Why is the GCN failing to sell as well as the PS2 and XBox?

[Fishlore]

"Why is the GCN failing to sell as well as the PS2 and XBox?"


Why does Justin Timberlake sell more albums than <insert your favorite band here>. It's not because he's a better musician.

 

[kupocake]

Overrated? To a degree. There have been some mediocre Zeldas, but that doesn't cancel out the fact that the original Legend of Zelda, as well as Link's Awakening, Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask have all been absolutely phenomenal games. To each his own, of course.

Speaking from the point of view of someone who also doesn't get why Zelda is so popular, I never got the appeal of the 2D Console Zeldas. It's all "Run Run Run Stab Run Stab Swing Run Run Run Stab". Were the 3D zeldas an improvement over this "Gameplay"?

 

[Narcolepsy]

Zelda was much more than a traditional hack and slash of its time. One, it featured a vast and varied overworld that was essentially seamless - no "level one, level five" stuff. Second, it featured collectable items that all had a use. Many were optional as well, adding to the world's realism. Of course, there's also all of the secrets, dungeons (and puzzles, which were quite good for the time), and bosses. The game may not seem like much now, but when it came out it was an absolute revolution.

As for the other 2D Zelda games, they were basically an extension on the above formula - bigger overworld, more characters and items, more enemies, harder dungeons and bosses, etc.. Plus, Nintendo keeps the formula fresh by adding a new feature every couple of games, such as the Kinstones from The Minish Cap.

The 3D Zelda games were also fantastic. Not only does a third dimension allow for more realism, it also allows for even more challenge. The storylines, though rather generic at times, are also quite developed - Zelda has quite possibly the most widely-debated timeline of any game franchise. Ocarina of Time was a revolution in gaming because it was one of the first in 3D to contain a huge and seamless overworld, very long quest, tons of optional side-quests, mini-games, and of course all of the Zelda standards set by games like A Link to the Past.

Majora's Mask continued on, but introduced a somewhat controversial and innovative system. Not to spoil the game too much, Link found himself in a world which was going to be destroyed by its own moon in three days' time. Each day is only about half an hour long (which can be doubled with a well-known secret), but Link uses the Ocarina of Time to warp back in time to the first day, and continue (special items, and progress are saved, but other things are lost). In addition, the game had a large overworld and multiple characters - over 50 of which had their own routines that they went through during the three days. Many side-quests involve helping these characters. The fact that every one of them has some sort of life that you can peer into, and even alter, adds enormously to the emotional factor of saving the world from destruction.

The Wind Waker wasn't as great a game as the rest, mainly because it was on the easy side of things. It also featured an insanely large overworld: the problem was that it was covered entirely of water. Thus, a large portion of the game is spent sailing. Not a flaw in concept, but the fact that the sea is so large, the islands you visit are rather small, and that for the most part, the sailing is pretty boring, kind of dragged things down. The game does have one of the best plots of any Zelda game, though, and the overworld certainly is massive. Not a revolution, though.

Sorry for this tirade, but I thought I'd give a thorough and consise answer. Hope it helps.

I pretty much agree with you completely here. A particular point I'd like to make is the utter genious of Majora's Mask. I firmly believe that it is the best of the Zelda titles. The atmosphere is simply phenomenal, and it is one of the most innovative games I have ever played.

 

[Psychanalysis05%]

the Cartoon Zelda was a cool look, and it played good, but It WAS HARD AS HELL!!

a) Despite enjoying the game, I despised the presentation of Windwaker. Ruined the maturity of a very mature series for me.
b) You never have to use a strategy guide for anything, and if you had to use one for Windwaker...you have some issues with video games in general.
c) One of the things I really hate is how video games just seem to be getting easier. I want a challenge, not to cruise through a game with little to no difficulty and end up forgetting about it too quickly. That's one of the things I really like about the new Res Evil. There a great level of difficulty there, especially with the insta-kill moves some of the evil guys have. That's one of the few problems I had with Half Life 2, the game was way too easy. If I pretty much don't have to do anything to get through a game, I may as well watch a movie instead. That's what they did with Shenmue - it was so easy to finish, they made the first part into a machinima movie and re-released it bundled with the sequel.

 

[Warbie]

I adored the cell shading in Wind Waker. One of the best looking games i've ever seen. The only thing that bugged me was the bloody endless sailing :/

Still, fantatic game.

(fighting the dragon over the lava, the bird bird on the prison island, visting the black and white Hyrule under the sea - visually Wind Waker is unsurpassed, imo)

I'm actually a little worried that the new Zelda will take away some of the charm from the series and do a 'Warrior Within' (i'm sure it'll still be grerat, though )

 

[Venmoch]

I'm actually a little worried that the new Zelda will take away some of the charm from the series and do a 'Warrior Within' (i'm sure it'll still be grerat, though )

I Brood with Generic Rage!

 

[VirusType2]

a) Despite enjoying the game, I despised the presentation of Windwaker. Ruined the maturity of a very mature series for me.
b) You never have to use a strategy guide for anything, and if you had to use one for Windwaker...you have some issues with video games in general.
c) One of the things I really hate is how video games just seem to be getting easier. I want a challenge, not to cruise through a game with little to no difficulty and end up forgetting about it too quickly. That's one of the things I really like about the new Res Evil. There a great level of difficulty there, especially with the insta-kill moves some of the evil guys have. That's one of the few problems I had with Half Life 2, the game was way too easy. If I pretty much don't have to do anything to get through a game, I may as well watch a movie instead. That's what they did with Shenmue - it was so easy to finish, they made the first part into a machinima movie and re-released it bundled with the sequel.

I like a challenge too! I play games on the hard or normal setting at least, but hard puzzles can piss me off alot, becuase u cannot continue playing if you get stuck, thats it.

