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[JoshuaJSlone]

(And no, $79 doesn't count as a decent answer. Removing 1-5 cents will not fool me into rounding another 95-99 cents down when speaking in whole dollars.)

Many have assumed the GameCube will end up $80 this year, but I'm beginning to wonder if it might go lower. I have no real evidence, but here are the small things that make me wonder.


1) At least in the US, GameCube's best year was 2003, the one year it outsold Xbox. A large part of this can be attributed to GameCube being $100 compared to the competitors' $180, though that $80 Black Friday sale helped a lot, too. Anyway, 100/180 has GameCube at 55.6% of the competitors' price. If we assume that by the end of the year PS2 and Xbox will either be at $130 or $100, to get the same ratio GameCube would either need be $72 or $56, respectively.


2) When PS2 and Xbox dropped from $200 to $180, it seemed the logical response would have been for GameCube to go from $150 to $130. They didn't. Instead, they waited several more months and made the even bigger drop to $100. Likewise when PS2 and Xbox finally dropped down to $150, it seemed the clear response would be for GameCube to go to $80. I sure thought there was a 90% chance of that being the price for last Christmas, but I was wrong. I wonder if again they're just waiting longer for a bigger drop. I thought they'd go to $80 last year, and then something even lower this year; perhaps they'll just skip straight to that lower price without bothering with a stop at $80.


3) What with GameCube sales already dwindling, Microsoft kickstarting the next generation this year, and Sony and Nintendo following suit next year, this is certainly the GameCube's last year where it could possibly make a noticeable dent. It's not like any price drops made for 2006 are going to turn many heads. So as far as price drops that really matter, it's pretty much this year or never. This year's Zelda and an ultra-cheap GameCube could give them some nice holiday sales and another chance to crow about momentum.


4) Considering GameCube's price lowered by $50/25% and then $50/33% for a cumulative $100/50% drop within 22 months of its US launch, and that it's already been 19 month since without a drop of any kind... well, a $20/20% drop seems a bit puny.


5) Though they had no real price drop last year, they did have another holiday game bundle, so in reality the price of the system itself could be considered a bit lower. Not dissimilar to the PSP Value Pack, really. So rather than, say, a $80 system with a game bundle this year, they could leave the games separate and just drop the price further.



So my guess right now would be $70 ($69 is teh mature), though $60 or $50 seem within the realm of possibility too.

 

[border]

I doubt it. I think Nintendo has more-or-less given up on competing in the current generation. They aren't going to slash their protift margins to try and regain the marketshare they've bled over the past 4 years. Even if they doubled the sales of their best year ever, what's the point when the successor system will be out in a year or so? Microsoft is abandoning the market so Nintendo will definitely win the #2 slot for this generation, and they aren't going to catch Sony anyway.

 

[AB 101]

I think $99 is quite reasonable.

Finally got a Cube about 6 months ago.

Some good cheap games available.

While I have never really been into Mario/Zelda, the wife likes them.

She will play on the 27" in the bedroom while I crank up XBox/PS2 on the 50" DLP.

 

[puck1337]

I don't see the point, because it isn't really going to help them that much. Expanding their installed base isn't going to sell a lot of additional software before Revolution and any one-upmanship in terms of hardware sales is going to be pretty pointless in the face of huge PS2 sales and next-gen hype.

 

[cvxfreak]

I think Nintendo needs to drop the price of the GameCube in time for the fall, specifically Zelda. A price drop to $69 would be perfect, and the release of Zelda would insure that the GC would sell like hot cakes.

At the same time, the GC needs a price drop in Japan, ASAP.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

I doubt it. I think Nintendo has more-or-less given up on competing in the current generation. They aren't going to slash their protift margins to try and regain the marketshare they've bled over the past 4 years. Even if they doubled the sales of their best year ever, what's the point when the successor system will be out in a year or so? Microsoft is abandoning the market so Nintendo will definitely win the #2 slot for this generation, and they aren't going to catch Sony anyway.

A big thing would just be preparation for Revolution. Xbox 360 probably wouldn't be nearly as anticipated if the original system hadn't done so well last year, and surely GameCube would've done better earlier on if N64 had had a bigger late 2000. Dent Xbox 360 hype. What with Revolution being backward compatible it seems like Nintendo would like to continue on with GameCube software support, so certainly it's not like they'd sell a large amount and then completely shut off the game faucet. It might be quite successful in the niche of "Ultra cheap home console that isn't the PS1", but if they only try to get it there in 2006 or later it may be too late.

Certainly it would lose them some more money... but if for November/December of this year they had the options of selling 800K at $80, 1.4m at $70, or 1.8m at $60, I doubt they'd go for the first.

 

[Li Mu Bai]

$99 with a long-running free campaign PC game is quite decent. Sales are actually on par with last year's, the LOZ + a PC game will boost it further than last November & December's console numbers imo. No Halo & GTA:SA certainly helps I would think.

