Zelda bundle?

      I'm pretty sure I saw a "Collector's Edition" at Toys'R'Us recently. However, I may be mistaken about the "Wind Waker" game you mentioned. The $59.99 on the pricetag was unmistakable, either way.

      --
      Vote in November. You won't regret it.
    4. Re:GC cheap, games expensive by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 1

      I'm pretty sure I saw a "Collector's Edition" at Toys'R'Us recently. However, I may be mistaken about the "Wind Waker" game you mentioned. The $59.99 on the pricetag was unmistakable, either way.

      The Zelda Collector's Edition (I, II, Majora's Mask, Ocarina of Time) is supposed to only be sold with a system or through a couple of other offers (it looks like most of them have expired looking at http://www.nintendo.com/zeldaclassic/ and http://www.nintendopower.com/zelda/ ). Either way, you can still pick up that disc used for $10-20, and it never had an official list price to begin with. I have seen it sold new seperately, but never with a price tag, so I couldn't say if $60 was common, but I know I wouldn't pay that much for something that was offered free with a Cube, a Nintendo Power subscription, or purchase of two qualifying games (I think I own almost every game that qualified, but never bothered sending in for an additional copy beyond what I got with my 2nd Cube).

      In other words, if that's the disc they were offering for $59.99, and they weren't offering anything else with it, they were screwing people.

      --
      -PainKilleR-[CE]
    5. Re:GC cheap, games expensive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The older Zelda deal that went to people who pre-ordered Wind Waker is available for $60 in my local Toys-R-Us. It's the disc with The Ocarina of Time Master Quest. This is the same price that Amazon listed it for when I pre-ordered Wind Waker. Amazon simply included a 60$ discount when I ordered both. It may be that Toys-R-Us had enough extra copies that they continued to offer the bundle deal. I didn't bother to ask because the kids working there never offer help in the video games section and because I already had it anyway.

    6. Re:GC cheap, games expensive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They are ripping you off like crazy (I about choked myself when I saw that price). Wanna know how much you're getting ripped off?

      http://www.nintendopower.com/zelda/

      $20 gets you that disc and a YEAR of NP for "free"

    7. Re:GC cheap, games expensive by clarkc3 · · Score: 1

      you can get the zelda bundle for like $20 - they were giving it away free with subscriptions to Nintendo Power (subscription cost is $20) - thats how I got mine

    8. Re:GC cheap, games expensive by Mr.+Piddle · · Score: 1


      I didn't actually buy it, so don't worry yourself into an ulcer over my potential misfortune. The thought is nice, though, so thanks.

      --
      Vote in November. You won't regret it.
  20. Hang on a sec there. by Inoshiro · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "Four, the DVD market has expanded fully. Back when the PS2 and later the Xbox was launched, "

    The Xbox and GameCube launched within a week of each other in November, 2001. The the Xbox has very OPTIONAL DVD playback because the fact is, most people who care have about 3 or 4 things that can play DVDs now. Only on the PS2 do you pay for something you're not going to use.

    You're very right that it might've been a big deal in 2000 when it was Dreamcast vs. PS2, but in 2004 it's not, much like it wasn't in 2003 and 2002.

    --
    --
    Internet Explorer (n): Another bug -- that is, a feature that can't be turned off -- in Windows.
    1. Re:Hang on a sec there. by TechniMyoko · · Score: 0

      Sorry, but I use the DVD playback. I do not own a DVD player except for the one built in to my console. And if any future system wants to replace my current one, it'll have to play DVDs too

    2. Re:Hang on a sec there. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Amen brother. My Xbox is my main DVD player and its nice to have it both play games and watch movies instead of having to install ANOTHER device to take up another plug on the TV and hog up space on my shelf.

      The DVD players are bigger than my PS2 and some are even bigger than my Xbox! So to that, forget an external DVD player.

  21. Everybody, let's hate Nintendo! by Tom+Courtenay · · Score: 1

    "...like all the other Gamecube articles"

    Let's see, let's see...

    Aha!
    I found a negative Gamecube article on Slashdot!

    But guess what? It's from DECEMBER.
    People, STOP complaining about all the anti-Nintendo sentiment on this site. It isn't here. Nobody is saying that the system is dying. It's getting retarded. And I mean that in the most insulting way possible.

    Story-Nintendo is doing well
    Response-Oh yeah, well they're actually doing well and making a profit! Who needs GTA anyway?

    Story-Nintendo exclusives sell well
    Response-Stop hating on Nintendo, you bigot!

    Seriously. Shut up. Who the hell mods stuff like this "funny"? It's redundant.

