Third party GameCube future in doubt
Major publishers back away from Nintendo – exclusive details inside.
Wolverine's Revenge - last GameCube gasp from Activision?
Nintendo insists on making the same old mistakes it always has. To present a minor installed base to a publisher and offer miniscule returns for a high risk is plainly unworkable, and it is for this reason that the firm’s third-party support, across the board, is being slowly but surely withdrawn.
Today, Codemasters has removed all trace of GameCube support from its release schedule in a move mirroring the firm’s Dreamcast withdrawal, which saw Colin McRae Rally 2.0 canned for the platform. It seems that the Nintendo numbers again don’t add up for the company and the decision has been made.
We can also reveal that more major publishers will be wrapping up support for the Nintendo home machine during this year. Activision, and perhaps most crucially, Electronic Arts will be ceasing development for GameCube. Others are expected to follow. No announcements will be forthcoming; the games just won’t be made.
GameCube has been exhibiting symptoms of Dreamcast syndrome for some time, though until today, a definite diagnosis has been impossible to make.
Industry insiders are openly talking about the mass withdrawal which has started to take the form of a conspiracy of sorts. Rumour tells of directors of development and licensing, from various firms, discussing how best to retreat from GameCube and Nintendo’s paltry margins.
What’s more, support for Game Boy Advance, a platform notoriously difficult to make money with, is at its lowest point since launch. Just last week, Eidos representatives, at the press launch for a rival portable system, were talking openly on the subject of farming out all GBA products to other publishers, simply due to the difficulty in making a profit or breaking even. What happened to Crawfish, arguably the best handheld development team seen to date, serves as a grave reminder.
Today, Codemasters has removed all trace of GameCube support from its release schedule in a move mirroring the firm’s Dreamcast withdrawal, which saw Colin McRae Rally 2.0 canned for the platform. It seems that the Nintendo numbers again don’t add up for the company and the decision has been made.
We can also reveal that more major publishers will be wrapping up support for the Nintendo home machine during this year. Activision, and perhaps most crucially, Electronic Arts will be ceasing development for GameCube. Others are expected to follow. No announcements will be forthcoming; the games just won’t be made.
GameCube has been exhibiting symptoms of Dreamcast syndrome for some time, though until today, a definite diagnosis has been impossible to make.
Industry insiders are openly talking about the mass withdrawal which has started to take the form of a conspiracy of sorts. Rumour tells of directors of development and licensing, from various firms, discussing how best to retreat from GameCube and Nintendo’s paltry margins.
What’s more, support for Game Boy Advance, a platform notoriously difficult to make money with, is at its lowest point since launch. Just last week, Eidos representatives, at the press launch for a rival portable system, were talking openly on the subject of farming out all GBA products to other publishers, simply due to the difficulty in making a profit or breaking even. What happened to Crawfish, arguably the best handheld development team seen to date, serves as a grave reminder.
Read More Like This