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When I heared that Sega was going third party, I actually thought they WERE GOING THIRD PARTY! But the more I look at it, the more it looks like they're becomming an Xbox 2nd party. Being a third party company means you and you alone own the rights to your games and characters and allow other systems to present the games, there are some exceptions, but only if the third party agrees to them. For this reason you'll find that Rockstar is a third party company but GTA is a Ps2 exclusive... until 2004.

I can't be the only person who has noticed that since Sega went third party, they've been a little TOO generous to Xbox. How so? Well let's see... For games, GameCube got: Monkey Ball, a ported Sonic Adventure, a couple of would-be sports titles and...uh... Ps2 got Virtual fighter, Space channel five and bunch of good sports games. Xbox got the exclusive rights to Shenume, Crazy Taxi, Jet grind Radio, Panzer dragoon, Toejam & Earl and all the sports games GC and Ps2 have. I appologize if I sound a little ticked off but I THINK PS2 AND GC ARE GETTING SCREWED!!!!

What does GC have exclusive from Sega? A once tollerable and lovable monkey in balls franchise that looks like a one-hit wonder, sorta kinda maybe the rights to Sonic, crap sports games and our only online game that's being shared with Xbox.

Ps2 has the ever popular Virtual fighter and soon to be exlusive Space Channel five and Daytona... and some sports titles that everyone is getting.

While Ps2 is stuck with only two owned franchises and GC is getting stuck with old Sonic games, Xbox has new games of the greatest franchises! If Sega is doing this to spite Sony and Nintendo for putting them out of the console business they're getting mad for the wrong reasons and being sore losers.

I know Microsoft didn't buy Sega because if they did they would be the ones getting the Sonic games as well as everything else. So what gives? Sega has many companies under it's belt like Smilebit and Amusement vision and those companies make the go for who get's what games. But if Sega did go third party why are so many of there games Xbox exlusives?

What bothers me the most is why dose Sega stay despite poor sales? Jet grind radio future had horrid sales on the Xbox yet Sega didn't ask for there franchise back. Sure the Xbox, being the most powerful system of the lot, can do things the other two can't... but not that much.

Im not mad at Xbox or the Xbox owners, I hope they let the good times roll with these great games they have, Im mad at Sega here. The GC and Ps2 are out there too and are doing better in sales than the Xbox everywhere but in North America where the battle is equally divided. I tell you this much thought, when Sony dumps it's franchises, they don't get seddeled in to one system. Share the wealth, that's what they do. Sega is a third party company, like Capcom*, Klonna, Namco, Midway and EA, it's time they started acting like one by letting everyone get a chance to play the new games, then see on wich system they sell the best before they go giving away exlusives like Halloween candy to the rich kid on the street.

*I'll come first in this by saying that Capcom did not give GC the total rights to Resident Evil, there is an online RE game comming for Ps2.




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It's been about 9 editorials since my first one on the rummor that Rareware may be going third party. I still feel the same way as I did those months back: I would greatly appreciate it if Rare would stay with Nintendo only because A) There a talented company and having them gives Nintendo a major leg-up above the competition. B) Exclusive titles break or make a system and with so many "exclusive" games going multiplatform it'll be a big dissapointment if suddenly everyone could play your favorite game without owning your type system. C) If they do go third party, they'll loose all the flexibility and patients that Nintendo is so respected for in there developers... plus 2nd parties get more money than third parties.

Everyday more and more rummors are spreading like wildfire about possible third party plans. Such as: Rare was bought by Activision, Nintendo dropped there contract with them after horrible Conker sales, Microsoft bought Rare from Nintendo, Rare was in the possesion of Ps2 and Xbox development kits since January 2001, Rare sold the Perfect dark franchise to Ps2 and gave Xbox the rights to Conker, Rare gave Nintendo Donkey Kong back. And the fact that Starfox Adventures was the only Rare game at E3 gives everyone in the industry reason to believe once that game is out Rare is gone.

Everyone is talking about this, everyone is making more rummors per day. Either they're true or people are jumping on the bandwagon, we don't know. While everyone who has anything to do with the industry is talking about this, ironically the only people not talking about this is Rareware themselves.

In a recent IGN interview, Rare said they don't comment on rummors as seeing how they are rummors, anything they say can be turned into another rummor. Althought they say that there relationship with Nintendo stays the same, they keep saying that the rummors are a load of cobblers (They're English) and that they feel Nintendo did have the best showing of games at E3, they neither confirmed nor dennied questions about dev kits and selling titles.

Sure, they have a right not to tell us, but there are more people out there who need to here this answer. Stock brokers need to hear the final truth so they can make the necesary adjustments, people who may have bought GC's just because Rare is chummy chummy with Nintendo, the people at the heads of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft who need to know who to include in there next payroll. The simple yes or no question if they are going third party or selling any titles has turned into a media circus!