 

[Stigmata]

I like a challenge too! I play games on the hard or normal setting at least, but hard puzzles can piss me off alot, becuase u cannot continue playing if you get stuck, thats it.

That's part of the beauty of Zelda. If you get stuck on a quest, there's always something else to do while you try to figure out how to get past the puzzle.

 

[Malfunction]

And not to be a party pooper, but WW's puzzles weren't anywhere near the complexity and challenge of OoT's puzzles. Majora's Mask was extremely unique, fun, and not as challenging as OoT, which was a good thing for me, as I dreaded the Water Temple in OoT. So many sidequests in MM....amazing.

 

[Frank]

I just bought one and I don't regret it... I've got Mario Kart Double Dash, Metroid Prime and Zelda: Windwanker... Haven't tried Windwanker yet, because I'm gonna play it with my friend like we did with Zelda64

 

[kupocake]

Jeez, haven't we got past the "misspelling names with insults" stage yet?

Nope.

Windbreaker

(Sorry ^^)

 

[BRODIEMAN2k4]

Because in America, if doesnt have extreme violence and beating hookers with bats, it's not a game.

 

[Lt. Drebin]

For games to be interesting to me, they need to have well presented plot thats good. Kind of like when I want to read a book. Same reason I don't play games like Serious Sam, Painkiller, and the like. Metroid Prime didn't have a well presented plot. And, the gameplay wasn't very fun.

Now Zelda....holy crap. Most overrated game series ever. But, of course, I'm no sour puss. The new Zelda coming out looks very interesting me.

Not a well presented plot??? Thats definitly a new one. I'd hardly insult MP by putting it in company like Serious Sam and PainKiller.....two games with ZERO PLOT. If you can't find the plot in MP then you clearly slept through the beginning of the game...I suggest you try coffee and maybe 8-10 hours of sleep a night.

Overrated?????.......my friend, you're in the extreme minority. Zelda is world renouned as an icon of gaming genious. I'm sorry of you don't agree, just say you don't care for it....calling it overrated would imply that the Zelda games get reasonably poor reviews and a few people like me call it the greatest game ever....hence overrating it in terms of the average. You cannot argue with 99.99999% of gamers and reviewers alike. Ocarina of Time is to date one of the highest ranked games ever.....it may be the best ever in some circles. It is in mine. Anyway...there's not base to calling it overrated as those games NEVER fail to get high praise and excellent reviews.

http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/default_N64/4

 

[Frank]

oh man windwanker ur sooooooooooooooooo funny LOL

Jeez, haven't we got past the "misspelling names with insults" stage yet?

No...

 

[Stigmata]

Because in America, if doesnt have extreme violence and beating hookers with bats, it's not a game.

You forgot the "and having sex with the hookers before you beat them to get your money back".

Seriously, QFT. It seems that 90% of the end-user demographic consists of 20-year olds who feel that their masculinity is threatened by playing a fun game. There's nothing "wrong" about liking Mario, or Zelda, or any other game mascot. Just because they don't condone civil disobedience and drug use, doesn't mean they aren't good characters.

I just wish some people would get it through their biased, tunnel-vision heads and realize that games don't need an M rating to be good.

 

[Lt. Drebin]

The GameCube doesn't sell because all people have shoved down their throat is the PS2 and XBox.

Nintendo has never failed to be the gamer's company. Selling systems or not....the numbers and review don't lie...Nintendo's systems hold 5 of the top 10 ranked games of ALL TIME. 50% of the top ten....Sony systems have 1 game in the top 10 and it's on the original PS. I don't care how many systems they sell....Nintendo has a higher % of better games made....period. Their in-house development is UNMATCHED....they make the best games on the planet...the numbers don't lie. It's a fact. Expand it to the top 30 of all time....Nintendo systems have 1/3 of that list. If people don't want to play them it's their loss. Nintendo still makes money...but it's never been about profit....they'll make consoles until the company goes under. They've said it a million times. Their in this until the bitter end. So who really cares if Sony sells more.

http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/simpleratings.asp

 

[FortisVir]

Sometimes I feel like I shouldn't even own a gamecube. I've had it for 2 years and I just bought Wind Waker 3 days ago. Whoops.

My problem is that I like action and racing games and the PS2 seems to have a lot more of those. My cousin has a PS2 and I bet I've played on it 10 times the amount I have played on my own GC just because of games like Gran Turismo and Burnout 3 ( I know burnout 1 & 2 came out for the cube but when they cut off number 3 I was pissed off). I hate to say it but my GC has been collecting dust for most of the time I've had it.

Believe me, I'm just as big a nintendo fan as the average gamer, ever since the original Mario on the NES, Zelda on the SNES, Mario 64, I've played A LOT of damn good Nintendo games. But my GC just doesn't get used a whole lot, maybe its because I've been more busy in the past couple years. And also, I'm a real cheapass. I won't buy a game for 50 dollars. The only reason I bought Wind Waker is because it was for 20 at Best Buy. I think I just need to go to a pawn shop with a hundred bucks and buy every gamecube game I see. My collection is tiny, I only have 5 games.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I like Nintendo. I like metroid and mario and zelda and everything else. But I can see why it isn't selling as much as the xbox in the U.S.

 

[Psychanalysis05%]

Nintendo as a game design company hold 3 spots on the top ten all time list. There's four Nintendo console-based games on that list, three of which are Nintendo exclusives. Namco as a company have 2 (Soul Calibur and Tekken...gee, can't imagine why).
Nintendo beats every other company at lest four to one.
There happens to be two Playstation-based games on that list, and only one of them is a Sony exclusive. I think the point has been proven.

You'll also note that Tales of Symphonia is being planned for a PS2 port. Just goes to show that Sony are having to spend more money to get their hands on some of the biggest titles on the Gamecube.