The GameCube, for some reason, didn’t sell too well in Japan at launch. The usually console hungry nation couldn’t even manage to swallow the 300,000 allotted launch machines after picking at them for over two months.
It would appear that this has changed in a big way. Late last month Nintendo Japan released Smash Bros: Melee and two new colours of the hardware, Spice Orange and Jet Black. The slow start, it seems, was because Japanese gamers were waiting for these new models to be released before parting with their hard-earned yen. Strange but true.
This combination of killer-app and new console design has sent GameCube sales through the roof, increasing a massive 800% in the past two weeks. This new fervor the Japanese have discovered for GameCube might also be explained by the country’s fierce sense of identity and devout patriotism. As the GameCube takes on the might of Microsoft, it’s quite likely that Japanese gamers, known to be fiercely brand-loyal, will feel somewhat more encouraged to go out and buy one of Nintendo’s handbags of doom.
It would appear that this has changed in a big way. Late last month Nintendo Japan released Smash Bros: Melee and two new colours of the hardware, Spice Orange and Jet Black. The slow start, it seems, was because Japanese gamers were waiting for these new models to be released before parting with their hard-earned yen. Strange but true.
This combination of killer-app and new console design has sent GameCube sales through the roof, increasing a massive 800% in the past two weeks. This new fervor the Japanese have discovered for GameCube might also be explained by the country’s fierce sense of identity and devout patriotism. As the GameCube takes on the might of Microsoft, it’s quite likely that Japanese gamers, known to be fiercely brand-loyal, will feel somewhat more encouraged to go out and buy one of Nintendo’s handbags of doom.
Companies:
Nintendo
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