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GameCube (Games) Role Playing (Games) Entertainment Games

GameCube Resurgence Via RPGs? 50

Posted by simoniker from the good-quality-ninty-merchandise dept.
Daetrin writes "GamesAreFun.com is reporting that Namco's Tales of Symphonia RPG for GameCube sold 200,000 copies in its first day of release in Japan. It also reports that Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles for GameCube has sold over 350,000 units since its Japanese release last month. Perhaps the influx of RPGs will help revitalize the low GameCube hardware sales in Japan?" IGN Cube has hands-on impressions of Tales Of Symphonia, and GamesAreFun also mention the "73,000 pre-orders in Japan" for GC farming RPG Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, which comes complete with a plush cow if you pre-order Stateside.
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GameCube Resurgence Via RPGs? More

GameCube Resurgence Via RPGs?

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  • Every single person (Score:4, Insightful)

    by ihatesco ( 682485 ) on Wednesday September 03, 2003 @04:07AM (#6857041)
    Every single person who commented on the low profile of Nintendo 64 (we can't say demise or total failure because N64 continued to bring a positive cash flow to Nintendo and had several hit games like Mario 64, Perfect Dark, the two Zeldas and an F-Zero, not talking about Pokemon Stadium) said that it was because they mainly scared Square and Enix off, and the other producers followed suit.

    But the problem with N64, imho, and with Gamecube (which was instead going the Dreamcast way) was that there are no crappy games produced for the masses, no serial soccer/american football/whatever (like that ugly game series of FIFA and EA sports series).

    Normal People love to be able to buy a simple game for a party, yet to be able to access to good games as well, like Gran Turismo.

    Long Time Videogame Fandom (which is still an important market) instead likes to be able to buy great games, like Tales of Symphonia and FF: Crystal Cronicles, and sometimes to buy also a party game as well.

    If Nintendo wants to be again the number one, they have to lower the prices of SDKs, and win back the hearts of the videogame publishers. But if they want to continue like they are now they can only count on a shrinking fanbase... not everyone wants to play the same game with the same "childish atmosphere" (albeit if they have a "really adult gameplay").

    • Maybe. Perhaps you need to look at what happened. (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Inoshiro ( 71693 ) on Wednesday September 03, 2003 @06:22AM (#6857344) Homepage
      Nintendo has done a lot to win back video game publishers: witness such amazing events as lowered royatly rates, parterships for developing titles (Sega/Namco/Nintendo F-Zero), and farming out franchise characters for use in third-party titles (Link in Soul Calibur 2).

      Nintendo also has the crap games for the masses. They get the EA games the same as the PS2 or Xbox.

      So why isn't the GameCube more popular, since they did everything you said to do (except they did it before you posted here)? Because no one cares. They have a PS2 already (single console owners), or they have an Xbox (multiple console owners). Almost everyone who wants a GameCube has one; the rest either don't know they want it because of Nintendo's less than stellar advertising campaign, or will buy the Xbox version.

      Soul Calibur 2 and Madden 2004 prove exactly how different the audiences are. Right now, for every 3 PS2s in the North American market, there is 1 GCN and 1 Xbox (numbers aprox: PlayStation 2 18,485,673; Xbox 5,682,847; GameCube 4,429,930).

      How are these two games proving this? Madden 2004 came out on all 3 systems the same day. Madden 2004 for the PS2 has sold 35 to 1 versus the GameCube version (it has sold about much better on the Xbox; ~5 to 1). Soul Calibur 2 for the GameCube has sold 5 to 1 verus the PS2 version -- despite the number of potential PS2 Soul Calibur purchasers being 3x the number of GameCube purchasers. It's even managed to sell more than the Xbox version, again even though they Xbox market is bigger.

      These numbers tell us a few things. Most people who only own a PS2 only care about the so-called "crap" games for the masses. They are happy with their crap games on their system with slow load times and jaggy picture, even if they could potentially get it better elsewhere.

      If they person owns multiple consoles, chances are that the GameCube is a second console; the Xbox or PS2 is the primary. If they Xbox is the primary, they will probably by the Xbox version of multi-platform titles because the Xbox version "will be better." Even if the PS2 is the primary console, chances are the owner will play mainly Nintendo titles on the GameCube because their games come out first on the PS2 compared to the GameCube.

      It also tells us that people will buy for the GameCube when there is incentive to. The PS2 and GCN versions of SC2 have PL2 and widescreen; the GCN version also supports 480p. The Xbox triumphs over this with its 720p support and Dolby Digital audio. So why is the GameCube version selling more copies? Because Link's in it, duh! ;)

      I think the strong sales of Soul Calibur 2 on the GameCube despite the existance of an Xbox version will show third parties that GameCube titles will sell well when there is a reason to buy them. So far most of what the Xbox and GameCube get for third-party titles are warmed-over PS2 ports. Nintendo is trying to bump up the third-party exclusives because they know that people won't buy those titles in any noticable quantity because of the widely-held belief that, "the Xbox version is always better."

