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GameCube (Games) Portables (Games) Entertainment Games

GameCube $99 Price Drop Now Official 80

Posted by simoniker from the cha-cha-ching dept.
Michael_Blessed writes "An MCV story confirms the official GameCube price drop to $99, effective tomorrow. Strangely, this brings it to a similar pricepoint as the GameBoy Advance..." There's an official press release over at Yahoo which clarifies that the deal includes no bundled games, but "opens an $80 price advantage over its two console competitors", and quotes NOA President, George Harrison, as saying "So far in 2003, Nintendo GameCube is the only home console showing an increase in unit sales compared to 2002." We reported on Amazon's ahead-of-time price drop yesterday.
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GameCube $99 Price Drop Now Official More

GameCube $99 Price Drop Now Official

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  • I might actually end up getting a Gamecube for Super Smash Bros. Melee now... This may be a prelude to Nintendo's next console's launch. Was there a similar price drop on the N64 before the Gamecube was released? Also, when are the PS3 and XBox2 due out?
    • I was just thinking the same thing, except for Final Fantasy and the Legends of Zelda game... $99 is hard to beat. It will be interesting to see if Microsoft and Sony move to match the price, of if they don't feel they need to... I don't think PS3 or Xbox2 are expected until 2005. So I don't think that factored into Nintendo's decision.
    • I'm fairly sure the N64 went through a pricedrop before the GCN was released. We do know that nintendo is releasing something "game related" next year. Or at the very least, announcing it at E3 2004 [gamerfeed.com].

      I believe the other consoles are looking at a 2005 update, but i'm not 100% on that.

    • Re:Sweet... (Score:3, Informative)

      by shoptroll ( 544006 )
      You're kidding right? The system has only been here for a year and a half. The next system is still a ways off. Xbox2 is still only on the drawing board, with ATI and Nvidia having just gotten done with battleing for the GPU on that.

      Just because a system announces a price drop that doesn't mean something new is on the horizon. Heck the price dropped two summers ago to its last current price ($149).

      If you read the press release on nintnedo's website [nintendo.com] it's obvious this is a pre-emptive holiday drop.

      E

    • Does it matter when the next systems are due out? The dates don't affect the games available for any system today - it's not like they'll stop existing when the next generation systems come out.

      If you think the price of a system and games is worth paying, for the games that are available now (or very close to being available), then the release of future systems won't change that. Especially since new systems are always much more expensive and have a lot less gamewise to choose from.

      I learned my lesson f
    • I'm going to be getting a GameCube now too. I think $99 is worth it for the chance to play a new F-Zero, Zelda, Metroid and Super Smash Brothers game.

      As for when the next consoles come out, don't sweat it. Probably at least 18 to 24 months out. Enjoy the games now if you can afford them.

  • Bundles? (Score:1, Redundant)

    by AndyBusch ( 160585 )
    Of course, the article doesn't state either way whether there will still be a pack-in/free game/Game Boy Player, or if they are moving to only a demo disc inside. Most of the freebie games are now player's choice titles, so it's still $130 as opposed to $150, so that can still help.
    • Odd...you are a new kind of slashdotter, you RTFA (well, one of them) but you don't read the little blurb describing the article. I'll help you out:

      There's an official press release over at Yahoo which clarifies that the deal includes no bundled games

      Too bad. Maybe by Christmas. If I get some spare cash I might pick one up:)
    • If you want Metroid (one of the bundled games at the previous $150 price), check your local Blockbuster video. Many of them were selling it for $20 new. Other than that, try looking for the others used. All of the prices should be coming down once they stop bundling them at $150. Then again, it also makes the GB Player bundle pretty much an even deal (which it always seemed to be anyway, when the games were $50). As always, just look at the bundles offered to you and get the best deal you can. The EB I boug
    • Actually, whoever modded that one redundant is wrong... the Yahoo press release that the blurb says talks about bundles doesn't actually say a word about them...

      Mod parent up and whatnot.

