7. Gamecube
With the Gamecube, Nintendo was looking to stand out among its 6th generation console rivals by touting graphical fidelity and an alternative design. But where the N64 had been successfully gambling on new features such as analog controls and higher fidelity, the Gamecube never quite captured that same magic.
The issue certainly wasn’t with the software, as Nintendo delivered its typically well designed, quality gameplay experiences from all its heaviest hitting franchises. Even solid third party support, thanks to a more developer friendly architecture, wasn’t enough to sway people away from the appeal of Sony’s increasing momentum with its PlayStation brand and Microsoft’s new Xbox console.
Gamecube’s poorer commercial performance simply wasn’t a reflection on the quality of its design or software. A cutting edge GPU and the debut of the comfortable ergonomics of its controller were certainly accomplished features. It was arguably more to do with Nintendo’s ever more niche appeal, which was appealing to an increasingly shrinking target audience. In the face of Sony and Microsoft’s ability to cast a wider net and cater to children, as well as a more mature audience, Nintendo came up short. The Gamecube’s fate and the arrival of Satoru Iwata would see Nintendo move away from directly competing with the overwhelming popularity of Sony and Microsoft’s systems.
