Buy a GameCube, get the Game Boy Player FREE

May 15, 2003, 11:28 pm EDT
Total comments: 16

For a limited time, when you buy a GameCube console at $149, you'll receive the Game Boy Player add-on for FREE!

NEW VALUE OFFER EXTENDS NINTENDO MOMENTUM

Worldwide Retail Program Combining Nintendo GameCube With New Game Boy Player Opens Vast Game Libraries

LOS ANGELES, May 15, 2003 – Nintendo today announces a new worldwide retail offer combining its Nintendo GameCube™ home console with the new Game Boy® Player. The combination allows players to enjoy more than 1,200 Game Boy games on the home TV screen, along with the full library of more than 300 Nintendo GameCube titles.

For a limited time, Nintendo will include Game Boy Player for the regular price of the Nintendo GameCube system. This offer will be available at retail on June 23 for an MSRP of $149.99 in the United States, and on June 20 for €199.99 in Europe.

"This offer builds on the incredible momentum generated by our Game Boy® Advance line, which has already sold 35 million systems worldwide," says Peter MacDougall, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Nintendo of America. "Once we saw the enthusiastic reception given to the debut of Game Boy Player here on the show floor at the E3 trade show, it was an easy decision to move ahead with our plans to combine these two products."

The Game Boy Player is a platform less than an inch thick, which acts as a base for the Nintendo GameCube. By simply inserting Game Boy cartridges into a slot in the Game Boy Player, consumers can use their Nintendo GameCube controller to direct action on the TV screen.

In North America, Nintendo is riding a wave of momentum generated by three dominating product launches this spring. Game Boy Advance is the hottest selling system in the market; The Legend of Zelda®: The Wind Waker™ tops the console hit charts; and the combined Pokemon® Ruby and Pokemon® Sapphire are the top two selling titles in the portable game category.

Talkback

BlkPaladinMay 15, 2003

Wow Europe is getting something days before the United States, I guess they are starting to reconize there are people in the PAL regions.

bonestormerMay 15, 2003

In a way Sony is doing something similar. Instead of dropping the price of PS2, they are including the modem.... which in turn caused them to lower the price of the PS2's without the modem.

So the question is... does Nintendo plan to drop the price of the GC's that don't come with the GBA player? Or is it the GC's without the player still get one of those free games but those with the player don't? Or.... what exactly (just curious is all).

BloodworthDaniel Bloodworth, Staff AlumnusMay 15, 2003

From the press release, it seems that the GB Player will simply be included with ALL GCs, but we'll see if we can clear it up.

demoncronoMay 16, 2003

but will the gba player come "installed" or would we have to screw it on?

PIACMay 16, 2003

Quote
Originally posted by: BlkPaladin
Wow Europe is getting something days before the United States, I guess they are starting to reconize there are people in the PAL regions.

-PAL +europe
australia / new zealand still get the shaft

vuduMay 16, 2003

i need some clarification: will the gamecubes that are bundled with the gameboy player still receive a free game, or is it an either or situation

i.e. you get a gamecube and either (1) a free $50 game or (2) a free $50 gameboy player, or do you get both?

RickPowersRick Powers, Staff AlumnusMay 16, 2003

We're meeting with Nintendo today and are going to ask that very question. From initial indications, the free game deal is STILL going on as well, but we're going to make sure and we'll update the story when we know.

SCFMay 16, 2003

This is good news for all cause now people get 2 good systems for the price of one. There some people that might like the GBA but dont want to buy the system or they want to play their favorite GBA games in a bigger screen. I am surprise about this and since I already own a GC I wont be buying another one (duh) but at least this can secure more GC sales in the U.S., now all Nintendo has to do is promote this like hell and they will sell a lot of cubes.

Berto2KMay 16, 2003

Now the cube has a larger library than the PS2, even if the games aren't directly running on it. 1500 or so total games for both systems, just makes the deal all that more interesting for people who don't own it yet.

Ian SaneMay 16, 2003

This a very good move my Nintendo. In Canada the PS2 and Xbox are now only ten dollars more than a Cube. In some locations the Xbox even still comes with two games. Adding the player makes the Cube look like a deal again instead of the console that's only ten bucks cheaper.

NintendoFanGirlMay 16, 2003

I read that you will have a choice, either a free game or the GB player.

"The $149.99 GameCube currently comes with the choice of one free game from a list of four, and Nintendo said gamers will have the choice of one of those games or the Game Boy Player." Reuters

Dina