    • Re:Bundles? (Score:4, Informative)

      by Acidic_Diarrhea ( 641390 ) on Wednesday September 24, 2003 @04:18PM (#7048060) Homepage Journal
      I e-mailed Nintendo earlier today about this issue because of the previous article. I asked when the price drop would take effect and what would be bundled with it. Here's the response I got.

      Hello and thank you for contacting Nintendo,
      As far as I know, the $99.95 will be for the Nintendo GameCube Control Deck only. There will be no game enclosed in the packaging.
      Now, when will it be available? The new prices will be effective tomorrow (September 25th), but remember that retailers always determine the prices at which the sell their merchandise. You may want to shop around for the best deals!!

      So even though the Yahoo article doesn't mention one way or the other, the Slashdot blurb is correct - there will be no game for $99.

  • .... about to put my GameCube on eBay (along with my XBox)... but now that I'd be lucky to get $75 out of it... I might as well keep it. Stinks that I bought it at $200 but that's obviously going to happen. And I've gotten my extra $100 out of it.

  • NOA President George Harrison? (Score:1, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    I got my mind set on you!
  • Is it just me or is this statment from the Yahoo article a gross exaggeration:

    "This is not only good for Nintendo, but great for consumers," says Lucky Evani, Toys 'R Us representative. "For $99, you can now buy video game technology that you couldn't have purchased for $99,000 just a few years ago."

    I'd be apt to believe *maybe* $9,900 on a bad day... unless of course he just means you couldn't have purchased it period because it didn't exist or there was only 1 or 2 prototypes sitting around.
    • I think he means that the technology wasn't even up to the specs of the GameCube a few years ago even if you wanted to spend just under 6 figures on it. That being said, a few years ago is a pretty arbitrary value, as you could've put a PC or Mac together with similar specs shortly before the release of the GameCube for much less than even $9000.

    • Re:Gross exaggeration? (Score:4, Interesting)

      by bluGill ( 862 ) on Wednesday September 24, 2003 @02:13PM (#7046606)

      I don't know. I think there is a SGI system of a few years back that would be similear, and cost more than $90,000. I'm thinking something like a multi-way MIPS system at 90mhz from 10 years ago, with the specialized sgi graphics hardware.

      Unfortunatly I've used the systems, but I have no idea how you would compare specifications to see if there was ever a system of similear power for more than $90,000.

    • It is a gross exaggeration, but I think you can forgive a "Toys R Us representative" for not having clue 1 about tech.
    • The GameCube Specifications [nintendo.com] describe it basically as a 485 MHz PowerPC 750 [ibm.com] (IBM's "Gekko"). This would be roughly analagous to a high-end PowerMac G3 or an entry-level PowerMac G4, perhaps something like the Apple PowerMac G4 Cube [apple.com].

      Yeah, I have a tough time buying the "$99,000" thing, because "A few years ago" was the year 2000, the same year the more powerful Apple PowerMac G4 Cube was released at 450 MHz, and the GameCube itself debuted in 2001!

  • Should have cut the game prices instead (Score:5, Insightful)

    by HotNeedleOfInquiry ( 598897 ) on Wednesday September 24, 2003 @02:00PM (#7046422)
    A $99 console is nice, but it still doesn't mean market share when the games are $40 each.
    • The problem with Nintendo is not their game sales. If you look at Soul Calibur II sales for example, Nintendo is ahead of the pack. They're outselling the PS2 version 3 to 2. The problem is that game developers are not making games at all for GC because of low number of cubes owned. Nintendo is trying to get more game developers on board (or back on board as some have recently dropped GC support completely) by lowering the hardware prices and making GC development more attractive.
    • This is one of the big problems with Big N's extremely strict game quality control. It was a good idea when people were still reeling from the demise of the 2600, but by now we're all used to the idea that video games aren't going away and that they're a good investment.

