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Virtual Console Christmas is Retrotastic

Posted by Zonk on from the screw-mario-it's-all-about-belmont dept.

1up reports the good news that we're finally going to be seeing some of those great Virtual console games here in the U.S.. You know, the ones the Japanese have been enjoying since launch? Christmas day should see the release of Super Mario Bros, Toejam & Earl, R-Type (Turbografx 16), Street Figher II: The World Warrior, and Super Castlevania. The scintillating Baseball and Urban Champion will be making an appearance on New Year's Day. These last two dubious additions will put the Virtual Console lineup at 33 games.

79 comments

  1. Slow... by Nemetroid · · Score: 1

    Slow news day is slow?

    1. Re:Slow... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, just more shilling for the Wii.

    2. Re:Slow... by voice_of_all_reason · · Score: 1

      For those of us who actually showed up to work, slow day is also looooooong.

  2. Any "gifts"? by freeweed · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There's been a persistent rumour about Nintendo making one or more VC games free as an xmas "gift". Any truth to this?

    --
    Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
    1. Re:Any "gifts"? by ultraexactzz · · Score: 1

      Unlikely... but I am surprised that Nintendo did not offer a free game or credit to get people using the service - maybe on the "Only the first one is free" principle.

      --
      Never underestimate the potential of Human stupidity. -Heinlein
    2. Re:Any "gifts"? by nuggz · · Score: 1

      The Opera Beta is free as well as the weather channel.

    3. Re:Any "gifts"? by Nemetroid · · Score: 5, Interesting

      While the pictures of several games with the price tag "Free" are real, it is not because they will be free to download, only because they haven't been given a price yet.

    4. Re:Any "gifts"? by Xymor · · Score: 5, Funny

      Web browsing with no keyboard and weather forecast. Nintendo knows what gamers really want...

    5. Re:Any "gifts"? by grumbel · · Score: 1

      There's been a persistent rumour about Nintendo making one or more VC games free as an xmas "gift". Any truth to this?

      While there are no free VC games, Nintendo does offer a free game for christmas, its called Mission in Snowdriftland and is a great Flash based 2D jump'n run in the style of SuperMarioBros. Wondering if it will work in the Opera browser on the Wii once that gets released.

    6. Re:Any "gifts"? by Lehk228 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      weather integrates with games, so your sports game weather on the field can match your local weather, or the city you are playing in

      --
      Snowden and Manning are heroes.
    7. Re:Any "gifts"? by 1nsane0ne · · Score: 1

      But you can still reply to posts on /.

      --
      Check out my life
    8. Re:Any "gifts"? by bunions · · Score: 4, Funny

      > Web browsing with no keyboard

      Honestly? I don't see a problem. More people should consider the internet read-only.

      --
      there is no need to sign your posts. this isn't usenet. your username is right there above your post. stop it.
    9. Re:Any "gifts"? by ViXX0r · · Score: 1

      Is that true, or did you just make that up to get me even more annoyed that I couldn't find a Wii yet?

      --
      University - a box of academia nuts.
    10. Re:Any "gifts"? by Lehk228 · · Score: 1

      http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/games/archives/2006/12 /20/wii_games_get_real_weather.html

      it hasn't yet been confirmed afaik

      --
      Snowden and Manning are heroes.
    11. Re:Any "gifts"? by AuMatar · · Score: 2, Interesting

      And this is better than a random number how?

      --
      I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
    12. Re:Any "gifts"? by barjam · · Score: 2, Informative

      It is not a rumor, Madden already does this. Switch your weather type to Sys:(something or other).

    13. Re:Any "gifts"? by typobox43 · · Score: 1

      No, because the Wii browser has no way to simulate keyboard presses.

    14. Re:Any "gifts"? by DreamMaster · · Score: 1

      There's also the new flash-based games website for the Wii at http://wiicade.com/

      All the games have been designed to be used with a mouse or remote, so can be used with the newly released Wii browser. I've tried some of the puzzle games already, and they're pretty fun.

