As of May 21, 2001 Nintendo has officially stated that the price of GameCube will be $199.95 at launch, 100 dollars less than X-Box (if it makes it's launch date), and current pricing for Playstation 2. This could very well give them an edge this Holiday season. They've also stated that games will be comparatively priced to other systems at around $49.99. GameCube will launch with six exclusive games, and whatever is available from second and third party support at launch as well. Apparently production for the GameCube according to Nintendo's numbers is more than I expected allegedly exceeding 2.5 Millions units combined in America and Japan by the end of the year. I think that was similar to PS2's numbers for 2000 for Japan and the USA. They plan on rolling out 600,000 Gamecube's per month after launch.

Facts being in the numbers, I'm looking at the GameCube's price and availablity as probably making it the big thing this Christmas. When a parent of a child is looking for that new game system and sees a system priced a hundred cheaper than the other one, the wallet usually talks for them and will probably buy a GameCube. GameCube looks and has games that are very kid friendly and this will likely sell even more of them. Will I buy a GameCube, probably if Rouge Squadron II, and Metroid Prime are both out at launch, and sure I'll pick up Luigi's Mansion. Although I haven't been able to download the video on Rouge Squadron II (it's predecessor was one of the games I enjoyed on N64), from what I've been told, and seen in screenshots it looks impressive. I have yet to delve extensively into X-Box's E3 lineup so I will refrain from comment on X-Box at this point. I'm still doing research. If Microsoft can pull off a decent launch and have a great lineup of "WOW" games then they have a shot, however it will be priced more than GameCube, and there's that little voice inside of me that X-Box reeks of "Jaguar" or "3DO" Microsoft does have the capability to muscle their way into the market by sheer financial brute force. From what I hear a lot of Microsoft 3rd party developers like Nintendo's 3rd parties have recently received kits (within the past 6 to 3 months). Sony is going to face competition certainly, and NEED to launch something bigger than say Silent Hill II, something like Final Fantasy X or Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. I'm pretty sure MGS:SOL will be released by the end of the year, however it's been stated that Final Fantasy X will be pushed into 2002 here in the USA.

One thing that is going to drive me nuts this coming year and in 2002 is "Cross Platform Games" that are the same game released on multiple consoles. This sucks for the hardcore gamer going for that ultimate gaming experience in that if a game is released for different consoles it's not always the same. For instance the Playstation 2 version of Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore is better than the standard Dreamcast version (not too much but enough to improve the graphics and character appearances). I was a little peeved when that happened to me, and now Crazy Taxi is moving to Playstation 2, and I'm assuming the graphics have been improved. What's more, now 3rd parties are going to be developing games for 3 platforms at once, X-Box, GameCube, and PS2. So how am I going to know which game is better, especially when their release dates differ by a span of greater than a month? X-Box will supposedly have better graphics, so what, do I wait until the X-Box version comes out, knowing that a cool game is already available for another system, but it will have better graphics on another console?

The end result of all these systems being available simultaneously will invariably be better games. Competition results in better quality products for lower prices in enconomics, however for a gamer it means the good games will hopefully be better in terms of appearance, gameplay, aural ambiance, voice overs, plot development. Nintendo has the child market licked, with tons of games kids will enjoy based upon established mascots like Pokemon, Kirby, Mario, and Donkey Kong. A large majority of the people above the age of 15 I encounter in the field say that Nintendo = kiddy games, or "my little brother/sister's game system." This is stigma that Nintendo can quickly erase with Metroid Prime, Rouge Squadron II, "A Shooter with Awesome Guns and a Plot," and maybe a couple resque RPG's rated M or A. Conker's Bad Fur Day was a start in a good deversified direciton (although it's more of a comedy, or comedic platformer) for Nintendo, however it sold abysmally because Nintendo targeted adult gamers only with it's advertising and "Must be 18 or older" website, and got just that, the quantity of Adult gamers that own a N64, and still play the system. Sony has their large following amongst older gamers, many of the people I know above the age of 15 to about 30 own and currently play either a Playstation or Playstation 2 (if they can find one). It all amounts to the games. Years ago system performance really mattered and helped a system sell games, however now the playing field is rather level, so all these companies are going to have to really put forth an effort with their software to make the best of each of these Next-Gen systems. Ultimately we are the winners here no matter how you look at it, no matter what company is a financial winner or loser, if you like the game buy it.

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