Nintendo promises four VC games every Monday
After a bit of an inconsistent start, Nintendo has finally decided to standardize the release of classic game downloads on the Wii's Shop Channel. Starting this week, the company will make available four virtual console downloads every Monday at 9 a.m. Pacific time. The following titles will be available on Dec. 4:- Donkey Kong Jr. (500 Wii points - NES*)
- Victory Run (600 points - TG-16)
- Columns (800 points - Genesis)
- Ristar (800 points - Genesis)
* - Mistakenly listed in the press release as SNES
[Via Gaming Bits]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
reguy @ Dec 2nd 2006 4:38PM
holy cow colums for eight bucks? if that isnt a huge ripoff i dont know what is.
Matt_M @ Dec 2nd 2006 4:46PM
I couldn't say why the SNES games are lacking, but there weren't nearly as many N64 games as there were NES titles, and take away those made by Rare and you have an N64 list that would be somewhat short. Look back on your own N64 collections and tell me that if you took the Rare titles out that you'd have enough to support even 1 decent N64 title a month for the duration of the Wii's lifespan.
Adam @ Dec 2nd 2006 5:00PM
I just picked up a Game Tap subscription for the month (1 penny, on special). Even though there are no Nintendo games (which sucks) there are plenty of Arcade and Genesis games, and of course Sam and Max. Makes the VC seem slightly a rip off, but then again, I'd rather re-live Nintendo classics on a console then through an emulator like SNESX.
Leggo @ Dec 2nd 2006 5:13PM
I think it's pretty obvious. If they released them all at once, people would only bother with the great games. By letting average games trickle out, they're hoping impatient gamers will buy games they otherwise would never buy (exactly like the first year of a console).
Raymond @ Dec 2nd 2006 5:15PM
Didn't Reggie comment on the VC as a tool to keep the Wii running with games during dry spells? E.G. If no blockbusters are being released during say, the week of January X, then they would release some awesome SNES/64 games on that Monday to keep interest in the console.
So while the Wii launch games are still selling hot, expect a lot of low-key releases, even with 4 games coming out every Monday.
Donkey Kong @ Dec 2nd 2006 5:15PM
I'd like to see DK64 on their list soon :)
Adam @ Dec 2nd 2006 5:24PM
I hate the points system.
delldude420 @ Dec 2nd 2006 5:26PM
i thought they said it was supposed to be 10 games per week?
Shagi @ Dec 2nd 2006 5:33PM
I've already got the entire NES/SNES/N64 back catalog so I have 0 interest in buying them online.
jusmailuck @ Dec 2nd 2006 5:37PM
Those are nice and all but...
I don't think Columns is worth 8 dollars.
I like the idea of the VC, but until they start bringing up some real multiplayer 64 games, or maybe something unreleased in the states, then I'll take a gander at what's for sale.
As of now, the VC doesn't seem to amount to much.
Picklesworth @ Dec 2nd 2006 5:39PM
Points system haters, here's one unexplored possibility that could make it worthwhile:
-The ability to win points, either from a game or a contest or something else. That situation would be much nicer to deal with than winning money to spend on VC. (Since then there's all sorts of exchange rates stuff).
Also building on that obscure possibility that Nintendo probably won't do (but I'm willing to be surprised!): It's much more friendly seeming to have "here's 5000 points" than "here's $2, but you're only allowed to spend it here!".
ChronoZaga @ Dec 2nd 2006 5:48PM
SUPER METROID!
ZELDA: A LINK TO THE PAST!
Come on Nintendo!
tack @ Dec 2nd 2006 5:54PM
The fond memories of the time when we played these classic games is what makes them great. They suck by todays standards. Do yourself a favor and dont go back and play your favorite games, its just disappointing. Unless the multiplayer games can be played online, then we'd have something. 4 player online SNES micro machines, oh yeah!
Dan @ Dec 2nd 2006 5:57PM
Bah. Another week, still nothing I want. Where is Toejam and Earl already?
ToastyBuffoon @ Dec 2nd 2006 6:13PM
Toe Jam & Earl will definitely get my money. Kid Icarus as well.
joane @ Dec 2nd 2006 6:23PM
thanks for this information
v1cious @ Dec 2nd 2006 6:36PM
doesn't anyone realize that the Wii can run emulators? why would you pay for the virtual console?
