Unfortunately companies are developing according to console sales *not* game sales.
The problem here lies that companies release for the PS2/X-Box, to see market impact then port.
However UBISoft and THQ have both recently shown that games released on all formats at the same time, the public will buy the games for thier NGC or PC; outselling both the X-Box and PS2 by almost 4x
As such UBISoft and THQ have both announced they're trying to double thier PC and NGC Libraries for 2005.
Also although World Wide the Statistics clearly shows
Playstation2 = ~220million Units
Gamecube = ~83million Units
X-Box = ~54million Units
Developers are STILL pandering to the American market. A Market which has shown will *only* purchase sure-fire games, which are hyped, made easier and generally made for playing for 5minutes when your drunk.
The European and Japanese markets (THQ/UBISofts main domain) shows they far more prefer thier games to be cheap, more challenging and overall more inventive.
See this trend continues with the fact that European developers also often take more risky game ventures and designs. American developers want to keep regurgitating exactly what they have for the past 6 games in the series.
Although sure I think not messing with the formula is cool; A games does eventually get stale. What annoys me is so many Japanese games are not translated, for the fact that the AMERICAN public wouldn't accept it.
The European Market actually makets up the majority share though, over 45% of the current gaming market is in Europe.
We spend the most on our software as well...
Americans will pay something like $35-40 for a games. Europeans will pay £35-45 (€40-55), this means not only are we the majority share but we also make up the majority of income.
The reason europe is so often passed over as 'the' market, is because you have to translate to English, Spanish, German, French, Norwiegen, etc...
And publishers don't like that sort of set back. (this said most countries across europe understand english and import american titles)
The same really goes for the gamecube. Fanboys haven't dubbed it as a Kids machine, Nintendo have marketed the kid-like games as thier 'big sellers'... What you market is how your seen.
The NGC has so many great games which are more adult based it isn't even funny but it is still seen as a kids machine.
Price for Americans also put them off, which as they're considered *the market* ... is a bloody annoying thing. Because alot of americans want a good deal but at the same time 'if it doesn't cost alot it's got to be crappy'.
Which just isn't the case, the market over there need to wake up and smell the Radeon based VPU pixels... It is the most advanced machine on the market!
It does what it says on the tin, Plays Computer games... doesn't make you coffee, steal your neighbours newspaper or run over that pesky stray dog that poos in your poppies. Why should it? Nintendo don't give a crap about trying to give you a multimedia centre or try to make out they're a computer (HA! yeah right Sony).
They're giving you a games machine which more power than most mid-end gaming rigs at a price that is just REASONABLE for what it delivers.
It is quite simply the easiest system to program for (oh jesus is it simple... that's why Nintendo ran 8months over projected release!), it is !!PIRATE FREE!!, so no lost sales from people ripping off your games. Jesus what do publishers need, to be beaten around the head with a large mallet that says 'WAKE UP YA MORON!'.
