Why Gamecube Sales misrepresent its popularity

[Mog]

As high as nintendo GC's sales are now, It still doesnt represent how popular the games are. Why? because of the GC's initial purpose as a portable party cube of uberness. The thing is, While maybe a group of 20 people love playing the gamecube often, maybe only 2 actually own one. At my college everyday, and at a couple of geek parties ive seen this situation over and over.

At my college in the student union, there is generally always a GC hooked up to this large, kick ass 40 inch or so TV with Smash Bros. Melee on it. About 10 people bring GC controlers for it so they dont get stuck with a crappy one, And about 20 people get set up in the tournament styel system we use(( I cant beleive we found a purpose for that tournament set up option in that game)) but only about 2 people there actually even own a gamecube, even though about 10 have their own controller for it. Ive had this happen at geek parties too as mentioned above. I think its kinda funny that the gamecube does its job so well that it actually HURTS its overall sales because one gamecube can entertain a group of about 20 college students for hours on end.

On a side note i've never seen an X-box used in such a manner. Even though a lot of people there own X-box's and When a PS2 is used in such a manner a lot of people get upset, especially since its only 2-player and more than likely a football game....and i do mean really upset.

[dragonglove]

Actually I disagree. I am a hardcore Nintendo fan. I am also a hardcore RPG fan, meaning I really should own a PS2. I also worked at gamestop for a year (ok introductions over). I found that Gamecube suffered poorer sales than the other systems because it still was labled as a kiddie system. The question I got pissed of at the most was "which is better: Xbox or PS2," like gamecube never existed. I even heard one guy tell me he bought a gamecube and then traded it in within 2 weeks because his friends teased him. He called it the worst gaming mistake he ever made.
I also find that I have been doing the same thing with my friends PS2 as what is happening at your college. Even before I had my PSone, I had a memory card and FFVII to play on my friends system. I currently own at least 3 PS2 games and about 5 demo disks. Well I could probably ramble on but I gotta go.

[VideoDrone]

It seems like everyone in my dorm has an Xbox...I guess we're all just big Halo players.

But I agree that the GC is extremely popular, especially for gaming parties. Mario Party and SSB Melee are a lot of fun, especially compared to the multiplayer games Xbox has to offer: Halo, Fuzion Frenzy, tetris...halo...halo...hmmmm. And I think the only game I've ever played multiplayer on PS2 is Gauntlet Dark Legacy.

EDIT: I also work at GameStop, like dragonglove, but in our store GC was the most popular system this past year. I swear I sold more of them than Xbox and PS2 combined. We just sell a lot more PS2 and Xbox games it seems...

[The_Bear]

Not too mention how much easier it is to carry a gamecube rather than an xbox plus controllers with those unnesseccarily (spellcheck?) long cords and too many games that just plain suck. Gamecube is THE party system, IMO.

[Deathosaurus Wrecks]

we've actualy got two GameCubes (as well as two GBAs and a Game Boy Player) in our appartment. but then again, we're super-nerds.

[LilWhiteMage]

I love my Cube... mainly because of the game choices on it... the Zeldas... Mario... yeah... Big Nintendo freak. That and the fact that if you have the gameboy player you can tack on about .. hell, who knows how many games to the library that the GC has. I like my PS2 for my RPGs (Final Fantasy, etc), and Xbox... meh.. it's okay.. but I only just got it, so I haven't played a lot on it yet. But the Cube is definately my favorite of the three.

[Lost in Time]

I love my Cube too. I love the library too (except for the lack of RPG's). And, like the japanesse, I could care less about the Xbox (except for Halo. Why Halo? Why are you exlusive to that hunk of wires?)

[Priest4hire]

Why is Halo exclusive to the Xbox? Probably the same reason that Metroid Prime is exclusive to GCN.

At any rate I don't think it's a great mystery that Nintendo has image problems as a result of choices they have made the last decade or so. I'm sure more people would like the system and its games if they just gave it a chance. Then again, I'm sure more people would like the Xbox if they gave it a chance. And there's even probably a few out there who would like the PS2 if they gave it a chance.

[Sir Juno]

Accually Halo isn't truely exclusive to the XBox, its also on the PC.

Well, I own a GC and I'm not getting a hard time for owning it. We have a pretty good library of games on it now, thans to christmas, so I'm pretty happy with it.

[Mike McC]

One of my freinds has a Gamcube, and 87 games for it. I'm planning omn getting one myself, but I wanted to get a PS2 first. Why? I like RPGs, and PS2 currently has more.

[Mr. Viewtiful]

Dang...everyone here loves RPGs, don't they?

