Damn, the Gamecube is getting bitch-slapped by both Sony AND Microsoft

[A Black Falcon]

P2P works just fine, once you're into a game... but between games, you need some kind of matchmaking service, like most any PC multiplayer game... which, unlike Microsoft, Sony doesn't provide. So the game companies have to make and keep up those networks for those games... unless they do a client-server system like PC FPSes all use, but console games don't seem to like that because it requires systems to be dedicated as servers -- something console gamers don't do, unlike PC ones... I don't like that setup much on PC, though. I far prefer matchmaking services -- Battle.net, Zone.com, Gamespy Arcade, etc... servers are OK too, but I like having all the extras in addition to servers that you get on matchmaking services.

But then again, I bet a bunch of that is related to how I just don't like online FPSes much and they are the only ones to use that system.

Imagine if Nintendo were to completely forget about 3rd parties. Who cares about getting yet another port that's available on PS2/XBox - that's going to sell like crap on the GCN anyways? What they should be concentrating on is getting the third parties to make unique exclusive games (such as the Capcom 5, but they aren't all exclusive) and increase their 1st/2nd party lineup giving them a completely different array of choices.

Basically, it might be a lot more like the 64, but with many more games being released. I would hate to see Nintendo ending up like the XBox, and living off PS2's scraps where about 90% of the best games on the system are available on another machine.

You sure want to see Nintendo stay permanantly in last place... because if they did that they would. Drop 3rd parties? Are you sane? That would KILL Nintendo... they NEED third party games! Nintendo doesn't want another N64... they do want third party games... which is a very good idea. Nintendo alone (or with just a couple of 3rd parties) cannot make enough games to fill a console's lineup, as the N64 proved... and I sure don't think that will change anytime soon. One company just can't do that... Nintendo already makes far, far more great exclusive games than MS or Sony as it is... No, Nintendo needs far better marketing (I'd settle for just more marketing...) and some more things to draw in (and keep) users that other consoles have -- like online games, harddrives, etc...