    15. Re:Any "gifts"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm typing this on my wii now.

  3. Urban Champion? Dubious? by The-Bus · · Score: 2, Funny

    Baseball I can maybe agree with, although the Wii now finally has a baseball game that lasts more than 3 innings.

    But Urban Champion? Name any other fighting game where a key tactic is evading flower pots being thrown at your head. This is the game that may have invented the fatality: The loser gets punched into the sewers. I've yet to see any game improve on that.

    --

    Small potatoes make the steak look bigger.

  4. dear nintendo... by Dance_Dance_Karnov · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm still not going to buy a single virtual console game. Reasons listed below.

    1)Region locked VC. This is just plain stupid.
    2)Online multiplayer, Every NES/SNES emulator I've used since 1997 has had this feature, I'm sure you can figure it out.
    3)No rumble in 64 games
    4)Not fixing technical issues due to "authenticity" (but no rumble in 64 titles is ok?)
    5)cost. 5/8/10 USD as 'starting points' for price is right out.

    1. Re:dear nintendo... by MysticOne · · Score: 2, Informative

      1) Who cares? It's locked to your individual Wii anyway. So it's not like you can buy a VC game and then go play it elsewhere. It does suck that the games are different depending on the region, but it seems the game companies always do that.

      2) I agree it would be cool, but they'd probably have to implement it in such a way so the whole VC realm of games uses friend codes. They probably just didn't feel it was important enough to include, and would rather people just play it with those sitting next to them.

      3) Dunno why they didn't implement that. There's probably a reason, but I can't see that it'd be a good one.

      4) I don't think they wanted to particularly modify the games. The N64 stuff probably doesn't remove the rumble functionality from the games, but the system just doesn't honor it. That's different. I've not played with any N64 games in the VC, though, so I may be mistaken.

      5) I do think the pricing is a bit much. But, I don't think it's outrageous. Outrageous would be if all the retro games cost the same amount as the Wii games. But, my opinion is that it's reasonable, but a touch on the high priced side.

    2. Re:dear nintendo... by NotthatFrankie · · Score: 1

      For points 2,3, and 4, you seem to be missing Nintendo's aim here. They want to make players play the exact same game that they did 5, 10, 20 years ago. It's nostalgia. Which makes point 5 spot on the money. To the letter-sending campaign!

    3. Re:dear nintendo... by Dance_Dance_Karnov · · Score: 2, Interesting

      1)My bad, i didn't make that clear. I meant not allowing people to buy games from any region. I want to to buy things like "sin & punishment" and "mother" among other titles.

      2)the wii already has a code, they could just use that one. (pokemon uses a seperate code because of the connection with the DS, and most DS wifi games will allow you to play against random people regardless of if you have their code).

      4)They don't have to modify the roms, I mean fixing things like slowdown due to too many sprites on screen at one time. They should be able to fix that via the emulator.

      5)I have a problem with it being open ended. You just know that with "rare"(mario rpg, etc) games the prices are going to be inflated. It is a philosophical thing, I can't stand meatspace 'supply and demand' bullshit being used with digital information.

      but #1 is the only one that really galls me, if they addressed that I would be happy. The others are really just minor complaints.

    4. Re:dear nintendo... by Akaihiryuu · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The N64 games don't implement rumble functionality? That sucks...they should, at least if you're using the GC controller. The N64-to-Gamecube Zelda ports used the rumble functionality. Then again, the only N64 games I'm interested in are OoT and MM and I already have both of those on the GC, so I doubt I'll ever download any N64 games anyway. The main use I'm going to see out of the VC is if they release games that are rare/hard to find the original cartridges for, as I've already got all the old systems except the N64 and TG-16. If they released Herzog Zwei for the Genesis I'd get that immediately, even if it was $10...that game is hellaciously hard to find and often goes for $100+ on Ebay. It was pretty much the first RTS game, several years before Warcraft or Dune 2. There was a limit of 50 units on each side, and instead of a cursor, you had a plane you flew around to pick up and drop units to move them around, but it was much fun.

