Nintendo's GameCube follow up...

[garfield hates mondays]

...turns out to be a handheld system. The Nintendo DS (Double Screen)was revealed earlier this week. Nintendo has been hinting that their next gen console would be revealed for a month or so. It seems that they've abandoned any hope of competing against Sony or Microsoft and are now focusing solely on handheld platforms, a market they currently dominate. Sounds like a good plan to me. Until Sony reveals their new handheld at least.

The DS will feature two 3-inch LCD screens to eliminate the need for rotating cameras and switching over to menus.

[Josh]

Er no... my understanding is that they are still doing a next gen console.? Am I wrong?

This is just an aside... and a very stupid idea too.

[crappertay]

Pointless idea but Nintendo really should drop out of the next gen market before they embarass themselves.

The Gamecube is their Dreamcast. Supplier of a few very good games but not successful enough for the company to compete with it's rivals.

[garfield hates mondays]

According to the Dallas Morning News they're not planning on a next gen console...could be wrong though... Only time will tell.

[Into]

Yeah, I think they should just quit while they are ahead with the next gen consoles. The competition is just going to keep getting heavier. Handheld is the market for them to be in right now I suppose.

[B1ade Runner]

Originally posted by Tay
The Gamecube is their Dreamcast. Supplier of a few very good games but not successful enough for the company to compete with it's rivals.

I agree. It's not the "kiddies-only" system that people make it out to be. There are some very good games for it, but I can see why they're won't be fifth console. I have a Gamecube, and even I'm ready to trade it in.

[crappertay]

Plus if you have big hands like me it's got the most awkward uncomfortable controller ever.

[B1ade Runner]

I've got medium-large hands. I've never been big on the PS2 controller, and I hate the original X-Box controller. I'm fine with the one for GC or the X-Box "S" version.

[fafhrd]

As of what I know, Nintendo IS working on a next gen system. Only IBM's making the processor units for Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo's next gen system. They're still on the designing phase of it- they won't even see the light of day until 2006 or 2007 at the earliest.

Nintendo's handheld system is NOT the follow up to Gamecube- but rather, it's their answer to the Playstation Portable. Whatever that will be.

Fafhrd

[crappertay]

GameCube: No longer an object of desire?

Nintendo has admitted that sales of its GameCube console are flagging in the face of strong competition from Microsoft's Xbox.

The company's president, Satoru Iwata, said that 10% fewer GameCube would be sold this year than expected.

Nintendo is vying with Microsoft for the number two spot in the console market, which is dominated by Sony's PlayStation 2.

Looking to the future, Mr Iwata said Nintendo was planning to launch a next-generation console in 2005 or 2006.

Fierce battle

Sales of the GameCube have been poor during the crucial festive season, compared to those of its rivals.

The console has struggled in the US and Europe and the release of big title SuperMario Sunshine has not quite had the impact Nintendo would have been hoping for.

When we withdraw from the home game console, that's when we withdraw from the video game business

Sarotu Iwata, Nintendo President
Nintendo now expects its console to miss its sales target of 10 million units by 10%, with software sales falling short of a 55-million-unit goal.

In an interview with the Reuters news agency, Nintendo's president attributed the poor performance of the GameCube to a weak appetite for games.

"Consumers today apparently don't want to sit in front of the television to play games for hours and hours," said Mr Iwata.

During the festive period, Sony says it sold 8.5 million PlayStation 2s, while Microsoft says gamers in France, Germany and the UK bought more than a million Xboxes.

Part of the success was due to a pre-Christmas offer that bundled top selling games in with the console.

Nintendo can draw some comfort from its GameBoy Advance, which is still proving popular, helped by a new range of Pokemon games.

New console

The company is hoping some of this success will rub off on the GameCube, with plans to release new Pokemon games for console which can be played on the GameBoy as well.

SuperMario has not boosted Nintendo as hoped
Mr Iwata dismissed speculation that Nintendo would pull out of the console market, instead talking about plans for a next-generation machine.

"When we withdraw from the home game console, that's when we withdraw from the video game business," he said.

"We are developing a new home video game console with a plan to release the new system around the same time as rival makers do."

"We will get ready for a battle in 2005 although foreign game developers are now saying that rival next-generation systems won't come until 2006."

[Hayzen]

Yeah, this isn't their next gen system, it just a new system. It isn't meant to replace the Gamecube or the Gameboy.