This week we received the welcome news that Gamecube has retained the silver prize position in the console race. But can Nintendo's console hold it?

Will Nintendo be able to hold Gamecube's No.2 position?

bas:

I do not really care what market position nintendo has, as long as they can survive an deliver a good product I could care any less.

And let's face it, both Microsoft and Nintendo are fighting for crumbs right now and that will not change for a long time.

Dominic:

I'm really not sure to be honest, you just can't tell with Microsoft. It's great that they are second worldwide again but Microsoft will probably do some insane bundle again to get the people to buy their product. While Microsoft can afford to do that to build it's user base for the next generation of consoles, Nintendo can not, so I guess it will be a wait and see method.

I think when the big ones hit again (specially with halo 2) the Xbox will probably take the lead over the Cube. Microsoft will highly promote Halo 2 with it's live functions and Nintendo will probably have nothing to compete with that and that is when I think it will end up been third again. Sad but you have to admit it certainly could be that way. It's not like they don't have the games, they do, but I think the whole online experience with the Xbox will be the one that pushes it ahead of the Gamecube.

Microsoft has some very highly anticipated games heading this year and Nintendo really do need to have some great surprise games at E3 that will be coming out this year to fight the Xbox exclusives.

er-no:

Hmmm. I think the news that Nintendo have jumped back up to the number two spot is very good indeed, especially for moral. However, with Microsoft being loaded with just effortless amounts of money, it won't be long before another wave of advertising drowns out the excellent offering of the GameCube. Nintendo have been quick to criticise Microsoft's ways of the gaming market, yet Nintendo themselves have made a few too many mistakes in the GameCube's life. In a nutshell, Nintendo have lost Europe to Sony, they are fighting very well for America and Japan will stay with PS2 and the combined force of the GBA and GameCube. What will become of us in Europe? I don't think it looks to great really. Overall, good play Nintendo over Christmas. Now start getting aggressive.

Matthew:

I hope that, in the next round of consoles, there are only 2 positions - 1st and 2nd (obviously).

Nintendo teaming up with Microsoft would be awesome - microsofts economic muscle with Nintendo's brilliance? Can you think of anything better?

Iun:

I'd like to say that console sales positions don't really matter, as long as the output of good quality software remains unchanged. But then again, you can't guarantee that software will be released for a system that no-one is buying.

I don't really think that Nintendo can keep up their current head of steam -the PS2 has a massively installed userbase and the XBox just has far too much money being ploughed behind it. That isn't to say that Nintendo need to quit and focus on their next big piece of hardware: What's most important is getting as many new people to buy the console as possible within the time constraints that they have between now and the next piece of hardware. Fair enough, from third place that looks like a pretty difficult task, but the more work they do now, the less they will have to do in the future.

But I really can't see them being no.2 for much longer.

James:

As much as I love Nintendo, I doubt they will be able to survive at number two for much longer. The reason? Microsoft have a large number of big hitters out this year, such as Doom 3, Half Life 2 and, of course, Halo 2.

Nintendo had a superb line-up in 2003, with Zelda, Mario Kart, Metroid, F-Zero and many other top franchise updates, but this year in comparison is looking somewhat empty of top titles. Unless Nintendo can pull something out of the hat at this year's E3 I doubt they can stay at Number Two for much longer.

Bas:

It's a quite embarrassing fight, as they have both already lost to Sony by great numbers. The relatively small difference between the GameCube and Xbox sales doesn't matter that much anymore so I'm surprised to see so many gamers argue about Nintendo's and Microsoft often contradicting sales figures.

That being said, I predict that Xbox will have outsold the GC slightly by the end of this year for two reasons. First, the Cube had a sales boost because of the price drop to 99 euros and Xbox has yet to gain from this effect (though lowering the price to 99 euros will cost Microsoft more than it did cost Nintendo because of the Xbox' higher production costs). The second reason that Xbox will win some ground is this year's line-up. Though both systems have an interesting range of (exclusive) titles coming up (see below), I think the selection on Xbox appeals to a larger group of buyers (Though (or because!) it's a little heavy on the FPS genre�)

Promising GameCube exclusives for 2004:

Killer7, Donkey Konga, StarFox 2, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, Mario Tennis, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Pikmin 2, Animal Crossing 2, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Geist, Baten Kaitos, Resident Evil 4, Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life.

Promising Xbox exclusives for 2004: (Meaning not appearing on other consoles, because some of the titles will also be released for PC.)

Halo 2, Sudeki, Doom III, Far Cry, Full Spectrum Warrior, Ninja Gaiden, Kameo: Elements of Power, Fable, Jade Empire, BC, Thief III, Conker: Live & Uncut

Tim:

I think Microsoft is already doing all it can marketing wise. For Nintendo and Microsoft it is the quality games that sell the console. For Sony it is the mainstream image... quality games are not a requirement.

Regarding 2004, I am quite confident Nintendo will be able to hold its current position. Nintendo has been smart by spreading its key titles throughout the year. Pokemon, for example, is going to shift tons of Cubes. And there are still more new key titles to be announced...Nintendo is smart like that. 2004 will be a blast!

Javid:

Difficult to say, I mean if Nintendo can keep the high quality titles coming in then it's possible. However, as Tim said, the PS2 has the 'street cred' as it were, now I know that doesn't effect the Cube being behind it, I think it's clear no-one can catch Sony but the X-Box is vastly developing that similar image. Just the other day I was speaking to a mate and he said he couldn't decide what to get, an X-Box or a PS2, I was almost ashamed to say 'what about a Cube?'. I think it's because the X-Box is in tune with PC users, and the PS2 is in tune with casual gamers and the Cube is left in the fog somewhat. But with the low price its common now that people are buying more than one console, unfortunately that seems the only way Cubes are selling which doesn't really advance its position, just merely maintains it.

Steve:

It's very good news but personally I dont think they can. In the UK Nintendo have too much going against them, all you have to do is walk into a GAME shop to see what I mean.

I believe Microsoft are gaining an edge, even though I've not got into the whole online gaming, many have and microsoft do offer a good system for this, and in time more people are going to want to buy it over the Gamecube.

But having said that many people who have a PS2 or Xbox are now buying gamecubes, what with the low price and high quality games, no one can really turn it down so there is a possibility that Ninty can hold the number 2 spot but only by a thin piece of string.

Personally I don't really care what position a console is in, or a game for that matter, as long as I like it, I'll get it. But I suppose to make money companies need to get their product up the top.

Conor:

Oh, who gives a toss?

Honestly, the Number 2 position seesaws between Gamecube and Xbox so much the position has become irrelevent. Nintendo are No.2, then Microsoft, then Nintendo, then Microsoft...Xbox will probably be No.2 next week for all we know.

It would be worth discussing if there was a big gap between the two consoles, but they're so neck-and-neck right now they may as well be sharing the silver trophy. As long as Nintendo are doing fine, as they are, whether they are second or third really doesn't matter.

Well, will Nintendo stay second, or fall into third place? And does it even matter?