M @ Dec 2nd 2006 6:57PM
Kid Chameleon...and the point system sucks...it is like itchy and scratchy/disney bucks...
Jon @ Dec 2nd 2006 7:05PM
Guys, NOWHERE in the press release does it say four titles will be added every Monday, it only says four will be added this Monday (December 4th).
Here's the quote:
"Every Monday starting Dec. 4, Nintendo will add classic games to the popular new Wii™ video game console's Wii Shop Channel. Four games will be added at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Dec. 4."
WatTsu @ Dec 2nd 2006 7:14PM
Jon:
"Every Monday starting Dec. 4, Nintendo will add classic games to the popular new Wii™ video game console's Wii Shop Channel."
The "Every Monday starting Dec. 4" seems pretty crucial to the sentence, but then again I might be wrong.
Anyway, Ristar was awesome. Eight dollars worth of awesome, I don't know, but I really dug that game.
Tom @ Dec 2nd 2006 7:14PM
If nobody buys these games for these ripoff prices, then they'll lower the price eventually. Go pick up the sweet Genesis collection for your playstation or psp for 30 bucks. It has some ridiculous number of classic Genesis games. For now, my Wii stays VC free.
WatTsu @ Dec 2nd 2006 7:15PM
And nevermind, it seems as though I misread your comment. Disregard everything about my above post except for Ristar being awesome.
skyrous @ Dec 2nd 2006 7:18PM
Yea the Wii can run emulators the PC can run emulators. The problem is emulators are often too much of a pain, they also require you to go to web sites of dubious quality (spy ware, etc) to get the roms. Long ago I downloaded a 2600 emulator and it was great, until I upgraded to from 98 to xp then it stopped working.
For most people running emulators it's more trouble than it's worth, That's where the value of the VC is.
Foetoid @ Dec 2nd 2006 7:28PM
Well i am waiting patiently for Shadowman. I tipped off nintendowiifanboy.com to an e-mail i got from Valiant Entertainment regarding Shadowman 64 on VC and they confirmed that Nintendo is definatly looking into it and it is 'on their radar, but they have a ton of game to reivew and select from'. I am having a very hard time finding who could possibly have the Forsaken 64 license and contacting them to see what they havr to say. Shadowman and Forsaken were two of my fav N64 games and i would love to see them on VC.
striderhayasa @ Dec 2nd 2006 7:29PM
I was excited about the Wii but after seeing what's going on with the VC and no online support, I'm pissed.
Points, Money...what difference does it make when Nintendo is ok with releasing mediocre VC games while the Japanese get classics we've been clamoring for?
It's been said time and time again on this blog and many other sites...If Nintendo has already released and re-released Super Mario, SMB2, SMB3. Metroid, etc...then why the hell not release them at launch for the VC, instead of this trickle nonsense? Pinball sucks, Mario Bros is how old? Donkey Kong is garbage... Why is Nintendo releasing Mario Brothers on VC like it's a great title when it was already re-released at least twice? Where the hell is Super Mario World and Wave Race? Where's 1080 Snowboarding and StarFox? This is really starting to piss me off to the point where I'm seriously looking at XBLA.
It's bad enough that we're getting overcharged to death with these prices. It's even worse when you have to keep a ridiculous number of attachments around the Wii to take advantage of all the games and features. I wouldn't even care about the negatives if the US go half of what's on the Japanese launch list. Contra 3: The Alien Wars, Street Fighter2 and Castlevania 4 alone would be enough for me to keep quiet but we didn't even get that.
Reggie wants to talk about how the VC is supposed to hold us over during droughts? With these titles? Reggie get a clue. There isn't a killer app for the VC. Not one. No Revenge of Shinobi, No Super Mario RPG, No Fire Emblem... The US is getting screwed big time and the best you can do is PR spin. Nintendo isn't releasing anything worthwhile for the Wii until March 07 or later. Wii Play, WarioWare and Mario Party are the only Nintendo published games on the radar and that's pathetic. No Metroid, No Smash Brothers, No Mario Galaxy. If I had my way, I would have all 600,000 people that bought the Wii take it back to the store and trade in all of the games they bought Zelda included. I would straight boycott the Wii until Nintendo gets its act together.