 

[goomba]

Yep drop the price. Hype Zelda , the new mario kart, the new sonic (is there much else coming though?). Release more platnium games. Id like to see Gamecube supported for an extra year over xbox, perhaps letting the gamecube reclaim 2nd place worldwide this gen.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

$99 with a long-running free campaign PC game is quite decent. Sales are actually on par with last year's, the LOZ + a PC game will boost it further than last November & December's console numbers imo. No Halo & GTA:SA helps I would think.

Through March, GameCube's numbers are down 25% this year from last. $99 plus a game isn't bad compared to the competition, but obviously it isn't doing enough, and is the same type of deal they've been offering intermittently since late 2003. What with sales down this year over last, and the PSP and Xbox 360 eating up parts of the holiday gaming pie, I'm not sure last year's 1.16 million for November/December will be topped without a very sweet deal.

 

[byproduct]

In Melbourne, Australia, you can pick a cube up for the same price as a PS2/Xbox full-price game ($99 instead of $229-$299 for the other consoles), but they still don't seem to be moving. Usually the cube games section is separate from the PS2/Xbox section as well and about a quarter of the size. It's like the shop doesn't want the cube contaminating the other console's areas.

Conversely the gameboy products are more popular than ever. If it wasn't for that, Nintendo would probably drop Australia.

The situation here is that Nintendo wouldn't improve sales any by dropping the price, but they would by convincing stores to display it more prominently and releasing more games. Seems like a lost cause this gen though.

Nin's biggest mistake is not bringing out Pokemon games for cube. That just makes no sense to me at all. It would do more for the machine than Zelda (not to disparage Zelda, Pokemon just does more for sales).

 

[soundwave05]

Yeah, sales seem to be down this year.

I don't know if anyone who wouldn't buy a GCN at $99 would neccessarily buy one at $80 though.

I'm starting to notice too that the GameCube is getting less and less retail space at stores, I'm pretty sure a lot of retailers will drop support for the platform after this Christmas.

It's really chugging gas now.

The pricing is not the problem. People just don't want the system. The people who want a GameCube already have one.

 

[Li Mu Bai]

Yep drop the price. Hype Zelda , the new mario kart, the new sonic (is there much else coming though?). Release more platnium games. Id like to see Gamecube supported for an extra year over xbox, perhaps letting the gamecube reclaim 2nd place worldwide this gen.

The new MK & Mario 128 would be slated for next-year, (if ever) FE:GC & another 1st party surprise should be coming this year. Along with the prerequisite MP7.

 

[border]

Xbox 360 is hyped because it's the followup to a popular console yes, but also because it's the first of the next-generation hardware. Moderately improved Cube sales probably won't help fuel Revolution excitement.

And anyways, weren't they giving away a FREE game and a FREE controller with the system last Christmast? If that isn't going to motivate people to buy it, I'm not sure a $20-30 price cut will do the trick either.

 

[Li Mu Bai]

Through March, GameCube's numbers are down 25% this year from last. $99 plus a game isn't bad compared to the competition, but obviously it isn't doing enough, and is the same type of deal they've been offering intermittently since late 2003. What with sales down this year over last, and the PSP and Xbox 360 eating up parts of the holiday gaming pie, I'm not sure last year's 1.16 million for November/December will be topped without a very sweet deal.

I didn't realize it was 25%, but a price drop to anything lower than $79.99 isn't feasible imo, & won't happen.

 

[The Abominable Snowman]

you can pick up a cube for about $60 bucks at a used game retailer, even GameStop. Unless this is one of those "OMG Nintendo... please don't sell even LESS" threads, all you need to do is search a little deeper to find the GC deal you want. GC's are being given out like kisses, and you might be able to buy a GC+manygames bundle at Toys R Us

 

[Mooreberg]

I think it'll it drop to $79.99 if PS2 and Xbox both go to $129.99

But according to your criteria $79.99 doesn't count. :lol

 

[SickBoy]

In Canada, you can find it for the equivalent of just over $80 US.

Unless my eyes were deceiving me, I saw it in Wal-Mart today for $98CDN -- I didn't see anything else nearby that that could have been a price for.... they also had a pack for $120-something with Zelda. In fact, seeing it made me think about starting a thread asking whether it deserved to be selling for half the price of the competition, but then common sense prevailed, knowing what that would turn into

EDIT: Just to be clear, Wal-Mart seems to be the exception. I think by and large, it still sells for $130.

 

[AniHawk]

I think the GC will be $80 this year with Zelda, or maybe there'll be a $100 Zelda + GC pack-in. I believe there will definitely be a bundle AND price drop this year. In 2006, the system will make like the Dreamcast and go down to $49.99 and below to get rid of extra stock, that is unless Nintendo introduces a radical redesign.

 

[human5892]

Yeah, sales seem to be down this year.