Again, I would sleep easier at night if Rare stayed with Nintendo, but if they don't that's fine too. If tomorow they have an anouncement saying that they are leaving Nintendo, at least we can put at rest the ridiculous rummors and finaly get some strait answers. This has gotten out of hand and the sooner I get a strait answer the soone the suspence will stop killing me!



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I said before in my very first editorial that I would verry much like Rare to stay with Nintendo. In my second Rare editorial I stated that I wouldn't be too worked up if these rummors were true. Well the second I found out that Rare indeed went to Microsoft it was one of those moments where I'd curse out loud and question my faith in the big cheese upstairs.

But I've calmed down and I took the time to note some of the reactions on this strange occurance. I always thought that Nintendo and Rare had this chemistry unlike anything we've ever seen. Nintendo was the big guy who made all of the decisions, and Rare was the punny brown-noser who'd followed them around and repeated the last thing Nintendo said to somone they threatened.

Well I guessed wrong. I always considered Nintendo to ride into every battle with the trusty sword Rareware in hand. Get what im saying? They were insepriable, Rare was to Nintendo as Robin was to Batman (A sidekick, so get that other image out of your head) Well I was wrong, dead wrong.

Something was going to happen. Rummors don't start unless something sparked at the bottom. And Im going to tell you lucky people now, in probably my biggest editorial yet, where I stand and believe when it comes to the rummors, Nintendo, Rare, Microsoft, my wishes and my final opinion. So sit back and get comfy, you'll be here for a while.

The rummors.

Rummors kept popping up like weeds, and like weeds, no one liked them and they tried to get rid of them. Some of the rummors sounded pretty extreme and well... stupid. But would it surprise you if I told you that every singe rummor had truth to it?! It just got tangeled in some desperate journalists imagination.

Rummor#1: The Rare 2001 Christmas card.
What was it?: It was simply Rare's holiday card given to all of it's employees and it's partners. On the card it featured Rare's unnofficial mascot (Not Banjo, a fat stick figure with a moustache, derby hat and red underwear. His name? Mr. Pants) under a Christmas tree with presents shapped like a GC, Xbox and Ps2.
What's the rummor?: People thought this was Rare's way of saying "We're making plans on going multi-platform"
In reality: Rare commented that this was just a joke and never intended to be taken seriously by the public. What we didn't know was that this was Rare's way of saying "Rare auction on now. Come one come all, we're up for grabs"

Rummor#2-Rare wants to spite Nintendo.
What was it?: After working hard on Conker's BFD for 4 years strait, Rare suffered horrible sales of the game.
What's the rummor?: People thought that Rare blammed Nintendo fro not promoting the game enough wich lead to bad sales. More people rented the game than bought a copy retail figures showed. BFD wasn't mentioned on Nintendo's website at all or in there officail magazine.
In reality: Rare didn't care much about Conker not selling well. They were dissapointed but all it meant was that it was one less franchise to worry about. It was Nintendo that got mad at Rare. Here they were supporting this project for 4 years and all that they got from it was dismall aproval. Wouldn't be the first time eitehr. Rare wasn't mad at Nintendo that there game wasn't a success, Nintendo was mad at Rare that there game wasn't a success.

Rummor#3- Activision bought Rare.
What is it?: Reps of Activision started having weekly visits with Rare and always brought a large check with them.
What's the rummor?: People thought Activision was going to buy Rare's shares.
In reality: Rare is a much bigger company than Activision and worth a lot more money. Activision was however the second highest bidder for Rare. Rare was on sale and opened to every body. Activision wanted them but couldn't afford them.

Rummor#4- Ken Lobb leaves Rare.
What is it?: Ken Lobb was a key figure between Rare and Nintendo meetings. This is the guy who kept them together for all of these years. Unfortunately he left for Microsoft shortly after the GC was released and since Rare and Nintendo haven't spoken much.
What's the rummor?: People thought that since ken Lobb was going to Microsoft, and seeing as how he was the one who made transactions between Nintendo and Rare so smoothly, many thought he'd attempt to make the same transaction with Microsoft and Rare.
In reality: Microsoft wasn't even interested in buying Rare at that time Ken Lobb left. Ken Lobb never truely gave a good answer to the situation but he did say it was never personal reasons why he left.

Rummor#5- Nintendo didn't renew the contract.
What is it?: Every year Nintendo has to figure out who's going to be on there payroll. They go to all of there 2nd party branches and see what they have that would be worth while.
What's the rummor: Rare was the only contract that wasn't renewed and many thought this was Nintendo's ways of saying "We don't need ya anymore. See ya"
In reality: Nintendo did eventually renew the contract, but this was still during the time of Yamauchi's presidency of Nintendo, who know what the new guy cooked up. Nintendo renewed the contract this is true, but they sold there shares so it's safe to say that Rare won't be included on the next payroll.