    5. Re:dear nintendo... by Lehk228 · · Score: 1

      who's to say the "Starting" point means 'and up' surely less popular publishers will want to sell games, even if they aren't really worth the full price,

      --
      Snowden and Manning are heroes.
    6. Re:dear nintendo... by Dance_Dance_Karnov · · Score: 1

      good point, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

    7. Re:dear nintendo... by Khuffie · · Score: 1

      Frankly the biggest issue for me is the price. $8 for the Genesis games is way too much. If they were down to $5, I'd already have bought Ecco the Dolphin and Ristar by now. Definitely going to buy Toejam and Early, but come on Nintendo! Bring the prices down, you're asking a wii bit too much.

    8. Re:dear nintendo... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I'm wondering how much #1 has to do with licensing issues in each country. Especially for third party games. Also, it appears that each game has to go through the ESRB to get a rating (since they didn't have ESRB ratings back then) before they'll release it in the US. Doesn't explain why first-party games aren't coming out faster, but it may have something to do with them wanting to space things out to show they aren't just about their own games. Seriously, if they released the S/NES Metroids, Zeldas, and SMB games to start with, how many people would actually buy any of the Genesis games anytime soon?

      For instance, the greatest NES platformer ever (DuckTales) will likely never appear on the VC, because Nintendo has to rearrange distribution rights with Capcom and Disney (and I hear those two aren't on the best of terms anymore for some reason?)

      I'm not happy about it, but there may be an actual reason for it, lame though it may be.

    9. Re:dear nintendo... by Gogo0 · · Score: 1

      Im thinking that there [b]is[/b] rumble support, though there are no N64 games released yet that actually support rumble...
      Star Fox 64 (the debut of the Rumble Pak) came out long after Mario 64 did.

    10. Re:dear nintendo... by Dance_Dance_Karnov · · Score: 1

      star fox came out in april 97 in japan, 10 months after mario. I remember a nintendo rep stating that there would be no rumble pak support, period. (i wish I had a link, but it was a while ago.)

    11. Re:dear nintendo... by Wandering+Idiot · · Score: 2, Funny

      For instance, the greatest NES platformer ever (DuckTales)

      Notice: You will be (rightfully) killed by hordes of Mario 3 fans in 3... 2... 1...

    12. Re:dear nintendo... by jdcope · · Score: 1

      Yeah, $8 for Genesis games is nuts. I can get a Sega-style controller that plugs into my TV with a dozen or so Genesis games on it for $15 at Target...

  5. So I'm dim... by GarrettZilla · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    What is a virtual console? I'm guessing I don't get to it with alt-F2...

    --
    Ecce potestas casei!
    1. Re:So I'm dim... by heinousjay · · Score: 4, Funny

      I can tell you how to get to it, but first I'll need you to take a picture of a pigeon or a squirrel.

      --
      Slashdot - where whining about luck is the new way to make the world you want.
    2. Re:So I'm dim... by sinclair44 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Wikipedia is your friend (basically, it's a service where you can buy downloads of older games and play them on the Wii)

      --
      Omnes stulti sunt.
  6. Meh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can already play all that stuff for free on my PS3's emulators.

    Look what PS3 owners got for Christmas:

    http://www.gran-turismo.com/jp/movie/d483.html
    http://www.gran-turismo.com/jp/movie/d485.html

    Free playable demo of Gran Turismo. After playing through Zelda, my Wii is pretty much sitting unused now. Metroid needs to come out soon...

    1. Re:Meh by thrashaholic · · Score: 1

      Yea but we play it legally. Asshole.

      --
      militant gun owning 'liberal'
    2. Re:Meh by geminidomino · · Score: 1

      "We" are paying 5-10 bucks for 15-20 year old games, and *he's* the asshole?

  7. Really, what is the point? by chemical55 · · Score: 0

    Every single NES/SNES game has been available since 1997. Anyone with a PIII and 128 meg of ram can make their "virtual console". Heck I can even play my NES library on my DS if I want. There is nothing exciting about Nintendo's virtual console. I cannot imagine waiting with baited breath for word on which games will be the next to be released.

    1. Re:Really, what is the point? by Duds · · Score: 2, Insightful

      For some people, legality does matter.

