Commodore 64 Titles Join Wii's Virtual Console

TechDock writes "Gamasutra reports that several Commodore 64 games will be emulated on the Wii's virtual console." From the article: "Although no specific titles were named, the only indications so far are of titles from now defunct U.S. developer Epyx, maker of the likes of Impossible Mission and the Summer/Winter/World/California Games series. Best known for their work on the 8-bit Commodore 64 home computer, Epyx also designed the prototype Lynx console for Atari as well as several of its games." I'm thinking we need Ghostbusters, Defenders of the Crown, Maniac Mansion, and (of course) Boulder Dash.

Comments

M.U.L.E.

[jennis]

You can't leave this game off the wish-list of games to port.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.U.L.E

Re:M.U.L.E.

[CronoCloud]

Port the C64 version? MULE was released for the NES.

Re:M.U.L.E.

[simcop2387]

I vote for that and P otty Pigeon!</a> one of my all time favorites ever, what more can you ask than pooping on cars from above!

Re:M.U.L.E.

[Original Replica]

If Mail Order Monsters was rereleased as an online game would it be MOMMMORG? Where can I buy one?

Re:M.U.L.E.

[revlayle]

I'm not so sure. Many C64 program *REQUIRE* the user to "switch disks" and then hit a key to continue (for multi-disc games). The various flavors of disk drive for the C64 has no auto detect routine to indicate to a program that a new disk has been inserted. While many emulator enthusists can deal with and manage switching disk images to emulate the switching disks operation, many causal users on something like a Wii may be confused or not understand why they have to do this.

Now, enterprising developers who want to release multi-disk games C64 can go into the original assembly and make it into an executable that requires no disk flips, or even provide an emulator-only opcode to automatically switch disk images that are attached to the games... IF they want to bother with that.
Fortunately, there are a LOT of C64 games not on disk or require on one disk side, as well as not necessarily require a write back to the disk (which is not really the problem tho). Just some of the cool ones are multi disk :)

Re:M.U.L.E.

[MarkAD88]

If they release Racing Destruction Set for the Wii I'm a dead man. That game nearly consumed my soul at the tender age of 14 and I can only imagine that the rerelease would suck me in just as well.

I'm sure if they release it on the Wii that my wife and children would simply abandon me.

worst. idea. ever.

[poot_rootbeer]

The Wii is gonna be soooo failure...!!! I mean, really, who wants to have to draw out LOAD "*",8,1 in the air with that lame remote all the time???

Re:worst. idea. ever.

[ZoneManSPW]

Maybe the Wii controller will have
a slot where you can put a fastload
cartridge in it, for a 2 key shortcut
to LOAD "*",8,1

A few "wish list" titles....

[Zab UvWxy]

I echo a previous poster's vote for M.U.L.E. The article also mentioned the Impossible Mission titles (I much preferred the first).

I'd also like to see Forbidden Forest, the Jumpman series, and the Apshai games.

And of course.... ADVANCE OF THE MEGA-CAMELS!!!!!

Each Announcement

[Anonymous Coward]

Every one of the virtual console announcements, on it's own, seems reasonably unimpressive but as time goes on I become more and more impressed with the system. When it was first announced as a NES/SNES/N64 emulator I thought that it was alright but nothing to write home about; after the Sega Master System/Genesis and Turbo-Graphics 16 announcment I was starting to get excited. With the C64 (and one would hope Colleco/Atari/Intellivision) announcments it seems like Nintendo is actually trying to bring the most retro-gaming together on one platform.

Re:That's funny, cause I wuz thinking

[01101101]

Oh man, if they bring U3 over my wife is going to demand that we buy one.

Your wife is cool.

Good roundup of Epyx games

[OakDragon]

A good roundup of Epyx games can be found here. Lots of screenshots, ratings, and scans of old ads. (Not my site, but this topic reminded me of it.)

C64 titles - oh yes!

[skurk]

Two words: Bloody. Brilliant.

Just when I thought the Wii couldn't get any more attractive, they come up with this. This cute, affordable console just gets more attractive for every day that goes by. Just check out the preview videos of some of its titles.

..And ofcourse, the reason to choose Wii over PS3. I mean, hey - who wouldn't? :)

Seriously though, all we need now is a free (or affordable) devkit and we've got ourselves a wi(i)nner.

I can't wait. I'm getting one the minute it hits the shelves.

Here's hoping we can use USB Keyboards

[Daimando]

That way, it will feel more like using a Commodore 64 when we download the games.

Viva Epyx!

[Xaroth]

On the one hand, I desparately want to say things like "Woohoo! Jumpman, here I come!". On the other hand, I'm totally sure that Nintendo is lurking around internet forums looking for which games to port. I can just imagine the conversation:

Nintendo Secret Ops Agent Alpha: "Oh! Some random person on the internet just said that Jumpman must be ported!"
Nintendo Project Lead: "That's great! We'll get right on it!"
Nintendo Secret Ops Agent Alpha: "...oh, wait. Someone else on the internet says that game sucks."
Nintendo Project Lead: "Nevermind, then. Cancel the programming team."

Paradroid

[David Rolfe]

Paradroid is an absolute classic (and the first game I ever bought on diskette). The "battle for control" of other droids brains is one of the most fun action-puzzles I've ever played. The smooth scrolling 'hi-res' graphics were a class above at the time. And finally, one of the robots you could take over was a Dalek in all but name! Mmmm Daleks. The control felt great, the tension and challenge are also superb -- this is from back when games weren't soothingly easy. And the flavor and illustration of the wide variety of droids is also fun.

Everyone else, if you haven't played Paradroid, find it and run it under emulation (or download it for Wii if it ever makes it). It's definitely one of those games that has aged well and is still both challenging and fun.

Or... try one of these remakes for some flavor:
http://freedroid.sourceforge.net/
http://www.jpct.net/paradroidz/paradroidz.html
http://www.paradroid.ovine.net/

Since everyone's doin it

[CrazyJim1]

Gotta give a shout out to Legacy of the Ancients and Wasteland.

Re:Virtual console

[DanloRingess]

On the Wii Channels page, it lists "NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis and NEC TurboGrafx platforms" So I count 5, plus the Commodore 64 bringing it up to 6. If you count the backward compatibility with the GameCube, that is 7 older platforms they support. Not too bad in my opinion.