In the first week of the GameCube's release 400,000 consoles were sold. That, and more statistics inside.
400,000 GameCubes, that is 80% of the launch shipment, were sold throughout Europe during the week of launch. The average tie-in ratio was 2.3 games for each console sold and 23 years is the average age of a GameCube owner.
The next two first party games to be released are Super Smash Bros. Melee on May 24th, and Pikmin on June 14th. 50 games released by summer!
GAMECUBE ROCKS EUROPE!
400,000 NINTENDO GAMECUBES sold in launch week
May 14 2002 – NINTENDO GAMECUBES have scarcely rested on the shop shelves across Europe before heading straight out of the door. 400,000 NINTENDO GAMECUBES have been snapped up by European gamers – that's 80% of the consoles that were in stores across Europe for launch. Many stores sold out during launch week, however more NINTENDO GAMECUBES are being delivered daily from warehouses to replenish stocks in store, and another 500,000 are being shipped across Europe over the next seven weeks.
Games sales have also been outstanding. On average gamers are buying 2.3 games with each NINTENDO GAMECUBE bought, with the best selling games being Nintendo’s Luigi’s Mansion and Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II. The average age of a NINTENDO GAMECUBE owner is 23 years.
This initial launch success will be followed by the release of the classic ‘beat ‘em up’ game, Super Smash Bros. Melee on May 24, which sold over one million copies in just 9 weeks in Japan. This will be closely followed by the already legendary Pikmin, which launches across Europe on 14th June. By summer there will be a total of fifty games available for NINTENDO GAMECUBE.
Andy Williams, Nintendo UK General Manager says:
"The hype around the launch of NINTENDO GAMECUBE was massive and we are delighted with the support the trade has put behind it. It has been, without doubt, a very successful launch and this is set to continue as we bring in more stock on a regular basis in the forthcoming weeks."
David Gosen, managing director, sales and marketing, Nintendo of Europe commented:
“This has been a phenomenal week for Nintendo and we are delighted at the initial reaction to NINTENDO GAMECUBE. We have always said that success will be determined by great games and after launch week over 400,000 gamers are being thrilled by the NINTENDO GAMECUBE experience. With games such
as Super Smash Bros. Melee and Pikmin launching in the next 4 weeks NINTENDO GAMECUBE sales will just keep growing.”
NINTENDO GAMECUBE is on sale now, priced around £129. Games are priced at around €60.
