Christmas sees first VC price increase

by Kyle Orland { Dec 25th 2006 at 12:05PM }

Wii owners waking up this Christmas morning expecting to download some classic space 'shmup goodness might be a little surprised at what they have to pay to get it. R-Type, released today on the Wii's virtual console, is the first TurboGrafx-16 game to be available for 800 VC points instead of the normal 600.

This didn't come as a total surprise: Nintendo casually mentioned last month that virtual console games merely "start at" the now-standard point levels (NES: 500, TG16: 600, SNES/Genesis:800, N64:1000). They also mentioned the R-Type price specifically in a press release last week, but our eyes glazed over and we misreported it at 600 points. Silly us... we thought the price used in six other TurboGrafx-16 games so far would carry over to the seventh.

While R-Type is a bit more popular than a similar game like Super Star Soldier, we can't help but wonder why Nintendo chose this game to break out the first price hike. While a 200 point increase isn't too outrageous, we can only hope this does not represent the start of a trend in ever-increasing virtual console prices.

Tags: increase, Irem, Nintendo, price, R-type, shmup, shoot em up, ShootEmUp, TG-16, TG16, turbografx-16, virtual console, VirtualConsole, Wii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

djsyndrome @ Dec 25th 2006 12:17PM

It's more expensive because it's technically two games in one : the Japanese R-Type for the PC Engine came in two parts, and they will have to pay 600 apiece over there for the whole set. The American version of R-Type contained both parts on one HuCard.

Even at 800 points, we're still getting a better deal (how often does *that* happen)?

Nicholas Sulikowski @ Dec 25th 2006 12:19PM

I hope they start reducing prices ASAP.

Spence @ Dec 25th 2006 12:30PM

I don't think we should be paying a premium for other consoles to be hosted on our freaking console. I am happy for Wii to be inclusive but I'm not paying that much when there are emulator options available.

But I'm not gonna pay that much- I think 800 is too much for a SNES game, the only games I see as value for money are N64 games really.

I might be a bit of a cheapskate but I was genuinely hoping for $2 NES, $4 SNES and $6 N64 titles with other consoles following suit for their corresponding generation.
At these prices I don't consider them impulse purchases- I have to look online to see if the PAL version is optimised and check out a review.
It should be priced so I don't have to worry if it stinks.

syco @ Dec 25th 2006 12:49PM

If you're not willing to pay $8 for SNES games, but ARE willing to pay $10 for N64 games, you have your priorities mixed up. Most SNES games were far better than most N64 games...

DM @ Dec 25th 2006 12:52PM

I've had 2000 wii points on my systems account since launch day and just used 500 points to buy super mario world. No way in hell is Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr and all those other games worth 500 - 1000 points.

The pricing should be in the range of 200 500 and 800.
I invested in a 3rd party SNES adapter; it only cost me 6.00 and I can play Castlevania and all my other SNES classics for free. I bought NBA Jam for 1.99!!! That's a steal compared to the stick-up prices of Nintendo and Microsoft for their virtual arcades!

People are better served by utilizing their old consoles or arcade emulators. Don't waste your money on VC games and XBLA games when they are priced ridiculously.
Do not waste your money on anything over 5.00; 8.00 if it offers online play or any new features or improvements.

Dopple Boppler @ Dec 25th 2006 1:30PM

I just downloaded a mess of Virtual Console games when I woke up this morning, and while I'm digging all of them, Super Castlevania is a bit ridiculous on a GameCube controller. I understand that Nintendo said controls would be optimized for the Classic Controller, but seriously, the controls for Castlevania with a Wavebird are horrible, and all my stores are sold out of just about anything Wii aside from the actual games, so it looks like I won't be enjoying that game for a few more weeks.

Justin @ Dec 25th 2006 1:35PM

Wow, that's kind of a bummer. $8 seems a bit high for RType, and I was looking forward to getting it, but that gets into the "should just find the original game" category. I'm a cheapskate but these are also 15+ year old games.

I definitely think VC prices at the base levels are stretching it a bit, and to have games even higher is just pure greed. I was definitely buying RType before the price hike but I think I'll protest the $2 increase and sit out this round of VC updates...

