GameCube
Among the things that separated the Nintendo GameCube from its 6th generation counterparts was its compact design and optical drive format for its games. However, it lacked internet capabilities right out of the box, requiring GameCube owners to purchase an adapter for the few games that used it.
As of late, though, the GameCube has seen a resurgence in popularity. Many games for the system arefetching a high price. YouTube channels such asGameCube Galaxyhighlight all the offerings the system has. It was home to some top-tier games such asMetroid PrimeandPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Franchises such asPikminandAnimal Crossing, which would go on to sell like hotcakes on the Switch, also got their start on this system.
PS Vita
While the PSP did not overtake Nintendo as the king of the handheld market, it was a successful handheld, having been praised for the technical specs at the time. Sony attempted to recapture that success with the PS VITA, with more advanced graphics, a touch screen, and a touchpad on the back of the system for games to provide additional functionality. Unfortunately, after a strong start in sales,it couldn’t competewith the 3DS and the burgeoning mobile market.
Those who did pick up the VITA, though, sing the system’s praises. While Sony’s first-party titles were limited, the indie scene embraced it. There was even a VITA-focused physical magazine, The VITA Lounge, which printed its 26th and final issue in early 2020. The VITA has a better library than one might think, withsome hidden gemsworth checking out.
Nintendo Wii U
After the juggernaut success of the Wii, Nintendo sought to further capitalize on the Wii name. At E3 in 2011, Nintendo revealed the Wii U in a video that focused on the GamePad controller. This made it look like it was simply a new peripheral for the Wii, instead of a new system altogether. Confusing marketing and lack of third-party support would make it Nintendo’s biggest failure since the Virtual Boy, selling only 13.56 million units in its lifespan.
However, those who did buy the console appreciated what it was going for. They were treated to aquality-over-quantity games library,which also included the Nintendo eShop and Virtual Console titles, as well as a handful of games that used the GamePad’s features in unique ways. The Wii U subreddit currently has 1.1 million members, and several games such asMario Kart 8andSplatoonstill have active online communities. Modders have also addressed numerous shortcomings of the system, such as enabling the pairing of a GamePad and console from separate regions.
Sega Dreamcast
The SEGA Dreamcast was a system ahead of its time, with a slick, modern look, internet capabilities, anda great lineup of games, including some pixel-perfect arcade ports. However, the might of the PlayStation 2, with its ability to play DVDs, would ultimately factor into the system’s fall from grace, and SEGA shifting focus specifically to software for rival systems.
Today, many sing the praises of the SEGA Dreamcast, hailing it for how innovative it was. The homebrew community has been steadily developing and porting the games for it. It is even possible to play Dreamcast games online today, with a bit of user tinkering.
Virtual Boy
Gamers may know Gunpei Yokoi as the mind behind the Game Boy, which was a hit thanks in part to its pack-in killer app, Tetris. The entire Game Boy line of systems, including its successors, would sell120 million globally. The Virtual Boy, though, not so much. It hada lot of going against it, from the price point to the awkward setup to the red and black visuals that strained players’ eyes. It was an experiment in Nintendo entering 3D technology, but it ultimately became Nintendo’s greatest commercial failure.
Today, however, the Nintendo community looks back on the systemwith a sort of ironic reverence.The hobbyist community has released homebrew games and even an unofficial link cable to play games in multiplayer. Even Nintendo acknowledges it as part of the company’s history, including a 3DS home screen badge players could obtain in Badge Arcade on the Nintendo eShop.
Ouya
The Ouya is one of Kickstarter’s greatest success stories, having earned $8,596,474 in its campaign in 2013. It also became a critical commercial failure, leading to Razer buying out the company. The console was a small cube based on Android hardware, and the development philosophy behind it was to make it easy for virtually anyone to make games for the system. This resulted in the market being flooded by underwhelming titles, with a few diamonds in the rough.
The Ouya servers officially shut down in June 2019, but PHP developer Christian Weiske created adummy serverthat has restored some system functionality. Amateur game developers also participate in regular game jams for the system, taking Ouya’s philosophy of accessible game development to heart.
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