After the low-par success of the N64, Nintendo needed to desperately make a comeback, so they created GameCube to meet the demands of a next-generation DVD/CD-ROM console. But did their efforts pay off, or is GameCube a failure like the N64 due to lack of faith in the company?
Niether. The GameCube has had a more successful life than the N64 did in it's first day of launch. There are many reasons for this, but I will explain the most important ones.
1. GameCube was Nintendo's answer to the success of the PlayStation, Nintendo's biggest competitor. And they hoped that if the GameCube was designed to be more like the PlayStation [which is isn't, sadly] then Nintendo would once again reclaim their fame and respect from many of their PlayStation-converted fans.
2. GameCube has had a successful launch, but just because a system has a great launch, doesn't mean it will last. Look at the Dreamcast for instance--SEGA put all of their heart and talent into creating that system, and although it broke the sales record previously held by Sony, it failed miserably in the long run.
3. GameCube was released next to Microsoft's X-Box. Obviously, not many people were eager to trust Microsoft's first entry into the console market, so they instead went for GameCube--with whom people had the most respect for in terms of games.
4. Nintendo has had great success in the past when they released systems...all that changed once the N64 came out. Many people were repelled by it's childish look and small library of mostly "childrens" games. So obviously, Nintendo needed something big to push aside the fear and doubt many people had against them.
5. How can someone learn to trust a company that has betrayed us time and time again with promises of a new era of gaming, when we are constantly being bombarded with old remakes of classic games?
I would like your opinions on this subject.
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