    2. Re:Really, what is the point? by Yvan256 · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Heck I can even play my NES library on my DS if I want.
      ... with unauthorized "hard-to-get" hardware (i.e. you can't buy that at Toys'R Us). But, that's not what I really want to comment about.

      Here's the idea: it would give an incredible boost to VC sales if I could upload the emulators (along with the ROMs) to my Nintendo DS. Imagine that: buying the VC games on the Wii and then playing them on the Wii and the Nintendo DS.
    3. Re:Really, what is the point? by necro2607 · · Score: 1

      Key reasons:

      -quality Nintendo controller
      -genuine game experience not interrupted by Windows error alert boxes, MSN signon/signoff/msg alerts, blue screens and what have you
      -convenience (turn on the machine and grab the controller, select a game and play)
      -easy configuration/setup (none) compared to any emulation setup
      -vendor support
      -games from numerous platforms over the span of many years, available all in one spot, playable on one system, with all of the benefits listed above

    4. Re:Really, what is the point? by dividedsky319 · · Score: 3, Insightful
      There is nothing exciting about Nintendo's virtual console.


      For a lot of people, there is.

      For one, I like playing on my TV, with a controller meant to play whatever game it is I'm playing. Sure, I've played games on emulators on my PC, but using a keyboard or some random crappy gamepad never felt right.

      And two, I don't want to have to jump through hoops to get a game to work. I just want it to work. My wife would NEVER figure out how to load up a ROM and play it. With this, she can simply turn on the Wii, point at the game, and start playing.

      And three... like someone else said, this is actually legal.
    5. Re:Really, what is the point? by voice_of_all_reason · · Score: 0

      Versus the world of the black sails:

      1) Quality "any PC controller on the market you desire", customizable to each button
      2) I don't think that word means what you think it means
      3) Convenience of not having to hook up an entire system whenever you want to switch platforms
      4) Windows emulators are not linux. It's not like you have to mount a drive here
      5) lol, wut?
      6) Any game ever available from any region, including betas and developer models. And hacks/fanedits.

    6. Re:Really, what is the point? by chemical55 · · Score: 1

      You forgot the ability to save anywhere, anytime. ;)

    7. Re:Really, what is the point? by roger6106 · · Score: 1

      Even better: play two different games simultaneously on the DS each on their own screen!

    8. Re:Really, what is the point? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about the fucking LEGALITY of it? Do you not think the people who made those games deserve to profit from them? You don't have a right to play it, you know. Not to mention that some people like to be able to play on a nice, big TV without going through the hassle of getting hardware to hook up your computer, then tweaking your software until it's just right, then finding a game pad that works well and has a cord long enough to reach the couch, all while dealing with emulator glitches.

      I cannot imagine waiting with baited breath

      No you're not, unless you're going fishing. Try the word "bated."

    9. Re:Really, what is the point? by JoshJ · · Score: 1

      They've already profited from it. Many people have already paid for the game once, on an older console, and would like to play it again without pulling the console out of a closet (or it may not even work anymore) and are entirely justified in their refusal to pay for it again.
      Your troll-fu is weak.

      --
      Care about privacy? Read this!
    10. Re:Really, what is the point? by keitosama · · Score: 1

      I thought VC had gotten that functionality, but I could be mixing it with the suspend feature.

    11. Re:Really, what is the point? by necro2607 · · Score: 1

      1 - Cool, sure, but can you use that same controller for 5 or 6 different platforms, all with native support in every game, without the need to set up your drivers, bind controller keys to in-game buttons, etc.?

      2 - What word? ... Genuine? If that's what you meant, I would honestly love to see any N64 emulator you've found that can perfectly reproduce the game, entirely indistinguishable from playing on a true N64.

      3 - With Virtual Console on the Wii, it's all running on the same system. You don't have to "switch platforms" because everything is running on the single Wii system. What did you think I was talking about? Playing games on the actual original systems they were made for?

      4 - If you like to search around on the net to find an emulator for each platform, download and install it, and you understand all of the configuration options, then go ahead. The majority of people are not interested in spending that kind of time to play an old game. However, when the games are presented to them in a super-convenient situation, they have no problem shelling out the $5 to nearly instantly have the game, ready to play, on the system they are already using and sitting in front of.

