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[GamerDiva]

:lol I remember that too. Too bad we don't have a proper forum archive.

Any members that stand out? Anyone willing to admit it?

 

[GDGF]

Hell, I was probably one of them to tell you the truth :lol

 

[Wellington]

I'd like to think that my three PS2 purchases made a difference.

I've also purchased three.

 

[Midas]

I've also purchased three.

Me too!

 

[Miburou]

I bought a total of 5 PS2s (2 JPs and 3 NAs), but it wasn't really Sony's fault.

 

[Vark]

Given that there were ZERO units available in both the US and Europe during December, I'd say the numbers are pretty much the same.

Meh the stores around here still had some. I don't see why wanting to see actual sales figures is so ludacris, I'd be an interesting number.

A *really* interesting number though, which would be impossible to ever get, would be the number of unique users for every system. IE how many actual users there are as opposed to freaks like me that own multiple of every system or people that have had to rebuy systems for one reason or another.

 

[soundwave05]

I really doubt the GCN has two years left.

After Zelda Reborn comes out, its pretty much curtains.

There's only room for one "budget" console, and I think PS2 is going to be it by virtue of its wide selection of budget software, market leading brand, sleek redesign, and the impending $99 price drop.

Neither GameCube or XBox will get much support, from developers or retail past early 2006 IMO.

 

[ThirdEye]

Of course never forget that Microsoft has won the holyday season :lol

Isn't that only in NA?

 

[Pellham]

Sounds about right. PS2 has a good 5 years left at retail, GC 2 years and Xbox 1 year.

Why does GC have 2 years and Xbox 1? Is it because Microsoft is releasing its next system earlier, or because Nintendo has a tendency to release quality games (that few will buy) long after its systems stop selling?

 

[jarrod]

I really doubt the GCN has two years left.

After Zelda Reborn comes out, its pretty much curtains.

There's only room for one "budget" console, and I think PS2 is going to be it by virtue of its wide selection of budget software, market leading brand, sleek redesign, and the impending $99 price drop.

Neither GameCube or XBox will get much support, from developers or retail past early 2006 IMO.

Why does GC have 2 years and Xbox 1? Is it because Microsoft is releasing its next system earlier, or because Nintendo has a tendency to release quality games (that few will buy) long after its systems stop selling?

A bit of both. Even if it survives on only Nintendo games and EA/UbiSoft/Bandai ports, GameCube will continue through the end of 2006 at least, until Revolution's ready for market. Microsoft's last major Xbox release will be spring 2005, and they're looking to stop Xbox production as soon as possible (meaning probably late 2005/early 2006). It's not hard to imagine GC outlasting Xbox at retail, regardless of what consumers want. It's being determined by what manufacturers want actually.... and with more time at market, it's not hard to imagine GC equalling or surpassing the Xbox userbase in the end.

 

[Broshnat]

A bit of both. Even if it survives on only Nintendo games and EA/UbiSoft/Bandai ports, GameCube will continue through the end of 2006 at least, until Revolution's ready for market. Microsoft's last major Xbox release will be spring 2005, and they're looking to stop Xbox production as soon as possible (meaning probably late 2005/early 2006). It's not hard to imagine GC outlasting Xbox at retail, regardless of what consumers want. It's being determined by what manufacturers want actually.... and with more time at market, it's not hard to imagine GC equalling or surpassing the Xbox userbase in the end.

I think the GC will end up passing XB worldwide. It may be all-but-dead in Europe, but I think it will have a reasonably strong 2005 in Japan (which XB obv won't) and possibly a stronger 2005 in the US. What big games does the XB have coming out in 2005? Nintendo is doing it's usual (95-96 on the SNES, 99-00 on the N64) and releasing a shitload of great games on what many consider a dying console this year.

Could be interesting...

 

[Blimblim]

I think the GC will end up passing XB worldwide. It may be all-but-dead in Europe, but I think it will have a reasonably strong 2005 in Japan (which XB obv won't) and possibly a stronger 2005 in the US. What big games does the XB have coming out in 2005? Nintendo is doing it's usual (95-96 on the SNES, 99-00 on the N64) and releasing a shitload of great games on what many consider a dying console this year.

Could be interesting...

Except the obvious Zelda and RE4 I do not see much system sellers in NOA's latest GC planning. Of course these two are HUGE.
One would argue that Jade Empire and Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (yeah I know it's multiplatform and coming to GC, but it's still very much a Xbox franchise) are BIG games, but then I'm just another another Xbox fanboy I guess. Xbox planning may lack 100% instant sales games like Zelda, but it's quite solid with a lot of quality exclusive games until... may. Then it's all over.

 

[human5892]

Gamecube will hit 50 million by March 2005 according to their main guy.

Sounds about right.

 

[jarrod]

Except the obvious Zelda and RE4 I do not see much system sellers in NOA's latest GC planning. Of course these two are HUGE.
One would argue that Jade Empire and Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (yeah I know it's multiplatform and coming to GC, but it's still very much a Xbox franchise) are BIG games, but then I'm just another another Xbox fanboy I guess. Xbox planning may lack 100% instant sales games like Zelda, but it's quite solid with a lot of quality exclusive games until... may. Then it's all over.

It's not about "system sellers", it's about shelf life. And in that area, GameCube has a brighter future than Xbox mainly due to the intentions of the hardware providers rather than market conditions. GameCube isn't doing amazingly, but it's still selling modestly. Xbox had a huge turn this year, but Microsoft's still looking to kill the platform asap and move to Xenon.

Just look at the software lineups. Xbox has almost nothing really notable planned after the first half of 2005, while GameCube has Zelda, Kirby, Mario 128, Mario Baseball, DDR featuring Mario, Fire Emblem, Odama, a Pokemon RPG and others already. Even if it's just Nintendo alone, GameCube software support will outlast Xbox.

 

[soundwave05]

Still Nintendo doesn't have a lot planned for 2006, and with the Game Boy Next also probably coming in 2006 (in addition to Revolution and continuing DS support) I doubt the GameCube will have much shelf life past 2005.

Just because Nintendo makes games for it doesn't neccessarily mean retailers/consumers will continue to buy GameCube hardware either especailly if there are no more big titles coming out and limited 3rd party support.

PS2 will be the budget platform that retailers/consumers support, everything else is going to have to give way for the next generation.