Gamecube Europe is reporting that Nintendo Gamecube is the number one selling game console in the United States. Thanksgiving weekend sales totaled 500,000 units, skyrocketing Nintendo to a place it was accustom too before that pesky Sony came along.
The cube is the Macintosh of the console market. The product is compact and portable (with a handle) much like the original Mac form factor. It's smaller than your average American lunch-box. And It simply looks cool.
Sony and Microsoft's consoles look like industrial space heaters — which is to say not very cool at all. You could put a Pontiac Aztec next to an Xbox and I wouldn't be able to tell them apart, they are just that ugly.
I want the cube to succeed as a product because I believe great design is half the product. Especially for an entertainment product. If you're going to play, the product should look like it's ready to play, not like it's going to keep your toes warm.
If you haven't done so already, go acquire your own Gamecube. It will make you happy, and of course it will look good in the home.
Join the fray by reading through and commenting at the end.
Great design is half the product. But so is the software. It seems that Gamecube has little to offer besides its exclusive Classic Star Wars titles, and that cel shaded Zelda game (which look awesome, by the way). Everything else seems a tad childish. But I could be wrong…
The Gamecube does have some amazing games that have flown serverely under the radar. It has awesome Resident Evil exclusives, Eternal Darkness, damn scary game, Classic Console type RPG's, Animal Crossing (Childish, but man will your girlfriend love it. I have a girlfriend in Fashion here in NYC and she's become a junkie for it, having previously "hated" videogames), Metroid, Zelda (which is awesome, by the way, worth the price of the system itself) and rumor of Square/Enix hopping back onboard full time. I prefer Xbox to my PS2 and Gamecube, solely for graphic ability. All in all, I'd be fine with just Xbox and Gamecube. For 99 dollars Gamecube is the way to go for the one who loves videogames, but doesn't want to play more than a couple times a week. The design is immaculate. Sorry for the lengthy reply, I've been in nintendo's bandwagon since the NES, and will be till death.
Picked one up last year and it's lovely. PS2 does seem to have the game market cornered, but Gamecube has some great games. Super Monkey Ball2 still hasn't gotten old.
In general game consoles are getting so cheap for what you get. No wonder Sony is going to release a PS3. Do you really need a better gaming machine? Maybe... but Sony would much rather have a $200 machine out there than a less than $100 one.
I have both a GC and PS/2. The GC is my preferred system by far. I've purchased or rented games which are available on both platforms, and the GC versions are without exception more visually spectacular. It should also be mentioned that the GC has the best controller on the market--the WaveBird. It's wireless, inexpensive ($25), and with four of them, you can have one hell of a time playing FIFA, MonkeyBall, or MarioParty. I much prefer GC game titles because with few exceptions, they're of very high quality (as opposed to PS/2 and Xbox). Smaller selection, certainly, but there's at least a few games in there for everyone.
Oh, and don't forget "Pikmin" as a stellar game as well. The original Rogue Squadron has to be one of the most challenging (and best-looking) arcade games I've played.
I also have an Xbox but I much more prefer playing the Gamecube. Xbox Live is great for playing online but nothing beats the cube for party games and graphics.
I just bought SSX 3 for the cube and it has to be one of the best console games I have ever seen in terms of graphics, sound, gameplay, and extra features. Very close to the scale of Zelda.
As for smaller selection I don't believe that's a problem. There are a lot of crap titles for PS2 and Xbox that are little more than catalog filler. Any chance I can, I'll but a game on cube before Xbox.
I want one so bad, it hurts. I used to be the most hardcore gamer there was. I owned every system and drove my parents nuts with my constant vigilance in gaming. Life changed and I swayed away from gaming. A CG would be a great Christmas gift...especially with Zelda.
From now through December 24th, if you by a gamecube for $99, you get a bonus disc with four classic Zelda titles (NES, SNES & 64). If you don't get a cube now, you're outta your mind. One quick thing though, XBOX graphics are the highest quality out there, just look at reviews any time a game is out for all 3 systems, the reviewers almost always note that XBOX versions look and play the best (see Splinter Cell, GTA). As far as I'm concerned, all three systems get a lot of crap filler titles. Xbox and GC have less than PS2, but that's only cause PS2 has been out much longer. XBOX and GC have more quality titles for the amount of crap titles then PS2 did when it was as old as they are now. I'm a nerd.