We're getting ripped off. As a fan of Nintendo, getting screwed time and time again for two generations straight with the 64 and then the Cube, I don't like this crap they're pulling with the Wii.
I won't be buying another goddamn thing for the VC and I'm seriously thinking about selling my Wii. If this situation doesn't change QUICK, I'll never buy another Nintendo product again and do my best to inform anyone not in the know to just get a 360 instead.
Dopple Boppler @ Dec 2nd 2006 8:37PM
Ristar was an amazing game. Too bad I already unlocked it in Sonic Mega Collection for GameCube. Oh well, at least I can buy Super Star Soldier tonight without having to worry about what games are coming out this Monday.
Now, lower all NES games to a buck, and then I'd definitely be buying Donkey Kong Jr., along with probably at least a few other games. Five dollars is way too much for just about any NES game these days, outside of maybe a few games (like Mario 3 or Punch-Out), especially since I still have my NES and a number of those games.
Markham Carroll @ Dec 2nd 2006 8:42PM
Let's consider something here:
2 Competing console games: $120
2 Wii games + 2000 points: $120
Who's getting ripped off now?
RWHC @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:05PM
Also, keep in mind that VC games in the US probably have to go through the ESRB while the Japanese ones don't.
Optimus Prime @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:11PM
If you're just looking for a quick, retro fix, go here:
http://www.everyvideogame.com/
Go put that $8 towards something more substantial. Most likely, you will play for a minutes, get the retro/nostalgia fix, and get bored. Dont waste your money.
And, the 'hassle' of ROMS is totally worth it. I have:
400 NES ROMS = $2000
250 SNES ROMS = $2000
50 N64 ROMS = $500
100 TG16 ROMS = $600
100 NEOGEO ROMS = ???
300 MAME = ???
Total = $5100++
Im on a laptop, so i can just hook it up to my HDTV for gaming on the couch. NOW, is that NOT worth the hassle?
(the 'hassle' is overblown)
kelekod @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:23PM
You'd have to give a pretty damn good price to make me part with my Wii Striderhayesa.
I agree, just about all the VC games (right now) suck. Does it matter that much to me?
Short answer no
Long answer yes with a but
I'm kinda happy about the current selection. You know how hard it is to find a classic controller? I realize you don't HAVE to have one, but it's on my Christmas list this year. Granted I'm excited as anyone with the virtual console - when it's more developed with a ton more games. I didn't want a Wii at launch because of the VC, I wanted it to play the new games. During Wii's downtime and when I have the money to spend, I can start getting "backup" copies of the cartridges I have.
The main thing on my list is acquiring the controllers, nunchucks, classic controllers. Also I have my few select games and what not, VC isn't a priority this Christmas season.
Grog @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:31PM
Of course, there is the whole legality/morality thing about ROMs that some of us care about. ;)
Honestly, I'd love if these were $3-5 instead, but this will do. Remember, also, that people generally do not want to buy every game that comes out for a console - why would anyone thing that the games they bring out for VC be exactly what they want? Personally, I look forward to buying the occasional VC game that I'm interested in and not worrying about the rest.
And let's not complain that the VC library is tiny when it's been only 2 weeks since launch. Expect the big ones (Super Mario RPG and the like) in the coming months when the Wii rage starts to die down a little bit and Nintendo wants to raise the excitement level again.
RC @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:32PM
@ Optimus Prime
Um.. Look up the word "ILLEGAL" concerining your ROMS .. or unless you happen to have every single original game and somehow managed to copy it and burn it in your Laptop.
rokobungi @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:44PM
add some of these and I'll bite.
starfox 64
turbografx castlevania
castlevania bloodlines
blast corps
or some NEO-Geo stuff like
twinkle star sprites (great battle shoot-em up with candy coated graphics)
money puzzle exchanger
or the great pulstar and blazing star
Pata Hikari @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:45PM
So.
Optimus Prime.
You have over 5000 dollars of stolen software.
This is somehow... an arguement against VC?
