The Video Game Critic

[QUOTE=Shawn]

Gamecube:

 

No online play

 

Poor third party support

 

Zelda handed over to the Wii first

 

Nintendo practically gave up on the system in 2006

 

Very poor games in 2006

 

NO outlook for 2007

 

Thank God Sony did a much better job, the PS2 had a ton of great games in 2006 and the icing on the cake is God of War 2 will be out on the PS2 in March. Wait....do you think they will delay God of War 2 and release it on the PS3 a month before the PS2 release? I don't think so, only Nintendo would do something so vile to its loyal following.

[/QUOTE]

I think you are taking it too much at face value, Shawn.  It's good for Sony to release a big game on their last gen system, obviously, because so many people own the system.  Nintendo did what I think was the smarter thing FOR THEM, and used the title to push their new system, instead of wasting the obvious hype and anticipation on their older, less successful system.  Both moves by both companies make perfect business sense. 

I for one will be getting a Playstation 3 as soon as I possibly can.  It's the cheapest Blu-Ray player on the market -- $400 cheaper than the cheapest model.

 

And if I am lucky, someday it might even play worthwhile games.

 

P.S. Oh yeah, and it could also be a great conduit for downloading mystical PS1 energy into my PSP, but because channeling energy into my PSP is a mystical process, I may not have time to enjoy it.  It takes around 90 minutes.  But on the bright side, that's enough time for me to plug into the Matrix, or breathe freely in the fifth dimension.

 

*Kutaragi's head proceeds to pop*

I think the Gamecube did ok while it was around.  It had alot of exclusive games and Nintendo didn't miss a beat with any of its big name franchises.

 

Honestly it was the first system of the three I purchased and when it was all said and done it was the one I played the least.  I still cherish it for games like RE4, Zelda WW, Pikmin, Eternal Darkness, Ikaruga and quite a few more.  I ended up with a total of about 30 games which was about half of what I had for my PS2 and 10 less than my xbox.  I still plan on getting some games I missed out on too (Mario Power Tennis, Mario Kart, Metal Gear Solid Twin Snakes, Donkey Konga Jungle Beat, Luigi Mansion and Skies of Arcadia Legends).

 

Had Nintendo tried to compete in the next gen "arms race" they would have probably faired the same they did with the GC...third place.  They still might finish third this time out too...who knows.  They need more 3rd party support and they need more mature games to get a much more well rounded library.  Sony has been able to do this with its systems, I dont see why Nintendo can't. 

I would consider getting the worst version or no version of most third party games "missing a beat" with the major franchises.

[QUOTE=sega saturn x]I would consider getting the worst version or no version of most third party games "missing a beat" with the major franchises.
[/QUOTE]

I wasn't talking about major franchises...I was talking about their own franchises.  The gamecube churned out hit after hit of Nintendo 1st party software.  Metroid made a huge return and Wink Waker was a resounding success.  Mario Sunshine was also critically acclaimed and typically well received.  Had Nintendo screwed up those franchises the Gamecube would have been practically worthless.

[QUOTE=JustLikeHeaven][QUOTE=sega saturn x]I would consider getting the worst version or no version of most third party games "missing a beat" with the major franchises.
[/QUOTE]

I wasn't talking about major franchises...I was talking about their own franchises.  The gamecube churned out hit after hit of Nintendo 1st party software.  Metroid made a huge return and Wink Waker was a resounding success.  Mario Sunshine was also critically acclaimed and typically well received.  Had Nintendo screwed up those franchises the Gamecube would have been practically worthless.
[/QUOTE]For the past two years it's been worthless regardless.  Mario sunshine was an excellent game in my opinion, haters be damned.   But even the support from them was terrible at times if for no other reason than huge gaps filled with nothing.

The subject line of this discussion is apt, to the point, and correct.  Next year you'll see how things play out.  It took the PSP at least that long if not longer.

 

If Sony were to issue a firmware upgrade to upgrade standard DVDs to run at 1080i and their games weren't downgraded to 480p if you don't run at 720p I'd consider picking one up for those "future" titles we're promised.  However, right now, there's nothing available that's worth $600.  Can anyone honestly say Resistence alone is worth that? 

 

Right now we're all just doing what ifs and conjectures.  However, Sony just lost another exclusive today.  Virtua Fighter 5 will now also be released on the 360.  So, any die hard fans in the US or Europe have one less incentive to pick up a PS3.  At the moment the exclusives to the PS3 that will sell consoles can be counted on one hand. 

 

FF13

Metal Gear

Lair (and that's just me for this one)

 

Kojimas released Metal Gear on multiple platforms; as a result, that one's not entirely locked down as well and could come to any of the three platforms eventually.

 

FF13 and Lair are two that aren't going anywhere.

 

So, are those two games enough for someone to buy a console?  I used to think so; however, my taste for strictly linear RPGs have gone by the wayside thanks to Oblivion.

 

As a result, I'm looking for something that's different and fun, which is where the Wii comes in.  For straight up action and anything else the 360 will do the trick.

 

the worst versions of multi platform games were reserved for the PS2, the only problem the cube had was media size made companies go skimpy on fmvs. otherwise it and the xbox were pretty close, and both a step ahead of the PS2

[QUOTE=chrisbid]the worst versions of multi platform games were reserved for the PS2, the only problem the cube had was media size made companies go skimpy on fmvs. otherwise it and the xbox were pretty close, and both a step ahead of the PS2[/QUOTE]

Lies, the cube versions always controled like an impaired box turtle with no legs.  Seriously who would dare buy a third party fps on the game cube?

There's other genres you know.

I'd usually buy the Xbox version of games. Only 3rd party multiplatform game for the GC that I looked for (Though I've bought a few here over the years) was Midway Arcade Treasures, because it saw the best version. Other than that I've looked for the Xbox version of everything except for the first NFS game that everyone thought was best on the PS2.