Revolution downloads NOT for free
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jun 7th 2005 at 3:26PM }
According to a recent article in Famitsu magazine
downloading classic Nintendo games onto your Revolution will not be free. Boss man, Satoru Itawa, explicitly stated the
fact, but added that some games might be available for free download as a bonus for purchasing a Revolution title or
through special promotions. Packaging retro titles with current games is nothing new, but perhaps Nintendo will put a
revolutionary spin on the concept—say, buy Mario Revolution (not the real title) and download any three
Mario-related games from the past.
No word yet on the cost of downloads, or whether or not pricing will vary based on generation. We'll keep you posted.
[Thanks, Dan]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dignan17 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
This is ridiculous. For shame, Nintendo. This is a dumb move on their part.
Price? Too high, that's how much. Hell, I'd pay a buck or maybe two for Link to the Past, but this is the same company that sells SMB1 to GBA owners for twenty freaking dollars.
Domino @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
I, for one, am stunned!!!
Conrad Quilty-Harper @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
I don't understand, who was expecting them to be free in the first place? This is still a good reason to get a Revolution as opposed to a 360 or a PS3. What am I saying, I'll probably get all three anyway. :S
hutchi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Whats new here? Why would they be free? Were the GBA classic remakes free?
Pretty Obvious @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Why would anybody want to play old games on a next gen console. And to make matters worse, pay for them....
Chris Norman @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Maybe It's just me, but isn't that *exactly* what George Harrison said in the interview that you guys pointed to when stating that Revolution downloads would be free?
duerra @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Because, #4, some of the greatest games ever made are those "old games". I'm sorry, but I could probably count on one hand the number of games (if any) that are better than, say, Mario 3 or Zelda 2.
Better graphics don't make a better game. Some day, when you're not 14 anymore (mentally), you'll understand that.
duerra @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
#4 - I don't understand why anybody would want to buy an old 1970's "Star Wars" movie on current-generation DVD....
Your argument and lack of insight or understanding, is hopeless.
Brian @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
"Because, #4, some of the greatest games ever made are those "old games". I'm sorry, but I could probably count on one hand the number of games (if any) that are better than, say, Mario 3 or Zelda 2.
Better graphics don't make a better game. Some day, when you're not 14 anymore (mentally), you'll understand that."
None of that means I'd play them (on a console) ever again, and the general public doesn't want to either. It doesn't matter how great they are, I already played them 20 years ago.
OtakuCODE @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
People who thought the downloads might be free are pretty damned naive. Let's see... our users could be buying and playing games that we receive a $20 or so royalty per copy sold for... or they could use our bandwidth to download from servers we pay for, games they could play for free which reduces the amount of time they have to buy and play games we get paid for!
Nobody is going to pay you to play games. Not in this generation, not ever. (And if you think you found a loophole in game testing or game reviewing, in neither case are you being paid for playing the games...)
joe @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
"None of that means I'd play them (on a console) ever again, and the general public doesn't want to either. It doesn't matter how great they are, I already played them 20 years ago."
but some of us haven't ever played any of those games. remember Nintendo is looking for the non-gamer. in other words, those who haven't spent their entire lives playing games. those who missed that chance to play those games. is there anything wrong with offering this opportunity to those who haven't experienced some odf what that you have?
duerra @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
#9 - Oh, and I guess you know that to be a fact, don't you? Well, I happen to think that paying for and downloading cell phone ringers is absolutely ridiculous - but that doesn't mean that the market doesn't want them, does it? Just because YOU don't want it doesn't mean that nobody else does. Nintendo's market is a very unique market. I, for one, as well as a number of other friends of mine, are eagerly awaiting this.
Quit assuming that just because you don't have a desire for something that nobody else does, either. Many people love the classic games, but no longer have the consoles available to play them. Quit being so egotistical, and get over yourself.
Tim @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Download an emulator.
duerra @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Some of us prefer fully-compatible options. I have yet to see a fully-functional Nintendo 64 emulator.
Lost_Canadian @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
I would love to buy a Nintendo Revolution if it offered those games for free. A free gaming library is one of the main things that could majorly boost sales of the Revolution. Paying a few bucks a game though? Forget it. I've spent my money either buying or renting a large chunk of those games in the past; I don't plan to do it again.
Let's see the "Revolution" live up to its name.