You're a freaking retard.
Eradicator360 @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:46PM
What gets me is why don't they offer a "Classic Collection" like Capcom and Midway does on one game disk for like $20 for 10 or 20 games. That would be worth it. Not $5 to $10 a game. What a rip off.
I would like to see Duck Hunt, Killer Instinct (arcade version of course), and maybe GoldenEye for the N64.
konajinx @ Dec 2nd 2006 10:24PM
People complaining about illegality of ROMs probably used to go apeshit downloading songs on Napster.
ROMs pwn. And you don't have to go to shady sites to get them. There are plenty of torrents out there with them all wrapped up in one nice big file. I can't believe people would actually raise a morality flag when it comes to downloading a ROM for a game like Space Zap or Smokey Joe.
AzaMcWazza @ Dec 2nd 2006 10:41PM
The figures I heard were 30 a month, so yeah 4 a week is far from that.
RUSKULL @ Dec 2nd 2006 10:45PM
I'm sure prices will drop to reasonable levels at some point.
RC @ Dec 2nd 2006 10:51PM
@konajinx & Optimus Prime
here's some info before you start posting again.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROM_image#Legal_status_of_ROMs
And concerning Napster..
-What they did before was ILLEGAL.. It had something to do with do with copyright violations.. look it up.
- Musicians/Artists were also complaining about Napster. They must be crazy for doing so.. (/sarcasm)
- Of course now they're going legit (albeit iTunes are the ones dominating the online market right now).
RC @ Dec 2nd 2006 10:52PM
btw: Never Owned ROMS and Never Will
RC @ Dec 2nd 2006 10:56PM
@Vicious
Virtual Console games..
samfish @ Dec 2nd 2006 10:58PM
The VC was the biggest selling point for the Wii for me...so on that front, I can't deny that I'm REALLY let down...especially after seeing the Japanese VC launch.
The prices on the games all need to drop by at least $2.00 across the board. $5.00 for an NES game is awful. $3.00 is reasonable.
$3.00 for NES
$5.00 for SNES
$6.00 for Genesis and TG16 (since, whatever- they're more expensive)
$8.00 for N64 games (and with any luck, 32X, SegaCD and Saturn games someday)
Chethan @ Dec 2nd 2006 11:33PM
SWEET RISTAR !!
konajinx @ Dec 3rd 2006 12:05AM
RC,
I'm fully aware of the "legality" of ROMs. Now go preach to all the people who have created arcade style cabinets and the like for all their MAME and other EMU games. I'm well aware of Napster, too. I downloaded on there like crazy. I still download on free p2p sites. I give iTunes my money as well. If you think artists are getting a ton of money from music sales, you're absolutely clueless to begin with. And if someone wants to come and put the cuffs on me for having and enjoying a ROM for a game that hasn't seen the liught of day in any arcade in decades, then here are my wrists, officer. Take me away along with all the other gamers and peple who ever modded a console or freely copied and cracked Commodore 64 games back in the day without paying one red cent.
gamerxz @ Dec 3rd 2006 2:03AM
@Optimus Prime
Look up the term "ILLEGAL" concerning your roms.. or unless you have every "original" copy of those games and somehow managed to put every single one in your Laptop.
vakerorokero @ Dec 3rd 2006 2:06AM
Dear hardcore Joystiq readers:
believe me when I tell you this is targeted for you, since probably most of you already have every possible rom available on the internet and even ones that don't work with emulators, This is for people that aren't as internet savvy as you are, and might wan't to play their old games again, not you "geek who still has a yellowish Nes in his room" or that "l33t who won't buy anything since the is saving his money for that Nvidia card with the green leds that light up inside your pc" this is for normal people. Think of this as a Itunes Store for "old school gamers and their kids".
Nintendo knows who are to busy looking & waiting for the best way to hack the Wii and make it run backups you downloaded from some P2P site, like you konajinx or should I say "Presidente Fidel Castro"?!?!?!?....
RC @ Dec 3rd 2006 2:19AM
@konajinx
“If you think artists are getting a ton of money from music sales, you're absolutely clueless to begin with.”
OK, Let me try to follow your logic.
