Is Gamecube in peril?

[Blade]

This is true.

While some EA games (Madden) are better on Xbox than GCN, the opposite is true for the James Bond titles.

Different developers, that's why.

 

[Glonk]

This is true.

While some EA games (Madden) are better on Xbox than GCN, the opposite is true for the James Bond titles.

Different developers, that's why.

Hmm.

In what way is the GCN version of Nightfire better?

 

[Brimstone]

Harry Potter GCN did very well on the GCN. It may have actually done better than the PS2 version (or close to it). It's the cleaner looking game of the three as well. Maybe EA will actually look at data from this and learn something.


Hey guys LOTR TT is also better on the GCN as well..maybe it will sell pretty good on GCN. I know Bond NF is better on GCN ( I actually have played all three versions) and I believe it has sold more than XB. If publishers will look at this they will start to see better results in thier GCN sales. ALOT of your GCN audience is hardcore players..they aint gonna buy too much crap (just ask Acclaim ie Turok E).

If a lot of the GC user base are hardcore players, why didn't Eternal Darkness sell better? I'm not trying to single out your comment, but it just seems every time it comes to sales, people either say its a kiddie system or a hardcore system or whatever. At the end of the day it just seem like Nintendo based franchies only sell well.

 

[Blade]

Glonk: Just according to what I've heard in reviews. Xbox's Nightfire seems to be slightly better on Game Rankings, though.

 

[marconelly!]

Hey guys LOTR TT is also better on the GCN as well

Have you played all three versions? Is there any comparision available somewhere?

 

[Kolgar]

EA is doing just fine on the Cube. Sure, a number of titles have done better on Xbox but the Cube versions are usually not that far behind. There are also a few titles that have done better on Cube than Xbox.

I've read recently that EA's sports titles haven't sold very well on Gamecube, hence the company's decision to lower prices on GC software.

Haven't you noticed that most of EA's 2003 lineup of sports games are now selling for $39.99 or less? They are in my area.

Here's a link to a news story. Granted, it's news from Australia, but aside from a few kangaroos and koala bears, I think Australia isn't that much different from other parts of the world.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=dev&aid=997

"Leading independent publisher Electronic Arts has landed a stinging blow on Nintendo, accusing the platform holder of 'disappointing reluctance to compete with Microsoft and Sony' in a statement announcing massive price cuts to several key titles in its GameCube software range in Australia..."

Kolgar

 

[Goldni]

Yeah I know Brimstone. NOA did a piss poor job promoting ED. Except for some soccer game they kept running commercials between. Look how well RE and RE0 did..cause Capcom advertised them. The last charts I saw showed ED just under 200,000 in the US. It did about the same as Morrowind for XB, which was released the same month of June 02.

I have played all three versions of Harry Potter and Nightfire. And yes, I'll stick to my assesment that the GCN versions of both are at least graphically cleaner. Eurocom seems to love Nintendo's hardware..that may be one reason the GCN looks and runs sharper. And LOTR:TT was mentioned at Gamespot that the GCN version was better by far in terms of load times and visuals. But that all three looked damn good.

 

[Goldni]

Here is a chart showing the global GCN lead over the XB. Props to Gahiggidy at GA.

Edit: Nevermind

 

[Goldni]

Here is the XB lead over the GCN in the US.

Interesting that the US XB lead over GCN has steadily rose yet the overall global graph shows the GCn has held at or around 1 million.

 

[Goldni]

And here is the Europe graph..

 

[zurich]

And here is the Europe graph..

This graph shows what? Xbox lead over Cube in Europe (England or Mainland or both?)? I thought these numbers werent available?

As always, Japan tips the numbers in favour of GC globally, but I don't think Western publishers care much, as their games would never be released out east.

 

[Blade]

Zurich: Very good point!

Of course, I don't really care much because of the lion's share of the games I care about are Japanese.

The stronger Nintendo is in Japan (where games like Final Fantasy sell better than in the 'States) the better. They'll need to pick up the pace in US and Europe nevertheless.. and fight MS's bundle fire with their own bundle fire. GCN + SSBM + SMS (or MP) + extra controller for $200-225 would probably create a sales boost.

 

[Goldni]

Well Blade Ninty aint gonna give away too much. I wish they would but it's hard to fight MS with Bill's money to burn. I do think however we'll see some GCN bundles in the future. NOA would do that before they'd actually try a price drop. I think as long as the GCN keeps it's respectable sales and is moving software as well, AND the GBA is still kicking ass then Nintendo will still keep just doing what they are doing with the GCN.

 

[Goldni]

Also, I'll bet that NOA looks at how well the Platinum Edition Gamecube has done. And the SMs Bundle too. They have really done well for Nintendo. I'll bet they both become permanent. And other offers as well.

 

[marconelly!]

And LOTR:TT was mentioned at Gamespot that the GCN version was better by far in terms of load times and visuals.

Right now, Gamespot has nothing about GC and Xbox version of that game.

See for yourself:

http://gamespot.com/gamespot/filters/products/0,11114,562388,00.html

 

[Goldni]

whoa, sorry marconelly. It was GS forums where the guy posted he's got three copies of LoTR TT. With the GCn the better. I'm pretty sure it was GS..I'll check my 'history' and see where I read it. Or I may actually get the GCN LoTR tommorrow. Blockbuster had the XB LoTR in so I'll rent it and do the taste test maybe.

 

[zurich]

I have a feeling both Xbox and GC TT games were rushed to ride on the hype of the movie and holiday season, so I personally wouldn't expect much form either (especially considering EAs shitastic port jobs).

 

[Blade]

Zurich: I would normally agree, but EGM has convinced me otherwise.

The Xbox and GCN versions of TTT appear to be as good or better than the PS2 version, quality-wise.

 

[Peppermonkey]

I would love to see the numbers for all of December, just to see how the Christmas sales went. I'm hoping to see a tie game, but I doubt it since Microsoft was bundling 2-4 games with their system.

 

[marconelly!]

whoa, sorry marconelly. It was GS forums where the guy posted he's got three copies of LoTR TT. With the GCn the better. I'm pretty sure it was GS..I'll check my 'history' and see where I read it. Or I may actually get the GCN LoTR tommorrow. Blockbuster had the XB LoTR in so I'll rent it and do the taste test maybe.

Just found at Gamespy reviews:

Think that the extra two months you waited for the GameCube version of the game allowed E.A. to fix the sometimes-problematic archery aiming, increase the framerate from 30, add extra polygons to the characters and foes, and tweak the water reflections so they actually look realistic? Then you're smoking more pipe-weed than the whole of Hobbiton: There are literally no differences (aside from microscopic tidying up in the jagged nature of the PS2's polygons) between this, the Xbox, and the PlayStation 2 offerings. The movie footage shows a few more artifacts on the GameCube, but these are too slight to mention, unless you're trying desperately to recommend one version over the others -- and I can't! All control well, and offer exactly the same gameplay elements.
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Xbox owners still get slightly less than DVD quality movie cutscenes (vaguely improved over the GameCube), and far too slight of a difference to matter to anyone.

As you can see, if there are any differences they are too tiny to mention. Btw, PS2 version was as far from being 'jagged' as it's possible, so I doubt even that was visibly changed. I assume it does look better in progressive on Xbox - that always looks even less jagged