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."

Comments

Re:It's been said before

[GearType2]

Your one of those people that bought the virtual boy because mario tennis was awesome right?

So let me get this straight, smart people don't buy stupid generic movie based games apparently... smart people buy rehashes of popular 80s titles? It's all the same to me.

I am in awe of the moderation of this post...

"soul calibur 2" succeeded right? Now was that because the other two versions were of lesser quality or because it had link in it? yes, cube owners are just too smart to fall for those simple advertising ploys right? I'm sure if another high level company made a marketable game, maybe even some kind of additional equipment being required, you would buy it, I mean what else would you buy?

Also, I don't think i need to mention that lucasarts is not on the same level as acclaim.

Re:It's been said before

[bigman2003]

Cube owners won't buy 'stupid generic movie based game number 3'.

But damn sure they'll buy stupid generic Mario based game number 10...and 11...and 12...

When Nintendo makes a game for the Gamecube, of course it sells zillions. A lot of Gamecube owners are true fanboys. And that is the problem for the 3rd party publishers. Maybe when they get older they will find out that just because Mario/Wario/Princess Toadstool are in a game, doesn't mean that it is fun.

If BMX-XXX could somehow be re-named "Kirby's Stunt Bike" it would probably sell millions too.

But your Penny Arcade comic had a little bit of truism to it. The cat in the background.

Right now publishers are leaving the Gamecube- and the only reason they would be leaving is lack of return on their investment (bringing in less money than they want). So, that will stretch the rubber band in one direction. Soon though, when there are very few 3rd party games, some third party will come out with something good and it will sell a zillion copies. This will be because people are hungering for anything a little different. Then more publishers will jump back to the cube (rubber band contracts) and the next 15 titles won't sell a damn thing. Stretch, release, stretch, release...

That's my take on it...