I never really understood why so many people knocked the Nintendo GameCube. The purple lunchbox wasn’t an ideal console, but it certainly provided me with many, many hours of entertainment. Though the less-than-masculine box lacked a built-in DVD player, it did have an impressive software library. “Super Smash Bros. Melee,” “Super Mario Sunshine” and “Luigi’s Mansion” remain some of my personal favorites; I hear that “Eternal Darkness,” “Pikmin 2″ and “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker” were pretty good too. Oh, and if you choose to insult “Luigi’s Mansion” in the comment section, I will come to your house and punch you in the face. The game allowed you to bust ghosts … with Luigi. Nuff said.
Despite my love for the purple cube, many critics have labeled the GameCube era as a dark time for Nintendo. During a recent interview with Japanese magazine Famitsu, Shigeru Miyamoto, the man behind many of Nintendo’s iconic characters, said the company’s mistakes during the Nintendo 64 and GameCube eras helped the company conceive the DS and break its habit of “doing the same things other companies did.”
“The more we competed with new companies entering the market, the more we started acting similar to them,” Miyamoto said according to a 1UP report. “But is being number one in that competition the same as being number one with the general public?”
According to the famed game creator, GameCube titles were largely ignored by the general public. Nintendo will be re-releasing a number of GameCube games for the Wii, including “Pikmin 2″ and “Metroid Prime.” “New Play Control! Pikmin” and “New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis” released earlier this week in the States.
Some have suggested that the publisher and developer could be using the “Pikmin” re-releases to hype the new game in the franchise, which certainly seems plausible. Though, no release date has been attached to that particular title. In my opinion, these upcoming re-releases will allow Nintendo to make additional money with minimum effort.
Of course, everything is peachy for Nintendo now. The company has reclaimed the industry throne, with Sony and Microsoft seemingly willing to battle for second place. The company recently revealed that, as of March 6, it had shipped 100 million DS consoles (all SKUs) to retailers. Nintendo also makes a profit on every Wii sold; given that the little white box has shifted around 40 million units, it is safe to assume that Nintendo is laughing all the way to the bank. Last year, GoNintendo reported that Wii sales had already eclipsed the lifetime numbers of the N64 and the GameCube.
Unfortunately, for core gamers, Nintendo is currently infatuated with the casual gaming audience, which seems to enjoy much of the company’s focus. The Japanese gaming giant still develops and publishes titles for its longtime fans, but it is clear that the company’s priorities have changed.
While the Wii continues to be a tremendous commercial success, it has become a haven for shovelware. As a result of this development, which is a direct result of the console’s immense popularity, the little white box has become a joke in the eyes of many core gamers. Nintendo will continue to benefit greatly from the Wii, but what about its next home console? Will soccer moms and senior citizens be eager to purchase it? Only time will tell. My guess is no, but I am a blogger, not a financial whiz. Honestly, it amazes me that I can dress myself in the morning.
Sources: 1UP via Eurogamer, MTV Multiplayer
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I bought the Cube based on two games that sold the sytem to me. Star Wars Rogue Squadron II and RE 4 of course.
The GameCube didn’t have all the stuff the Xbox or the ps2 had but I think i had better games than those other two game consoles.
my last comment should say “it had better games” not “i have better games”
The Game Cube represent a dark time for Nintendo yes, if measured in income. Just because the sales are bad, it doesn’t need to be a bad console, just bad marketing. (Just like the PS3 now). Personally, I liked the cube, SSBM was reason enough to buy the damn thing!
But now that mr. Miyamoto is out of the dark times, they print money, and have the biggest user base in a long time, what does he use that opportunity at? Wii Music! That’s what. Sorry Miyamoto, no sympathy for you.
Did you just say Nintendo could become a victim of it’s own success?
Well anyway, I had a “Metroid cube” (since that was the only reason I even wanted one)
I too am impressed with my ability to dress myself daily….yay
Nintendo’s problem and in many of our minds is that they are a generation behind every one else. look at the N64 cartridge instead of disk like the PS1, Gamecube less power small disk, wii not hd and is a more powerful PS2
While I love the GCN and found its library of games more than enough to keep me busy last gen (and even into this one), Miyamoto has a point.
Nintendo’s “dark times” started with the launch of Virtual Boy: Sure it was a terrible idea, but you have to admit, it was something NO ONE else would have done, for better or for worse.
Reeling from that, I surmise that Nintendo didn’t want to try anything new for quite some time, which is a shame.
Following in their competitors footsteps didn’t stop The Big N from utilizing their franchises effectively or profiting off the Game Boy during the N64 and Game Cube eras, but it didn’t help them gain market share.
Ironically, I think during these times, it were when Nintendo made some of their greatest games, and when I was the most enamored with them. But that’s beside the point.
We began to see the money printing press creak back to life when the DK Bongo games and DS came out. I think this was when Nintendo really realized that thinking outside the box would really get the cash rolling in again.
And good thing, too. I think true fans would rather see a successful Nintendo, even if it is at the expense of longer periods between core content releases while Nintendo milks a little more bread out of every release.
Okay, it’s time to ditch this silly “core or casual” split. What is “hardcore”, anyway? Does hardcore mean violent, rude and immaturely adult, like most PS3 games? Does it mean every game you play has to be virtually the same, but with different characters, like most Xbox 360 games?
Seriously, I challenge anyone to come up with a definition of “hardcore” in twenty words or less. Video games are supposed to be about FUN, if you’re having fun, who cares about whether or not you think it’s “core” or “casual”?