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Strong December for Gamecube at retail?

Dalthien

Member
I had the most bizarre occurrence today. I was shopping at a mall in a suburb of Detroit (I live across the border in Ontario, but I have a number of relatives in the US, so shopping in Michigan is easier for them). Anyway, I stopped into the Gamestop to pick up a game for my wife, and it was really bizarre.

I was 5th in line, and everyone's purchase was for the Gamecube. The first lady was a grandmother who purchased Tony Hawk's American Wasteland for her grandson. The only reason I noticed was because she didn't bring the game up with her, she just asked the clerk for the game when she got to the register. He asked which system, and she said very loudly "Gamecube". The next customer was a mother (I'm guessing - she was alone) who purchased the Pokemon XD Gamecube bundle. Up next was a 20-something guy buying Resident Evil 4 for the Cube, then a father and son purchased Super Mario Strikers. It was funny, because the kid kept saying how he's been waiting his whole life to play a Mario soccer game. Then I was last in line and I grabbed Pac-Man World 3 for my wife. She absolutely loves part 2, and still plays it once or twice a week - so part 3 was a no-brainer gift. When I got up there the clerk commented that he was surprised how much Cube stuff he had been selling lately.

Anyway, the point is that all five customers were there for a Cube purchase. No one was in line behind me when I left, but of the people in the store, there was no one in the Xbox, X360, PS2 or GBA sections. One guy was sort of in between the PSP and DS sections, so I'm not sure which section he was looking at. There were a couple guys in the PC section. And there were 5 people all crammed into the Cube section (a tiny little section in the corner of the store). It was comical because the five people were bigger than the Cube section that they were in, and they were sort of jostling each other to be able to see the games.

I'm just wondering, could the Cube actually have a pretty decent Christmas based on this experience, or was this just 5 minutes that I spent trapped in a corner of the Twilight Zone? It was pretty surreal in any case. I haven't seen anything like that this entire generation.
 
Dalthien said:
I had the most bizarre occurrence today. I was shopping at a mall in a suburb of Detroit (I live across the border in Ontario, but I have a number of relatives in the US, so shopping in Michigan is easier for them). Anyway, I stopped into the Gamestop to pick up a game for my wife, and it was really bizarre.

I was 5th in line, and everyone's purchase was for the Gamecube. The first lady was a grandmother who purchased Tony Hawk's American Wasteland for her grandson. The only reason I noticed was because she didn't bring the game up with her, she just asked the clerk for the game when she got to the register. He asked which system, and she said very loudly Gamecube. The next customer was a mother (I'm guessing - she was alone) who purchased the Pokemon XD Gamecube bundle. Up next was a 20-something guy buying Resident Evil 4 for the Cube, then a father and son purchased Super Mario Strikers. It was funny, because the kid kept saying how he's been waiting his whole life to play a Mario soccer game. Then I was last in line and I grabbed Pac-Man World 3 for my wife. She absolutely loves part 2, and still plays it once or twice a week - so part 3 was a no-brainer gift.

Anyway, the point is that all five customers were there for a Cube purchase. No one was in line behind me when I left, but of the people in the store, there was no one in the Xbox, X360, PS2 or GBA sections. One guy was sort of in between the PSP and DS sections, so I'm not sure which section he was looking at. And there were 5 people all crammed into the Cube section (a tiny little section in the corner of the store). It was comical because the five people were bigger than the Cube section that they were in, and they were sort of jostling each other to be able to see the games.

I'm just wondering, could the Cube actually have a pretty decent Christmas based on this experience, or was this just 5 minutes that I spent trapped in a corner of the Twilight Zone? It was pretty surreal in any case. I haven't seen anything like that this entire generation.


That was just the introduction to the opposite skits.
 
I dunno, the thing is so friggin' cheap (2 controllers + 1 game + microphone for $99?) and so plentiful that I'm not surprised that people who are now in the "Christmas shopping crunch" with only a few days to go may be turning to the GameCube.

Revolution with more attractive kinds of software and the cooler looking design really could clean up in a similar scenario.
 
In OKC the Cube section at Target has been getting sacked. I've noticed an increase in consumer interest as well. And a lot of titles are sold out.
 
I dunno, at futureshop, they had piled up the consoles.

The PS2 pile was about 10% full. (I'm pretty sure that they are sold out by now)
The Xbox pile only had 3 left (though, the pile was a lot smaller to begin with and the Xbox box takes up a lot more space)
Gamecube was about 40% full.

This seems to be average from what we normally see to me.