Mathew, you're no more a nerd than any of us and always welcome here. By the way, how do you see the Xbox as having better graphics than the cube which comes with a better video card?
Seems like there are some great games for the GC. The bonus disc with all the zelda games is a great idea.
That said, wouldn't a 128bit 2-D Mario game be killer!!? Ala Metal Slug.
I picked up an xbox last year around this time. Had to choose between that and a GC. Being a mac guy, I really hated the idea of purchasing a Microsoft product. But Halo had captured my heart. So far, I've only bought 4 games: Splinter Cell, Halo, Raw2, Robotech (–Run like hell from this game, its god-awful). Definately a lot of filler to sift through. But the games that are good, are REALLY good.
The GC is like Macintosh in more ways than one. Where the GC lacks in blockbuster shoot-em-up titles that the other systems offer (Grand Theft Auto), the Cube more than makes up for it in offering games that are truly heads and tales above the rest in terms of playability and theory. Anyone can sit down and play a cube game. The perfect harmony of accessability and challenge. In addition, I like the fact that they decided to NOT include a DVD playback feature. Nintendo said... "We are a gaming company, not a movie company, and we would like to keep our focus where it should be." And just take a look at the design of the controller in comparison to the other systems. The GC is truly the gamer's console.
(man, that went a lot longer than I had hoped.)
>You could put a Pontiac Aztec next to an Xbox and I wouldn't be able to tell them apart, they are just that ugly.
Hilarious Greg! My father had 3 generations of the Pontiac Bonnevilles, each one my brothers and I called, "The Land Shark."
I love my GC... uh, I mean my kids. ;^)
Super Mario Sunshine was quite fun and NHL Hitz is one of the best console games I've ever played.
I love how inspired we all are on this. It's nice to see I'm not the only Nintendo die-hard left. In Re. to Greg- I run my Xbox on HDTV (most titles run it), the graphics just glisten (Splinter Cell and Prince of Persa; the two most beautiful games I've ever seen. Fable will be a sight to behold). Xbox pushes the framerate beautifully as well. Plus there's nothing quite like cruising around in GTA with your own soundtrack in the car stereo (Radiohead and Wu-Tang are currently in my tape deck in GTA: Vice City). I love the Xbox's cd capability for that. Anyone played Skies of Arcadia for GC? If you love old fashion console RPG's, you should like it. Of course, there will never be another RPG as good as Chrono Trigger or FF7, but that's a different subject...
I think I'm going to get one based on this thread alone! It seems like they've really worked on making it a fun experience for everyone. My wife would like to just play more games with me, but I've been so disenchanted with them for so long that I haven't been interested. I haven't played video games in years, but you all make it sound so enticing with your passion for the Gamecube. Thanks everyone!
There is something to be said about taking a friend out using a G3A3. The cube can't compete with that.
no thanks, i think i'll stick with my playstation 2.
I've had a GameCube for almost a year and a half now and besides my baby girl that was just born -- it is my favorite love (okay, add my wife in there somewhere).
Favorite games to date on the GC: Zelda WindWaker, Metroid, Smuggler's Run, TimeSplitters 2, MarioKart DoubleDash, Burnout 2.
I think there is one HUGE benefit to GC that everyone seems to forget to mention. There is practically NO load time for games in comparison to the annoying load screens and times on the PS2 and XBox.
Just my two cents.
GameCube doesn't have the wealth of great software that, say, the Xbox has though. Animal Crossing is a very poor game, for all its innovation (startlingly uninnovative once you play it). The new Zelda game is boring. Mario Kart DD is no longer a racing game, its a party game.
That the GameCube looks good is neither here nor there in my opinion; I'd rather have my Xbox tucked away underneath my desk and play great games over Xbox live than have something aesthetically pleasing.
BTW, the Mac comparison is slightly offensive as in the long run, Apple are doing well, and Nintendo really aren't :)
Yeah but doesnt psx have something like 3million units sold .. I think the only reason gamecube had a boost in sales is because they marked it down to 99 bucks.. they have to since there are hardly any games for it.. I think I'll stick with my xbox and psx
You convinced me. Bought one last night from the retarded clerk at toys r us.
now, where is the key board?
How come the cube design is successful for Nintendo, but the Mac Cube is long extinct!
p.s. it came with zelda!
One of us! One of us!