Gamecube Twilight Princess sold online only in Japan

Planet Gamecube is reporting that the Gamecube version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will be sold through Nintendo's online store and not traditional retailers in Japan. The Cube version of the game will ship to Japanese online orderers on Dec. 2 -- the same day the Wii launches in the country and a few days before the U.S. Gamecube version hits stores (But a few weeks after the North American Wii version is released along with the domestic Wii launch. Confused yet?). Nintendo Europe has confirmed the continent will get a Gamecube version of the game, but hasn't officially announced a date yet.

While we understand that the Gamecube was not the most popular system of the last generation and that Nintendo is throwing all its focus behind the Wii these days, it's kind of depressing to see the company limping out a late, limited version of the game for all the Cube owners who don't want to upgrade just yet. Either admit once and for all that the purple box is dead and gone or give it the true continued support it deserves -- this kind of half-assed split-focus doesn't serve anyone well.