I don't know if anyone who wouldn't buy a GCN at $99 would neccessarily buy one at $80 though.

I'm starting to notice too that the GameCube is getting less and less retail space at stores, I'm pretty sure a lot of retailers will drop support for the platform after this Christmas.

It's really chugging gas now.

The pricing is not the problem. People just don't want the system. The people who want a GameCube already have one.

I completely agree. I think there might be a small spike around the release of Zelda and a pricedrop might help accentuate that a bit more, but outside of that, the GC is definitely on its way out. Dropping the price will pick up a few people, maybe, but I don't think there are many left on the fence about GC. At this point, I think it's really a situation where if you knew you wanted one, you'd have gotten it by now.

 

[jadehorizon1]

Id like to see some kind of redesigned Gamecube that makes the Wavebird controller standard at $100 or $79.99. Id probably buy one ... anyone else?

 

[soundwave05]

A sexier redesign would probably shift more systems at this point than a price cut would, although neither could hurt.

Maybe release a special gold-colored GCN with Zelda included as a bundle or something.

 

[Beezy]

I think the GC will be $80 this year with Zelda, or maybe there'll be a $100 Zelda + GC pack-in. I believe there will definitely be a bundle AND price drop this year.

Damn, I was gonna say the same thing. Nice upgrade on the avatar btw. SoA is a great game.

Maybe release a special gold-colored GCN with Zelda included as a bundle or something.

I'd get that and make it my Zelda only system. No other game would go in there. I wonder how small they can make the GC while still maintaining a low price?

 

[sprsk]

theres no reason to drop if sony doesnt drop.

 

[drohne]

how long has it been since a "living" console dropped below $99? between a clearance price and the near-total lack of game releases, the gamecube would start looking fairly dead. the image hit might negate the benefit of the lower price.

 

[AniHawk]

Damn, I was gonna say the same thing. Nice upgrade on the avatar btw. SoA is a great game.

Kakusha made it.

 

[Beezy]

His Zelda boxart (and others) is great. READ GAF, NINTENDO!

 

[cvxfreak]

www.kakusha.com



Nintendo shouldn't have discontinued the MKDD bundle.

 

[soundwave05]

how long has it been since a "living" console dropped below $99? between a clearance price and the near-total lack of game releases, the gamecube would start looking fairly dead. the image hit might negate the benefit of the lower price.

Yeah. If they're going to do anything a slick-looking redesign would be a better idea.

I wonder how small they could make the GCN these days anway?

 

[snapty00]

Should've redesigned it...back in like early 2003. With a new interface and everything when it first starts up and without a game. And 128 megabytes of storage for MP3 files (that could be used in select games, fucking older GameCube owners). Yes, that's totally worthless, but I would've thought that was neat back then.

 

[Link316]

Id like to see some kind of redesigned Gamecube that makes the Wavebird controller standard at $100 or $79.99. Id probably buy one ... anyone else?

that's exactly what I want but I doubt they'll ever do it

 

[Lindsay]

I think the GC will be $80 this year with Zelda, or maybe there'll be a $100 Zelda + GC pack-in. I believe there will definitely be a bundle AND price drop this year. In 2006, the system will make like the Dreamcast and go down to $49.99 and below to get rid of extra stock, that is unless Nintendo introduces a radical redesign.

First of all: Which Zelda? You're wasted if you think they would pack in a new game. That leaves WW or 4 Swords.

how long has it been since a "living" console dropped below $99? between a clearance price and the near-total lack of game releases, the gamecube would start looking fairly dead. the image hit might negate the benefit of the lower price.

Second: If retailers are giving it the boot after this holiday anyway they might as well make like the Dreamycast and drop to $50 asap. Cause when its out of shops it is considered dead anyway.

 

[The Abominable Snowman]

I doubt they'll completely get rid of it, but I'm expecting a Saturn treatment this year.

 

[border]

First of all: Which Zelda? You're wasted if you think they would pack in a new game.

Zelda:Wind Waker and Mario Sunshine both became pack-ins less than a month after release. The Mario bundle was an extra $20-$30 but the you could get Zelda for free with a Cube purchase.

how long has it been since a "living" console dropped below $99? between a clearance price and the near-total lack of game releases, the gamecube would start looking fairly dead. the image hit might negate the benefit of the lower price.

What's more is that the hick goofballs that only pick up systems when they're $50 (the same vultures that descended on the Dreamcast in Holiday 2001) aren't going to buy the first run software that Nintendo wants them to buy. Chances are that they will buy used & Player's Choice stuff....only further preventing Nintendo from regaining whatever loss they might take on a low-price Cube.

As for consoles that went below $99....wasn't the N64 at $79.99 around the PS2 launch?

 

[Ranger X]

I heard the Gamecube will be packed with the new Zelda when it's coming out. :lol

 

[fse]

I think GCN will drop to $50. GCN+Zelda for $75