Rummor#6-Rare gave PD to Ps2 & BFD to Xbox
What is it?: For the longest time Rare was looking for third party business. Amidst all of this people began to wonder? "What about all of there franchises?"
What's the rummor: People thought that Perfect Dark would be perfect (No pun intended) for the Ps2. Lot's of shooters, perhaps online play, many thought PD0 would be online and since Sony's the first one to make the step, it was a logical guess. As for Conker and Xbox, well Conker's a mature (Or imature, no matter wich was you look at it) franchise and Microsoft is pushing the over 18 licencess on the Xbox.
In reality: The Perfect Dark team split up, but then again so did the DKC team but they came back together for Banjo, DK64 and perhaps Kameo. The funny thing is that when Rare was making games for GC, most of the games were with Rare characters. Well now that Nintendo has recalled all of them back the only next-gen Rare game was Kameo, wich has been moved to Xbox. Rare keeps all characters and franchises that do not end with a Kong or Fox. Microsoft not only owns the 49% shares in Rare now, but also bought the whole company, and as such, the only things Rare has left are the franchises that started on the N64 so keep an eye out for Banjo, Joanna and Conker on the Xbox.


Rummor#7 (Last one, promise) Rare drops DK lisence
What is it?: Donkey Kong was what gave Rare there chance and what conviced Nintendo to buy them. DK's fist game on GC was a racing game wich featured rhino riddin' ostrich racing and swordfish skiing. The game was shown in a video at E3 2001, but was not seen at all this year and over the summer the links to the info for that game and DK's coconut crackers (Think tetris only with DK) have been missing from the menu.
What's the rummor?: With the first and only GC DK game missing many thought the game would be cancelled. Others thought that Rare gave the licence to DK back to Nintendo or sold it to anyone else.
In reality: Im not sure how DK's popularity stacks up. I like Donkey Kong and his games personally. Anyways like him or not he belongs to Nintendo and as such, Nintendo controlls what he does and where he goes so Rare's not going to sell DK, Nintendo would. Furthermore, Rare explains that it's all due to updating there site and that the game is very much in development. Well I guess Rare is updating there site now that they aren't owned by Nintendo anymore... but still in development? Microsoft owns Rare as of Sept 24th, is that really enough time to send out three GC games?! SFA, Kameo and DK Racing? I don't think so. Like I said earlier, all GC titles in the works by Rare have been canned (Save for Kameo) and Nintendo has confirmed that they are working on the next DK game internally. Let's hope Nintendo knows what they're doing, DK has a reputation for best graphics on Nintendo systems to live up to.


Nintendo.

Nintendo sold there shares in Rare. Although they enjoyed there time with Rare, they also say that Rare is useless to them. Only accounting for sales of 9.5% in all of 2001 and dwindling down to a defining 1.5% of this year. Well Im surprised that Nintendo hasn't thought of the obvious.

Rare games didn't sell very well last year mainly because we still had the N64 last year. And at that time we had two systems that could cout perform it, Dreamcast and Ps2. Many tired N64 owners went where the action was and forgot all about Nintendo. So Nintendo shouldn't blame Rare for bad sales in 2001, they didn't do so well either im assuming.

As for 1.5% this year: Rare hasn't made any games this year... yet. You know why? Because there too busy making Star Fox Adventures! Of course when they have nothing to show for a whole year the sales will decline, but Nintendo's acting as if they know that SFA won't sell well. There being too hasty. The GC has already outsold the N64 in it's entire six years in not even one year, GameCube has more people, more people who want more games, more teen games. I think Nintendo's jumping to conclusions. What if SFA outsells Mario Sunshine? Then what? Well then they'd have lost one of there biggest supporters... oh wait... THEY HAVE LOST ONE OF THERE BIGGEST SUPPORTERS! If SFA was to Nintendo as what Bubbleboy was to the Hollywood box office then sure I could see Nintendo selling Rare, they'd have four bad selling games but annoucing it now?! Come on Nintendo be a little optimistic.

I just wish that Nintendo had done that, waited until after SFA before they decided to sell Rare, at least then we'd have a whole year of rummors but with another GC Rare game to look forward to.

But then again maybe Im over exagerating. I always thought that being Nintendo's buddy Rare was very popular. Well apparenly there not. Despite talented programers and artists thre games lack originality and usually feature the same gameplay of more successful games. They had some accomplishments like Goldeneye, Diddy Kong Racing, Conker and Blast corpse, but it's not enough Nintendo says. Rare's not very popular in Japan, Europe thinks highly of them but not Nintendo, Sega or Square highly and North America is really the only place they conquer. Or do they?

