Yesterday was declared GameCube day in the capital, as a frenetic buzz echoed around London’s gaming district and beyond. In cafes, bars and in shops, people were talking about the launch of Nintendo’s mighty handbag, the GameCube.
And it was more than just a hardcore of gamers and technologists. “I’m excited about the GameCube tomorrow, though I don’t know exactly why, “said Andy McConnorhey, a street performer specialising in pulling tablecloths from under crockery in Covent Garden. “I have a Playstation 2 and am currently playing Ace Combat 4. But it’s all a bit serious and I think it’s time for a Nintendo fix. Mario 64 was amazing.”
This excitement was echoed by Franz Leyton, a South African bartender at The Catherine Wheel in Kensington. “I have wanted a GameCube ever since I saw Star Wars for it on a TV show. I have a Dreamcast and the look of the games on the GameCube is similar. I also like the size and shape of the machine. The Xbox is huge, I don’t really like it.”
As the evening drew in, London’s gaming district, the triangle cornered by Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street and Oxford Circus tube stations, came alive with GameCube launch talk. In the Black Horse public house in Rathbone Place, the live band that was playing even mentioned the fact that the ‘Cube was coming out tomorrow.
As midnight drew closer, queues started to form outside some of the larger retail chains that had stayed open especially for the midnight launch, with some stores offering a free copy of Luigi’s Mansion for the first batch of purchasers. Moston Hawk, a games tester by profession, was one of the first in the queue. We spoke to him after he had obtained his coveted console. “I am so happy I’ve got my GameCube,” he said. “I have taken the day off work tomorrow and will more than likely be staying up all night. I just can’t wait to get my teeth into Monkey Ball. It’s a true game, like so many for the GameCube. This true gaming ethos from Nintendo is what has made all of us turn up like this in the middle of the night. I, and many others here, have never done this before, not for the Xbox, or the PlayStation 2.”
The attach rate for GameCube is also expected to be high, with gamers buying at least two games each. From what we could tell, Rogue Leader and Super Monkey Ball were the most popular, though the chart data will confirm this.
Analysts are now widely expecting UK launch sales to be above 80,000 units, with an attach rate of three games per console.
And it was more than just a hardcore of gamers and technologists. “I’m excited about the GameCube tomorrow, though I don’t know exactly why, “said Andy McConnorhey, a street performer specialising in pulling tablecloths from under crockery in Covent Garden. “I have a Playstation 2 and am currently playing Ace Combat 4. But it’s all a bit serious and I think it’s time for a Nintendo fix. Mario 64 was amazing.”
This excitement was echoed by Franz Leyton, a South African bartender at The Catherine Wheel in Kensington. “I have wanted a GameCube ever since I saw Star Wars for it on a TV show. I have a Dreamcast and the look of the games on the GameCube is similar. I also like the size and shape of the machine. The Xbox is huge, I don’t really like it.”
As the evening drew in, London’s gaming district, the triangle cornered by Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street and Oxford Circus tube stations, came alive with GameCube launch talk. In the Black Horse public house in Rathbone Place, the live band that was playing even mentioned the fact that the ‘Cube was coming out tomorrow.
As midnight drew closer, queues started to form outside some of the larger retail chains that had stayed open especially for the midnight launch, with some stores offering a free copy of Luigi’s Mansion for the first batch of purchasers. Moston Hawk, a games tester by profession, was one of the first in the queue. We spoke to him after he had obtained his coveted console. “I am so happy I’ve got my GameCube,” he said. “I have taken the day off work tomorrow and will more than likely be staying up all night. I just can’t wait to get my teeth into Monkey Ball. It’s a true game, like so many for the GameCube. This true gaming ethos from Nintendo is what has made all of us turn up like this in the middle of the night. I, and many others here, have never done this before, not for the Xbox, or the PlayStation 2.”
The attach rate for GameCube is also expected to be high, with gamers buying at least two games each. From what we could tell, Rogue Leader and Super Monkey Ball were the most popular, though the chart data will confirm this.
Analysts are now widely expecting UK launch sales to be above 80,000 units, with an attach rate of three games per console.
Companies:
Nintendo
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