      The problem is that N isn't getting enough games. Not only is it hurting the current market, but they also don't have a backlog of games to sell at reduced prices, a la the now 300+ title "PS2 Greatest Hits" line. (I do find it telling t
      • I find it more telling that 90% of the cheap PS2 games are absolute crap. I also find it interesting that games which hit the 100k copy mark before launch take forever to get on the list, and many of those still aren't. Oh yea, and the fact that Sony has a year and a half to get games out there has nothing to do with their larger catalog either. Bottom line, yes Sony has a lot of games on the market. They also have a year on N. Personally tho, I think that on a pure level of quality gaming, Nintendo wh
        • I agree that $40 game prices are standard and therefore not a Big N issue. Aside from that pay no attention to the Nintendork. Yomiko has issues with Sony (I think a big wig there mollested him) so he tends to look past the fact that for every good game on Nintendo there is at least one on Playstation. This is due in part to the fact that Playstation has far more games out, so obviously there is plenty of crap. People seem to always think however that the amount of games for Playstation is somehow a bad thi
        • Tekken Tag/4, Grand Theft Auto, Twisted Metal: Black, Final Fantasy X, Baldur's Gate, Devil May Cry, Gran Turismo 3, Myst 3, MGS2, Midnight Club, Onimusha, Silent Hill 2, Test Drive and Red Faction are crap games?

          Okay, well, you've got me on Red Faction. Otherwise, jesus, what games do *you* play?
          • FFX isn't on the lst, Substance is way better than the original MGS2(I do own that, BTW), and I got tired of Twisted Metal on the playstation. Oh, Tekken 4 is about the worst Tekken game ever. No balance between characters at all. Baldur's Gate is pretty bad too. Not nearly as good as the PC version. Aside from those, good point, but even 5 out of 300 is about 2%, which is much less than 10% of all the games on the list which are good.
      • There's still a chance the market could flop over like a bunch of fish...

        A LOT of people are starting to look at the industry now... Why? Because it is making money... Not only that, it has grown during America's recent depression/recession/bubble burst/whatever. The industry makes more than hollywood.

        This is probably the same reason why MS got into this in the first place.

        And now we have more systems hitting the market? We got the N-Gage poised to flop, the phantom in vapor-land, and i just heard

        • > There's still a chance the market could flop
          > over like a bunch of fish...

          Yeah, and there's also a chance that TV could go away. Personally, I don't think either event is particularly likely.

          > 1) Too many systems = too many options for
          > consumers.

          Sorry. When the market crashed, it was Atari and Atari. And nobody else.

          > 2) Too many clone games = not enough original
          > titles

          Close. It wasn't that there were too many unoriginal titles. It was that almost every game out there sucked
      • ...on the path [sourceforge.net] to a Beowulf cluster of these. And of course, it could run [phased.co.uk] stuff [sourceforge.net] and then you'd have lots and lots of games. Of course, the game developers might not be entirely happy about the end result, but y'get that. (-:

        I wonder if it'd be possible to usefully adapt a 512MB SDRAM stick for the GameCube? (-:

  • Statistics for anything (Score:4, Funny)

    by kneecarrot ( 646291 ) on Wednesday September 24, 2003 @02:07PM (#7046535)
    I'm always amazed how someone can come up with a statistic to support pretty much any conclusion. I think if the Cube were to be yanked completely due to lack of sales, Nintendo would say:
    "We are the only console maker to fully realize and pinpoint our maximum sales potential."

  • Funny, we have George Harrison, as saying 'So far in 2003, Nintendo GameCube is the only home console showing an increase in unit sales compared to 2002.' ... and then you have Gamebiz quoting Microsoft [gamesindustry.biz] 'Quoting statistics from US market research body NPD Funworld, the company claims that the Xbox is the only console which has continuously demonstrated positive market share growth in the past year, while sales of software in August grew faster than either of its rivals and boosted the console's attach rate

    • The statistics are entirely different. Nintendo claims an increase in unit sales from 2002 to 2003. That is to say that, strictly in terms of sales, more Gamecubes were sold in 2003 than were sold in 2002.

      Microsoft, on the other hand, is only claiming that the percentage of people who own an XBox has consistantly gone up over the past year compared to the other two consoles. In other words, Microsoft's statistic is in comparison with both Nintendo and Sony, whereas Nintendo's statistic is in comparison only with themselves.

