Nintendo ends GameCube support

[Tan]

Nintendo of America's Perrin Kaplan has confirmed that the company has ceased production of its last generation console, the GameCube, and will not release any further games for it.
Spong reports that whilst Nintendo still sees a place in the market for its struggling last-gen machine, manufacturing efforts have now shifted over to the likes of Wii, DS and Game Boy Advance.

“Are we producing any more GameCubes? No,” Nintendo of America's vice president of marketing and corporate affairs Perrin Kaplin explained in an interview with GameDaily. “But do we have the inventory there for people to still purchase? Yes.

“Just like the PS2 sold really well this past holiday, GameCube is a great starter system – price, ease, games. Every one of the consoles has had its cycle and every single one of them has become a great starter system at the last leg of its cycle, and that's where GameCube's at.”

Kaplan also went on to confirm that Nintendo will not release any new games for the system – a decision reinforced by the company's recent change of heart in relation to Super Paper Mario. That platformer was announced for GameCube at last year's E3, but has since gone on to become a Wii-only title.

“If you're a core gamer you wouldn't buy a GameCube,” she continued. “It's not aimed at you anymore. But for new people as a starter system, how many games are there for them to pick from? Plenty.

“I mean, I wasn't the first to buy an iPod. By the time I bought it, it came to a price where I wanted it to be and looked the way I wanted it to look. So we're not selling GameCube to the people who are hardcore players and want all the gadgetry – we're going after the people who never really bought a system before now it's finally at a price that they can afford for their family.”

[James]

Old news. They stopped supporting it here about four years ago.

[Tynstar]

About time.

manufacturing efforts have now shifted over to the likes of Wii, DS and Game Boy Advance.

Why are they still making GBA's? Are they still selling well?

[Dev1anc3]

That says alot about Nintendo, as Microsoft stopped supporting XBOX in 2005, and they both came out at about the same time, and the Cube has pretty much struggled since launch.

I'd say that the Game Boy Micro is still selling decently, and I know quite a few people that bought their kids SP's last Xmas. The GBA has an enormous user base, but I think the it will die out this year though.

[Grim Fandango]

Does that mean that Radio Allergy is canceled?

[Tan]

Does that mean that Radio Allergy is canceled?

Funny you mention that game. I read an article a day or two ago where the publisher for Radio Allergy is putting a "Wii Compatible" logo on the cover of the game to help with sales. Seeing the Gamecube's demise they are straddling two markets with this trying to cash in on the backwards compat.

[Tondog]

Now that Nintendo pulled a Microsoft and shut down support on the old coonsole within months of releasing the new one, Sony is the only one left supporting the last gen. I bet they'll be supporting it until after this next Christmas.

[Grim Fandango]

They did support psone a long time after ps2 came out.

[Ghost Soldier]

Now that Nintendo pulled a Microsoft and shut down support on the old coonsole within months of releasing the new one, Sony is the only one left supporting the last gen. I bet they'll be supporting it until after this next Christmas.

Until prices come down on the ps3, the ps2 is still there cashcow on the system side.  It would make sense that they continue to support it until technology prices are at a point that they don't have to offset costs to the consumer on there new system.

[s1lence]

Well hopefully that means lots of price drops on the titles that have been sitting on the shelves basically untouched.

Maybe the remaining systems will finally drop to the 50 dollar point as well.

[Tynstar]

Maybe the remaining systems will finally drop to the 50 dollar point as well.

If they do i think I will pick up one extra system.

[cauterize]

Old news. They stopped supporting it here about four years ago.

lol too true! Apart from Chibi Robo and a few other games though...
I think the amount of kiddy games in ratio to decent games didnt do it any favours...