[Malone]

Far be it for me to start an unofficial rumour, my sister recently asked some advice regarding the purchase of a console. Not having any idea regarding the state of play with this generation of consoles she was asking which one would be suitable for her kids (6 & 8) My obvious reply was the Gamecube for its numerous cartoony games, Mario etc. Tonight she called me saying, "had I heard that Nintendo were ceasing to manufacture the Cube". Well, I myself have heard nothing regarding this suggestion by two high street retailers and wondered whether anyone else has heard anything ??? The last thing I want to do is suggest a console to her which is on the way out!!

Matt

[m000]

Prob some PS2 fanboy sales assistant trying to get her not to buy the cube

At the present its a fantastic console for the money and the games are simply breathtaking. Been playing F-Zero all weekend - nothing better and Mario Kart out soon !!!

[Miyazaki]

Theres no reason not to get a gamecube even if it were to cease being made. It's only £80, hardly a vast sum of money and there are plenty of kid-oriented games out there for it. Far too many to name here, and plenty of games geared towards big kids too .

I still play on my dreamcast all the time and that ceased manufacturing ages ago and there hasn't been any new games for ages.

But that could be the problem for gamecube, as many 3rd party developers have stopped making games for gamecube, and if it were to stop being made, then even fewer would want to make games for it. It does have a small games library, but for £80 you can't really complain.

We've never had it so good regarding console prices, lets just hope they bring out console games at more friendly prices too!

[RL123]

The third parties that have ditched it are the ones that never mattered anyway - who cares about Midway and Eidos when the Cube has full support from Nintendo.

If I wanted crap, rushed generic software I'd buy it for my PS2. And if it wasn't for precisely 4 games I'd sell my PS2 without thinking twice about it.

[JamesOD]

I am not the gamecubes biggest fan but to clear up the situation Nintendo have made the wise move of ceasing production of the cube for the short term future so that they can clear the large backstock they have of the console.

I think this is a very smart thing to do because it will keep costs down for them and allow them to free up more capital which would otherwise have gone into manufacturing the machine.

When parents of young children come into my shop looking for a console we ALWAYS recommend the cube it is an ideal robust little machine with some great kids games and some stunning exclusive titles as well as the main multiformat stuff and quite a few more mature titles on the horizon as well (for the adults to play) oh and mario kart rocks

[Malone]

Thanks for that, I've forwarded your points to me Sis and I think she is now happy to invest in said console....

Matt

[RL123]

The cube is a fantastic choice for so many quality games. I can't be bothered running through the list but there is something for anyone, IMO

Pikmin is a great choice for kids. It might be a bit difficult for them but it's a lot of fun (I loved it anyway)

[NeilMcRae]

Originally posted by JamesOD
I am not the gamecubes biggest fan but to clear up the situation Nintendo have made the wise move of ceasing production of the cube for the short term future so that they can clear the large backstock they have of the console.

You mean like how Microsoft and Sony did this year as well? :D

Regards,
Neil.

[Ono]

This takes me back to a conversation I overheard between a staff member at Gamestation and a customer.

To cut a long story short he basically told the guy not to buy a GC because they wouldn't last another year.

I felt like saying something but didn't. :/

[Miyazaki]

they probably won't last another year ono.

Go into any high street shop and the range of gc stuff they stock is a joke. My game has about half a shelf, my hmv a shelf and a half, virgin the same, my gamestation about 2 shelves (quite big shop).

Thats still no reason not to buy one. I mean at £80 they're almost giving them away.

Yes they might have great games, zelda being one of them. But i know so many people who'd laugh if i said zelda is great. Because of the patronising cel shaded graphics. It puts people off. In exactly the same way gamecube does.

A lot of the gaming audience has shifted away from young kids and teenagers, to older 20-30 somethings who want to play on a console for 30 minutes - 1 hour after coming home from the pub.

Gamecube simply doesnt cater to this increasingly important audience. With every "cutesy" game they release that has real content behind the childish exterior they are alienating themselves more and more.

It's sad that people can't see through that, as it has a lot to offer as a console.

Even if they do cease production next week, they aren't about to recall all the consoles. There's more games released for the Cube than any one person is going to buy, so what's the big deal? Even if they did close up shop, there are still many games in development that would still be released. Look at how long games were coming out for the Dreamcast after Sega gave up on it.

I'm constantly boggled by people who gauge a console on its popularity. If the price is right, and the games are good, who cares about the lifespan of the console?

[Malone]

What exactly boggles you Azrikam. I think the question I posted is a fair one. My sister who has no knowledge of the gaming industry asked my advice regarding potential consoles for her kids. I immediately suggested the Gamecube due to the fact its software is kiddy friendly. I myself have no interest in the GC, I am more than happy with my PS2 and Xbox. My sister then went out to the shops to discover what was available. To her surprise two retailers tryed to dissuade her from buying the GC due to the lack of support and the ceasing of manufacture. As stated I had not really paid great attention to the GC and as such had no idea of the software available, so rather than suggest a console that was potentially going to have minimal support I thought if anyone had more information to share it would be here on this forum. If you consider the lifespan of the PS2 then value for money (irrespective of software quality) comes into play as there is a vast library of good games whereas an unsupported platform would very soon dry up. Yes it maybe that the GC has a great selection of games already, I only am aware of a few quality games, but if my sister is to make a decision on her purchase surely it is prudent to have as many facts regarding said purchase rather than just go out and buy a PS2 because these retailers " said so".