      5 - Vendor support means if it doesn't work, you can call up Nintendo support and they will fix it (unless you broke the console or whatever). If you're going to try and criticize my points about what makes Virtual Console such an ideal candidate for playing old favorite games, at least take the time to understand what I'm saying.

      6 - The majority of video game players have no interest in alternate-language, beta, developer or hacked versions of their games. For emulation enthusiasts, sure, but take a look at the people buying Wii systems - they span a far far greater demographic (in fact, probably the broadest range of people of any console yet).

    12. Re:Really, what is the point? by Jerf · · Score: 1
      it would give an incredible boost to VC sales if I could upload the emulators (along with the ROMs) to my Nintendo DS.
      Why is this the first time I've heard this idea? That would absolutely rock. Especially if the DS could toss saved games back onto the Wii for the next download. (Downloaded content on the DS is lost at system power down. You can shut the case and it'll suspend, but if you shut it down the RAM is wiped. So, persistent saved games would have to go somewhere, and Nintendo is going to be wary about selling general-purpose memory carts.)

      The only hard part would be explaining to people why you can only do that with Nintendo games, and maybe Genesis games. (At least based on what I've read about the current emulators people have written, Super Nintendo is pretty questionable, at least in the general case.)

      And it's a way to integrate the DS and Wii that isn't the slightest bit contrived, like most/all of the Game Boy integration was.
    13. Re:Really, what is the point? by El+Gigante+de+Justic · · Score: 1

      That hasn't stopped most people from buying the re-releases of the same games for GBA or other systems, and considering how most people probably don't have their old systems anymore or never had some of them to begin with (How many people here actually owned a TG-16?) the virtual console prices are reasonable. The VC makes emulation as simple as can be. Even with emulators for older systems you sometimes have to keep 2 or 3 different emulators around and mess with different settings in each because some games will only run in certain emulators. Some games just never run well in emulators (like one of my favorite fighting games - WeaponLords)
            Also, being able to pump the sound through the large system instead of an emulation of the sound through laptop speakers is nice too.

        I will admit there are a few things I'd like to see for it though:
      1) The abilty to upload to a DS cart, as mentioned before, would be awesome. Really, all they would need to do is create a special cart for the DS which contains the emulation software and can accept an SD card, so I can just take the copies from my Wii and put them on the cart. The tricky part here is that for protection reasons, you probably have to bind your emulator cart to your Wii so you can't upload some games you paid for and some games your friend paid for on his Wii.

      2) While I don't think free-region is necessary (besides, with the whole NTSC vs PAL thing, it would be a pain to pull off), I would like to see some companies take this as an oppurtunity to take some titles and translate them for release in other regions. The problem here is that that sales aren't as guaranteed as they may have been on the original system, and localization is not a trivial expense, unless they can maybe by the rights to existing fan-subs and make corrections/fixes where needed.

      One comment though - Why the basic SF 2 and not SF2-Turbo. Sure they'll probably release that one a year from now for more money, but I'd rather wait and assume they'll release Turbo later than buy SF2 now.

    14. Re:Really, what is the point? by Yvan256 · · Score: 1

      I think I've seen SNES and TurboGrafx-16 emulators for the GBA, so my guess is that it should be possible to run such emulators at full-speed (with audio) on the DS, even if you have to use both CPUs to do the job (GBA+DS).

    15. Re:Really, what is the point? by Headcase88 · · Score: 1

      You can get a pretty decent game pad for abut $15, and with the help of S-video or other cables, you can play games on your TV. I buy VC games for one thing: multiplayer. It's hard to play 5-player Bomberman off of one computer.

      --
      "When the atomic bomb goes off there's devastation...but when the atomic bong goes off there's celebraaaaation!"
    16. Re:Really, what is the point? by tepples · · Score: 1

      For one, I like playing on my TV

      Home theater PCs have TV output.

      with a controller meant to play whatever game it is I'm playing.

      PlayStation to USB adapters are available for home theater PCs. Or are PS1 gamepads "random" and "crappy"?

