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GameCube (Games) Entertainment Games

Acclaim - GameCube Not Worth Publishing For? 72

Posted by simoniker from the maybe-no-great-loss? dept.
Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a GamePro report claiming that Acclaim Entertainment is dropping support for the Gamecube. The article quotes UK trade magazine MCV's interview with new Acclaim CEO Rod Cousens, who says "Why should we develop for platforms that don't deliver profits for us? We will still support the PS2 and Xbox, but Nintendo? No, not in the foreseeable future." Reportedly, this won't be true for the handful of in-development GameCube conversions at the troubled publisher, but these harsh words seem to imply that further Burnout sequels, amongst others, will not be coming to GameCube. Update: 06/23 22:08 GMT by S : Planet GameCube got an official comment from the publisher which says "Acclaim will now evaluate each title and decide which system(s) it best fits", but it's clear the CEO is still very down on GameCube.
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Acclaim - GameCube Not Worth Publishing For? More

Acclaim - GameCube Not Worth Publishing For?

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  • The trouble with the cube (Score:5, Insightful)

    by lightspawn ( 155347 ) on Monday June 23, 2003 @04:31PM (#6277092) Homepage
    The gamecube's curse is the quality of Nintendo's first-party games.

    With the PS2 and that other console, one company makes the hardware and maybe a handful of game titles, and the rest of the sales are divided between all other publishers.

    With Nintendo, the quality and brand recognition of the flagship titles (Metroid, Zelda, Mario, etc) are so irresistable many first-party games are considered must-have purchases, leaving cube owners little time and money for third-party titles.

    Quality kills.

    • Or maybe there are a lot of people in my situation. I bought a Gamecube for the first party titles, and also have a PS2 as well. For a lot of games (Splinter Cell, Tom Clancy things) I feel the PS2 controller is better because it has more buttons. So I buy that kind of stuff for the PS2, and the Gamecube just gets used for first party Nintendo stuff.
      • Exactly. Even if I wanted to play certain cross-platform games on the Gamecube, the controller is just so poorly suited to most sports games and FPSs (for example) that I invariably get them for another console. Even the exceptional appeal of the Wavebird isn't enough to overcome the lack of a usable D-pad and a real second analog stick, and the uncomfortable placement of the Z-button. 1st party titles work pretty well, but 3d party cross-platform games invariably control better on PS2 or XBox.
      • I think you hit the nail on the head. I read a study recently that said that regardless of what percentage of the overall market the GameCube holds, almost all 'Cube owners are also PS2 owners.
        • The other thing is that beyond action/sports games being better suited to the PS2 when something gets ported to the 'Cube months after the PS2 I generally don't care anymore. Like GTA3, I hear that's coming to the cube, but I won't buy it because I already have the PS2 version. But if you made me choose between the two I'd roll with the 'cube because it's got a higher proportion of good to bad games. Most PS2 stuff is crap. And then you've got Mario Kart coming, which is hands down the best multiplayer game
      • Psst, you can use your PS2 controller with the Gamecube with a simple converter cable, which can be found at various stores like CompUSA etc...
    • Good point - I wonder what the typical proportion is among Cube owners of first-party to third-party titles that they own.

      Out of the 8 games I have, 5 are first-party (Animal Crossing, Metroid Prime, Smash Bros: Melee, Eternal Darkness, Zelda), while 3 are third-party (THPS4, Super Monkey Ball, Super Monkey Ball 2). My friends who have cubes all have more first party than third also, and my father is about a 50-50 split, but then again, he seems to randomly purchase cheap games for it.

      • Metroid Prime, Zelda Wind Waker, Smash Bros Melee, Mario Sunshine and Waverace (5) vs. NHL 2003, Madden 2002 and Super Monkey Ball (3) for me as well.

        I bought the GCN for the high quality first-party games, really. I grew up with Nintendo and the Zelda/Mario franchises so I expected the first-party titles to be excellent, and for the most part the GCN has delivered. I prefer to wait and spend my money and time on titles worth playing (i.e. Zelda Wind Waker, Metriod Prime, Mario Sunshine) rather than buy/r

        • Most of the crap produced by Acclaim is just fuel for the teenage dorks that make up most of the the XBox buyers anyway ...

          Acclaim is not known for games targeted at youngsters, which is the Cube's market. Same for the other third party developers: no drive to market quality E rated games. Which means Nintendo has been given a monopoly by default.