Matt

[Sinzer]

The sales of the GC are neck and neck with the X-Box.

It simply boils down to misinformed opinions. TBH I have never been in a gamestore where I have ever been impressed by their knowledge. It is like going to Dixons and asking for a demo of the best home cinema.

Everyone has their preferences and like has been said many times before you should buy a console because of the games it provides, not because it has better graphics or sound.

[puddleduck]

I bought one when the price dropped and am really enjoying it - great for a quick half hour session - F Zero is very good - so fast I forget to breathe when playing it...!

I also had an XBox until recently, but I'm finding the Gamecube much more fun.

I just meant that its kind of silly to put so much stock in the lifespan of a console. Sure, if a system dies in the first week, anyone who bought one is going to be S.O.L. when it comes to quality games. But at this point, that really isn't an issue.

My comment was directed at shop employees who would discourage sales of a system for the sole reason that "it won't last a year." But, as mentioned, it's pretty difficult to find someone working in a game store to know about games. (akin to asking the clerk at Blockbusters about movies )

But your question was a fair one, and you've come to the right place, IMO.

[Malone]

Azrikam
Im glad we sorted that one

Matt

[CrispyXUK]

Gamecubes are far too much fun! Who realy wants to play a serious/reallistic game? they bore me to death, games are games (which appeals to the kid in all of us) why not just have fun with them

[Squiffy]

It depends on your definition of fun.

For many people, fun is rising to a challenge and beating something. It doesn't necessarily mean cutesy graphics and happy music.

[James45]

Originally posted by Squiffy
It depends on your definition of fun.

For many people, fun is rising to a challenge and beating something. It doesn't necessarily mean cutesy graphics and happy music.

Oh how i weep for the future with people like this around! You've never even seen a gamecube switched on before have you? Yes they are some cutesy games for the cube (although I'd suggest they are more for both of it's competitors) but the Cube has game styles for everyone.

And since the recent price drop the Cube had doubled its market share in the US (even outselling PS2) and is second in the console market, trouncing X-Box and chasing PS2. And remember Ninty still make a profit on every machine sold... why would they go the way of the dodo? I personally can't wait for Gamecube 2, with online capabilities it would be the perfect console.

I can't remember my PSX providing as much fun as my Cube has.

When will these fanboy "Is the Cube dead?" threads stop?

[Sinzer]

For many people, fun is rising to a challenge and beating something.

In all fairness, the GC has produced some of the hardest games in the last decade.

I have been a a gamer since when I can remember (sad but true), and I can say that the GC has produced fiendishly hard games. Ikaruga (also on the DC), F-Zero GX, Viewtiful Joe will have gamers weeping, moreso than any other games I have played. F-Zero and Viewtiful Joe could be said to have cutesy graphics, but their gameplay is not kiddie and offers far more challenge than any comparable games I have played on PS2 or X-Box.

Of course online gaming is a slightly different matter, but I play my PC for that and as I have been told before i am not allowed to mention that in this forum

hehe

[Squiffy]

Originally posted by James45
Oh how i weep for the future with people like this around! You've never even seen a gamecube switched on before have you? Yes they are some cutesy games for the cube (although I'd suggest they are more for both of it's competitors) but the Cube has game styles for everyone.

FYI mate, I bought my Gamecube about 14 months ago.

And you completely and utterly miss my point. Realistic, gritty, simulations can be just as fun as the likes of Super Monkey Ball. I was trying to make the point that "fun" games and serious/realistic aren't exclusive, as CrispyXUK seemed to imply.

I did not say or even imply that the Gamecube only had cutesy games, or that the Gamecube was going to die, etc. In fact the word Gamecube was not mentioned anywhere in my post.

So drop the attitude.

Anyone here been to Japan?
I think you'll find that Japanese of all ages like their cutesy colourful characters whether they be in video games, films, or real life.
Unfortunately over here with our very different culture this Japanese tendency is translated as 'kiddie' which is very sad.

Nintendo's games are not kiddie orientated, they are designed for everyone, and the machine and games are marketed by Nintendo as being for the family, Nintendos policy goes back a long way, their first consoles even being named 'famicom' family computers.
Ive got kids myself and the only kiddie machine in the house is the PC, they play Bob the builder and Tweenies amongst the biggest and genuine kiddie orientated library of games available.

Anyone who mentions the words 'kiddie' and 'Nintendo' together obviously think Nintendo are lying when time and time again they state their games are designed for everyone.

You'll also find that some of the Mario games biggest fans are actually programers for so called 'grown up games' such as Dooms, Quakes etc.

[RL123]

http://cube.ign.com/articles/458/458044p1.html


Can you stop the pointless 'the GC is doomed!!!' bitching now, please?