P.S The PS2 and GC pile probably had 50 units each when they started and Xbox probably 15.

P.P.S Gameboy "Famicom" micro is out, didn't know that.
 
I've been christmas shopping this whole week.

I've definately noticed a lot of traffic in the Gamecube section of many stores.
 
i consider myself i fairly hardcore nintendo fan and i didn't get a GCN until a few months ago. and the $99 price tag, including SSM and M:P, plus Zelda:WW for 20 bucks surely didn't hurt my decision
 
The Xbox has pretty much DIED in our store. The only things we can sell are those refurbished ones from Microsoft. Only one person has asked for the Forza bundle.

Mario Party 7 bundles have been moving really fast. There was one left when I left yesterday. We still have Pokemon XD bundles and one SSBM bundle.
 
Mario Party 7 Bundles are sold out all over the place. Pokemon XD bundles are still found they werent to popular..

But man the Mario Party 7 ones have been selling like hotcakes.. So far ive noticed the Gamecube selling the most out of any of the home consoles then ps2 then xbox (xbox 360 doestn count.. no one ever has em)

Gamecube stuff always sells like nuts during xmas

Top games ive noticed are

Mario Party 7
Tony Hawk American Wasteland
Super Mario Strikers
Nicktoons Unite
Spongebob Lights Camera Pants!
Shadow the Hedgehog
Mario Kart Double Dash
Mario Power Tennis
Super Smash Bros
Tales of Symphonia
Legend of Zelda Windwaker

Ive noticed all these titles are selling consistently, at least 3 copies of each sold in like 6 hr spans.. AT LEAST.. some of the newer stuff like the first 6 on the list sell like 20 copies every 2 days.
 
If I was buying a gift for a younger kid, I would seriously consider the Mario Party bundle.

It's dirt cheap, you get the game and the extra controller and the microphone for free.

You can't really go wrong with that.

Having worked Toys R' Us for one holiday season, I can tell you the days right before Christmas really bring out the crazy/bad parents who need to get *something* good for their kids but they've put it off till the last minute :lol
 
Musashi Wins! said:
The Rev has to be cheap considering the hardware. And I hope so too, because I will buy one.

I have a feeling it'll be $200 (but it'd be awesome if it launched with a game kinda like the NES).
 
Given what people are getting this holiday season, I'd expect the GC to do very well. Maybe it can sell a half million in the US this month if it's lucky.
 
If Revolution is $200 I hope they're prepared for them to sit on storeshelves and collect a lot of dust.

I don't care if the controller can pick up communication signals from U.F.O.s ... that's just too much for an overclocked GC + gyro pad.
 
Until the revolution comes out I expect that the GCN will outsell the Xbox month to month in NA... just because MS isn't really making Xbox's available, as has been reported to death.

Weird, eh? Nintendo has like 8-12 months to close the GCN/Xbox gap to make the final standings much more respectable for N. I don't think i'll make a huge difference, but I do bet the North American gap will be closed to something like 1.5M from the (I believe) 3M its at currently.
 
soundwave05 said:
If Revolution is $200 I hope they're prepared for them to sit on storeshelves and collect a lot of dust.

I don't care if the controller can pick up communication signals from U.F.O.s ... that's just too much for an overclocked GC + gyro pad.
Yeah, given the supposed power, I'd peg it at $149 with the DS dropping to $99. However, if they do a DS SP, it will probably sell for $149, which puts the newer Rev in a tricky situation. However, while I would love a DS SP (with the Micro quality screen) I think it's far more likely we'll just see a new Game Boy announced with backwards compatibility with DS.

Good news for GCN though, I was in Best Buy tonight and it looked like they were selling a few games, but I wasn't really paying much attention.
 
I think DS SP will be out next year and at $99 to boot.

They'll probably just phase the older DS units out entirely (maybe bundle older ones with a game to clear stock), and move the GB Micro down to $79.99.

Rev will launch at $149.99, I agree.
 
GDJustin said:
Until the revolution comes out I expect that the GCN will outsell the Xbox month to month in NA...just because MS isn't really making Xbox's available, as has been reported to death.

Weird, eh? Nintendo has like 8-12 months to close the GCN/Xbox gap to make the final standings much more respectable for N. I don't think i'll make a huge difference, but I do bet the North American gap will be closed to something like 1.5M from the (I believe) 3M its at currently.

Just as a correction, the bolded part above is not true. Xbox hardware has been readily available since early March, when the PS2 & XBox shortages finally subsided. Retailer and analysts report since then have shown that all hardware has been readily available up until the 360.

