Nintendo launched its new GameCube console in Japan on Friday.
Around 500,000 units were supplied to the Japanese market for the
release, with around 80% of sellers reporting that their allocation
has been sold out by pre-orders.
Nintendo expects to put 1.4 million consoles, which retail at
25,000 yen (£145), into the Japanese market by the end of the year.
The company also reports that it remains on target to launch the
GameCube in the US on 18th November, despite the recent terrorist
attacks in that country. The US launch date was recently set back
from 8th November which means that Microsoft's forthcoming Xbox
will enjoy a 10-day lead in the US market.
Despite being 10,000 yen (£58) cheaper, early indications from
Japan suggest that the GameCube has not sold as well as its rival
Sony’s Playstation 2 console which launched in Japan last
March.