Nintendo wouldn't have sold them unless they had a reason, and they do: They aren't bringing in the dough they used to. Also it should be noted that Microsoft gave Nintendo millions in exchange for Rare. Nintendo's using that money wisely. There growing bigger, hirring more designers, programmers, musiciens, artists, testers, the works! The money is also accounting for the money they'd have made if Conker sold well. Nintendo got the better end of the deal.


Rareware.

I like Rareware, I always have. I still would actually like to work with them one day. Why? Because they work on a large variety of games. Shooters, adventures, role play, racing, platformer. Plus E rated, T rated and M rated games too, something I can really broaden my horizons with. I always like Rare and the people who work there must be a blast the work with. The problem is that no matter how much of the company the Stamper bros own, they aren't independent.

Nintendo sold them, they didn't sell themselves. Nintendo took the money Microsoft offered them, Rare didn't. In fact some Rare employees commented on the switch. They figure the business will go as usual. They also went on to say that they aren't happy about the decision and that they don't know what to think now that they are Microsoft owned. They also went on to say that they did enjoy working with the 'cube and that they wished the could have had a longer run with in. Sad really.

Well it's good to see that Rare isn't bitter by the decision. But what are they going to do and what's going to be expected from them? I guess Rare figures that there fans will go where they go, even if that means getting an Xbox wich up until now they're sure they hated. But depending on how the rest of the sale goes, they may have to start putting there creative juices to work. Nintendo's not there to protect them anymore, they're not going to get by by simply making sequels or carrying on there franchises. They need new and fresh ideas and they need them fast. The Xbox bunch is a whole different crowd from wich there used to and no matter how many fans they have they'll want to make a good impression on new potential fans too.

And say goodbye to those platformers that follow the Mario 64 gameplay. Your in the big leagues. No more Doom knock-off FPS, your workin' on 3rd person shooters now boy. And you can forget about those coushy lengthy development periods too. At X02, Xbox told reporters that Rare will have at least 5 Xbox games spanning the next two years, while that is possible, Nintendo 64/ Rare fans know that Rare has never made a game that took less than one and a half year, but too bad for them, Microsoft no owns the company in full, and when they want a Conker game by the end of the year, there better damn well be one in nine months. Im not trying to say that the Xbox is going to have them slaving away at developing games, all im saying is that Microsoft expects a certain kind of obedience, and with that they might not let them be so flexible.

Of course I could be wrong, Microsoft has enough money and isn't afraid to use it, that's surely to speed up the process. And who knows, being presured to actually do some work may benifit Rare and give them a big break that tehy've been looking for, kind of like Konami, Namco and the rest did for the SNES when they left for the Playstation.

I've seen the the announcement video, I am upset that the games that weren't even in consideration for GC development were shown in new and improved video format for the X02 event. Im also upset that close to half the reason I bought a GC for is only now appearing on the last system I would consider buying. However I am interested in seeing what Rare's making that I won't be playing and depending on wich franchises they choose to continue I may just get an Xbox. And who knows, maybe I will still find work with them someday... just not as fairy-tale dream come true dream job I hoped.


Microsoft.

Think your pretty tough now do ya? Now that you got Nintendo's right wing that kept them alive for more than six years you've finally found the big break your were looking for. Well don't get too happy yet. You got some major problems with this deal.

Nintendo wouldn't be selling Rare for no reason. They sold them because there games aren't worth anything anymore, maybe Microsoft can fix that, but it sure won't happen over night. And just because Rare was Nintendo's little buddy don't think you'll have it so lucky. Nintendo saved Rare from bankrupsy, that's something they'll always be thankful for, they've had years to build up the level of respect they have for each other and they often work together hand in hand in most of there games. Rare didn't want to go and they're a little reluctant to have been sold, let alone to Microsoft.

I don't think the heads of the Xbox comitee even knew Rare existed until they heard that Nintendo was selling a key company to them. Ed Fries commented on the excitement of waiting for a new Rare game that he always had, but from what we've seen from earlier interviews he doesn't sound like the guy who would be eagger to play Banjo-Tooie. The big argument about this was who gets to keep what franchise. People thought Nintendo should get everything Rare made on the N64 to themselves, that would have been really unfair to Rare and the fans of the series. Still people couldn't stop with the assumption that Nintendo gets all Rare franchises.

But Rare didn't want that. Rare would have been upset if Nintendo gots to keep there franchises. They're there games, they should have them. Without them Rare's nothing, and with so many franchises already owned Nintendo would have either forget about them and let them fade from memory... or dump them off to some 3rd or unknown second party and completely ruin the franchise.

Microsoft has the right idea with having Ken Lobb and now Rare, this could be the start of yet another beautiful friendship... if Microsoft lets them. Rare's going to need some help, they have a new crowd, new owners and not as much freedom as they had with Nintendo. There kiddy games aren't going to stand very well with Xbox's target audience and there so-so mature games need to have something to put them over everything else Xbox has to offer the aging gentlemen. I am interested to see what they have to show... if they get a chance.

