Nintendo Revolution - The FOURTH Pillar?

[JFo]

I saw this little news blurb and I thought I'd share it with you all and see what you think.

 

Nintendo Pledges Long-Term Support for GameCube

 

Here is what I consider to be the most interesting and relevant passage:

 

Iwata told Yomiuri Shimbun that Nintendo may well sell the "Revolution" device alongside the GameCube hardware for quite some time - presumably hoping to follow in the footsteps of Sony, which continued to sell large volumes of the PSone long after the launch of the PS2.

 

However, it's not clear whether Iwata's comments represent a commitment from the company to continue developing new software for the GameCube into the next console cycle, or simply an intention to continue supplying the channel with new units for as long as they are required.

 

Personally, I think this may be a bit optimistic on Nintendo's part. I would be very surprised to see continued developer support of any console other than the PS2 once the next-gen systems come out.

 

Having said that, it is a somewhat encouraging sign against the "Nintendo is teh doom3d!" prophets. At the very least, it shows that the company has no intention of abandoning the hardware market and going the way of Sega. It also shows that we can expect to see many new Cube games in the coming years. Thank goodness, I say, because I'm not ready to shell out the money for a new machine yet. However, when the time does come, there is a side of me that hopes Nintendo will not divide its attention between Revolution and GCN. I?d like to see them really put all their effort into supporting their new system and not waste their efforts on an outdated machine.

 

What do you all think?

[Angry the Clown]

At the very least, it shows that the company has no intention of abandoning the hardware market and going the way of Sega. It also shows that we can expect to see many new Cube games in the coming years. Thank goodness, I say, because I'm not ready to shell out the money for a new machine yet.

 

I agree. On the software front, for me, the Cube is actually my happy medium of the three consoles I own. The somewhat staggered release of AAA games is actually beneficial to me, each coming within good space of one another, where as XBox is forcing too many too soon upon me, and PS2 generally too few.

 

Is it optimistic on their part to see third party support continue for as long as they themselves intend to put in? I think so, but I'll say this. I'm very fond of the little Cube and I don't know about you, J-Fo, but I buy Nintendo consoles for Nintendo games, so as long as we get a good few more in house titles in the run up to the 'revolution' then I will remain very happy indeed.

 

It does sound like the next console will be quite a big thing for Nintendo though, marking a real progression for them on the hardware front. Again though, if they keep on making their good games, I'll keep on buying their consoles.

 

Daniel

[Mark E]

I suspect we'll see support for the Cube drop off same as it would with any other console, honestly. I'm pretty sure this same gesture has been made in generations past, the same generations that are now collecting the dust .

[Camp]

Personally, I think this may be a bit optimistic on Nintendo's part. I would be very surprised to see continued developer support of any console other than the PS2 once the next-gen systems come out.

 

Agreed.

Software support has been light throughout the Gamecube's lifespan. I see no reason to expect it would flouish after the new console is released.

[JFo]

Originally posted by Daniel Brecher+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Daniel Brecher)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>I don't know about you, J-Fo, but I buy Nintendo consoles for Nintendo games...[/b]

 

I think that would be an accurate assessment.

 

<!--QuoteBegin-iCamp

Software support has been light throughout the Gamecube's lifespan. I see no reason to expect it would flouish after the new console is released.

 

Now you see, I don't agree with this. I think that the overall support for GameCube among third-party developers has been pretty good throughout the course of the system's lifecycle. Certainly it's been better than in the days of the N64 with many multi-platform titles appearing on all three systems. Sure, there are indeed many games available on the Xbox and PS2 that aren't on the Cube, but there are as many games available on the Cube that are not on the Xbox or PS2.

 

Daniel hit the nail on the head when he said that he buys Nintendo systems to play Nintendo games. That's true for me and I'm sure it's true for the vast majority of GCN owners. Those of us with more than one system are more likely to get a multi-platform game for the PS2 or Xbox. I also get the impression from reading GameCube forums at other websites that most die-hard Nintendo loyalists aren't that interested in third-party titles for whatever reason.

 

As far as I'm concerned the support is there, but there's a lack of interest among gamers for these titles.

 

Still, I agree that it?s safe to assume that once Revolution is out, that will be the end of any serious support for the GameCube among the rest of the industry.

[Camp]

Now you see, I don't agree with this. I think that the overall support for GameCube among third-party developers has been pretty good throughout the course of the system's lifecycle.

 

Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree on that one. Simple numbers, however, are on my side.

[JFo]

Originally posted by iCamp@Jun 15 2004, 08:28 PM

Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree on that one. Simple numbers, however, are on my side.

I suppose it depends on how big a number "pretty good" is.

 

Fair enough, though. I can agree to disagree.

[foogledricks]

Fair enough, though. I can agree to disagree.

 

I feel badly that you must disagree. Here, I will end the controversy with these scientific numbers

 

IGN REVIEW WHERE RATING WAS HIGHER THAN 8.0

 

PS2: 292

XBOX: 190

CUBE: 116

 

There. No more controversy. Cause you know how I hate controversy J.Fo :twisted:

[JFo]

Thanks, Keith. Those are very interesting numbers.

 

EDIT: In the spirit of numbers, I thought it would be interesting to see how the GameCube compares to the N64. I used the same criteria as Keith (IGN rating of 8.0 or higher) and here's what I got:

 

N64: 105

 

Consider my revised statement to be, "Third-party support hasn't been as bad as the N64."

[Graeme]

I suspect we'll see support for the Cube drop off same as it would with any other console, honestly. I'm pretty sure this same gesture has been made in generations past, the same generations that are now collecting the dust

 

Do you mean from Nintendo or just specificaly? Sony is also preaching long term support for this generation even once the new systems are out. With them, they have preached that a bit more than Nintendo have. Games for the N64 stopped arriving a looooong time ago, but there are still games for the PSX arriving from Sony and EA (sports games), Square, and a few budget publishers. According to EA (I think) some of these games continue to sell over a million copies.