      My wife would NEVER figure out how to load up a ROM and play it.

      Associate .smc with the emulator, and there's no problem.

      And three... like someone else said, this is actually legal.

      But is it legal everywhere to mod a console to run games developed by amateurs or smaller companies? No royalty to Dell or Microsoft is required to develop a game for a home theater PC or any other Windows machine.

    17. Re:Really, what is the point? by seebs · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The point is that it turns out to be fun having them on something with TV out and a convenient controller that I already have hooked up to my TV.

      --
      My blog: http://www.seebs.net/log/ --- My iPhone/iPad app: http://www.seebs.net/seebsfrac/
    18. Re:Really, what is the point? by Omestes · · Score: 1

      I though long and hard about this. I Sure, I can (and to be honest, did) have all of the NES and SNES games I want for free and with somewhat upped graphics instead of buying them. But I still ended up in the end buying the original Zelda, Sonic, and Mario 64.

        Why "waste" the money? For several reasons. I'd like to support Nintendo, since they really haven't disappointed me yet, and I thus support their products. I'd like also to convince them to release some older games, so I can actually OWN them, and not just steal them. Here's hoping they release the original 8-bit Final Fantasies (sure, I could get the revamped copies, but they lose something in the pimped graphics, and I do own FF1 on the NES, but am getting sick of blowing on the cart/having it plugged in), Mario RPG, Chronotrigger (have it on PS1, but it isn't the same...), Earthbound (Mother PLEASE!!!), the Shining Force games (beats Fire Emblem / FF Tactics any day), Phantasy Star, Alisa Dragoon, and such. On this vein, it is nice to play old games on the TV, with a real controller, without the fuss of adapters, wires, and ghetto PC controllers, or having to view things in a TEENY window to play on your PC in the original 8-16bit glory.

      Also I support the VC for the same reason I support iTunes, they try for something legal instead of just suing. There really is no excuse for piracy when it is offered cheap, easy, and legally.

      --
      A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. -edward abbey
    19. Re:Really, what is the point? by talksinmaths · · Score: 1

      I know just what you mean dude. It's like when my wife tries to buy me a 12-pack of beer at the store, and I'm forced to scoff at her naivete. Why would anyone buy beer in a convenient pre-packaged form when you can just as effectively brew your own? All you need is a huge pale, a siphon, a hydrometer, malt, hops, yeast, sugar, and water. It couldn't be simpler, really. I know that some pansies use fancy 'Microbrewery Kits', but that runs counter to the true spirit of the home-brew community if you ask me. The best part of course is that it's legal to give away your home brewed beer without paying royalties to Heineken or Guinness.

      :-)

      --
      Don't you have someone you'd die for?
    20. Re:Really, what is the point? by geminidomino · · Score: 1

      Having recently setup FCEU, ZSNES, and ePSXe on my KnoppMyth box, I can certainly agree!

  8. Where are N64 games? by chrismcdirty · · Score: 1

    I plan on buying Super Castlevania and SF2, but where are the N64 games? Last I checked, the only one available so far is SM64, which I can still buy in stores for the DS.

    --
    It's like sex, except I'm having it!
    1. Re:Where are N64 games? by trdrstv · · Score: 1
      I plan on buying Super Castlevania and SF2, but where are the N64 games?

      I honestly thought this batch would be 'Wiimote controller centric'. If you notice there are a disproportionate amount of games (Including genesis, and Turbo16) that work fine with the Wiimote sideways. More SNES games are a good sign. Hopefully we'll get at least 1 new 64 game a month going forward.

      Last I checked, the only one available so far is SM64, which I can still buy in stores for the DS.

      Yes, you can buy Mario 64 for the DS, but the Wii version has 3 big things going for it. 1) I can play it on my TV in progressive scan. 2) It costs less (but also DRM'ed and machine locked) 3) the Analog stick of the Gamecube controler. In fact I just sold my Mario64 DS and bout it on the VC, simply because the above reasons (That and the mini-games are on NewSuperMarioBros). It is still playable (and portable) on the DS, but the Analog stick is how it should be played.