          PS Referencing a previous /. post, wasn't Acclaim listed for breaking contracts in the 25 dumbest moments in gaming? Point is the company DOES have a his

      • I don't know, I've felt that at least compared to the PS2, many games are better with the gamecube controller. The Second Analog stick is in a normal place comparatively, but I love the left analog stick where it's at. Granted, it does need a bigger d-pad.

        As for my games. I have a few.
        First Party: (4) Super Smash Brothers Melee, Eternal Darkness, Zelda (and N64 versions), Rogue Leader,

        Third Party: (12) Fifa 2002, Outlaw Golf, TimeSplitters 2, Simpsons Road Rage, crazy taxi, Tony Hawk 3, All Star Baseba
      • Let's see, for the GC I have Animal Crossing, Super Smash Brothers Melee, Super Mario Sunshine, Metroid Prime, Zelda Wind Waker. 3 of those games (Metroid, Smash Bros., and Mario) I bought in the $20-30 range, as well, and Zelda came with the system (I found out the GameBoy Player replaces the game if you buy it with the system, so I bought the system with Zelda and pre-ordered the Player; there was also a bundle with Mario and a memory card for $160 but I got Mario and the memory card for less than $50).

        M
    • I completely agree. Back when it was the time of Nintendo 64s and Gameboy colors, I purchased both because of Nintendos licences and characters. I felt like I would never see Mario and Pokemon(yes, Pokemon) on any other console, and I was right. Now, I bought an xbox and play mostly third party titles. My cousin had a game cube, and ALL they had was first party titles, smash brothers, Lugi. With the new competition, the Xbox, Acclaim and other third party developers have to decide where they will make their

    • Re:The trouble with the cube (Score:2, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Elaborating on this:

      There's an interesting article posted today over on N-Sider [n-sider.com] called "Nintendo's Missing Mojo" that discusses Nintendo's relationship with 3rd Party developers, including Acclaim. The article basically says that in order to capture a larger market share, the big N needs to stop viewing 3rd party developers as competitors and needs to view them as partners.

    • Re:The trouble with the cube (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Sentry21 ( 8183 ) on Monday June 23, 2003 @09:37PM (#6280113) Journal
      DISCLAIMER: The opinions mentioned in this post are my own, and have nothing to do with the opinions of EB Games. Likewise, EB Games has nothing to do with my own opinions, and this post doesn't have much to do with anything.

      With Nintendo, the quality and brand recognition of the flagship titles (Metroid, Zelda, Mario, etc) are so irresistable many first-party games are considered must-have purchases, leaving cube owners little time and money for third-party titles.

      I don't think that's the problem. The problem is that after you have all the must-have purchases (Mario games, Zelda, Metroid - Eternal Darkness is Nintendo, isn't it?), the rest of the games are mediocre at best.

      I recently acquired a SNES. I have a few RPGs in a box in my parents' house from ages ago (now that they've moved, I'll never find them), and I have Zelda right here. I'm also going to do my best to dig up the other games. Why? The graphics, by today's 'standards', suck. The audio isn't digitally sampled accoustically balanced CD-quality Dolby 5.1. But you know what? They were fun. They were challenging. They were inventive. There was a lot of crap, but there were a lot of games that were worth playing too. Actraiser was neat. Raiden Trad. Mario games. Lots of fun multiplayer games, and lots of fun single-player games.

      What does the Gamecube have? Not much. It has all the first-party titles, and believe me, they rock. But after that? Nothing. Well, not really. Nothing worth buying unless you can take it back to EB within two weeks for something else.

      Here's a tip for all you gamers, too. If there's a game you really want, go to EB and buy a game that you may or may not want. Try it out. If you like it enough to keep it, keep it. If not, take it back within two weeks, and get the full trade-in value, and put it towards the game that you know you want. You get to try a game out, and the only downside is that you can't bring back the game you know you really wanted as a trade in if you don't like it, which you know you will.

      Anyway, having worked at EB, there is one thing I know for sure: there are a lot of really good games. The only problem is, there are some for the GC, some for XB, some for PS2, and some for GBA. THIS is the problem with the gaming industry.

      But Dan, you're so wise and sexy and virile and you're always right, but I don't understand how competition is a bad thing.

      Exclusivity.

