Nintendo Co, facing a challenge from video-game upstart Microsoft Corp, pushed back the US release date of its GameCube console by about two weeks to ensure adequate supplies once the game system reaches stores.
The Kyoto-based company said it will begin selling the new game machine in the US on Nov. 18, 13 days later than planned and 10 days after Microsoft's Xbox console reaches stores.
Nintendo, which relies on overseas sales for about 70 percent of its revenue, said it wants to ship 700,000 GameCubes initially in the US, 200,000 more than planned.
The delay and Nintendo's late start at advertising the GameCube in the US market may renew concerns the maker of Pokemon games will have a tough time fending off Microsoft, which has devoted US$500 million to promote the Xbox.
``I'd like to hear more about Nintendo's plans for its sales in the US,'' said Joseph Spiegel, a fund manager at Spinner Asset Management LLC. ``There are posters advertising Xbox all over the place but nothing for the GameCube.'' In Japan, Nintendo will ship 500,000 GameCubes on Sept. 14, its first day of release. The company will ship 4 million units worldwide by the end of March next year, company officials said at a news conference, reiterating goals set earlier.
GameCube is Kyoto-based Nintendo's answer to challenges from PlayStation2 maker Sony Corp. and Microsoft. In Japan, Nintendo is shipping less than half the number of consoles Sony shipped on its first day of PlayStation2 sales to avoid running short.
The console, which was originally developed under the name Dolphin, was delayed for almost two months. Company officials have said they pushed the release date back for fears parts shortages could leave some would-be buyers empty handed.
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