The online Gamecube Conspiracy

The year was 2001-2002 the console battle had begun for that generation in gaming, people were surprised that nintendo didnt launch with any online games, but sadly they never would release one online game for their new gamecube console. Why you ask? that answer will never be known, why did nintendo have an online port/cable for their unit but not utilize, the answer has to do with nintendo trying a multitude of new ideas. Although utilizing new ideas meant dishing out lots of mediocre games that ended up in nintendo losing that console war. Although unltimately the wii would make up for their console defeat, I do not understand why nintendo never utilized this technology, melee needed to be online, along with fourswords adventure, mario kart, and many other great games. Nintendo is a strange company, that when any thing starts to go bad they will abondon it instead of speanding more money on it, the virtual boy is a classic example in this strategy saving them alot of cash, cause even with more ads nintendo knew the system would fail. Maybe nintendo made some online server that failed and was therefore abonded, thats just my theory of course. I still dont understand this concept though, its just plain stupidity, thats like not having any ds games using the microphone but having it be there, its like what the hell is the point. Im not saying that this caused the gamecube to lose the console wars, it was the lack of great games in 2003-2005 that screwed nintendo over. In a time of struggle nintendo never unleashed what couldve been their savior, but why? That is for you to answer.

Comments

  • They didn't need to. Xbox live had been in development for awhile but even it wasn't as full featured as it is now. Ps2 was late to getting online and when it did it fizziled with the exception of Socom Navy Seals. Plus I think they saw how shitty the console was selling and just decided it wasn't worth the time or money to invest in online. Broadband penetration wasn't as high is it is today either.
  • mario kart was online on the cube,broadband? or am i mistaken.

    Anyway,what most people don't know is that xbox live costed a lot of money!
    microsoft lost alot of money starting xbox live up.
  • Gamecube did have online capabilities for some games, most notably the Phantasy Star games and Mario Kart Double Dash. They didn't push their online capabilities because they didn't need to, it wouldn't have made a big difference. Remember, Nintendo was pushing towards the 18 and under age demographic. Online gaming is most thriving in the 18-35 demographic, which is why PS2 and Xbox had such better online capabilities. Besides, games that Nintendo was known for, like Pikmin and Donkey Konga can't be THAT fun online.
  • I think one of the biggest things was the fact that the broadband adapter was an optional accessory rather than built into the main console. This caused a major chicken or egg situation where no one wanted to design games to use it because no one owned one, and no one wanted to buy one because there was no good games that used it.
  • Nintendo just doesn't care much about online gaming. It isn't their focus. If it was, they wouldn't make such a mess with the current friend code issue. It isn't convenient at all. Plus, the Wii didn't even get any online games before around the time Mario Strikers Charged came out. They don't need to bother with it to be successful.
  • I think with the next console launch it will be a whole new world. I think Nintendo will have a MUCH better online system and several games with that capability at launch. I also think that Sony and Microsoft will copy a lot of what Nintendo does well and try to adapt that to their business plans.



    I think Nintendo was smart to not to a lot of online stuff with the Cube, broadband is just not getting very popular and most people have it. Not enough people had it for it to be a deciding factor for them with Cube, would have been tossing money in the crapper for the most part.

    ~~NGD
  • thanks for your opinions, but mario kart isnt online, its lan
  • Although intended only for LAN games, it was possible to get around this and play Mario Kart (and other BBA games) over the internet. I never tried it and I would imagine it didn't work all too hot, as I'm assuming it was not programmed to handle the additional lag.
  • Nothing "needs" to be online, though Microsoft would love you to beleive otherwise. image

    With online gaming in it's infancy then (and now), Nintendo would either need to provide a free service and bleed money, or charge for online access, neither of which is Nintendo's MO.   One thing no one's mentioned here yet is the fact that GCN has 4 controller ports in the front and Nintendo wants you to use them all. So, they make a tonne of games that are 4 player, and in order to get the most out of them, you need to buy more controllers.  Smart marketing if you ask me.  The mark up on controllers has to be good, and consumers never feel ripped off when buying them, because at least you have something physical in your hands (vs. online access where you don't). 
    I guarantee you that if Wii Sports had online multiplayer, Nintendo wouldn't have sold very many extra remotes or copies of Wii Play.

  • Warp Pipe, the ultimate tool for online gamecube games.
  • Originally posted by: Coldguy

    Warp Pipe, the ultimate tool for online gamecube games.


    tell me more
  • Originally posted by: KHAN Games

    Nintendo just doesn't care much about online gaming. It isn't their focus. If it was, they wouldn't make such a mess with the current friend code issue. It isn't convenient at all. Plus, the Wii didn't even get any online games before around the time Mario Strikers Charged came out. They don't need to bother with it to be successful.


    I think they r looking out for the kids. Wii is aimed towards everyone now. But Nintendo always had that kid image, as the pres of the company's main sellers r sim' to Stan Lee's story creating.  Imaginary things from child hood experiences of exploring the world.  Nintendo won't charge for online play so the makers of say Call of Duty hav to host the meeting place for online players to play.  After awhile those servers don't need to be up anymore and you have to play those games online by another means like GameSpy tunnel or another tunneling program.  Microsoft is a paid online service where u hav more players and longer game support long after the game's hype and popularity.  Which is nice but I'd rather play another great game then get hung up on something old.
  • ...There was PSO?
  • There were a bunch of Gamecube games that were planned to have online features, but were mostly either removed, or the games themselves were cancelled. One of the most promising was Thunder Rally; kind of a cross between Motorstorm and Twisted Metal, and it was supposed to have online play. Also, it was being created by Retro Studios, who made Metroid Prime. Such a shame it was never released; the graphics were amazing.
  • A lot has changed since this thread was active 3 years ago...just sayin.
  • Yeah, there's been some serious gravedigging around here as of late.
  • Originally posted by: Nirvana

    ...There was PSO?



    Yep. My supervisors at EB played the GC version online like a crack addiction back when it was still new.
  • Haha, when I noticed Dutch was the third poster I knew it had to be old!
  • I think there is a thread bumping conspiracy



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