I have suffered scrutiny for having the Cube of Awesomeness +28...in Boy Scouts, our small group of 14-16 year olds are going up to a 4-story house in Lake Tahoe, with videogames galore. Honestly, I am made fun of for having the 'Cube, and it sucks. All they seem yo like is football games, as last year my NFL 2K3 got more playtime than anything else.

That is why I shall bring my Dreamcast, and show them the mightyness of great party games! Bow to NFL Blitz 2000, San Francisco Rush 2049, and Power Stone 2! PS2 is not best for parties! Stop listening to crap from sales stuff!

DREAMCAST NATION YO!!!

Heck, I'd buy more GC games, but DC games are so much cheaper, and eBay has become my new nest friend...but may fortune smile upon the little purple/black/platinum one in the future, as gaming won't be the same without Nintendo...

[Kenryoku_Maxis]

One of my freinds has a Gamcube, and 87 games for it.

I'm sorry...I like the GameCube but that's just...yuck. Tell him to get a PS2 if he doesn't have one and buy some other games. I mean, I assume he doesn't have a PS2....unless he does and he's just super ultra rich and has tons of games for that system as well. I barely have 90 games for ALL my systems.

Anyway...yeah, I've been given the look down by people when they hear I have a Cube. But frankly, its only happened to XBOX obsessed people and a couple PS2 junkies who seriously are more insecure that they don't have one/can't bother to try it because their friends would make fun of them. I'm glad to have my GC as well as my PS2. Can't say I'm looking for an XBOX but there are some good games on it in my opinion. Just not enough for me to spend the large sum of money to buy it at the moment.

In any event, I think with the GC being the price it is and the next year it looks like some, if not the best games for the Cube ever are coming, anticipation is running high, and people are buying the system. All I care about is whenever Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life is coming out (which is now being pushed to March.....damn it). Until then, its PS2 games for me...Castlevania...Disrega...KOF2000/2001...

[Mike McC]

No, he's not super ultra rich. In fact, I'm baffled at how he was able to get those 87 games when he really doesn't have a stable job (he's a musician, so he plays some coffeehouses and the like for cash, I guess). And hey, it's his choice. And since it's his choice, it's cool, you know?

Right now, have to get a car soon, and I have to resist buying the many games for PS2 I want (I just got my PS2 last month, due to finally having enough spare cash to do so). And DVDs I want. God, I've bought 1 PS2 game and 7 DVDs this week. .... I am such a freaking addict.

[Mog]

With regards to the portability issue, if im only going to be using one game or two for where im going, i can easily carry all games , cords, controllers and system, with one hand very comfortably.

[Atma]

The cube is by far my favorite next generation system. It's got great games like Pikmin, Smash Bros., Viewtiful Joe, MM:NT, Wind Waker and good ports such as Ocarina of Time, and Resident Evil Code: Veronica. And that handy dandy gameboy player, that allowes my to play Metroid Fusion and Sword of Mana in comfert. PS2 has very little to offer for me (Last game bought was Kingdom Hearts when it first came out. Yeah.). And X-Box isn't even on the radar. And partys? I'm not much of a party guy, something of a loner really. That might turn around when I get into college, but for now, my purple lunch box is all I need.

[The Devil Himself]

I like GC Games mostly for the sheer replayability of the games. Soul Calibur II, SSB Melee, Eternal Darkness and the remake of Resident Evil (if it's some halloween-ish party), and whatever others there are.

[TheZeroMan]

My favorite Next Gen system is Playstation 2. I own it has a large variety of games.

I will never get an X-box. But I like the cube. I cannot deny the power of mario kart double dash or Smash brothers.

My sister has the cube and I know enough people that have it that I need not spend the coin on it just yet.

Anyway. The Parties I've been to lately havbe feature no video games. that just darn anti social I'm told. But Euker*sp?) and fooseball are aparently allowed.

[Jagos]

No offence to Xbox owners, but Halo is a 2 year old lifeline. Diversify yourselves! Knights of the Old Republic is great. Go buy that and let's stop with the Halo. It's not the only FPS out there for crying out loud...

[quote]unnesseccarily[quote] - unnecessarily

and I admit that the Gamecube is a great party system. But I'm a lone wolf. That's why I bought the PS2. But there's really no reason to play if all the games produced are mainly single player anyway.

[VideoDrone]

Halo isn't the only thing I play (I have a HUGE variety of other Xbox games, including KOTOR), its just my favorite multiplayer game on Xbox. I also own a PS2 on which I get my RPG fix.