  9. Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    For a moment there, I thought we would have been an entire day without a moment for praise for the Wii. It's become almost like morning prayer at slashdot to have some faceless article which talks about how the Wii is super neat.

    The lineup was published back in August. We already know Wii has a virtual console. We already know that it plays 20 year old games.

    This is not news. Not when there are a dozen other games being released every week. Why aren't those titles getting this kind of reception?

  10. Super Mario Bros. by 7Prime · · Score: 3, Informative

    Wait, wasn't SMB one of the launch titles? I've seen it on the Wii Shop area every day since its launch! This isn't new.

    And please... good times is when they finally release Link to the Past, Super Metroid, Final Fantasy, Secret of Mana, Mario 2 & 3, Mario World, Megaman. And some more obscure goodies like Gardian Legend, Kid Icarus, Karnov, and such. 90% of the games I've seen so far are either generic NES sports titles, or the same kinds of shit I could get for my iPod for a dollar.

    And why are there 4x as many Genesis and TG16 games as SNES games? The SNES is OWNED by Nintendo, and it had more games, period. Something fishy is going on here. Seriously, I was more concerned, back when they talked about "fan favorites", that all they would have would be the big titles that everyone's already played, so I'm glad to see them jump on board with more obscure titles, but they haven't released very many large, and more lengthy titles yet. Give me my SNES epics... PLEASE! Stop giving me generic sports games, block puzzles, and arcade bullshit.

    --
    Multiplayer Gaming (defined): Sitting around, discussing single-player games with my friends, at the bar.
    1. Re:Super Mario Bros. by person132 · · Score: 1

      Soooo... you want them to release the big titles everybody's already played?

    2. Re:Super Mario Bros. by lucianx · · Score: 1

      SMB isn't on there - the original "Mario Bros" is.

      --
      John C. Worsley - Artist, Musician, Coder
      Portfolio
    3. Re:Super Mario Bros. by 7Prime · · Score: 1

      Sure, why not... they're tried and ture. I just want them to release more of everything, and a good variety. The back catalogs of all 5 systems is ENORMOUS. At the rate they're going, it'll be a decade before they scratch the surface. I refuse to believe that it takes that much effort, at all, to port a rom over to the VC, especially if they aren't going to change anything. Hell, hackers used to do a few overnight, back when the SNES catalogs were being ripped for emulation. If the VC is a full-blown emulator, which it seems to be, then the roms needn't be reworked at all, or even recompiled.

      Now, I can understand not wanting to overwhelm people, but the current list is intensely unbalanced in favor of arcade and sports games (I don't even really remember sports games on the NES, were there really this many?) Why no obscure SNES games? Hell, why so few SNES games, period! Why no N64 games? I've always believed as a nestolgia gamer, that the SNES is kind of at the heart of the "golden age" of gaming, and from what I've seen, this seems to be a common feeling. It was the time that developers sat down, and took all the the ideas they'd come up with, for the last decade, and made them the best they could be.

      Then again, maybe Nintendo's plan is to slowly re-enact the late 80s, progressing up from rudimentary arcade games to more advanced platformers, into the late NES and early SNES stages, and then a last hurah of the SNES with games that could very well have been done on the Playstation, and then up through the N64. Who knows? The bottom line is, though, that Nintendo has a plan, but I can't, for the life of me, figure out what the hell they're doing.

      --
      Multiplayer Gaming (defined): Sitting around, discussing single-player games with my friends, at the bar.
    4. Re:Super Mario Bros. by Boogaroo · · Score: 1
      (I don't even really remember sports games on the NES, were there really this many?)

      Yes.
      Tecmo Bowl, Super Tecmobowl, Baseball, Tengen Baseball, Base Wars, Tennis, Tecmo NBA Basketball, Baseball Simulator 1.000, Track and Field 1 & 2, the Power Pad games, Baseball Stars, Micro Machines, Rad Racer 1 & 2, Double Dribble, Ice Hockey, Blades of Steel, Punch Out, Arch Rivals, World Cup Soccer, etc...