      Let's pretend I'm the age I act, and I'm looking forward to my 14th birthday. My parents are suburbanites, and want to get me a game console so I can play games. The available consoles (last I checked) were $300, $300, and $230, or so. This quite clearly says that I can only get one. Couple this with exclusive titles. Exclusive titles are, when good (like Splinter Cell, or Final Fantasy) what drive console sales. They are the killer apps of gaming. I know for a fact that I will get a PS2, because I know that FFX and FFX2 are only on PS2. It's simple. So I have to decide, do I want FFX and X2, and see Yuna in those too-short-to-be-shorts shorts, or do I want to go unnoticed into the darkness and kill those who would attack our (your) fair country?

      Well, I'll get a paper route, and I'll buy both. Ok, so now I have a PS2, which I bought, and an XBox, which my parents bought. I also got XBox Live, the PS2 broadband adapter, and keyboards, and mice, and dongles and switches, and everything.

      I've spent a thosuand dollars on gaming. Why on earth would I spend another five hundred? It doesn't make sense. The exclusive Nintendo-only games aren't as 'cool' as Splinter Cell, or as huge as Final Fantasy (supposedly). So they're not as big of a draw. They're kid games. Games that three-year-olds play while their parents try to keep them from drooling on the controller.

      Nevermind that even the most cynical of 18-to-25 geeks that I know seem to generally love these games (then again, even the most cynical of 18-to-25 geeks that I know are closet Mac fans to

  • Not to complain.... (Score:3, Informative)

    by brkello ( 642429 ) on Monday June 23, 2003 @04:35PM (#6277125)
    But you could have just stated the whole article by adding, "Acclaim noted that Cousens comments were taken out of context. Cousens was just explaining how Acclaim is re-evaulating what consoles to release their games on." So in other words, this is a bit of a non-issue. If they can profit on the gamecube, they will, if they can't, then it won't be supported.
    • If they can profit on the gamecube, they will, if they can't, then it won't be supported.

      The only way that could happen is if they stopped making crap, but then they wouldn't be making any games at all.

      I made that sound like a bad thing, but it's not.

      --Dan

  • Bah... (Score:1, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    This isn't the first time Acclaim has blamed its financial woes on a console instead of the fact that they make lots of derivative caca and think people will buy it because they saw it on a tombstone.

  • Good riddance ... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by SuperRob ( 31516 ) on Monday June 23, 2003 @04:49PM (#6277301) Homepage
    At first blush, it's easy to take all these "doom and gloom" reports as the inevitable sinking of the GameCube. But look at who has been dropping their support ... companies like Midway and Acclaim, who are used to being able to shovel crap onto any system and get it to sell through slick marketing.

    We're in a recession. Gamers are educating themselves more, and are spending their dollars on games that will give them the most bang for the buck. For the GameCube market, that means that most are saving their hard earned cash on first-party games.

    So what does the loss of Acclaim mean in the long run? Jack shit, honestly. Less games that weren't selling anyway, so what? The GameCube won't be dead until Nintendo stops supporting it, and Nintendo supports their machines better than anyone.

    • Re:Good riddance ... (Score:4, Insightful)

      by lightspawn ( 155347 ) on Monday June 23, 2003 @04:57PM (#6277412) Homepage
      We're in a recession. Gamers are educating themselves more, and are spending their dollars on games that will give them the most bang for the buck.

      We wish.

      How many games are purchased after reading reviews? 5%? 10%? How many are purchased on a whim, or by parents who figure if the kids like superman they gotta like the game, or just because it's got a 2-player mode and you kids can play together and quit kicking your brother and leave me the hell alone I'm trying to drink?
      • How many games are purchased after reading reviews? 5%? 10%? How many are purchased on a whim, or by parents who figure if the kids like superman they gotta like the game, or just because it's got a 2-player mode and you kids can play together and quit kicking your brother and leave me the hell alone I'm trying to drink?

        Except that if any of what you said were still true (it certainly USED to be), then companies like Acclaim and Midway wouldn't be shy about continuing their shovelware reputations. If the

        • The point that you apparently completely missed is that times, they are a'changin', and that people are spending less and going for the tried and true, rather than just buying any old thing. While not everyone is reading reviews, people are buying on word of mouth more, and when one person has read a review, they'll tell their friends.

          Something else I've noticed is that game stores are pushing more trade-ins now, so they can sell the same game 2 days later for $5 less, and the publisher doesn't get anythi

      • How many games are purchased after reading reviews? 5%? 10%? How many are purchased on a whim, or by parents who figure if the kids like superman they gotta like the game, or just because it's got a 2-player mode and you kids can play together and quit kicking your brother and leave me the hell alone I'm trying to drink?

