According to this article (gamespot.com), Nintendo has, as anticipated, finally lowered the price of the Gamecube to $99. I don't know if this means the end of the bundled-game promotions, but if it does, then nothing really changes. $149 can still get you a Gamecube and WindWaker. Although now, you don't have to get Windwaker, and you can get plenty of titles used and build up a library cheaply.
The article speculates that Nintendo could surpass the X-Box with this move to become the number two console (unless MS strikes back), although I doubt that. Since the consoles have been out for almost two years now, they have to be fairly close to market saturation. How many people are still out there waiting to buy a system, and what could they be waiting for?
I'm waiting for my fiscal situation to allow for another console. As it is, I'm spending alot of my entertainment income on my PS2, so owning one of the other consoles doesn't seem like a good idea for me at this time (as it might cut into my other funds, which I need). However, if I were to get another console, it'd be a Gamecube so that I could get all the Nintendo stuff. The only game that I wanted for X-Box was the Buffy game, and now I have a PS2 one, so I don't really care. Online Playability isn't any special bonus to me (since I wouldn't use it), so the only thing I'd be interested in is having the Hardrive in there, but realistically, I'd put it most to use in a game like RAW, but I like the Smackdown series much better. So for my buck the Gamecube is a much better deal because it actually has games I'd want to play. But I don't have that buck at the moment, so the point is pretty moot.
All that said, I'll probably own a Gamecube by Spring of next year.
Wisconsin Badgers: 3-1 (The game didn't start off as well as I might have hoped, but whatever. A win's a win.)
Minnesota Vikings: 3-0 (We were out played most of the game and we STILL won. Dare I hope this is actually a good team?)
That's pretty cool Maybe I'll buy one now...I'de like to play zelda and mario games.:D, But it wont surpass xbox for four reasons...Halo2(I wont buy it eww),Ninja Gaiden,B.C., and FABLE. Not to mention Xbox sales shot way up after Kotor reviews came out.
I think ps2 is great, but I mark out for xbox.
*edit: game cube's are hella cute.
(edited by thatdude21601 on 23.9.03 2002) "dubya never talks while cheney is drinking water...check that shit out"
Looks like *I* may have jumped the gun on my posting...
According to Shacknews, while Amazon was selling the Gamecube previously for $99, the price has now gone back up to $149. See for yourself. There are reports (cube.ign.com) that Nintendo will be holding a conference call tomorrow with some sort of update. It is speculated that the price drop will be discussed.
The poor guy at Shacknews got to watch the price go back up while he was typing his update.
------
Excalibur, I agree with you about all the consoles. But my point is that the fifty dollar price drop isn't influencing your decision much (although it may prompt you to get a 'cube quicker, since you won't need as long to save up.) I guess I can see how that might spur 'cube sales along, but they are only speeding up purchases that people were planning on anyway. I can't see anyone debating between an X-Box and 'Cube (at their $179 and $149 prices) who would pick the Box, and then change and pick the 'Cube just because its $50 cheaper suddenly. But since I'm rather biased against the X-Box, and own the other two systems, my views might not be objective.
And yeah, if KoTOR wasn't scheduled to come out on the PC and/or the last Buffy game wasn't released for all systems, I'd probably have to swallow my anti-X-Box sentiments at some point. As it is, I can only drool at the Fable-hype at this point...
The problems with GameCube (and the reason I abandoned Nintendo as a hardware provider after the N64) are thus:
Unwilling to use standard media (Cartriges in your next-gen? Minidisks?)
Amazingly poor exclusive third-party support (Lost Square during the crucial PSX/N64 battle, EA looking to pull out, losing Rare to Microsoft, etc)
A good amount of A-list titles, but not enough A-minus titles and B-plus titles to sustain continued sales (After Metroid Prime/Wind Waker/Animal Crossing, then what?)
Barebones online support (One needs only to look at the Xbox Live and EA PS2 numbers to see this is an amazing market to use)
A horrid, HORRID controller (Only Xbox's Controller Fatty is worse, and that at least has a decent button layout)
Even at $149 with the free "must-buy" game, I didn't have much of an impulse to pick up the GameCube. At $99 with a free game? Maybe. But a BIG maybe. My Xbox has served me better than I'd expected and I really see no need to drop $100+ to play 2 games.