      Hopefully this example from Namco will show third-party publishers that simply porting a title is not enough; if they are willing to put in the effort to make each version distinct and worth owning, they will sell more copies than they would've otherwise. If they support the more powerful hardware (Xbox and GameCube) by truly using the features available to them, they will also sell more copies as compared to the PS2 version recompiled and slapped on a mini-DVD.

      Time will tell. Hopefully Nintendo will be able to make good on their promise to beat Sony to the 2005 next-gen console launches.
      • Really interesting post :) anyway...

        Nintendo has done a lot to win back video game publishers: witness such amazing events as lowered royatly rates, parterships for developing titles (Sega/Namco/Nintendo F-Zero), and farming out franchise characters for use in third-party titles (Link in Soul Calibur 2).

        Yes, the lower rates and technological partnerships are something new for Nintendo, but the farming out of franchise character isn't.

        Nintendo has already let Mario, Luigi and Zelda to be stars in third

        • Link feels so "outside" the Soul Calibur paradigm :(... at least Spawn is a character that has a charisma comparable to Cervantes' (is Cervantes in SC2? Haven't played it yet... think that yesterday evening I was playing with the first, SoulEdge on PSX)

          iirc Cervantes is an unlockable character in SC2 (I unlocked most of the characters this weekend so I'm not completely sure, I just know that he's definitely in there).

          I'd say the only reason Spawn doesn't feel right in SC2 is because I know he is an out

        • Nintendo has already let Mario, Luigi and Zelda to be stars in third party games, see Mario is Missing for the PC, Mario Typist (also for the PC), and Mario Hotel and Zelda for the CD-I.

          Mario is Missing and Mario Typist were "educational" titles (not sure what Missing is educating you on) so it's less of a big deal that they were on the PC. As for the CD-I titles, Nintendo had inked a deal with Phillips to make a SNES CD-ROM drive, but when that deal, like the Sony deal before it, went south, Phillips got

        • Link feels so "outside" the Soul Calibur paradigm :(... at least Spawn is a character that has a charisma comparable to Cervantes' (is Cervantes in SC2? Haven't played it yet... think that yesterday evening I was playing with the first, SoulEdge on PSX)

          Yep, Cervantes is unlockable, and is every much as bit a bitch as he was in the original Soul Calibur. :)

          Link fits in suprisingly well, actually, much better than I had hoped. I think I've had more fun playing him than any other character thus far, becaus

      • I think the strong sales of Soul Calibur 2 on the GameCube despite the existance of an Xbox version will show third parties that GameCube titles will sell well when there is a reason to buy them. So far most of what the Xbox and GameCube get for third-party titles are warmed-over PS2 ports. Nintendo is trying to bump up the third-party exclusives because they know that people won't buy those titles in any noticable quantity because of the widely-held belief that, "the Xbox version is always better."

        Or p
        • All things equal, the rough numbers are 3 PS2 customers to 1 Xbox customer to 1 GCN customer. Assuming that the Xbox customer happens to also have a GameCube, what makes him choose GCN version over the Xbox version?

          That's the point of the paragraph. Soul Calibur 2 is not just selling well because it's a good fighter on a console with few fighting games (Mortal Kombat aside), it's selling even better than expected considering how many multi-console homes are. People are choosing the GameCube version over
    • If there's anything where the GameCube and N64 excelled, it was at party games.

      Three words: Super Smash Brothers
    • But the problem with N64, imho, and with Gamecube (which was instead going the Dreamcast way) was that there are no crappy games produced for the masses, no serial soccer/american football/whatever (like that ugly game series of FIFA and EA sports series).

      I think the lack of variety turned off the hardcore audience as well (You can only play the same great titles for so long before you need to move on to another great game). I felt burned by the N64 not because there weren't good games for it, but becau

  • Farming is fun. Who knew? (Score:5, Informative)

    by gklinger ( 571901 ) on Wednesday September 03, 2003 @04:29AM (#6857088)
    Along side Grand Theft Auto and Unreal Tournament, games like Harvest Moon are easily overlooked and it's a real shame. The first time I encountered Harvest Moon was on the N64 and admittedly, I thought the idea of a game based around farming was ridiculous but I gave it a chance and I'm glad I did. It's fantastic. The Super Nintendo and Playstation versions are also quite good although I didn't enjoy the Playstation 2 version (called Save the Homeland) as much as it was too goal oriented. From what I've read Natsume is getting back to its roots (roots, farming, get it?) with A Wonderful Life. I can't wait.

    It's impossible to explain this game's charm. You just have to try it.

    If you want more information about the Harvest Moon franchise, check out the Harvest Moon Farm [hmfarm.com]. There's a lot of good info there.