        True, but I reckon a huge number of games are bought based on word-of-mouth. At work the parents buy games for their kids (or so they say; I think they play the games too) and word-of-

      • How many are purchased on a whim, or by parents who figure if the kids like superman they gotta like the game

        I have played Nintendo games since the original NES. I was 10 years old when I got that system. My parents have never bought a game for me, except for cases where I requested a specific game for Christmas. (a game that I probably would have gotten anyway)

        So the games I have are the ones that I wanted and were willing to pay for. (for somone that had to save up allowance to get a game, that's

  • Quality of Games (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Gr33nNight ( 679837 )
    Hey Acclaim, stop making shitty games and maybe I will buy one that you create.

    --GameCube owner

  • Acclaim games... (Score:4, Funny)

    by bmorton ( 170477 ) on Monday June 23, 2003 @04:59PM (#6277441)
    When I sit back and think about all the Acclaim games that I've ever enjoyed... ...nevermind. I can't think of any. Maybe I've forgotten a good one, but I can't see this is so much of a loss.

    My only disappointment is the unlikeliness of a Mary Kate and Ashley Gamecube game. :(

  • So let's see (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Schnapple ( 262314 ) <tomkiddNO@SPAMgmail.com> on Monday June 23, 2003 @05:01PM (#6277460) Homepage
    The same place that gave use Turok sequel after Turok sequel, the crap that was BMX XXX and apparently isn't above suggesting that tombstones are fodder for advertising and that speeding tickets are fine so long as they're on the way to buy Burnout 2 is maybe leaving the GameCube. Big whoop. Nintendo's better off without their about-to-go-out-of-business ass.

    On a more important note, anyone notice how it's always places like 3DO that make statements like this? Everyone focuses on one message "see! the GameCube sucks!" instead of the real message "we're reducing our platforms by one to see if we can stay in business".

    • How will I ever get my Turok fix?! Any game that manages to have that many sequels getting exponentially worse over time had to have some pact with Satan. Them and Home Alone.

  • Not the end... at all... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Iscariot_ ( 166362 ) on Monday June 23, 2003 @05:04PM (#6277500)
    Don't think that this spells the end, or the begining of the end, for the GameCube. The GameCube is kinda like a Mac in my opinion. It has a very defined nitche, but it is still very profitable. Many people are addicted to it. Just like you can only run OSX on a Mac (at a resonable speed), you can only play Nintendo's games on GCN.

    I will always buy Nintendo systems as long as the big N is creating super-high quality games for their systems. I own all three systems, and somehow I end up playing GameCube the most. I guess I'm still addicted to the ZMM (Zelda, Mario, Metroid, etc.) universes.

    I'm anxious to see how Nintendo changes their direction with their next-gen console to solve some of these problems. These are tough times, and three consoles creates a saturated market.
    • I couldn't agree with you more. I own all three systems as well and find myself playing GameCube the most. I would have to say out of the three systems the one that's barely used is my PS2. GameCube definitely has a niche; I loved your analogy of the GameCube and a MAC. What the GameCube has going for it is the uniqueness of the games on the system. In my opinion the PS2 and Xbox games are very similar, but the GameCube titles are so different. I see no reason in owning an Xbox and a PS2, there basica

    • My vote (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Daetrin ( 576516 )
      I'm anxious to see how Nintendo changes their direction with their next-gen console to solve some of these problems. These are tough times, and three consoles creates a saturated market.

      Backwards compatibility (must have.) A second left shoulder button (must have.) Perhaps a better second analog stick. Some people have complained about the d-pad, but i don't have any complaints there. Develop a better online gaming presence, regardless of how important or not it is to the average gamer the lack is a PR ki

      • Re:My vote (Score:3, Informative)

        by andyt ( 149701 )
        And most important, find a way to kick the (undeserved) just for kids image.

        Wouldn't say it is underserved, not when they did crap like this [gamespy.com].

        Might not be true now but some of us have long memories.
        • I'd say that it is underserved right now, when Nintendo has released games for the GameCube like Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil, and, for better or worse (or rather, worse or really hideously worse) the uncensored BMX XXX.

          This isn't a matter of them saying they will change from what they have been up til now, they actually have changed already, as far back as Conker's Bad Fur Day for the N64 at least.

