Cube price cut works

[Jov]

Xbox didn't come out with any free game promos, or even support form teh majority of publishers. Many publishers waitied and supported it with "more " titles" after seeing how the sales of thier games looked. It was having the games people wanted to play, that drove people to purchase XBox slightly faster than gamecube. Gamecube also had free promors that didn't help the sales.

My take on when the Xbox pulled away was just before last Xmas, otherwise they were very close. Nintendo was losing ground when the didn't match MS in the give away stake during that time. That break away and the fact that Xbox version games were doing better in NA started the trend for the 3rd party departures.

Well that's just the thing! I've been saying since before gamecube came out. The games people like has changed, and what worked for Nintendo in the past with thier major franchises, may not work moving forward. If thier big games don't attract the gamers, then what will? a price cut? no, it always comes down to having the games people want, and if people really wanted those games before, then why wait beofre purchasing?

Was never arguing on the point of games not selling consoles. The fact of the matter is they do. Look at the PS2. If you're looking at the sales side of things between the Box and Cube, then the Xbox hardware started moving most or more rapid during the bundle packs last year, at a time IHO when there wasn't alot of attractive games going for it. As for the games the attach rate is a good indication for the two platform given its similar marketshares.

How will "time tell" how things have uccured up until this point? By saying "only time will tell" that means things can change. Sure, anything is possible, I personally don't think they will, but you can think what you like.

Time will tell if this price cut will be a positive for the Cube long term.

1.3 million for a unknown consle is a LOT considering they came out at the same time roughly. So many people in here were always claiming it had as much or "enough" 3rd paty support until recently. I wouldn't say it has "no" 3rd party support. It is loosing 3rd party support.

Unknown console? Its an unknown console with 1/2 a Billion dollars for promotions only and was marketed as the most powerful. Also the fact that its was so similar to the PC. It didn't help getting a good foot in the door, and especially with all its PC and PC like ports? I admit the Big N's marketing was crap incomparason and was relying on its big names to go alone which never happened.

Since its aimed at younger gamers, then the price needs to reflect this. Now it seems to be the case.

I really don't see how one week of sales increase is going to be enough, which is the entire point I'm making. One week of a sales spike really isn't anything to get hope up for just yet. This needs to occur for a extended period of time. Even still I don't see it being able to make the 1.3 mil lead all that much smaller without big name 3rd party games.

Your point was not debated, in fact it would be agreed by most that one week is nothing to jump up and down for, but it is still positive and its something Nintendo can build upon. It might be the spike that sparks a resurgent. Lets hope so just for the sake of competition.


Jov

 

[Jov]

Given its only 1.3 Mil behind the Xbox in NA with almost no 3rd party support, I think its doing pretty well. If the playing field in regards to 3rd party support was even, e.g. games like Soul Calibur II, the sales might be very different. Just because 3rd parties decided to drop Cube in the past does not rule out they won't pick it up again. If games like SCII is any indication it might attract more development.

So what you're saying is that for the GameCube to be successful it needs all 3rd party games to feature Nintendo mascots?

Sorry, couldn't resist!

If it would help... why not? But then Link's appeal won't be the same.


Jov

 

[zurich]

The only way the cube pricing would be a failure is if they were more expensive than the xbox and ps2 .

...or if at its $99 USD price point the GC doesn't see sustained, increased sales over its competitors.

Going from selling 1 to 4 is a 400% shot in the arm, but it is still a failure when you should be selling 25.

Time will tell, but I still feel it has left Nintendo little room to maneuver with 2+ years left in this generation.

 

[Jov]

...or if at its $99 USD price point the GC doesn't see sustained, increased sales over its competitors.

Going from selling 1 to 4 is a 400% shot in the arm, but it is still a failure when you should be selling 25.

Time will tell, but I still feel it has left Nintendo little room to maneuver with 2+ years left in this generation.

Should they be selling 25? Is this from the NES days?
I agree this doesn't leave the N much room in terms of prices if this fails. They'll need some killer apps or at least drop their royality fee somewhat to get the 3rd party if this price cut doesn't sustain.

 

[Grall]

All is well and just the way it's supposed to in Mushroom Kingdom it seems, Vince and Roach agreeing the cube's got no chance

We're just realists and don't have this passionate connection.

"Just realists"? More like anti-cube fanboiiis you mean. Dude, you've ALWAYS ragged on the cube, as has Qroach.

Tell me this, what good is a cut and one week spike if the sales normalize after 2 weeks?

Why don't you wait 2 weeks then before you start yapping about it?

Doesn't it strike you as f-ing bad that Nintendo needs to cut to $99 to get any semblence of a comptitive position?

Uh, no? WHat kind of stupid question is that?

WHEN exactly is a higher price inherently a good thing? Bring on the price reductions I say! Reduce it more, particulary on the software!

