Trade-Ins for GameCube Games Cease At GameStop On April 2, 2012. End Of An Era
After April 2, GameStop will stop taking trade-ins for GameCube titles; finally the GameCube is being put to rest.
I’m actually really surprised that the GameCube lasted this long, with GameCube almost lasting to the very end of the Wii’s lifespan (which will likely end this year as the Wii U will be released this year. And the Wii itself is all but dead as new third-party titles release on everything but Wii); and I think a lot of people will be surprised that GameCube trade-ins weren’t retired sooner.
Of course, GameCube games can be played on the Wii, and the Wii was the best selling system for a long time, so maybe that’s the reason.
Either way, it’s extremely sad for me to know that GameStop will stop taking trade-ins for GameCube games. Not because I would ever trade any of my GameCube titles in there (they don’t give you CRAP for them) but just because of the very fact that this move represents the defacto end for the GameCube. This means that no longer will you be able to head into a GameStop and be surprised by some GameCube game you always wanted but never got sitting there on the shelf calling you to buy it.
Nope, you will now be forced to head into entertainment exchange shops, pawn shops, or shop online in order to get games from the bygone era of the GameCube. Of course, the original Xbox was halted soon after the current generation was initiated in 2006, so they’ve been unavailable for a long time. Meanwhile the PlayStation 2 is such a gargantuan that you can still find PS2 games sold just about everywhere.
Generally the best place to get your hands on cheap GameCube titles is via a website like Goozex, GameTZ, CAG (Cheap Ass Gamer) or ebay. Amazon also stopped selling GameCube titles directly quite a while back, you can still get them there but they are generally much more expensive. Of course, you’ll get them new and shrinkwrapped…
So let’s all shed a tear for the little system that could. The 128-bit GameCube, the only videogame console ever with a handle, offered some of the greatest games of all time and is a system that is nearly unrivaled in top-quality software from publisher Nintendo.
Games like Super Mario Sunshine, Eternal Darkness, Mario Kart: Double Dash, F-Zero GX, Pikmin 1 and Pikmin 2, Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, Resident Evil Remake and Resident Evil 0 (along with 2, 3 and Code Veronica X), Resident Evil 4, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, Wario World, Baten Kaitos, Chibi-Robo, Animal Crossing and many more, not to mention the invaluable Game Boy Player accessory that allowed you to play Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color and regular Game Boy games on your TV, made the system a fantastic buy. Even today, it is well worth it to track down a GameCube, as it offers endless possibilities and a kick-ass Cube-shaped menu that was wholly unique.
Long live the GameCube! And RIP dear friend. I’m sure we’ll revisit your collection soon, as the Wii U is rumored to offer downloadable GameCube titles in lieu of backwards compatability.