Meesterjojo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
I, for one, would at least like a meal, maybe some drinks laced with ruffies, before I get raped. Oh the memories- $20 for Ice Climber, $20 for Metroid, oh ya, $20 for SMB. Gee, that's only 1/2 the price from 20 years ago.
As Nofriendo sinks further and further from the NES legacy, proving once again that they just don't know what Americans want.
Codejoy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Fool me once nintendo, shame on me. Fool me 800 bazillion times, shame on you.
Been there done that, and theyw ant me to pay for it again? ha the only games i *might* pay for are the ones too rare to find now that I never got a chance to play back in the day, but who knows what games will even be available, im sure all the ones i've owned and beat a dozen times.
"...And this time, the revolution is YOU" - XBOX 360 e3 trailer...
Martha Stuart @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
You guys are getting too pissed off. If you have to pay $1 for a NES game, $3 for a SNES, and $5 for a N64 game big deal.(Those prices are just what I'm guessing.) If they do something like add online play to the emulater,(which is possible) it would be worth amazing.They probably will add something like that to make it better. I would love to download NES games(I never had 1).
Sonic_Extreme @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
I love those older games and unfortunately all they bring back is memories. I have a old original nin still works, atari 2600 and while they are great to play those games i can only play them for umm 10 min at most. Those games are way cool but i am not 8 anymore and it doesnt keep me interested anymore. Yeah those games where awsome some of the best ever. But it doesnt mean I wanna play them again. Now yes for the people who havent gotten a chance to play those old games might be different but I think for us older folks lets be serious you think you ganna be playing zelda again till you pass it. Or metroid.? My wife would leave me if i was seen playing zelda for 2 days straight trying to pass it. Those awesome games of the past are just that. The past.
Jason @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Don't you all already have the entire collection of Nintendo games on your PCs or XBoxes? lol.
Jason
http://www.xboxsoftmods.com
Tetrachromatic @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
1. Post a bulllshit story about free games
Comments: Hooray!
2. Post a bullshit follow-up about not-free games
Comments: Boo.
Nothing's final, folks. Stop buying into the Joystiq bullshit.
GamerHeaven @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Ah well, bound to happen, there's quite a few that will be free though - so that's something.
Any idiots talking about them not appealing to anyone (you know who you are) can't speak for the market. This is still an awesome selling point for the market, and that is fact.
As for emulators, that's a heap of rubbish anyway. I personally can't wait to play Mario RPG as it wasn't released here, but I'm in no ruch to emulate it - it's a rubbish way of gaming. I'll happily pay a few bucks to download it to a console and play it on a good control pad ... makes me think what the Revs controller will be, going on from Mr Fils Aime's comments.
Sergio @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
For every service, there is a market, whether or not you are part of that market. There are plenty of people who like playing older games, you can't argue that fact given the prevalence of emulators out there. How many people will buy them? The same type people who would buy a MAME cabinet if they could afford one, the same people who buy the rereleases on GBA, the same people who bid on games on eBay. While you might shake your head in disbelief, this is still a sound marketing strategy, whether or not it is free.
Sonic_Extreme, if she would leave you for playing Zelda for two days straight, I think she'd leave you for playing any game for two days straight.
arrakisman @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Emulators are on the consoles as well...
http://www.dcemulation.com/
flyNN @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
emulator on laptop - 10,000+ from arcade and consoles free - 'nuff said.
Dmitri @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
This is a very bad move I do agree. I was really hoping that the games would be free, it would encourage many people to buy the system just for that. Ahh well, atleast BJ, BT, and Both the Zeldas from N64 are on the download list.
Shannon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Tetrach, you seem to be confused, Joystiq doesn't make the news it just puts a bunch of various news stories from different sources in one place for people to discuss. News storys can, at times be conflicting, but that is no reason not to report or comment on it.
Hebert @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
duh! Anyone with any business sense knew they weren't going to be free. There is no money in free. This is a business not a hobby and nintendo has to make money just like everyone else. #4 is not so far off. The retro games are not as impressive to those not old enough to have played them. That makes up a large part of the gaming community. I still have all the old games and system and I don't really play them. FYI you can't buy the 70's version of star wars on DVD. That's is a pumped up enhanced version to take advantage of the new hardware so check the insight.
