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Key Publishers Scaling Back GameCube Titles, Zelda Sequel Hints
Thanks to Gamesindustry.biz for its article discussing the list of specific games and publishers going without GameCube support, mentioning: "Joining the swelling ranks of publishers without any Cube titles in their portfolios (which already includes the likes of Acclaim and Eidos) is Lucasarts, which currently has no titles for the platform on its internal schedules." It goes on to note: "While support from Japanese publishers remains strong... Western third-party support for the Cube is facing a serious decline this year." Elsewhere, 1UP reports that a Game Developer's Conference lecture by Nintendo's Eiji Aonuma had oblique news on a GameCube Zelda sequel, since he "showed in his presentation a slide reading 'Wind Waker 2: 2XXX,' so we can expect to play the game within the next 996 years." Aonuma also "strongly hinted at the prospect of a new Legend of Zelda or Zelda-related game for the DS."
I have thought about this for a while. Wasn't the gamecube one of the best selling systems over the past holiday season? Is so you would think publishers would be drooling over game releases for the 'cube.
Or does Nintendo hold some kind of draconian hold over development houses that want to make gamecube games? Restrictive licenses, exorbitant fees, overly complicated SDK's, etc. There are many ways Nintendo could be making it difficult, but you wonder for what purpose?
CMDRTACO CHECK YOUR EMAIL!
I read elsewhere that the presentation said the date was 200X.
"Also joining the swelling ranks of publishers without any Cube titles in their portfolios (...)"
This is the biggest load of FUD I have ever seen. How can the list of publishers with no title for a specific system possibly grow with respect to publishers that have been around for ages? That's like saying "55-year old Area Man recently joined the ranks of people that have never eaten fruit in their entire lives."
The only way for the list of non-GC publishers to grow, is if new publishers come out with non-GC games.
</rant>
There is one key difference between the GameCube and the Dreamcast, Nintendo managed to make a profit.
Now this has been in more doubt lately when they reported a loss for the quarter before the price cut, but overall Nintendo has managed to make a profit out of all their operations.
Sega, on the other hand was losing money for years leading up to the Dreamcast's demise. The problem wasn't just the Dreamcast, the problem was Sega. They had lost a lot on previous consoles as well.
If Nintendo can continue to make a profit as the number two console, they will probably continue that indefinitely. Sure, they'd like to be number one, but as long as they make profits they'll take it. No one's saying their number one, but they're not bleeding cash, either.
If, however, Nintendo continues to lose developers, there is the possibility of a problem further down the road. But I think most developers will see the next Nintendo as a freash start, and if it has the specs that they need, they'll be just as quick to sign back up again.
The GameCube is now Nintendo's cash cow. They're trying to milk it for all it's worth at this point by releasing sequels and nothing terribly innovative (which would be tied to expensive R+D). They'll get some cash out of their game sales untill the next console comes out, but they're not out to rule the world.
Yes, all of them are mindless, gory, and violent. Just like all of Nintendo's games are kiddie-oriented crap, right?
In terms of polish, I'd agree. Nintendo games are always of excellent build quality, regardless of how poor the gameplay is. But one thing Nintendo is notorious for is making games that have virtually no replay value at all. Sure, SSBM and Double Dash can be fun when you have friends around, but games like Wind Waker and Mario Sunshine are terrible value; you'll get a few hours of gameplay out of them, and then never play it again.
Because by and large, the GCN is marketed at kids. And while Nintendo does a good job of putting out games that are kid-friendly but still enjoyable for adults, have you taken a look at the rest of the tripe on that system? Barbie Horse Adventure? Billy Hatcher? Donald Duck's Goin' Quackers? Eggmania? Disney's Hide and Seek? Add that to the host of shovelware that floods every console's library, like Nightfire and the glut of Star Wars titles, and the GCN has about the same signal-to-noise ratio as any other console.
The GCN does have some good games, but a cursory look over it's library shows a lot of cross-platform garbage (along with the odd good cross-platform game), an inordinate amount of kiddie games, and a few solid Nintendo titles. That's it. And Nintendo can't even take credit for one its greatest franchises, because Retro is doing Metroid, now.
The Gamecube has no widely-available online capabilities, and nothing that even remotely resembles an online strategy. It has neither the power and flexibility of the Xbox, nor the market penetration of the PS2. To top it off, the Gamecube's target audience is much younger, restricting the content of games (not actually, but practically). Developers are pulling out because Gamecube games don't make as much money as other consoles!
Are you done wailing on the fanboy trumpet yet? Gamecube owners are the same people shelling out $50 for Pokemon Gold-Encrusted Ruby-Enlaid Hyper X Platinum Edition 32. They're playing the 20th fucking iteration of franchises that stopped being relevant 15 years ago, and all the spin-offs associated with them.
Face it: Nintendo is the Disney of the video game industry. They have a few masterpieces, but the bulk of their efforts are put into straight-to-video quality bullshit, just whoring out their brands for a couple extra bucks. Most gamers know it, and most developers know it. The rampant fanboys are the only ones that haven't figured it out yet.
Solid post, good reply.
One of the reasons evelopers are cutting back on GC releases because of people like me. I don't own a Gamecube but I own 2 PS2s (one with a Linux kit in it, the other with FFXI)
Late last year I got a flyer from Nintendo in the mail for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. (Square must have given them my street addy) FFCC seems just like the sort of game I like, a fun little Diablo/Gauntlet Legends style game. However, the connnectivity features are a turn off. I don't own a GBA and I don't want to have to buy one (plus the requisite GC) to play multiplayer. Just seemed like a tactic to sell more GBA's, Nintendo's real cash cow.
Plus I'm 36, and don't have a bunch of friends who can "come over after school' to play. It's pretty obvious most Nintendo games multiplayer features are done with "schoolyard buddies" in mind. I liked Pokemon Red/Blue, but I got annoyed at the damnable "trading" feature. It's fine for "playground friends" but as an adult I don't want to have to buy TWO games and TWO GBwhatevers to "catch em all"
I want to be able to play with others when "I" have the time too. That means online play. FFCC (and SMKDD) seem like the perfect games to have online components and they don't. Very very shortsighted on Nintendo's part.
If publishers are dropped GCN games, it's because they are preparing their titles for the next gen Nintendo system. Nintendo has made it known that they want to be first 'out of the gates' with their system, so it would seem logical that they have dev kits ready for it and have distributed them to developers. Hence, the companies are moving their game ideas to the new system.
;-)
I hope I'm right
Codemasters have never supported the GC, so how can they pull out?
LucasArts have not dropped the GC, this is pure speculation.
Neither have Ubisoft.
EA are only going to release one football game on the GC this year (FIFA 2005) instead of two. Holy shit, man the lifeboats.
GI.biz and Eurogamer are already well known as sites with a vendetta against the Gamecube.
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