(at the very least, Nintendo should have sales on points or something-- it'd be nice to have a special that you could get 2000 points for $10 or $15 occasionally [I know some stores can/may discount them])

Brent @ Dec 25th 2006 1:37PM

about 20 min and no connect here.

Petrie @ Dec 25th 2006 1:40PM

@Justin

Go to Best Buy, throw $5 on their gamer gift card. Take that gift card and tear the $5 off coupon on anything game related 19.99 or over and buy Wii points nusing that gift card. There's your $15 points. :)

InfectedZero @ Dec 25th 2006 1:44PM

You guys bitching about the prices are cheap asses.

Cameron @ Dec 25th 2006 1:49PM

I see so many complaints about paying $8 for cheap thrills and nostalgia, and yet we live in an age where gamers blow $50 on a new game, beat it in a week, and then never touch it again.

Justin @ Dec 25th 2006 1:52PM

Petrie-- except Best Buy charges $22.99 for points cards, speaking of rip-offs!

And you don't HAVE to buy games for $50.. if you have patience you can get pretty much any game for $20 or less. Which makes paying $10 for 15+ year old games even more insane. ;)

Erwos @ Dec 25th 2006 1:54PM

"People are better served by utilizing their old consoles or arcade emulators. Don't waste your money on VC games and XBLA games when they are priced ridiculously.
Do not waste your money on anything over 5.00; 8.00 if it offers online play or any new features or improvements. "

What's funny is that by your metric, the XBLA games are _all_ worth those prices. Every single XBLA game has online play.

Kai @ Dec 25th 2006 2:03PM

As with everything, you are under no obligation to buy these VC games. If you feel they are too expensive, continue playing them on your original hardware.

If you want them to reduce prices, we can tell them with our most effective voice, our wallets.

Cameron @ Dec 25th 2006 2:03PM

FWIW, I have a cousin who used to buy brand-new PS1, PS2, and Xbox games, beat them in a few days, and then return them to the store for a full refund. Whatta crook.

uberism @ Dec 25th 2006 2:13PM

Sure call us cheap asses. At least I can afford a PS3.

Miharu @ Dec 25th 2006 2:43PM

Oh wow... I thought that 600 points was a reasonable price for PC Engine games, and would've been for Mega Drive and SNES games too. But now that they're all 800 points I'm not getting one. 200 points would be good for simple NES games like Donkey Kong, I'm sure people would pay premium for a great title like Zelda or SMB (maybe even 500 points!) but well, not then. I think 1000 points for N64 titles is okay, because after all it's quite "modern" in technical quality (not something you could play for free as a flash game or in your cell phone). But the older console titles prices must drop.

DeejayKnight @ Dec 25th 2006 3:05PM

I'm not going to pay more for a downloadable VC title (that I technically don't even own) than I can pay for a physical copy of the original game.

The only way I'd consider buying VC titles at this rate is if they lowered prices to $2 (NES), $4 (SNES, Genesis, TurboGrafx-16), and $6 (N64).

Vince @ Dec 25th 2006 3:06PM

@17 lol, you think being able to afford a PS3 makes you special? most people CAN afford them, but that hardly makes it worth it. go buy a PS3 and stop bitching about VC prices.

Cameron @ Dec 25th 2006 3:16PM

Wow, there seems to be a lot more dirt-poor gamers out there than I thought. Many probably sold their blood, and bodies, to afford a Wii.

NintendoFanbot @ Dec 25th 2006 3:16PM

Big deal. There was one day in the last year I spent $10 on Zero Wing (good fun, by the way) at one of the Arcades I visit every-so-often. I spent $10 on Street Fighter Hyper. $5 on Tekken 5.

FSK405K @ Dec 25th 2006 3:25PM

We complaining about prices can go to garage sales. Virtual Console games = less plastic + higher prices.

Mark @ Dec 25th 2006 3:27PM

What're you gonna spend to get a game on eBay, with shipping? Probably at least five bucks. And there are a lot of "classic" games that a lot of people don't have. It ain't that bad.