Dragon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Actually, not so many people have all the old consoles nowadays. People have sold them, or just got rid of them to make room, or because part of their family (parents, wife, whatever) made them throw it out. I know I had to get rid of all my old systems when I moved 3 years ago, because my parents made me due to the weight limit in our move. On top of that, old systems do break done over time, and there's no way to pay for them. I for one can't wait for Mario RPG after having to give it up with my SNES. I'm also hoping for a lot of old games non-Nintendo made from SNES and NES. Why? Because I like playing classics. Not only are they fun for me, but it brings back memories (I'm 19, I played SMB3 at 3 years old...) Also, not everyone got into emulators, some people don't know about it, some people might think it's illegal, and some people just never got around to it or couldn't figure it out. I never bothered with it, because I don't like playing games on the computer (hence the reason I play console games). I buy many classic games, like the LoZ (original) classic series for GBA, Final Fantasy I&II for GBA and Sony, FF Chronicles for sony, FF anthology, Pokemon FireRed, Mario 64 DS, and Super Mario Bros. (original one) for GB color, Donkey Kong for GB, Tetris for GB, LoZ Link to the Past for GBA, and Dr. Mario for 64 and GBA. I plan on buying more, like Super Mario World, Mario RPG, Yoshi's Island, and some non-Nintendo games as well. Is it a good idea to charge for games? Yea, it'll make them some money. And, #16, whoever said games would be $20? I mighta missed something, but I don't remember seeing that. It'd prolly be a lot cheaper since Nintendo wouldn't have to sell hardware for the games, just the program itself. I'm pretty sure people also buy the Atari games, but why doesn't anyone complain about that?
Pretty Obvious @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
#7 if you enjoy playing old school games then go on ebay and buy a Nintendo. Its not that hard. Im not putting money into buying a next gen console if their hyping it can play old ass games. I enjoyed them in the past, its time for something new.
It sounds like you are clinging to your childhood memories. Being 14 was so special wasnt it?
#9 knows what hes talking about, duerra - GROW UP.
Satan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
firstly rom downloading is illegal. not to mention fraught with spyware and virri. secondly, it is very popular. just look at the xbox emu's. thirdly, its a genius move. not only will it draw in the emu community (who are always saying "oh well we cant buy them any more so we have to steal them" but also older gamers who have skipped generations. why charge? it is very simple. to draw in third parties to make their games available they cant let the entire catalog go for free, otherwise people simply wouldnt download the third party ones. saying "oh that shit i can just go download them" is like saying oh, whats the point in buying music, i can just go download it. finally, it will give people access to a huge range of exceptional titles. again, saying "oh those games are crap" is missing a fundamental point. while games have progressed graphically, they have not progressed structually at the same pace. thus, mario rpg or secret of mana, in terms of narrative, structure and basic gameplay elements hold firm today. just look at what you are playing now, its structure is very much still tied to years old gaming methods. while nes games would be more for a 5 minute pick up and play, the snes titles really will last and many simply dont age. just look at yoshis island, ff6, mario rpg, zelda.. as the industry gets more and more stagnated with sports titles, shoot em ups and racing games i find it quite amusing that people look down older generations, then buy the latest version of generic shooting game 7. i expect a ds link anouncement very very soon regarding transferal of content between the two systems. who would have thought of a pay per download content service to a sleek, stylish hub... I-Games anyone?
Mr. Pointy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
I'm not surprised, Nintendo are a business after all.
I better not be paying more than $2 for the NES games.
WizarDru @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Feh. What's the big deal, here? Nintendo doesn't know what structure or form the service will take yet, either. Harrison's comments were not 'the games will be free', and if you check the article reported earlier and read his words, you'll see that. From Iwata's more recent comments, it sounds like it will be more of a bonus to existing software, similar to the GBA unlockable games are, but even Nintendo isn't quite sure how it will play out. It could be that you preorder a game, get a free download coupon; go to McDonalds, get a Mario happy meal and scratch and win a free game...and so on. I expect they'll end up offering a compromise...but being able to download demos directly to your console doesn't suck, either.
Much ado about nothing, IMHO.
CHILL @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Yes, maybe they would like to get some money off of this service/product, but to aid in the failing sales of the Revolution, it would help majorly on their part if they offered NES games for free. I know many of my friends who are just getting the XBOX 360, who said they would try to get the Revolution if it had free NES games as reported. Nintendo would make much more money in selling consoles than they will from NES games. They should give NES and maybe SNES games for free, but charge $5 for the Nintendo 64 games. Heck anybody can play any of those games on their computer or modded xbox for free, why would they want to pay for them. Bad move on Nintendo's part.
