Early things I'm reading point to a rather low key launch for the Gamecube in Japan. Nothing like the excitement the GBA had. Of course this is completely expected and I don't think Nintendo was expecting too much from the Japanese console market that is so Playstation controlled. The N64 had the same kind of apathy. I think thats why the US is getting twice as many consoles at launch. However, I wish that Nintendo would have launched in the US first and rewarded the country that has given them the best support.
Whether the thing sells at all in Japan won't effect my decision to buy and I can't wait for the launch. As expected it looks like the Cube will have to survive in its nitch market. At least the thing is quick booting and actually has a very Dreamcast feel to the menus. I can't believe how tiny the games are.
I've read some people critical of Nintendo for only having three launch titles. Putting the fear in people that this will be another N64 with very thin game support. I guess we will see. I personally will have to have both a Cube and a PS2 to get all the games I will want to play in 2002. The Cube may have fewer games, but the ones it has coming up look pretty amazing.
homeslice
09-14-01, 03:17 PM
It's lowkey because of the terrorist attack this week.
CreatureX
09-14-01, 03:32 PM
Well the news that Resident Evil series is now exclusive to Gamecube will help in Japan. Whenever Resident Evil Zero and RE 4 are released, I would expect HUGE sales of Gamecube hardware.
As far as Gamecube's launch, many sites are reporting that it went well....
It is being reported that by early morning, 80% of stores were sold out of their Gamecube stocks. Ah these lucky Nintendo fans already playing their Cubes!
This was expected. Nintendo isn't as big in Japan anymore. That's why they only allotted 500,000 GC's for launch there, while we'll be getting 1.1 million during the US launch. When Square left, Nintendo lost a lot of japanese support. Japanese gamers are really into RPG's and quirky games like dating sims. Nintendo doesn't do much with these genres so it isn't as successful over there any more.
darkside
09-14-01, 04:00 PM
I can't believe how small the console and games are. From pictures I really didn't get just how tiny it would be until I saw it being held in someones hand. I much prefer the small consoles that are easy to fit into my entertainment system and carry around. The large size of the PS2 and Xbox are negatives for me. I already have a spot clear next to my DC for the Cube. :)
Mike_AA
09-14-01, 04:35 PM
Originally posted by darkside
Early things I'm reading point to a rather low key launch for the Gamecube in Japan. Nothing like the excitement the GBA had...Like someone else said, it's pretty obvious why this is. I mean who cares about a videogame launch right now? It's the last thing I care about, even though I was looking forward to the launch of the Cube. It just shows that nothing else matters (at least to me) right now...I'll worry about my new videogame system when the real importance of justice in this world is served.
Mezzanine
09-14-01, 08:00 PM
I think the lack of a true Mario game at launch also has a lot to do with the lackluster launch.
Jeremy517
09-14-01, 08:54 PM
Originally posted by Mezzanine
I think the lack of a true Mario game at launch also has a lot to do with the lackluster launch.
Not at all. GBA only had one Mario game and it was a remake of Super Mario Brothers 2.
Mezzanine
09-14-01, 11:14 PM
Originally posted by juiio
Not at all. GBA only had one Mario game and it was a remake of Super Mario Brothers 2.
One Mario game is still better than none at all... A Mario GameCube game at launch would have made a big difference. There's only three games out at launch, and while all three may be good games, none of them is a "killer app" like a Mario game almost certainly would have been.
darkside
09-15-01, 12:00 AM
Originally posted by Mezzanine
One Mario game is still better than none at all... A Mario GameCube game at launch would have made a big difference. There's only three games out at launch, and while all three may be good games, none of them is a "killer app" like a Mario game almost certainly would have been.
I still count Luigi as a Mario game and it looks pretty killer to me. I think Luigi and Smash Brothers Melee will give the Cube a couple of titles worth getting at or near the launch.
Mezzanine
09-15-01, 12:35 AM
Luigi's Mansion is more of a spin-off than a real Mario game...you can't even jump in the game, which has been Mario's trademark move. Luigi's Mansion does look good and I will likely buy it, but I think a Mario platform game (like most Nintendo systems have launched with) would have had far more mass appeal and would have made the launch more successful. But yes, SSBM will certainly give the system a boost when it's released later this year.
Josh H
09-15-01, 01:06 AM
Originally posted by darkside
I think Luigi and Smash Brothers Melee will give the Cube a couple of titles worth getting at or near the launch.
Plus Wave Race Blue, Star Wars: Rogue Leader, and maybe Pikmin.
We are getting a much better launch than Japan. More first and third party games and over twice as many systems (1.1 mil to 500,000 in Japan). The N64 did much better here than in Japan. Nintendo knows where the money is. They need the GC to do well here so it will get more third party support and in turn increase sells in Japan.
darkside
09-15-01, 12:23 PM
Originally posted by Mezzanine
Luigi's Mansion is more of a spin-off than a real Mario game...you can't even jump in the game,
That's what I love most about it. The tedious jumping of the platform games is my least favorite feature. I see your point though, it is launching without a Mario platform action game and those are very popular in the US and Japan.
As for me, if I never have to jump again in a game it will be too soon. :)
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