Originally posted by CubsWooA good amount of A-list titles, but not enough A-minus titles and B-plus titles to sustain continued sales (After Metroid Prime/Wind Waker/Animal Crossing, then what?)
Super Smash Brothers Melee? Super Monkey Ball? Super Money Ball 2? Pikmin? Eternal Darkness? Resident Evil? Super Mario Sunshine? Mario Kart - Double Dash? Rouge Squadron II? Rouge Leader? F-Zero? Def Jam Vendetta? Soul Calibur w/Link? Mario Golf? Wrestlemania XIX?
"The most important thing is for us to find Osama Bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until he find him." -George W. Bush, September 13, 2001
"I don't know where he is. I have no idea and I really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority." George W. Bush, March 13, 2002
And lastly, Atari has canceled three of its upcoming Gamecube releases (computerandvideogames.com). (Driver 3, Terminator 3, and Mission Impossible). These games will be out on the X-Box and PS2, so chalk this up as another third party developer ditching the system.
---------- OFB, don't forget Mario Party 4? (w/ Mario Party 5 and WarioWare on the way!)
Also, the Gamespy link above mentions that Super Mario Sunshine, Animal Crossing, and Metroid Prime are scheduled to become player's choice titles and have their price lowered soon.
Originally posted by DarkRenegadeI, myself is pretty biased with Playstation, but if the price goes THAT low, I can't ignore it. Animal Crossing, here I come!
At $99 t is 100% worth it just for Animal Crossing. I've had it for a year, and I still play nearly every day.
Originally posted by thatdude21601Gamecube has modem built in right? Does Animal Crossing have much lag? And is it a pay per month deal?
No, you have to buy the modem seperately. I know it used to be nearly impossible to find as well, although I haven't bothered looking for one recently. The only game that uses it currently anyways (IIRC) is Phantasy Star Online. PSO you have to pay per month, fees for other games will probably be on a case to case basis when/if other games go online
Originally posted by CubsWooThe problems with GameCube (and the reason I abandoned Nintendo as a hardware provider after the N64) are thus: Unwilling to use standard media (Cartriges in your next-gen? Minidisks?) Amazingly poor exclusive third-party support (Lost Square during the crucial PSX/N64 battle, EA looking to pull out, losing Rare to Microsoft, etc) A good amount of A-list titles, but not enough A-minus titles and B-plus titles to sustain continued sales (After Metroid Prime/Wind Waker/Animal Crossing, then what?) Barebones online support (One needs only to look at the Xbox Live and EA PS2 numbers to see this is an amazing market to use) A horrid, HORRID controller (Only Xbox's Controller Fatty is worse, and that at least has a decent button layout) Even at $149 with the free "must-buy" game, I didn't have much of an impulse to pick up the GameCube. At $99 with a free game? Maybe. But a BIG maybe. My Xbox has served me better than I'd expected and I really see no need to drop $100+ to play 2 games.
Super Smash Brothers Melee? Super Monkey Ball? Super Money Ball 2? Pikmin? Eternal Darkness? Resident Evil? Super Mario Sunshine? Mario Kart - Double Dash? Rouge Squadron II? Rouge Leader? F-Zero? Def Jam Vendetta? Soul Calibur w/Link? Mario Golf? Wrestlemania XIX?
Starfox Adventures? Timesplitters 2? Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest? Resident Evil Zero? Skies of Arcadia?
It sounds like you hate the Gamecube just to hate the Gamecube. I personally can only think of three or four games worth playing on the Xbox, as they have few exclusive titles and Nintendo has many.
"Unwilling to use standard media?" What the fuck? It actually bothers you that Nintendo doesn't use CD format? Why? Do their games not kick ass because of this? Do they not mack the PS2's graphics in every way? Is Wind Waker not enormous and painstakingly detailed? The SIZE of the disc gets under your skin? That is reaching.
As for the controller, I preferred the 64's, but it's far better (to me) than Xbox or PS2 controllers. I have a special hatred for the PS2 controller. The only issue I have with the GC controller is the placement of the Z-Trigger, and that just takes a bit of getting used to.