      Considering that Nintendo released a Zelda game early in the year, my guess is that they then had a slow quarter somewhere after that, so their share did not substantially increase in a given quarter, while their overall sales increased dramatically for the year.
    • Someone else already pointed this out, but I wanted to clarify a bit:

      Funny, we have George Harrison, as saying 'So far in 2003, Nintendo GameCube is the only home console showing an increase in unit sales compared to 2002.'

      Nintendo says: We sold more consoles this year than we did last year. Sony and Microsoft did not sell more consoles than they did last year. ... and then you have Gamebiz quoting Microsoft [gamesindustry.biz] 'Quoting statistics from US market research body NPD Funworld, the company c
  • Cheap computers! Somebody should port Linux to the Cube...just imagine a Beowulf cluster of these! =P

  • Hell of a Deal (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Azerphale ( 137733 )
    I got the cube at $150 USD and trolled used game stores to find Smash Bros., Monkey Ball, Rogue Leader, and Resident Evil for less than $25 a piece.

    Now that Metroid Prime, Zelda: Wind Waker, and Soul Calibur II have graced this little platform that could; There's almost no excuse for the hardcore gamer not to own one.

    I find that it complements my PC nicely allowing me to play most of the console games that won't grace the PC. I'll even admit to being a fan of 80% of the Nintendo liscences. It's even handy

  • Mike Hawk predicts the future... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Mike Hawk ( 687615 ) on Wednesday September 24, 2003 @04:22PM (#7048108) Journal
    Replace Dreamcast with Gamecube. [ign.com]

    Not that I like linking to IGN, but it was the first that came up from google.

    • Re:Mike Hawk predicts the future... (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Daetrin ( 576516 ) on Wednesday September 24, 2003 @04:32PM (#7048216)
      And your point is? Are you trying to make the correlation that the GameCube is going to go the way of the Dreamcast? If so, how are you making that argument?

      All three of the current consoles have cut prices multiple times so far since their release, so why are you singling out the GameCube? Because it was first in this particular round? Sony was the first in other rounds, yet they're still around. Nintendo and Microsoft followed suit in those cuts, and Sony and Microsoft will do the same in this round as the holidays grow nearer. Because it was the first to get below $100? GameCube started out the cheapest, so of course it's going to be the first to go below $100 (unless either Sony or Microsoft had _really_ screwed up)

      So what is the rationale for this claim, or are you just being a troll?

    • I predict Nintendo will make more money than Sony this fiscal year. How are my odds looking?

  • IGN says "NO BUNDLE" (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Trillian_1138 ( 221423 ) <slashdot@fridaythang. c o m> on Wednesday September 24, 2003 @04:23PM (#7048128)
    According to an article on IGN Cube [ http://cube.ign.com/articles/451/451364p1.html?fro mint=1 ] Harsison, VP of marketing and communications had a conference call with media reps and such. Durring the call he fielded questions, and IGN posted quotes of the call. Here are some of the choice picks:

    "This is an aggressive move by Nintendo. This is an indication that this generation of consoles is about to enter the mass market."
    "We believe this [GCN price at $99] is the best value in the history of videogames."
    "Between now and the New Year more than 100 new GameCube titles will hit the shelves."
    On GBA and GCN now selling at the same price: ""I don't think it creates a problem. In fact, you can buy an SP and a GCN for the price that you now pay for a PlayStation 2 bundle. We continue to sell as many GBAs as we can get."

    And, perhaps most interesting to those without GC's or (like myself) those with but still interested in how Nintendo is planning their marketing strategies:

    "We don't have any plans to do any software bundles."

    Personally, I think this is a poor choice. Even a Player's Choice bundle worth $20 (with Star Fox Adventures, Pikmin and Luigi's Mansion now at $19.99) there's a mental bonus to getting a system with a free game. And, as far as I know, those games are not huge sellers so I doubt Nintendo would lose a huge number of game sales from the deal...

    Also of intrest, Harrison said, "GameCube production will begin again later this fall."