While the competition is at... $179? To even call this a sucess iks ignorant (blah blah rant rave)

So the competition is at 179, TOO BAD FOR THEM! Why should I NOT jump with joy at the thought of being able to pick up a Cube for 99? Oh, right, I already own one, which I bought for the equivalent of $230 or so, but apart from that... Like I said, you're just ant-Nintendo, that's all.

When they address some fundimental issues (let alone admit to them) then I'll talk.

Hahaha, rofl, etc.

*G*

 

[cthellis42]

Grall, chill out.

At any rate I WAS going to say something on the pricing matters, but jvd beat me to the points. Frankly, the Cube has been priced too HIGH compared to the competition lately, and their sales probably suffered because of it. And it's the same "consumer price" as the Xbox right now if there are ~$80 worth games bundled with it anyway, only it gives the hardware for the lowest possible price and lets the consumers spend their cash on the games THEY want in the way they want. (I think Xbox usually bundles about $60 worth anyway, so it's only slightly more expensive.)

 

[Johnny Awesome]

If Gamecube sales exceed Xbox sales in the US market for long, MS will simply cut pricing again. This will have the affect of pretty much negating Nintendo's recent moves. Afterall, Xbox has Halo, Ninja Gaiden and GTA3 and the Gamecube doesn't.

 

[GHost]

Hi there, nice to meet you all on another thread

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Xbox is trying to compete with PS2 only, or at least some official guy said that recently... This would mean MS is not very willing to cut prices more, otherwise they would have done it before, being outsold by that competitor.

On another note there is this rumour floating around of upcoming PS2 price-cut (don't quote me on this one).

 

[cthellis42]

Xbox basically said they're keying to the PS2, which means they likely DON'T want to lower in response to the Cube if the PS2's not, since that would be "caving in" in some ways and "seeing the Cube as a threat"--and they rather like the perception they have now.

As for the PS2, there's a chance they'll lower at the holidays, though all news so far has said they're "comfortable" where they're at now. Of course now things are confusing, since they have the old unit at $179 and the new one with the BBU bundled for $199, so they may want to lower the old one for the holidays to clear through the rest of inventory and move the new to that $179 price point. Of course that gives the Xbox a weird decision on which unit to price at, especially since the PS2's may hop up again (either after holiday prices or because of the new unit) and should they follow? Or would they follow the old unit down at all and instead price against the 50k series? <shrugs>

Tricky stuff.

 

[Paul]

"Just realists"? More like anti-cube fanboiiis you mean. Dude, you've ALWAYS ragged on the cube, as has Roach.

Qroach knowing his position is naturally biased against Cube. Vince I haven't a clue, and am not going to comment on.

Although I can say that I know Cube by the end of this generation will be outselling Xbox in total world wide sales.

 

[Qroach]

Roach knowing his position is naturally biased against Cube.Vince I haven't a clue, and am not going to comment on.

If you could only drop the brand loyaltee and look at things clearly. I find it funny how you won't commet on vince since it's pretty obvious that he like the playstation 2 the most of the three consoles. However unlike you, it's possible for him to look at the other systems objectively.

You can say I'm biased against the cube if you want, but you can't say that I've been wrong about the problems the cube has encountered with the popularity of nintendo's big franchises, 3rd paty game/developer support, console demographics, online play, and retail perception until this point. So what am I being biased about again? Just as vince said, we're realists.

 

[Paul]

I'm merely commenting on Grall's quote.

I agree with you on the fact that Cube does YES have a 3rd party short coming, and I am unsure of the fact if it will beat Xbox in the USA.

However I do remain certain IMO that cube will pull ahead world wide. This is just me.

 

[Johnny Awesome]

Japan is the only reason the Cube has a chance of beating the Xbox world-wide this generation. My feeling is that it will neck and neck for most of the generation with both consoles moving 25-30 million units by the start of the next generation in 2006. They'll probably both sell another 5 million units to extreme late-comers.

 

[bas1975]

"Afterall, Xbox has Halo, Ninja Gaiden and GTA3 and the Gamecube doesn't."

So what? I'll put out 3 big name games the Gamecube has and XBOX doesn't. Whoopty Dooooo. Means aboslutely nothing.

 

[ChryZ]

Japan is the only reason the Cube has a chance of beating the Xbox world-wide this generation.

On the other hand, one could say: the Cube has a chance of beating the Xbox world-wide this generation, because X-Box failed in Japan. Sounds ignorant and bitter, eh?

 

[Paul]

On the other hand, one could say: the Cube has a chance of beating the Xbox world-wide this generation, because X-Box failed in Japan. Sounds ignorant and bitter, eh?

Or you could say America is the only reason why Xbox has a chance of beating Cube world wide this gen. Either way.

 

[DeathKnight]

Yay! More sales arguments!

 

[Paul]

Noone is forcing you to read it.

 

[jvd]

I only started this thread to show the news not to get into a debate aobut the sales force. Yes the price cut was a success it had a positive sales increase. It most likely will stay that way for a month or two. That is how the price cuts work.

 

[cthellis42]

Indeed. Once it hits $10 I'll buy, like, 4 of them!