I agree with the third-party software argument- Losing Rare was a blow, and I'm still pissed. the thing is, Nintendo is better than Rare. they're also better than Square. For my money, they make the best games in the world, so losing third party developers is less of a blow to them than it would be to, say, Microsoft, who don't make shit on their own.
Originally posted by JakegnosisAs for the controller, I preferred the 64's, but it's far better (to me) than Xbox or PS2 controllers. I have a special hatred for the PS2 controller. The only issue I have with the GC controller is the placement of the Z-Trigger, and that just takes a bit of getting used to.
What do you have against the PS2 controller? I've found it to be the best since the Genesis 6-Button.
EDIT: Damned Budweiser, Official Beer of YOUR 2003 NL Central Champion Chicago Cubs.
(edited by Whitebacon on 27.9.03 1837) Taken from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
Accusations have surfaced about Julian Tavarez doctoring the baseball with a foreign substance that he hides on the bill of his cap.
''It's ridiculous,'' Tavarez said. ''They checked my hat last year, too, and never found anything. They're just trying to get inside my head. But I won't let them.'' Just to demonstrate that no one was getting inside his head, Tavarez decided to ramble on for another hour or two and provide a quote of the year possibility. ''Some people like skinny women. I like fat women. Some people like young women. I like older women. Some people like poor women. I like rich women,'' Tavarez said. ''Some people like clean hats. I like my dirty hat.'' My Blog (thecobicity.blogspot.com)
Originally posted by JakegnosisAs for the controller, I preferred the 64's, but it's far better (to me) than Xbox or PS2 controllers. I have a special hatred for the PS2 controller. The only issue I have with the GC controller is the placement of the Z-Trigger, and that just takes a bit of getting used to.
What do you have against the PS2 controller? I've found it to be the best since the Genesis 6-Button.
EDIT: Damned Budweiser, Official Beer of YOUR 2003 NL Central Champion Chicago Cubs.
(edited by Whitebacon on 27.9.03 1837)
I HATE the analogs. I find them to be loose, sloppy and with too much play. I always have to readjust my thumbs, as opposed to the 64, where aiming was second nature and I barely had to touch my thumb to the stick to have it do exactly what I wanted it to. The PS2 analogs need a smaller area of movement- maybe 2/3 of what they have now... as it is, they're just all over the place.
On baseball... I'm hoping for a Sox/ Cubs World Series, and not just to get all the Braves and Skankees fans to shut the hell up. That would kick so much ass (if the Red Sox won, of course).
This reminds me of when Atari dropped their system price to $50 in the late 80s, when Nintendo was kicking their ass. It didn't work for them.
I'm lukewarm on the Cube - played Animal Crossing, Metroid Prime, Mario Sunshine and Zelda along with a smattering of others.
Of those, Metroid was the most fun, but it was over too quickly. Mario was enjoyable, but didn't have the lasting value that most of Nintendo's stuff has. Same with Animal Crossing - loved it for a few months, now it gathers dust. Zelda was a complete disappointment and no amount of cell-shading can cover up shitty gameplay, dull story lines and all the fucking sailing.
The only thing on the horizon that looks interesting is the Mario Kart update. But that's a multiplayer game, and if they don't beef up their online capability, it's not gonna be a system seller.
I think they're lagging behind because Nintendo's been historically stubborn to change. Some of their in house stuff has been up to snuff, but all those third parties jumping ship is baaaaad.
(Of course, all I play now is PS2 EverQuest now, so maybe I'm not the best judge.)
-- Asteroid Boy
Wiener of the day: 23.7.02
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex "Was he no-selling?" - Me
At $99, is the GC worth it? I've been thinking of getting myself a GC for awhile now because I absolutely love the Rogue Squadron games and Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart are some great games as well. Are those games enough to warrant getting a whole new system? Recommendations?
This might get me off the fence on buying it. The only thing I'd seen for the GC that I really wanted to play were the Resident Evil games. I've got 1 and 2, but they looked great from what I could see from commercials. Beyond that, I haven't seen anything that I really wanted to play. Same reason I don't have an X-Box. Maybe one of these days it'll be cheap enough to justify me getting Toe Jam and Earl. :-)
I hadn't even heard of this game before, but I'm gonna have to try it out now: http://wii.ign.com/articles/829/829301p1.html It's called Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure, and IGN just gave it a 9.0 and says it's a must have for Wii owners.