    -Trillian
    • Sorry about the above link. Guess it didn't like me. Here's a link to the IGN Cube story [ign.com]. -Trillian
    • Absolutely. Realistically, the Cube has been $100 for months now if you include the value of the "free" game in the bundle. And anyway, what GameCube owner would not have wanted Wind Waker, Metroid Prime, or Mario Party 4?

      At least throw in a couple of stinkin' eCards.

    • *Bzzzt* Wrong....

      Check the nintendo website... Their press release for this price drop also mentions Metroid Prime and others hitting Greatest Hits.

      Basically 1/2 the games available for bundle are now $30. Do the math = you come out $20 richer than before.... Unless you get a mem. card. Then you're par for the course.
      • Shoptroll said, "*Bzzzt* Wrong....Basically 1/2 the games available for bundle are now $30. Do the math = you come out $20 richer than before...."

        Well, sort of. As far as I can tell, including looking around the Nintendo sight, I am right about Nintendo dropping the bundle. But I didn't say it wasn't a better value than it used to be, because in that respect you are correct. Getting a $99 Gamecube and a newly added $19.99 or $29.99 players choice game is cheaper than the old bundle, $149 for a GCN and a ga
  • I bought an SP instead..... all the better for FFCC!

  • Perhaps the narrow focus will win. (Score:4, Interesting)

    by nobodyman ( 90587 ) on Wednesday September 24, 2003 @04:46PM (#7048345) Homepage

    Many analysts have faulted the Gamecube for it's inibility to play DVD's. However, the gamecube's narrow focus as stricktly a gaming machine has enabled it to go to a pricepoint that Sony and Micrsosoft (probably) won't match.

    Imho, $99 put's the gamecube in the "impulse buy" range. Also, Nintendo now has a line of budget titles. This might be the gamecube's turning point. Certainly not a level of success on the order of what the ps2 has seen, but perhaps a rehash of the situation with the N64 -- the market was big enough to attract developers and turn a profit.

    • Re:Perhaps the narrow focus will win. (Score:1, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward
      The GameCube is already profitable, for the very reason you cite: It is a dedicated gaming machine. No R&D, no DVD licensing issues, no extra hardware cost, low-power-usage CPU (PowerPC variant), etc. mean that the GameCube has always been the least expensive of all the current consoles to manufacture. At $100, I think the margin is extremely small, but I still think that, given the times and the fall of associated manufacturing costs, Nintendo will continue to make a profit on every GameCube sold, e
    • At $99, its in the "mom wonders what is wrong with the system that it is so cheap" range.

      Here's [amazon.com] another game product under $100, but I don't think anyone expects it to compete with XBOX and PS2 because of its pricepoint.

      The smell of desperation will be too much at any price now.
      • Nokia Rules!

        Go buy your N-Gage today! It's fun and the graphics on it are better than anything the Gamecube has got! Seriously, Tony Hawk Pro Skater is the best around - it doesn't get better than that, even if you're a professional skateboard. Kick it!

  • Recent Slashdot headline not a baseless rumor!

  • Used Gamecubes? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by dafoomie ( 521507 ) <dafoomie AT hotmail DOT com> on Thursday September 25, 2003 @03:58AM (#7052907) Homepage
    How much are used gamecubes now that the price has gone down, at places like EB? They were $100 used and $150 new... Does that mean a used GC will go for $50? Probably higher, which makes it not worth it to go used.
    • gamestop.com is showing the used GC's for $89 now and the new GC's for $99 (just to show that they have updated their pricing). At that price point, I think it's worth it just to spend the extra money and get a brand new system. Of course, perhaps the used price will go down. After all, retailers would be selling used consoles that they paid consumers X amount for on the trade-in so they certainly wouldn't want to sell them back to people for anything below X. But now that the new GC's are at 99, when you t
  • ...is, when will Sony cut the MSRP on the PS2 to compete? I could give a rat's ass about the GC, but would really like to play the .hack series, and have about $130 worth of "points" on a credit card that I'd redeem for a PS2 if the price came down.

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