I don't know if having Rare will boost the Xbox in terms of numbers... probably with the rush of Rare fans... but the Xbox is still not that popular and having Rare isn't automatically going to fix the problem. If Microsoft does decide to pull the plug on the Xbox where does that leave Rare? We know there history of 3rd party-dom would like to be forggoten, Nintendo sold them because they felt they didn't need them so what are the chances of them picking them up off there feet again? Failure isn't an option for Xbox and especially Rare, let's hope they get there act together so they can actually make a lasting impression on the game industry and give us GC fans something to feel jealous about.


My wishes

Rare doesn't need Nintendo to make great games, but it really helps them out a lot. Nintendo owned they may be but at heart they are Rare games, and playing the next DK game won't be the same without seeing the gold and blue Rare logo spin before the game boots up. And replacing that won't be easy and will be impossible.

So my biggest wish is that Rare and Nintendo form a FundQ partership... you know, the one that got them back together with Square? What happens is they give underground funds to companies that need them, in return to lending a helping hand Nintendo gets some of there games ported as well as some exclusive stuff.

If Rare and Nintendo put together a tight FundQ partnership before the deal closes I'll be happy. And I bet Rare'll be happy too, they get to work with and for Nintendo again!

Of course I wish this were all a bad dream and that Rare and Nintendo never leave each other ... but even the light hearted and fun-loving heads at Rare said rather properly: That's business.

Well I also hope that SFA is good, no point in going without a bang. But now I'll always be wondering about what could have been. What would DK racing have been like... could Conker come back and reclaim the glory from Nintendo fans... it's a sad thing indeed to see long partners go there sperate ways and more people seem upset and angered/confused about this whole ordeal rather than a group of people exited about this news... perhaps one last thing Nintendo should consider...


My final opinions ('bout time too, eh?)

Anyone who thinks Rare's angry at Nintendo for selling them should remember that Microsoft is still letting them make GBA games for them. That's a good sign for those of us who think that SFA is the last we'll see of Nintendo and Rare together. But then again, we're acting like it's the end of the world. Sure im upset and most Nintendo fans are too. But Nintendo's growing bigger becasue of the deal, they have new franchises on the way, Miyamoto said so himself in a recent interview. Don't feel like Nintendo's loosing the console battle, Rare helped them when they were in dire need, and from what we've been seeing repeatively, it doesn't look like the GC is in any trouble.

Rare didn't want this to happen, but they haven't let that get to them. There aren't bitter towards Nintendo and they aren't going to take out there rage on Microsoft. They aren't going to let Nintendo's decision drive them to anger wich the'll use to try and help Xbox crush the GC. The're going to make games, like they've always have. There games have always been maginificent as far as graphics go and I can't wait to see what they can do with the Xbox. And maybe now that they have new fans they can create newer franchises actually give there games some depth to them. Rare was just caught in the middle of all this and it hasn't affected them in any way. They're the exact personification of what a second party should be.

Microsoft's being very silent about this whole ordeal. Good. There's nothing worse than bragging, and this saves them some embarassment if it doesn't work out. A few things to remember: Rare's new to you guys and doesn't know what to think of you so be kind and reasuring, Rare's going to try and take advantage of you in wich case you should create limits to how much freedom you should let them get away with. I don't know if having Rare on there side will help them as much as they might think but if there games turn out the way they always have with a little help of Microsoft magic im sure you'll get better long term results with Rare. And thanks for letting them make GBA games, it makes us Nintendo/Rare fans feel a whole lot better about all of this.

Neither Rare nor Nintendo like to comment on Rummors and they've denied all alligations yet we we've seen all of them hold truth and ultimately the truth has come out. Why they dennied the rummors that they knew were true only to know that we'd find out anyway from inside info is something I can't explain. And why Nintendo would buy Rare, hold on to them for so many years and give them the StarFox license when they know they're not putting dinner on the table like the used to , only to sell them is something I don't want to understand. One thing is clear through all of this and it's evident in the way they kept each other's promise to keep the secret and the way they work side by side when making games and even now as they give there official statements to the speration... it's this:


Nintendo and Rareware may not be the dream team we always thought they were, but they are the friends we always knew they would be.




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Anyone who hasn't already heard that Nintendo's most lovable 2nd party (Rare: DKC, Goldeneye, Banjo-Kazooie, Conker's BFD) Needs to wake up and check out some sites. Anyways this editorial isn't about my opinions on Rareware leaving, it's about Nintendo's reason for getting rid of them.