I want to get a GameCube but right now I don't think I can handle it financially...buying games for all three systems and a PC would put a serious dent in my paycheck.

[StudioMan]

I live in a fraternity house and my brothers, well they are addicted to Mario Kart for the N64. When they found out I have a GameCube they begged me to get Mario Kart for it and bring it to the house. I agreed on the condition that they buy three extra controllers as I only have one. Our grades will suffer this semester and because of it and we wont care.

[Jagos]

Until you unlock the gold cart, you're just a minor in Mario Kart...

[The_Bear]

I have mirror mode, but I haven't played much this last month. Isn't the gold car the one you see in the end ceremony/parade?

[Jagos]

yep...

[Joe Falco]

Getting back to topic, it's all a matter of image. Like politics, you must show off that you're the better candidate or a capable office-holder. Whether or not that is true does not matter. If you can shape public opinion to your will, you can make the public believe anything. And that's why Nintendo intentionally makes out it's sales more than what it is.

[The_Bear]

So you're saying Nintendo just adds on another million or so to get us to think they're selling a lot. Personally, I don't care about sales, just the games.

[01d55]

Getting back to topic, it's all a matter of image. Like politics, you must show off that you're the better candidate or a capable office-holder. Whether or not that is true does not matter. If you can shape public opinion to your will, you can make the public believe anything. And that's why Nintendo intentionally makes out it's sales more than what it is.

Huh? Nintendo inflating its sales figures? Where'd that come from?

It's certaintly not mentioned previously in the thread. The first post stated that GC sales figures UNDERSTATED its popularity.

Oh! I know! You must be referring to this (http://www.arcadiandelsol.com/article.php?sid=194&mode=thread&order=0)!

No, wait....

[Joe Falco]

No no no no...

I didn't say that Nintendo was adding or subtracting numbers from their books. What I'm saying is that Nintendo is using their sales reports to make the public believe that they're becoming more popular than the other companies.

Nintendo could release a newspress saying that their system outsells PS2's or XBoxes by a large margin. Note that I did not put in which system I was talking about nor for what fiscal year or quarter Nintendo hardware sales were topping the competitors'.

At the beginning of the decreased price of the Gamecube, Nintendo has been keeping score of how many it has sold and then trumpeting its success for months. And yet it is all just a ploy to greatly inflate its recent success.

[Jagos]

You lost me...

Sure they can release a press but there's always a third neutral party that can back up Nintendo's numbers. They may not release the game console in one quarter in the hopes that the next quarter's sales are better by making artificial demand but hey it's still pretty good to hear about competition from them...

[01d55]

You lost me...

Sure they can release a press but there's always a third neutral party that can back up Nintendo's numbers. They may not release the game console in one quarter in the hopes that the next quarter's sales are better by making artificial demand but hey it's still pretty good to hear about competition from them...

He's saying that Nintendo exagurrates the importance of the numbers, not the actual numbers themselves.

[Mog]

Actually nintendo or any other company doesnt have a choice, the MUST make all earnings per quarter available to the public because of laws made after the stock market crash during the roaring 20's that put us in the depression.

[VideoDrone]

Here's an interesting news article related to this discussion:

http://money.cnn.com/2004/01/14/technology/ps2_gamecube.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

[The_Bear]

Yeah, the price drop is a big part of this increase. A gamecube is basically half the cost of a PS2 or Xbox, not to mention how many people must've wanted the spacial zelda-disk-thingy. Then there's the GBA, the only portable system, so it's obviously dominating that market. Not to mention the most excellent line-up its got. I got the kirby game the day it came out and I'm still playing it. Very addicting with friends, even the fifth time.

[Tark]

yeah they always post their earnings/losses, most people dont care, unless theyve invested in the company. of course, this is only publicly traded companies :)

i wouldnt call it a "party console" at least no more than i would call the Xbox a party console....they both have 4 controllers, and really, the size means dick all, considering you still need a TV and power outlet to use it.

in my dorm we all have computers anyway....and we're all on the same LAN....so we dont need consoles to play games with mass amounts of people in them. Besides, you cant order booze online with a gamecube...

...besides theres better stuff to do at a party than play video games.....'specially since i live in a co-ed dorm.

[Mog]

I didn't exactly mean that kind of "party", i just said that for a lack of a better word. Some of us have even evolved beyond that and actually have long term relationships and plans for marriage and children. Also on the internet its hard to see the people your playing, i prefer to know someone im playing games with on a personal level (( i got that when i played team starcraft battles and my "teamates" would always drop the game just before the timeout drop buffer was almost up. Console games ever since, not to mention the hacking side of all online games that doesnt exist in console gaming)).