The low Xbox sales are not availability related at all at this point and haven't been for a LONG time.
 
here in my local EB GBA SP are selling like crazy, it's like of every 10 people that enter the store 6 ask for a GBA.... fucking crazy.
 
Strangley enough here at my local gamestop they have SOLD OUT of cubes, the Target behind them are also out.

i had been looking around to see if there was mario striker bundle and was told they are plain out of ALL CUBES.

i was pretty suprised to say the least.
 
Well it is also three days before Christmas and Nintendo offered some insane bundles this year to make up for a non-existant holiday software lineup.

So it's not entirely shocking.

Stock of just about anything decent video game wise starts to run awfully low as you start to hit the 20th of December and inch closer to the 25th.
 
The GC is insanly cheap. With the bundle, youre basically getting a GC for $20. +$30 for controller + 50 for Mario Party, and a free mic is thrown in.

Its a great easter gift as well.
 
I have been a lot more interested in the GC lately, and I can't put my finger on why. It must be something in the water.
 
sangreal said:
The xbox lineup was terrible this year. Combined with the launch of the 360, and its no wonder why xbox sales are down

What the hell are you talking about?

Phantom Dust
Splinter Cell: CT
Half-Life 2
Ninja Gaiden: Black
Far Cry Instincts
Forza
Jade Empire (Depending on who you ask...)
Psychonauts
Grand Theft Auto SA
Oddworld Stranger's Wrath

With the exception of Resident Evil 4, I can't think of another must get GC game this year...
 
we have tons of barebones gamecubes where i work, but none of the bundles, they sell quick. nintendo actually had the gall to send us "normal" gamecubes the other day! i will agree on this side they're selling well, esp with all the stuff you get for the price.
 
Kuroyume said:
With the exception of Resident Evil 4, I can't think of another must get GC game this year...

Well, that's an awfully big one. GAF's GOTY by a huge-ass landslide. :D

Mostly I've been buying the Cube versions of multiplatform games lately, like King Kong and Beyond Good & Evil.. and I'm keeping my eye out for a price-drop on Spartan Total Warrior, which seems by all appearances to be quite a decent game, but an ungodly bomb at retail.
 
I made a post a about it a while ago but in Australia you can get a Gamecube Plus Pokemon XD for 99 bucks and Pokemon retails at that price... not bad huh? Free Cube :D
 
Kuroyume said:
What the hell are you talking about?

Phantom Dust
Splinter Cell: CT
Half-Life 2
Ninja Gaiden: Black
Far Cry Instincts
Forza
Jade Empire (Depending on who you ask...)
Psychonauts
Grand Theft Auto SA
Oddworld Stranger's Wrath

With the exception of Resident Evil 4, I can't think of another must get GC game this year...

Other than SC and GTA, the others arent really big sellers. Thats not to say they aren't good though.
 
Nintendo is going to have a nice Christmas.

I bought Donka Konga 2 w/ Bongos for my 9 year old daughter the other day for Xmas and gave it to her early because school has been out the last 2 days and she was driving me friggin nuts.

My Xbox360 has sat dormant the last 2 days because I can't put these damn bongos down.
 
Just based on November->December boosts of previous years I'd say GameCube sales would hit a half million minimum. Considering the Xbox 360 shortages, might it end up third or fourth among home consoles? It reminds me of the Japanese PSP launch, where in its third week it was slightly outsold by GameCube.

bill0527 said:
Nintendo is going to have a nice Christmas.

I bought Donka Konga 2 w/ Bongos for my 9 year old daughter the other day for Xmas and gave it to her early because school has been out the last 2 days and she was driving me friggin nuts.

My Xbox360 has sat dormant the last 2 days because I can't put these damn bongos down.
:lol "You're driving me crazy... now beat bongos!"

Man, what a racket was made at our most recent family reunion due to people whamming on the bongos.
 
I was in Wal-Mart yesterday, and after picking up some mangos and holidays greetings cards for my friends going away for the next week, I went to the Electronics section to see if any 360s were there. But to my surprise, there were over 10 people lined up with Gamecube's, Mario Party 7 and Mario Strikers ! I had to do a double take, because I mean - it's Gamecube! So I scattered quickly to the videogame segment, and to my great shock... no Gamecubes left! I nearly tripped over a pile of rejected PS2s, and the god-damned Xbox pile was so high I had to make a detour to the cuttlery section of WalMart and pick up a machete just to reach the Nintendo part. They were so overstocked with PSPs as well that they had to use the now empty Gamecube shelf just to hold them!