Okay by now we've seen the Xbox/Rare annoucement footage. First of all it bugs me that characters I love and expected to see on the GC weren't even confirmed to be even thought about being made into a next-gen game, but Rare brings 'em out for the Xbox demo. Well this isn't a way to spite Nintendo, quite simply without the rights to DK or StarFox, Rare had no next-gen games on the way, so they dug deep into there inventory of characters and put them on the demo. And apparently Conker traded his white gloves for some kahki shorts... sorry but I just don't think they suit him.
Rare wouldn't have had to do that if Nintendo had kept them onboard, at least just for DK rights. But Nooooooooooooo. Nintendo says they don't need them. But after seeing the Xbox footage that compresses EVERY Rare character I've come to love over the years I hope that Nintendo's having soem second thoughts.

Nintendo got a huge payoff from Microsoft in exchange for full control of Rareware. Nintendo's using the money to expand there resources and put a majority of it into game development. But that's not why they got rid of Rare. Nintendo has told the press that the reason was for poor sales of the last Rare games on the N64. I've pointed out that no game sold very well on the N64 when the Dreamcast and Playstation2 went on the market. And if Nintendo's so fixated on sales, why did they buy Silicon Knights (Eternal Darkness creators) when the sales for there first game were lower than Conker's? The reason? Nintendo and Rare put more effort and money at the Conker project for years and they had hoped that this would be there last hurrah on the N64... I guess.

So they sold Rare but apparently that's okay, because they have two new 2nd parties. The Texas based Retro Studios. An obviously talented artists staff with creative ideas... yet two-digit staff. And Silicon Knights. Canada's second greatest game development company that like Rare had moved a major project from the N64 to the GC, but didn't put in the same ammount of effort to make the graphics look good.

But that's okay too apparently, they're new, and while two new guys won't fill the void of loosing Rare alone, Nintendo's confident that Capcom's love will. It's true that Capcom's being extra nice to the GC, but they are still a third party, and like all third parties they make different projects for all systems. You may be getting Resident Evil exclusive, but your missing out on some other series that are seeing Ps2 and Xbox development... but not Nintendo. Where's our Onimusha?

Sega's with you on your online plans, that's good. Menwhile the Xbox has new games of Crazy Taxi, Jetgrind Radio, Toejam and Earl, Gun valkry, Shenume, Sega GT Rally and others. In fact im pretty sure Sega's big announcement of second party-dom will be with Xbox. And what do you have? Monkey ball, a really bad volley ball game, and ports of old Sonic Team games. Your got rid of Rare because Sega has agreed to help you make an arcade? Gimmie a break.

Namco and Konami partnerships. NEXT!

Great, Nintendo's making the next Donkey Kong game. Why? Im sure the game will be good and will feature DK doing something truley unexpected (Mario and waterpack, Link and cell-shading, Samus and FPS). But it's not going to be enough. With what Miyamoto promises us are tons of new franchises due next year, do you really have time to carry on yet ANOTHER franchise?! Aren't you busy making those new franchises you promised us or the online plans you were making? Keep in mind that Rareware gave Donkey Kong an iddentity unlike Mario. DK doesn't save a princess, DK's a good guy now, DK lives on an island, DK uses his strength and whatever he can find to beat the Kremlings (Wich im sure went with Rare when they moved out). Not to mention DK has a reputation for best graphics on a Nintendo system. That sounds like a lot of work, you sure you wouldn't want someone else to have handeld that?

Like Microsoft's betting everythig they have on online gamming and this holiday season, Nintendo's betting everything they have on there "new realations" with third parties. True your getting more third party support than when you were during the N64, but that doesn't mean everythings A-okay now. All you have is support, not commitment, and the second theres a mistake or a chance you may see a dark tunnel ahead you'll quickly see your supports give way. And this time you won't have Rare as a paddle when your boat begins to tip.

Nintendo, your secerative we know that. We respect your decisions, but giving away Rare when you had the oppurtunity not only to get some more exclusive franchises from a popular developer, but still had the support of popular 3rd parties was a stupid idea, no matter how much money you weren't getting. Owning Rare meant you could make some changes to the way they handled business, but now all you have is third parties and the fans to keep you afloat. I don't think it's enough. Im not trying to sound unfaithful or anything, but you better know what your doing Nintendo, otherwise you'll have a bunch of unhappy people on your hands, and im not just talking about gamers.



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"GameCube's got a wussy colour" "Xbox's too big" "Ps2's outdated." It's heard far too often in message boards and chatrooms these days. They're insults driven towards the consoles yet it's the owner that takes the offence. We don't want to seem like we made a bad choice when we bought out system of choice so we retaliate with arguments like "GameCube's got more than one colour unlike certain systems" "Xbox only looks big compaird to the tiny competition" "That outdated hardware is more advanced than the other consoles". I don't think people who play video games to pass the time are nerds, but I do believe that people who defend the systems like that are loosers.