      If I tried looking I could find dozens more. Sports games are great sellers because they're inherently multiplayer, people recognize the game, and they can update the teams every year and sell you the same damn game. If it'll sell, they'll keep making them. That part hasn't changed in 20 years and won't change any time soon.
    5. Re:Super Mario Bros. by SageinaRage · · Score: 1

      They're holding on to some of the really big name releases for a lull in the Wii releases. That way, they can have a big game coming out pretty much all the time, whether on Wii or virtual console.

  11. PAL at 60 Hz by tepples · · Score: 1

    While I don't think free-region is necessary (besides, with the whole NTSC vs PAL thing, it would be a pain to pull off)

    The majority of PAL televisions in Europe, and all PAL televisions in Brazil, can display a PAL signal at 60 Hz.

    The problem here is that [...] localization is not a trivial expense

    I see your point about games that have been released only in Japanese language, but what's the big expense to localize the United Kingdom and France versions of a game to the United States and Canada or vice versa, or the Spain version of a game to Mexico or vice versa? Or do EU regulations require all video games sold in the UK to be made available in other countries in their native languages?

  12. FINALLY by MeanderingMind · · Score: 1

    I don't know how long Toejam and Earl has been on the official website, but it's been too long to just leave it there and not availible for me to consumerize. I want to be spoon fed my nostalgia at a much faster rate! Otherwise, I may actually be able to retire...

    --
    Thunderclone: ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE! ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE!
    1. Re:FINALLY by dolson · · Score: 1

      I agree. 3-5 per week is ridiculously slow.

      And WHERE THE HELL is Dungeon Explorer and Super Mario World? They were both supposed to be launch window titles, with the latter supposedly being a launch day title...

  13. anyone else having this problem by MemoryDragon · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I just got my component cable (not the original nintendo one) and the vc games cause a black screen, all of them except mario 64. Anyone else having this problem?

    1. Re:anyone else having this problem by trdrstv · · Score: 1

      Make sure your TV supports Progressive scan (not all with component cables do). Otherwise I don't know. The official Nintendo ones work great.

    2. Re:anyone else having this problem by MemoryDragon · · Score: 1

      I noticed in other forums that the sharp Aquos line of devices seem to have a problem with YUV and 576p which all pal versioned VC games switch into. I am not sure if this can be fixed on the side of Sharp, but I will give them notice of this problem.

  14. Re: What they are doing... by trdrstv · · Score: 1
    The bottom line is, though, that Nintendo has a plan, but I can't, for the life of me, figure out what the hell they're doing.

    I'm sure you have been noticing a pattern, but it looks like you don't understand the "why". The batch of VC games have been VERY heavy in the direction on using the Wiimote only. The NES, Turbo16, and Genesis games can be played with the Wiimote sideways perfectly fine (or even better, as I don't hit the "nuke all opponenets" in Golden Axe accidentially anymore). What they did was offer a selection of Small (quick to download) titles that don't require any additional purchases in hardware. They put 2 SNES games out, and 1 N64 game (the obvious choice), so they can show it all works. I also think Nintendo held back some of their catalog to not over-shadow their business partners (Sega, and NEC) from the get go. They want a steady stream of titles for the next several years.

  15. You hit it on the head.... by trdrstv · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Also I support the VC for the same reason I support iTunes, they try for something legal instead of just suing. There really is no excuse for piracy when it is offered cheap, easy, and legally.

    Warner Bros realized the same thing with their DVD's. They have the largest catalog of DVD's for $10 or less, and thus the lost levels of piracy. The trick to beating piracy is to make your products:

    1) Inexpensive / Reasonally priced.

    2) Readily available.

    Now the VC isn't 'impulse buy cheap' as many people wanted, but I have no problem paying $10 for Mario64, $5 for a Zelda, or $8 for Gunstar Heroes. They are worth it.

  16. Re: What they are doing... by 7Prime · · Score: 1

    good point. I didn't think about it like that... but unfortunately, neither is most of the game playing population. Wouldn't it be better for their hardware sales to release a few MUST HAVES on SNES and N64 in attempts to get people to buy the VCC early on?

    --
    Multiplayer Gaming (defined): Sitting around, discussing single-player games with my friends, at the bar.