          If you were to go with what everyone remembers, no one would buy anything but Nintendo playing cards a

    • The GameCube is kinda like a Mac in my opinion.

      Good example, I have thought the same thing myself for some time now. You don't need to be #1, you just need to be strong enough to make a profit, keep your share holders happy, and continue to innovate circles around the work of most other developers.

      If MS would get of their lazy bums and get some better games out for Live I might be more endeared to the console, but as it is, I only own a few games for it and only a couple that I actually still play
      I
      • Nintendo makes most of it's cash from the monopoly [slashdot.org] it has in the handheld market. However, they were on record as making close to of half a billion dollars [slashdot.org] in PROFIT in the last 6 months, and that was a disappointment (as they calimed they'd make more).

        They're doing their best, and the next generation [slashdot.org] is going to be very interesting for Nintendo, as Hiroshi Yamauchi is no longer at the helm to old-man things up.

        Nintendo isn't going down, Acclaim is. And it doesn't matter who they blaim, it's their own

  • What's really going on (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Fammy2000 ( 612663 ) on Monday June 23, 2003 @05:44PM (#6277986) Homepage
    Just pulling back, not stopping all together. Sometimes it helps to gather all the facts than to take a single quote out of context.

    http://www.planetgamecube.com/news.cfm?action=item &id=4469 [planetgamecube.com]
  • "We can't seem to sell any games, and we need to generate some PR. Lets tell people that the Gamecube is a piece of shit. That will stir up some noise and make people notice us. It's even better than trying to disrupt tennis tournaments! Yay!"

    Note to Acclaim: You're not making any money on your cube titles because they SUCK ASS compared to the other games available on the platform. GO OUT OF BUSINESS ALREADY!

  • here's the problem... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by xxxj03yxxx ( 622951 ) on Monday June 23, 2003 @06:22PM (#6278400)
    If Acclaim would stop making games that completely suck, maybe they'd see their profits go up.

  • This article should be called... (Score:5, Funny)

    by neostorm ( 462848 ) on Monday June 23, 2003 @06:24PM (#6278420)
    "Sudden increase in quality of Nintendo Gamecube titles..."

  • Oh no! (Score:3, Funny)

    by hibiki_r ( 649814 ) on Monday June 23, 2003 @06:30PM (#6278480)

    We won't get a sequel to "Mary Kate and Ashley: Sweet 16" for the Gamecube! What are we going to do now?

  • After the bang-up job you did on Taito's Puzzle Game Franchise (who decided it was a good idea to use some baby blowing bubbles on the cover?) I think a game console would consider itself lucky to not have your titles grace it.

  • 3rd party losses... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by CashCarSTAR ( 548853 ) on Monday June 23, 2003 @07:45PM (#6279076)
    What 3rd party games really are that much of a loss? Seriously. I only have a GameCube, and I'm not left missing that much.

    Final Fantasy X, to be sure...

    Destiny Warriors...

    GTA

    and....that's really it.

    That's all I miss coming from 3rd parties not on the GC.

    Maybe I could put together a list other games I'd like to play, but I'm not missing them. Shinobi, Xenosaga, Devil May Cry..umm...not much else..

    Burnout was fun...but other than that, not missing much by Acclaim leaving. I think that Nintendo needs to rebrand themselves as quality over quanity. Get on a different level than the other consoles.

  • The countdown... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by M3wThr33 ( 310489 ) on Monday June 23, 2003 @07:58PM (#6279218) Homepage
    *sigh*
    Sega Sports, Acclaim, who else?

    The only reason they leave it is because they can't compete with Nintendo's games.

    You develop on the PS2 because it'll sell no matter what. There's enough saturation to support crap.

    You port it to the XBox, because it's DirectX and easy to do, so it takes MUCH less to sell to profit, BUT sells more sense XBox owners are hungry for anything.

    You ignore the GameCube because no matter what you do you're competing with the best game developers on the planet and make up poor excuses as to why your games suck.
  • First 3DO

    Now Aklaim, or however they spell it these days...

    seriously, Aklaim is just looking for ways to convince their stockholders that they aren't headed for chapter 11. Blame Nintendo, "see big bad nintendo made us lose money now we are roxxor company we make bestest games ever!"

  • Was Double Dragon II, and they were the publishers. I think it's a good move... Less cr@p going to the GC
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