Chris Norman @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
No one is going to pay 99 cents to download a song. Everyone already has records, tapes and CDs! And those who don't are just going to download music for free over the Internet!
Oh, wait. Wrong argument.
hibiscusroto @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
shocker
duerra @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
#29 - You're just as shortsighted as anyone else ranting about how nobody wants this. In one post, everybody is raving about how Nintendo is going to provide retro games for free, and how it will sell so many consoles, yadda yadda. Next post says they're going to charge money, and everybody complains to high hell.
There ARE people that love this idea, and there ARE people that are willing to pay a *reasonable* price for this. You all keep talking about NES games and the like, but you're forgetting that this goes all the way through to the N64 as well. Games like Mario 64, Waverace, and Excite Bike 64 are some of the funnest games I've ever played, and I fully welcome the opportunity to get them in one central system.
Saying that "nobody wants old games" is just as bogus as saying that nobody wants to buy old movies that they've already seen, or own on VHS, for example. Just because *you* may not have a desire to do so doesn't mean that NOBODY ELSE does either. Why is it so hard for the average human to understand that there's more ways of thinking than just their own?
I guarantee you that if Nintendo puts together a well thought-out service, providing a varying array of free game promotions and reasonable prices, this will be a hit. You'll get your latest generation in gaming, and be able to play all your old favorites on the system as well.
#18 - seriously, yes I would. I moved into a house after college one summer where one of the guys I was living with had an old-school Nintendo. I had my N64 and Gamecube, but believe it or not, the Nintendo got the most attention. This didn't make it "better" than the other systems, but we would play Mario 3 night and day for weeks because it was so much fun, and so easy to just pick up and play.
duerra @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Not to mention.... to all the critics out there... if this would be such a flop, why the heck are emulators so popular?
MrBlank @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
I'm still pissed at Nintendo for not making Killer Instinct 64 just like the arcade. Bastards! What an awful port. Ultra 64 = Nintendo 64. Hah! Whatever.
Heh.
Brian @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
"if this would be such a flop, why the heck are emulators so popular?"
Because, emulators are free and on your PC. People enjoy taking a quick break from work to play a little bit of Super Punch Out. And classic games on handhelds are a success for similar reason, a great game in a new format that they can play while on the go.
If the games are cheap (sub $2),they'll probably be a success and I'd probably buy a few of my favorites, but I just know Nintendo will try to bend us all over first.
I think duerra must own Nintendo stock. :) jk
duerra @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Nah, I don't own Nintendo stock, and while I would claim myself as a Nintendo "fanboy", I feel that I am being reasonable here. I find it difficult to disregard the potential market for this. I'm not saying that it will be the main highlight of the console, but when listing the reasons for purchasing one, that has to be there, especially if their offer is reasonable (maybe a buck for an NES game, two fifty for SNES, and five for N64, for example).
I don't own my GC anymore, but I'm waiting for the day when I can own a Revolution, because I know I'm missing out on a bunch of games right now that I *really* want to play (again, in some cases), but would rather get the "whole package" with the Revolution. The Metroids, SSB, and most of all, Zelda when it comes out.
I've talked to a number of my friends (not necessarily even Nintendo fans themselves) that outright agree with me that if Nintendo plays their cards right in the next generation, it's not even going to be a matter of market share. It's going to be a battle of Sony vs. M$, with "everybody" having a Revolution. That's a little far-reaching, yes - but I still don't think that many people truely understand that Nintendo does *not* want to compete on the same level that Sony and M$ are gunning right now. They are set to offer reasonably-priced hardware that gives gamers just what they want - games. Nintendo just needs to get some third-party support behind them, is all...
Vejadu @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
The reason many of us thought the downloads would be free was to sell systems and to try to win back some of their former fans who have moved on to the Playstation or XBox.
In the same way big box stores depend on loss leaders to get you into the store, I was assuming that Nintendo was offering us these free titles to get us to purchase the console.
A free catalog of classic games would be an awesome incentive for someone to purchase the Revolution, either over or alongside the PS3 or XBox 360.
Rocket Punch @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
On my command!
Unleash the PIRATES!!!
dave @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
duerra,
When I read your first few posts I thought of you as I would the dog next door when I stepped in his shit when I walked through my yard. It seems that you were drunk and mad when you wrote them. However it seems that you do have a nice logical side. It is too bad you picked on #4 and not #5! ha
Nice one #26!