Mat Schwartz @ Dec 25th 2006 3:42PM

Pretty goofy. Nintendo sets a "starting point" price based upon which system a game comes from and then bumps up the price b/c it might be more popular or well recieved? That's an attempt to suck every penny they can out of the buyer and you can bet that if Goldeneye or any other popular title arrives on VC the trend will continue. Smarten up nintendo.

Lock720 @ Dec 25th 2006 3:44PM

"While R-Type is a bit more popular than a similar game like Super Star Soldier, we can't help but wonder why Nintendo chose this game to break out the first price hike."

Perhaps Nintendo only sets a recommended price for third party VC titles. Maybe it was Irem, or whoever owns the rights to R-Type, who decided on the 800 points.

kelekod @ Dec 25th 2006 3:49PM

I just beat my SMB1 with my new classic controller.

Joystiq needs to add a new Wii delight:

Being able to plug in controllers in the middle of a VC game without the game restarting/freezing etc. LOL. I remember trying to plug in controllers (if was playing 1 player on a 2 player game) and the game sometimes would freeze, give you the blinking screen, reset etc and you couldn't save your progress/get a password because you thought pluggin in a controller would be no harm.

I got the Wii points yesterday and classic controller today.. so SMB was free to me. Wii points are better received as gifts then it doesn't feel so expensive.

Back on topic, I hope GOOD VC games like Mario 3, Megaman series, Castlevania series don't see this happen. I'd cry if Mario 3 is gonna be more than 500.

Jeremy @ Dec 25th 2006 4:01PM

Like the very first poster said:

THIS IS A GOOD DEAL... we are essentially getting 2 game cards worth of information for 400 points less than two downloads would cost.

Everyone needs to get over themselves. You don't like the "high prices"? Don't buy them. Continue to play your illegally downloaded ROMS. Meanwhile, I will continue to support the companies who are putting games up for the VC so that they continue to put up good content for me to play. Not to mention that buying them on the VC is a hell of a lot cheaper than going out and buying each of these systems AND the games.

FrankTheCrank @ Dec 25th 2006 4:02PM

AMAZING!!!

Nintendo has tapped into a market I thought no other gaming company could tap into, RETARDS.

First the RETARD pays $249 for a system that outputs at 480P with it's amazing 2001 video graphics technology.

Then the retard pays for games that have been around for years on the internet and playable on a bazillion different emulators.

Wow...you go Nintendo.

azz0r @ Dec 25th 2006 4:06PM

600 points is to much anyway, just use a pc emulator.

I cant believe Nintendo's charging so much in the first place, I was absolutely disgusted.

HAHA @ Dec 25th 2006 4:59PM

Im with DM its almost or is cheaper to just by the old cartridge in nintendos case. And why the sudden urge for all this old school gaming it should be just a distraction and should be price as such. If you find yourself buying these retro games 4-8 a month do your self a favor buy and old console or emulation on your PC. The only nod i give the 360 is that the online addition to some old games really make them worth getting sometimes. and completely change the way the game was played back in they day. Because now that im older and hold a good job. Its no longer practical to have friends at my house every day to do these co-ops

syco @ Dec 25th 2006 7:59PM

"Wow, there seems to be a lot more dirt-poor gamers out there than I thought. Many probably sold their blood, and bodies, to afford a Wii."

I had to save for six months to afford a Wii. I'm not even under the poverty line! (closer than most gamers though). I'm not buying every VC title that comes out, actually the only one I've bought so far is Gunstar Heroes... which taught me the important lesson of absolutely needing the classic controller to play these games...

Some people have more money than other people. $8 may seem like a ripoff to some people. It may be a tiny drop in the bucket to some people. And it may be a serious expense, but well worth it if they're a big fan of Sh'mups and don't own the console in question.

It's all a matter of perspective.

CHUDGOO @ Dec 25th 2006 9:01PM

"...then bumps up the price b/c it might be more popular or well recieved?... Smarten up nintendo."

It appears that they have...the name of the only game that matters is PROFIT.

