We store cookies, you can get more info from our privacy policy.
GC

GameCube outsells Harry Potter?

by Rick Powers - November 20, 2001, 11:56 am EST
Source: Nintendo

Nintendo proves thast the videogame industry is indeed stronger than even the biggest movie ...

Nintendo has just issued a press release (details below) in which they show sales of the GameCube have exceeded in one day what Harry Potter earned over the same weekend.

But the really interesting part is in the second paragraph: Sales of the GameCube more than DOUBLED the sales of X-Box.

The press release reads as follows ...


REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 20, 2001 - Young wizard Harry Potter may have worked box office magic over the weekend, but his potion of profitability actually was trumped by the powerful new NINTENDO GAMECUBE video game system. Movie industry sources put ticket receipts for the three-day opening weekend of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone at $93.5 million. But combined U.S. retail revenues for NINTENDO GAMECUBE (including hardware systems, games and accessories) reached more than $98 million in just its first single day of availability on Sunday, November 18.

The NINTENDO GAMECUBE also represented the top video game launch of 2001, with initial hardware unit sales running more than twice that of the Microsoft Xbox, and even Nintendo's own wildly successful Game Boy Advance, which debuted in June. Many stores reported selling out of the hardware system in a matter of hours.

"Some 700,000 NINTENDO GAMECUBE hardware systems moved to retail locations in time for our launch, our largest first day supply ever," says Peter Main, executive vice president sales and marketing at Nintendo of America. "But right now it appears that none of them may be left by this weekend."

Nintendo of America has committed to shipping a total of 1.1 million hardware systems to retailers by Christmas.

The top-selling opening day software titles were those exclusive to Nintendo GameCube. Most popular (in order) were Nintendo's self-published Luigi's Mansion, followed by Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader from LucasArts Entertainment Company, and Nintendo's Wave Race: Blue Storm. Reorders are already underway to replenish all retail software supplies.

"NINTENDO GAMECUBE is the most exciting new entrant in the video game sector," says Joseph Spiegel of Spinner Asset Management. "Its lineup of exclusive software titles is fun and unique, and with a price tag $100 less than its competitors NINTENDO GAMECUBE is particularly attractive in the current economy. Consumers, whether 28 years old or the parents of an eight-year-old, can buy a system and two great games for less than the price of the competitions' hardware."

A dedicated game play system, NINTENDO GAMECUBE delivers new forms of interactive fun for players and offers the easiest development environment for game creators. The system's embedded memory, proprietary optical disc and innovative controller were designed to optimize the game play experience.

NINTENDO GAMECUBE is available in two colors: Jet (black) and Indigo (violet) for a suggested retail price of $199.95.

As the worldwide leader and innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co. Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems. The systems include Game Boy, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance and NINTENDO GAMECUBE. Since the release of its first home video game system in 1985, Nintendo has sold more than 1.4 billion video games worldwide, creating enduring industry icons such as Mario and Donkey Kong and launching such franchises as Zelda and Pokémon. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere.

For more information on Nintendo products, visit the company's Web site, www.nintendo.com or www.nintendogamecube.com.

Got a news tip? Send it in!
Advertisement
Advertisement