Sales Data Indicates GameCube Underperforming

MikeT writes "FileFront is reporting that Nintendo's GameCube underperformed in 2004 and this holiday season by almost half! While Nintendo's spokespeople remain mum, the reporter from FileFront claims that Nintendo's beloved console's numbers are dwindling, quoting industry professionals and reputed sales figures. Clip: "The early word hardly looks promising. Market information group NPD Funworld put GameCube console sales at 350,000 for November 2004, far behind Xbox's 708,000 and PS2's 694,000."" We ran a related story recently discussing the possibility of UK retailers dumping the system.

Comments

Surprise?

[Locky]

I don't think this is really a big surprise, For quite some time Nintendo has been the Apple of the games industry; high quality products that typically only sell to a niche fanbase.

Both Apple and Nintendo have wildly sucessful portable units, both typically release their products in a variety of colors, both remain profitable, both won't be going away any time soon.

Blame retailers.

[Cutriss]

In addition to the already stated points about how there wasn't really anything to buy for the GameCube this Christmas aside from Metroid Prime 2 (which had a very hard time against the overwhelming hype over GTA:SA and Halo 2), you can really blame the retailers. They've long since relegated the GameCube to 3rd place, and they'll only market it as an afterthought.

Next time you see an ad on TV for Walmart's electronics section, note what logos you see in the background. It's always the Xbox and the PS2. Walk into an EB or a GameStop, and the GameCube section is always in the back (not really a smart move from a merchandising perspective). Up until recently, the GameCube was always neck-and-neck with the Xbox, but just like how the media loves to see a hero fall, the game retailer executives love to see a new player take an old one down. They were happy to see Sega fall, and they helped.

What's interesting is that the GameCube's underwhelming performance is contributing more to the "Nintendo is doomed!" naysayers, and yet the hot holiday item this year was the Nintendo DS...

Re:DVD capability would have helped

[Jane_the_Great]

"Ever since the NES/SNES they've relied more on their name to sell games, rather than their innovation."

The N64 controller wasn't innovative? Funny - it seems like the N64 controller is the reason that Sony redesigned their controller. Oh - the rumble pack? Yeah - that was copied by Sony too. Interesting. And, as poor as it turned out, the Virtual Boy was an innovative approach.

Sorry Beny but it seems like you aren't up to speed on your console history. Better luck next time.

Oh - why did you mention the store you were in and the time you were in? Who cares?

WHO. GIVES. A FUCK.

[ArmpitMan]

Why should anyone care about goddamned sales data? For anything?

No one looks at sales numbers and says, "I think this bestselling console will be my favourite." No one goes, "Well, you know, I would've bought a Gamecube, but they're losing in the marketplace, you know? It's got all these games I lust after, but, it's just not the #1 console." You have already made your decision about which console(s) to like, based on factors which are actually important.

Just enjoy your fucking games, however you play them. Shut up about numbers. They don't fucking matter.

It's all about "More".

[Rico_Suave]

I'm sure plenty of people will respond with "I don't want a swiss army knife, I want a game machine."

What they don't understand is that CD audio/DVD functionality/Online capability is "More". Joe Sixpack likes "More". Mr. 6P goes to Best Buy to buy a console. He doesn't know much about any of them, except he wants to play videogames. He looks at the Gamecube. Plays games. He looks at the Xbox. It plays games too. And you can store your music on it. And you can play DVDs (with optional remote, natch). And you can play online (with Xbox Live subscription).

In other words "More". "More" is good. "More" is worth an extra $50 to a lot of people.

Until Nintendo wakes up and realizes that their NES/SNES model is no longer working, and that people do indeed want "More", they're going to play second fiddle to those corporations that realize a device that only plays games isn't going to cut it any longer with the unwashed masses.

Not really hard hitting journalism here

[inkless1]

More like rumor and inneundo. Re-hash some analyst's emails. There's no info here about profitability, for one thing. Sure, Nintendo's numbers might not be as large as Microsoft's - but they aren't losing a bundle per unit either.

People have been saying the sky is falling for Nintendo for like, a decade. In return, Nintendo hasn't gotten tired of laughing all the way to the bank.

Nintendo didn't push the cube this xmas on purpose

[clu76]

I think Nintendo didn't push the cube this xmas on purpose. I think what they really wanted to do is push the DS. If they can effectively cut off the PSP from making inroads into the portable market, then Nintendo will have secured their profits for many years to come. Ofcourse, this is only one man's theory.