Im one to talk. I was probably the worst when it came to arguments on message boards. In fact, one of my hobbies (If you read my BIO) is arguing. Well I can argue lots of points like abortion, Gay adoption, death penalty, I choose to argue video games because it's a simple subject and requires little time and effort. I wasn't doing that before. Before my editorials section all I did was repeat counter arguments from the heads of each console.

No one thought that Nintendo was considered a "kiddy" company, and those who did probably couldn't have cared any less. Than when Nintendo tried to get another system on the market, suddenly it was as if the opposing parties were fraternity brothers comming out a a Disney movie. Showing how macho they were and commenting on how kiddy the GC looks and is. This was a sad attempt at one of the oldest marketing tricks in the book. And in some cases, it worked.

It's called "In crowed" and it's when the marketers say "Don't be considered the one on the block that's afraid to grow up. Get Xbox, the system for adults. You DO want to be an adult, RIGHT?" Cheap marketing ploys like that are so stupid I find it riddiculous that it works on people. No. Not only works but warps there minds into thinking that it's true.

Now don't think that because im a Nintendo fanboy I'll be picking on Microsoft. Nintendo's done this too. Shigeru Miyamoto, the last guy you'd thought you'd hear saying something bad about anything answered a Famitsu questions 'What do you think of the Xbox?' "It's just too big. Japanese people don't like big things. I mean, we take our shoes off before we go into the house. That's just tiny shoes, imagine a big black box. (Laughs)." I don't see what's so funny, Nintendo just prooved that they're no better than there compeditors.

You don't see Nintendo execs dressing up in Mario suits defacing Microsoft buidlings. During a roundtable meetings Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo execs aren't at each others throats throwing insults at one another. Because mudslinging is just a marketing ploy, not the way they think of one an other. So why do I see fifty GC supporters organazing a day where they go over to a Ps2 fansite and bombard them with "S0ny_SuXXX. nintty 0WNZ_JOOOOOOOOO. im 4ard<0r3!!!!!!!1111111" emails? If you really do support your system you'll back off the competition and spend more time playing or buying the games for your system and less time finding faults with the other systems.

The 70 reasons to buy an Xbox article publsihed by OXM (Official Xbox magazine) is a joke and insult to anyone who's enjoyed old school gamming. Im sorry but the root of all of this is Microsoft's doing. What's there battle plan? Make the other guys look bad? It seems that Microsoft's trying to put Nintendo out of business with cheap shots to there fans and history. The name of the Mario-esque flash game found on the Xbox website should be evidence enough that Microsoft has no plan to take out the competition. What puzzles me is that Microsoft critisized Nintendo, and then tried to buy them out. Now they're back to critisizing them wich in hopes will destroy the company wich will make it easier for them to buyout*. If you give Nintendo a bad rap now how will that help your fans decide if the buy was good enough if Microsoft does buy Nintendo?

Mudslinging makes no sense and it's always the idiots who buy the garbage. Yes I too fell under the assumptions of the three compeditors, but I got out once I realised how stupid it really was. Maybe I still am a moron for not getting out sooner, but at least im not dumb enough to buy the mudslinging anymore.




* You know what's really weired though? Microsoft's been labelling Nintendo as the kiddy system, yet they bought the company that supplied Nintendo with 5 very kiddy games. Let's see how hardcore OXM looks when it's got Banjo-Kazooie on the front cover.




Respond to this and other Editorials in the discussion forum. pub37.ezboard.com/fnextgenerationconsoles80644frm15.showMessage?topicID=3.topic

When it comes to system price cuts in the gaming industry, there are two basic patterns: First, all competing systems can cut their prices at the same time. These cuts tend to be reactionary rather than coordinated, but as far as consumers are concerned, it just means gaming is cheaper than before. The second type of price cut is unilateral (forgive the term), in which one system lowers its price and the others do not immediately follow.

Nintendo just took the second kind of price cut for their GameCube console, and it may be one of the best business decisions they’ve made this generation. System sales have skyrocketed, and people who never seriously considered this platform are now saying, “It’s hard to ignore an offer like this.”

Yet whenever a move like this one is made in the industry, there are always pundits who mark it as a sign of weakness and even a mistake. They say GameCube is now so much cheaper than its competitors that people will compare the prices and assume something must be wrong or inferior with Nintendo’s system. Other critics even predict the cut as a sign that GameCube is headed the way of Dreamcast: a slow spiral into obscurity which will lead to the eventual abandonment of the platform.

Let’s do a little comparison. GameCube has been out for almost two years in Japan and North America. It has currently sold well over ten million units worldwide. (Source: Yahoo News ) Nintendo just posted its first-ever quarterly net loss since going public decades ago, but with boosted GameCube sales and the release of Mario Kart: Double Dash, turning a profit for the next quarter shouldn’t be a problem.