So I scampered over to the line and asked somebody about this. "Hey, why didn't you get these systems with a clearly superior lineup?" Boy was I about to get a speaking to! The guy replied that he would not imagine buying another one of those after seeing the vast library of quality titles that Nintendo was offering this holiday shopping season. Mario Party 7, Mario Strikers and 99 dollars! "Who can beat that?" he says!

Well this changed my entire view of the retail sector. I quickly jotted down the trends and came to GAF to fill you all in. Merry Christmas Nintendo indeed!
 
Here in germany Mario Soccer and a Mario Kart Bundles are both 99 Euro, which makes a nice xmas present for kids of not so rich parents. The xbox without a game was 150.
 
I've still got my purple launch Cube (and about 60 games), but the thing is definitely on its way out the door. Hadn't played it the 6 months I was in Japan and the disc drive really isn't happy with me.

And I know it's ridiculous to be thinking what I'm thinking as the Rev is backwards compatible and all, but the ridiculous amount of shit you can get in a $99 bundle (almost to the point of the retail value of the bundled stuff actually BEING $99), I'm really tempted to just buy another Cube for legacy's sake.

EDIT: Nevermind, forgot new Cube's don't have digital out. Fuck Nintendo.
 
Tyrone Slothrop said:
i consider myself i fairly hardcore nintendo fan and i didn't get a GCN until a few months ago. and the $99 price tag, including SSM and M:P, plus Zelda:WW for 20 bucks surely didn't hurt my decision

Same here I bought one a few months ago and now im staring at a pile of games about 20 wide (mostly pawn shop/used EB buys). I also bought 2 MP7 bundles for my buddies kids for Christmas, they actually went on sale for 109.99 here in Canada at futureshop. Nintendo will always have the best bang/buck ratio in gaming and for most people that is key, oh ya and then theres all that Nintendo software everyone loves that you just can't get on any other system.
 
AniHawk said:
The Xbox has pretty much DIED in our store. The only things we can sell are those refurbished ones from Microsoft. Only one person has asked for the Forza bundle.
That's it, Xbox. Get closer and closer to firesale. Then we can be together.
 
AniHawk said:
I have a feeling it'll be $200 (but it'd be awesome if it launched with a game kinda like the NES).

I think it would have more perceived value if it launched with "3 free retro downloads!" or some such. man would that kick off their online plan. If they went that route i'm sure they would offer a set game, or one of 3 games or something like that.
 
I don't know why videogame companies don't do bundles more often; to the average consumer it looks like added value. Develop a game for 5 million dollars, put it in a million bundles and it costs you $5 per bundle, but the consumer sees it as a $40 to $50 value. If Nintendo really wants to go nuts at the Rev launch they should offer a free Rev game (Mario 128 FTW) a GameCube game and one free download for N64, SNES and NES. The consumer would see this as great added value and would cost Nintendo relatively nothing (though they would lose a lot from the loss of revenue from Mario 128).
 
At this point there are about five GC games I would love to play (Metroids, Zeldas, basically), but I can't really justify actually buying the console at this point. I'm thinking I may just buy the games and a GC controller and then wait for Revolution to come out - or borrow a friend's Gamecube.
 
teiresias said:
At this point there are about five GC games I would love to play (Metroids, Zeldas, basically), but I can't really justify actually buying the console at this point. I'm thinking I may just buy the games and a GC controller and then wait for Revolution to come out - or borrow a friend's Gamecube.

I bought a Metroid Zelda bundle about a year ago, it was a great deal. At this point in the GameCube's life I'd just wait for the Rev, it's like getting 5 consoles in one, and I doubt it will be very expensive.
 
I've witnessed pretty much the same behavior at Wal-Mart and GameStop. At first, I was baffled as to why so much interest was being paid to the GC bundles and such.

My guess is that these kids already have PS2's, and maybe an Xbox, but they're "bored" with them. They never owned a GCN because third party support was so terrible. Now, the thing is dirt cheap and Nintendo's back catalog is THICK.

They can't get 360's; and maybe can't afford them besides. PS2 and Xbox are no longer compelling. By contrast, for $99 you can get a Cube and a buncha free swag. Some stores are also giving away other games in addition to Mario Party, along with coupons. Now factor in the frequent 2 Player's Choice for $30 deals some stores do and *blam* it's irresistable.

Lord, I myself bought a GameCube game last week... Chaos Field!
 
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