London game importer The Computer Exchange (CEX) has stopped selling import Gamecubes after Nintendo apparently threatened the company with legal action over the sale of the machines. According to ground-level sources, the move came almost immediately after confirmation of European launch details from Nintendo on Friday.
CEX is now no longer selling Gamecubes. We contacted one of the retailer's stores today and were told the console had been pulled from shelves due to action from Nintendo.
CEX's head office has been quick to clam up on the subject. "We are currently in legal proceedings with Nintendo, so we cannot comment on the matter," said marketing boss Jonathon Cronin. "That's all I can tell you."
Nintendo Europe promised comment today, but failed to deliver at the time of writing.
Three other UK importers we spoke to today Raven Games, The Videogames Centre and Jag-Tec had heard nothing from Nintendo, and were still selling imported Gamecubes. Would they follow CEX's lead if Nintendo came calling? "I'd take them off the shelves I guess," said a spokesperson for one of the stores who wished to remain unnamed. "This thing happens every time a new console comes out. I think Nintendo probably have a right to do it to a certain extent, but normally they don't bother.
From my point of view it can't see that it does them any harm, really. It just creates a bit more awareness. People that go into CEX, or here, or various other places, get to see it earlier than they would have done."
Other retail sources, speaking under conditions of anonymity, were less than pleased this afternoon. "They've done absolutely no advertising in the UK yet and CEX has made people aware of Gamecube," said one. "Why would they do this?"
Hopefully Nintendo should be able to answer that question tomorrow. Stay tuned, Cube fans.