  • I go on vacation to Dragon*Con, and GamesAreFun gets Slashdotteded. Fine, see if I care. ;-p

    Thursdae
    GAF staffer

  • If you have a GC you'll play with.... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by imperator_mundi ( 527413 ) on Wednesday September 03, 2003 @05:47AM (#6857242)
    Hype about a console is at its high at the launch time, when the installed base is equal to 0, installed base is at its high when the last console is sold (I suppose that not so many consoles are "killed in action") when hype is gone and underground since a while.

    Hype helps selling more consoles, more sold consoles help selling more games... there are maybe a couple of millions of japanese with a GC at home who don't have exactly what I would define as an infinite choice of titles, so say that one out of eight or ten want to play without buying a PS2 and the math is quickly done.

  • PS2 has the titles...baby. (Score:4, Interesting)

    by CheeseEatingBulldog ( 703915 ) on Wednesday September 03, 2003 @07:39AM (#6857571) Homepage
    The only reason I bought a Ps2 was because of 2 game titles..no more, no less. Gran Turismo and Final Fantasy. And seeing as FFX-2, FFXI and FFXII will be released on the Ps2, I am one happy puppy.

    Now, If I were into furries and cereal box characters I would have bought a non dvd playable game cube. Nintendo just doesn't have the titles, and even if you have chronicals, I have heard that a gameboy advanced is almost a neccesity...I think I'll stick to the Ps2.
    • So you bought a game console because of 2 currently released titles and you're saying the GameCube doesn't have anything?

      hmmm...

      Granted, I bought my PS2 because of Tekken, GT3, and Final Fantasy, but those aren't even the games I currently play on it (well, Final Fantasy 2, but I could've played that on my PS1). I probably won't be buying FFXI (MMO, no thanks), and might wait for FFX-2 and FFXII to drop in price a bit (or maybe wait for a US release of FFIII, if that's ever going to happen), because I hav
    • I'm willing to bet that most Gamecube owners already have a Gameboy Advance.
    • I thought FFX was a good test for what is to come, I mean the spoken dialog and fab graphics need a bit of fine tuning with the actual FF series, but still I wasn't dissapointed....

      Well ok I beat the end in 30 minutes because I had the sacred weapons and was pissed that I was killing so called end bosses with single limit break.....ok yes I was really pissed...

      But still ..I have high hopes for FFX-2...I think.
    • F-Zero GX, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Super Mario Sunshine, Mario Kart Double Dash, Wario World, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Metroid Prime, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Animal Crossing, Phantasy Star Online, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, Sonic Adventure DX, Soul Calibur II, Ikaruga, P.N. 03, Luigi's Mansion, Starfox Adventures, Mario Party 4, Super Monkey Ball 1 & 2, Viewtiful Joe, Pikmin, plus a horde of multi-platform titles like Tony Hawk and EA sports games.

      I'd say that's enough incentive to buy a Gamecube. It certainly beats buying a system for two games like you did.

      • Re:The Gamecube doesn't have the titles? (Score:4, Interesting)

        by blueskatz ( 241135 ) on Wednesday September 03, 2003 @03:38PM (#6861879)
        No kidding. I now have more Gamecube titles than any of my other [currently supported] consoles. In my opinion, there are plenty of really good games on other consoles, but the best games are found on Gamecube (though they're mostly first party). I'm really looking forward to Tales of Symphonia and Crystal Chronicles as well.

        All the gamecube really needs is more memory and a better advertising campaign. Maybe Nintendo will get that right next time.
      • I think you listed every single game for the gamecube. For the record PN03 isn't even released, and got really shitty previews. And I don't think Viewtiful Joe is out in the US yet either. Off the top of my head Phantasy Star Online is kind of a waste to get on gamecube. Have to buy an adapter I believe, and it's the same as the DC, PS2, and Xbox versions. Crystal Chronicles isn't even out in the US yet either. Sonic Adventure DX didn't get very good reviews either. I believe it was also just a DC port

    • My sister-in-law bought a Gamecube for one title: Animal Crossing.

      Oh, she also got a spare memory card (one comes with AC) and a gameboy.

    • Regarding the GBA nescessity for FF:CC, I think Penny Arcade said it best in their strip [penny-arcade.com].
  • FF chronicles has little to no chance to "revive" the GC. First of all the "each of your friends must have a GBA to play" is not exactly a final sale statement. 2nd, is not even final fantasy anymore is more like "Legend of mana" with 3d "ultra cute" characters. (IMO the main characters borrowed the teletubbie faces) put them against the hyped Final Fantasy X 2, and Final Fantasy XI online (both not available in the cube) theres no competition.

    If nintendo really wants to recover its ground it has to do 3

    • 3.-Have some good and original content based on franchises which are not 20+ years old! and that dont look to be made for preeschoolers

      You know what? Mario maybe 20+ years old, but he still sells very well, no need to retire him. The same goes for the rest of Nintendos characters (Samus, Kirby, Megaman, Link, Capt. Falcon, Pokemon, etc).

      Nintendo says in bussiness and is profitable because they sell franchises and characters that Nintendo fans want. Nintendo doesn't need to alienate their existing c

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