Suppose Artists/Musicians are not getting a ton of money, then the argument goes like this:
Artists getting paid (a little?) VS Artists NOT getting paid at all (due to file sharing)
It seems like you don’t want to support the Musicians/Artists with their music.
“And if someone wants to come and put the cuffs on me for having and enjoying a ROM for a game that hasn't seen the liught of day in any arcade in decades, then here are my wrists, officer.”
If you’re playing an old arcade game (or any old game for that matter) that hasn’t seen the light of day, more power to you. The Legality question that arises is that the old games (N64, SNES, NES, GENESIS..etc) that has seen or will see the light of day.
Q: If you want to play an old game that CAN be bought legally (remakes, VC games, XBOX Live, Gametap..etc) would you:
a) get it from them
b) get it from file-sharing sites
*my guess is that your going to pick option b.
Leshrac @ Dec 3rd 2006 3:58AM
Well, I'm sitting tight on these games, since most are simply too expensive for what you get. I won't be buying an of these "average" games because I'm desperate.
The only one I've bought so far is Mario 64, because, while I played and beat it years ago, I never actually owned it for N64 (and the DS version is only ok... the control scheme really sucks), and it's still an amazingly fun game. For me, I can't say that any of the games available, save maybe Mario, are really worth the investment, particularly with no improvement. I'd probably snap up Bomberman in a second if they had implemented online play for it, but that'd just be too good of a thing for Nintendo to do.
I want to know why Japan's list is so much more awesome. Super Contra, Super Castlevania, and Zelda:LttP already released? Damn, if they released Super Metroid there too that may be all the virtual console games I need. Too bad these probably won't be released here for months.
Leshrac @ Dec 3rd 2006 4:13AM
Optimus Prime-
That site is pretty cool, but unfortunately those games seem to look, sound, and play like ass. I have a pretty high end computer and laptop, so I have no idea why they would look and play like total ass except that the Java emulator sucks. I don't think that website makes a very good argument for unofficial emulation.
That being said, I've used some excellent offline emulators and if you setup a Gamepad, they can play pretty much exactly as if you were playing it on the original console (except with the added ability of being able to save states). That being said, there are still SOME games I feel that are worth purchasing for "official" emulation... Certainly, at the prices that Nintendo is charging, that list of games, for me at least, is very short. I also think it sucks that Nintendo is not allowing any kind of trials for these games, as EVERY XBLA game allows you to do. What if there was a game I missed back in the day and I want to see if it's worth buying? Guess I won't be getting it, since I can't demo it. Nintendo has to be losing tons of potential purchases because of dumbass decisions like this.
Spacechip @ Dec 3rd 2006 4:14AM
I find it interesting that people like to point out that downloading ROMs and MP3s is ILLEGAL, as if we didn't allready know. The thing is, legality and morality don't always go hand-in-hand.
I mean, honestly, if I go out and buy an old NES cart at my local vintage game store (which I DO try and support when I can - since I'm fortunate to have such a place) is Nintendo or a developer seeing any royalties? Not that I know of. The same goes for a used record store (unless they have to pay ASCAP and BMI, which I doubt is the case). These establishments are considered legal despite the fact that the copyright holders aren't getting any money.
When you steal someones property, they don't have it anymore, which hurts them financially. This is not the case with digital filesharing. It is an illegal copyright violation however, and it is my hope that copyright law will evolve in the coming years to accommodate these new forms of distribution.
The VC and online stores like iTunes are just the beginning. I like the idea of playing my NES roms on an official Nintendo system and having my money go to the developers. The prices aren't completely unreasonable, but I'm only slightly tempted, since the alternative is free. The market is not concerned with the issue of morality. The cold hard fact is that a lot of people will be reluctant to pay $5-10 for something they know they can get for free. They might very well make more money if they were to lower the prices a couple dollars.
Those of us who engage in filesharing are not pirates. We are not amoral people who would like to see those who produce the content we enjoy go bankrupt. I pay out something like $200 monthly on entertainment in the form of cable tv, internet access, movie theaters and rentals, itunes, and console gaming. If this money went directly to the content producers whose work I enjoy I suspect they would be fairly compensated. It's not my fault that most of it goes to paying for Zoloft ads.