Now look at where Dreamcast was two years after its launch. Dead. Completely discontinued. Sega had posted net losses for four years in a row; they were in debt before the system’s release and only dug in deeper as the world failed to embrace Dreamcast. The system sold just eight million units in its entire lifetime, one quarter of which wasn’t sold until after production stopped forever and prices were slashed to clear inventory. Going into its third holiday season, the Dreamcast price was dropped to $50 in the U.S.; Sega openly admitted that the move was designed to clear out all remaining stock and get Dreamcast systems off the shelves completely.

The Dreamcast was a “make or break” venture for Sega from the very beginning. The company was practically broke when DC launched in 1999; horrific marketing and support of the Saturn had drained the company dry. Compare the situation to Nintendo’s, who went into the GameCube launch riding on the last days of their moderately successful and extremely profitable N64 console, which lived a full five-year life span (though with few new releases in the final year). Nintendo could have withstood an utter, dismal failure with GameCube and still gone into the upcoming generation with enough money to back up the system and give it a fighting chance. But GameCube hasn’t forced its maker into such a position, because it is holding its own against Xbox with no clear worldwide trend in either direction. And unlike Xbox, GameCube is a profitable system.

Compare Nintendo’s quarterly loss of $27 million to the yearly losses on Microsoft’s home entertainment division, of which Xbox accounts for the vast majority of business. Last year, that division posted a loss of over $900 million, with just under that amount posted the year before. (Source: Puget Sound Business Journal ) Even if Nintendo’s quarterly loss was normal for an entire fiscal year, which it isn’t, it still wouldn’t come close to what Microsoft is losing on the Xbox. GameCube and Xbox may be neck-and-neck in sales, but Nintendo’s system is actually making money. And Sega never posted a profit during the Dreamcast days.

So if GameCube is keeping the pace with its closest rival and actually making money in the process, why has Nintendo cut the system’s price? As always, it’s about making more money. Nintendo knows that the GameCube will be a huge seller this holiday season at $99, and because it’s so easy for people to afford the system, they will be even more likely to buy the new GameCube titles like Mario Kart, on which Nintendo rakes in considerable per-unit profits.

Dropping the GameCube price is also of strategic importance, in that Nintendo can be confident that the move will not and/or cannot be matched by its competitors. Sony could eat the difference and announce a PS2 price-cut, but there is little reason for them to do so. Sales of PlayStation 2, though still the highest of the three systems, have slowed considerably in the past year. Most of the people who want a PS2 have already bought one; Sony can be pretty confident of that fact when there are more than 60 million units being played around the world. The PS2 business always has depended on software sales, because the system has to be sold at a loss. Sony wants to concentrate on selling games from now on, so they are not eager to lose even more money on the hardware just to sell a few more units. Microsoft, on the other hand, is in a prickly situation with this price cut. Financially, it would be risky for them to compete with Nintendo in price. The Xbox is already selling well below its manufacturing cost; dropping down further could be financially risky even for Microsoft. The company is ultimately in the hands of its investors, and at some point they expect Xbox to break even or at least slow down the money leak, not speed it up. Microsoft also suffers from the fact that it has painted itself into the same league as the dramatically stronger Sony, in an attempt to segregate Nintendo from the pack as an also-ran candidate. (Source: Yahoo News ) Though perhaps a smart business move in terms of public perception, being aligned with Sony means that Microsoft is expected to sell at a price point closer to PS2 than GameCube.

The net result is that Nintendo’s price cut will almost certainly go unmatched for the next few months, and the competitors will be stuck at the same price while GameCube makes headway into the marketplace. Eighty dollars is a lot of money, and consumers with no strong prejudice for any of the systems (read: casual gamers and parents) are going to look hard at GameCube this holiday season, especially if they already own a PS2.

Look, I’ve got my own gripes about how Nintendo has handled the GameCube in the past two years and I've been verry vocal about it. Promises of new franchises and must-play connectivity features have gone largely unfulfilled. It’s insane that companies can’t make online titles for GameCube, even using their own server infrastructures. Marketing is still out of tune with the American public, letting great games go by practically unnoticed. But with this price cut, I think Nintendo is making one of the smartest decisions they’ve made in a while. The timing is perfect, the price is perfect. If GameCube were on a five-year clock like all of its predecessors, I’d be worried about the pacing of all these bundles and price cuts. But with the new systems launching in just two years, GameCube is now a fully matured platform with established consumer support.

Yes, Nintendo is preparing for their next system. But they’re doing it by making sure as many people as possible fall in love with GameCube and transfer that enthusiasm in 2005, not by pulling resources and asking people to wait for launch.

So tell your friends to go out and fall in love with their own GameCube for the low, low price of $99.




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