    --
    If you could be anything you want, I'll bet you'd be disappointed.
    1. Re:Everybody, let's hate Nintendo! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mike Hawk, Mike Mentalist, and Babbster are high-fiving each other right now.

    2. Re:Everybody, let's hate Nintendo! by BTWR · · Score: 1

      its not here (as much as) on IGN and Gamespot

  22. I bought one by Wonko42 · · Score: 1
    I finally bought a GameCube last week. Best Buy was sold out, so I ended up buying it from Fred Meyer (along with three extra controllers and Mario Kart: Double Dash).

    I guess what made me finally buy it was the low price combined with the urging of friends who wanted to play Mario Kart. Also, I was bored.

  23. This might be true by Pluvius · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Though I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo was just putting a positive spin on simply understocking the retailers, it's possible that the GC really is doing well in the US right now. I can think of two reasons for this:

    1. The GC is only $99.

    2. Tax refund checks are coming in.

    I'd say that #1 is the major reason for it. I don't pay income taxes, but I still went down to the local Wal-Mart a few days ago to get a GC (and yes, they were sold out). My reasoning is similar to the reasoning I had when I bought a Dreamcast: Hey, there aren't that many games on the GC worth buying the system for, but it's only $99. With the DC, Soul Calibur and the Virtua Tennis series were enough to justify the cost; I figure it's the same with Zelda, Mario, and Metroid on the GC.

    Rob

  24. You are missing Animal Crossing from that list by theantix · · Score: 1

    So simple, so lame, but so unique and incredibly fun to play. I'm not ashamed to admit I love that game.

    --
    501 Not Implemented
  25. Just picked one up by swat_r2 · · Score: 1

    The Gamecube was the last console I was holding out on, but I found a wicked deal! For $90 I got a used system, 3 controllers and Mario Kart, SSBM and Eternal Darkness. There's something to be said about the "Nintendo Charm", something that's just plain simple and fun.

    Plus, I was getting bored with the multiplayer games for the Xbox/PS2 and realized that the GC shines for those nights you have your buddies over. Not to mention some added bonuses now that I can hook my GBA SP to it.

    On the downside, FF:CC and Zelda 4 Swords REQUIRE 4 GBA's.. I would love to pick some up for cheap but unfortunately they retain their value too well.

    Definitely wouldn't be my first choice of a console, but if you can get one cheap there's no reason not to get one.

  26. Can't lose.. by ddsoul · · Score: 1

    For $99?? it's cheaper than a GBA! ... too bad I got mine when it first came out, for $199, but it was still well worth it back then. The little box really does pack some punch, and on an interesting note, I believe its the only system (of the 3: ps2, xbox) that really prevents piracy.. I haven't really checked hard about copying games, but I also haven't heard of anyone doing it, mainly I'm assuming due to the propriatary media in which nintendo uses, I could be wrong?? I also find that the GC controller does infact feel the most comfortable of all the systems! I can't really imagine more innovation to such a worthy controller (I'm sure people thought the same thing back with the box controller back on the NES)... who knows, viva le nintendo!

    --
    *604x
    1. Re:Can't lose.. by sleepy_htk · · Score: 1

      You can't exactly copy the games but its possible to stream them trough the gc bba from your pc into the gamecube. Thou from what i've heard it's a bit of a hassle (swapping involved) and isn't too reliable.

    2. Re:Can't lose.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can't exactly copy the games but its possible to stream them trough the gc bba from your pc into the gamecube. Thou from what i've heard it's a bit of a hassle (swapping involved) and isn't too reliable.

      its effectively impossible. you have to have PSO (a certain game) in the gamecube, and the BBA attached to your computer. then you can "hack across" to get a linux boot screen, or run roms. its pretty much useless, and no one has hacked a gamecube disc yet.

  27. Meh - we're talking about different things. by JMZero · · Score: 1

    CoD may have some adult themes, but they're handled reasonably. Heck, stuff "goes boom" in Mario Kart. People dying is not the issue.

    It's like saying "Saving Private Ryan" and "House of 1000 Corpses" are the same kind of movie because they both get gory. The first is a movie adults enjoy (like they would CoD, Halo, or Age of Empires), the second is an "adult-themed" movie.

    The only real line-blurring games I've seen are Leisure-Suit Larry and GTA, and to a lesser extent survival horror or Eternal Darkness. In these cases, "adult-themes" end up working two ways - attracting adolescents (and the adolescent-at-heart), and turning some adults off (though certainly not all).

    --
    Let's not stir that bag of worms...
  28. yeah right on stop the adult gaming gaming is kids by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    weyeah right on stop the adult gaming gaming is kids