Sounds like there will be a certain level of FREE. I could care less. I would still like to have all of the old sweet games on one system. That would be sweet. Oh yeah I would pay for them but it would be the ones that I don't have for the OLD systems that I have stuffed into my entertainment center. YAY why do people expect ALL of them to be free?
Sonic_Extreme @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
#22 Actually she might, I am a casual gamer now due to I have alot of things going on for me and have kids. I only play a few hours a week. Lets also be honest older women dont wanna be married to a person who doesnt grow up. Just ask any women of today living in todays world, if they would be with a guy who is stuck on the 80's as far as hair, dress style and living like it was 1982. That is my point. Some of us have to grow up in life and can't live in the past. Its great to have nostalgia for a few min, but for a 30 year old playing zelda for 2 days straight something is wrong there. Dont you think?
#35 You are right when I was in college and had only guy friends over we would play anything fun. Why? No one to tell us what is wrong or good, you just enjoy life and play anything fun. And be drunk every day doing it. :) Now its different, age changes your point of view in alot of situations. I am not in college anymore. Don't compare a single life to a married life. Two different lifestyles. Keep in mind my opinions relate to me only.
I have a friend who is in his thirty something and hell he plays a games new and a few old. Although in pc but still plays them. But is he married w/kids NOPE. Is he a looser for being that old and still doing what he was doing in his 20's? Only opinion that counts is his I guess.
My point to all this is that there are alot of gamers like me. We love todays games and the past games. But the past is the past. We live in different worlds and no way would I pay for older games when I still have them or have past them hundreds of times 20 years ago. But as for my SONS its a great thing that they can enjoy some of those great early games og MB, SMB, Contra, og zelda, bionic commando, rygar, etc. Damm makes me wanna play for 10 min now.
Jeremy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Not surprising at all. Microsoft has already been quoted as saying they will be charging people to download new maps, weapons, etc...for games like Halo and whatnot.
Meanwhile, PC gamers will get new maps and the like for free =)
dave @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Jeremy,
I could not agree more.
Go ahead by an XBOX and keep paying and paying and paying and............
I still don't know or have not seen how ninty will have thier online stuff set up ie purchasing additional stuff for a game you already bought, anyone?
Dmitri @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Lol. The more people complain about paying a few bucks for maps and stuff, the more pathetic they are.
duerra @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
dave,
Actually, it was #5 I was talking to. The current #4 confirmed comment after the now-#5 post, so what is now #5 was labeled as #4 when I made the comment.
And yeah, I was a little irked. I find it fascinating that in the world of gaming, people are always concerned with the latest and greatest graphics. It's so rare for me to find a game these days that I *really* enjoy playing for more than a couple weeks, but I can rattle off a good couple dozen games that I still play on older systems to this very day.
The old Star Wars movies were a hit back in the day because the special effects were so unbelievable for the time. Today it almost seems laughable. But that doesn't take away from any of the magic that the series is loved for. The same can be said of video games. I've been begging for years for Nintendo to release a system that was backwards compatible all the way to the NES, and when I heard about this for the Revolution, I almost crapped my pants. It was a very exciting thing for me - because so many of my favorite games require me to have the consoles that I no longer own. I'm forced to play them on emulators, which just doesn't quite work as well as if you were actually playing on the system.
Not to mention, when you look at any given list of the top games of all time - how many of the games are current generation games? A few, perhaps. Yet games like Mario 3, Zelda - Ocarina of Time, Mario 64, etc., always seem to be at the top of the list.
If I'm still playing a game years after it's been released, that's gotta be one heck of a game. It's more than I can say about all those movies I buy on DVD, anyway - many of which probably only get watched once and then collect dust.
Pretty Obvious @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
God lord man. Your comparing Star Wars to Mario, video games to movies. Its nice to see people have that nostalgic feeling but these old school classics are not gonna sell a next gen console.
If Nintendo plays their cards right at this point i can see them making a nice profit on the Revolution, especially if their system is much cheaper to produce and they dont lose money out on each console like Microsoft and Sony. Your theory of everyone having either a 360 or PS3 and also having a Revolution is probably the most hilarious thing ive heard off.
At this point its pretty plain to see that Nintendo is planning on marketing mostly to its followers and secondly to children. Im not knocking duerra for liking Nintendo. Im just tired of being screwed with each Nintendo console I own. GC was the last straw. Its getting really repetitive and disgusting at this point.