It's capitalism in action, and you seem to be forgetting that Nintendo doesn't -owe- you anything. If you want things badly enough you will pay the price.

Am I happy about paying $8.00 for R-Type this morning? Not really...but after I started playing it (first time in probably 11 years) I completely forgot about the cost and realized I was having a blast and really enjoying the soundtrack (BGM).

What is worth TO YOU. That is the question...

Burnt Meatloaf @ Dec 25th 2006 9:37PM

Where's the original content? I've had fanboys shouting in my face for a year that VC would be an indie developer's paradise, and now they are thrilled that they only get ancient ROMs? Have their standards dropped that low?

Isn't it severely hypocritical of Nintendo to herald the Wii as an innovative system so they can sell 10-20 -year-old software? Didn't Nintendo bash the competition saying they only offered "the same experiences with new graphics", and now all they are offering is the same experiences without the new graphics?

Nintendo charges what people will pay. They sell what they will buy. If people keep swallowing this stuff up, then all they will ever get is overpriced re-releases -- and in the end, they will still love Nintendo for it.

Why on earth are people buying this? Will this trend get worse and spread to every other system? Why is it impossible to ever disappoint a Nintendo fan?

Mr.Mike_L @ Dec 25th 2006 9:48PM

everyone go check ebay for r-type on the tgx16

whats the price? 30$ for the game. im MORE than happy to drop 8$ on it. thats a steal

majortom @ Dec 25th 2006 10:49PM

Lets all bash nintendo for hudsons price increase.

Nintendo did not set this price. The company who owns the game did.

stop bashing nintendo and actualky get your facts straight. Dont blame nitnendo they did not raise the price on this game.

ill trooper @ Dec 25th 2006 11:22PM

A much better deal for me is to dig out the EXCELLENT PS1 version of this game, with several game types on it. I'd reccomend you find that one and play it on your PS2 if you can... Who knows if it runs on the PS3, and if they're updating that lame emulation mode on the PS3? You know, the one slivers all old games' res to fit the PS3's res?

DM @ Dec 26th 2006 12:03AM

Damn! Looks like Nintendo has finally dropped the ball.

The prices for VC games just don't make sense.

I will say that XBLA games do offer alot of cool added features and above average emulation. There lies a bigger problem though; The fighting games like Street Fighter suffer because of the 360 controller. It is damn near impossible to pull off strings of combos and keeping up a fast paced battle when facing the computer or anyone else online. 10.00 was a bit steep for this game as well. 6.00 - 8.00 seems to be a fair number for most of the people posting here and actually paying for the VC and XBLA games.

Maybe they'll meet us in the middle (7.00)
Maybe they aren't listening.

Eventually; they will. The majority of people interested know a bad deal when they see one and so far the prices set by Nintendo and Microsoft for VC and XBLA games are a bad deal!

SonicRift @ Dec 26th 2006 12:12AM

Hold on... you guys can connect?

18 minutes and counting...

Ritz @ Dec 26th 2006 12:23AM

Burnt Meatloaf, hold on a second. These are not Wii games they are releasing on Virtual Console. They are not choosing to release VC games instead of Wii games.

They ARE releasing and producing games that take advantage of the Wii remotes unique functionality. The Virtual Console releases and the Wii retail releases are completely separate from each other. There isn't much hypocrisy to be found when you compare what you suggested.

As for original content? It could still very well be coming. Or maybe it won't, but at the moment, its only been about a month and a bit since launch and Nintendo hasn't said much yet either way. Doesn't mean anything quite yet.

Harry @ Dec 26th 2006 12:29AM

I don't see why so many people are bitching. I haven't bought a single game yet, not because of the price, but rather because the selection is shit right now. There has been ONE game released on the VC that I have been willing to pay for, and that came out today: Catlevania (but of course I can't connect right now). I think the prices are pretty solid, especially for those of us that would rather not hit eBay or scour flea markets and thrift stores and yard sales for cartridges that MIGHT work in your ancient console (that is if you actually own the console in question, which most people don't). I'll be buying VC games when games that I want are up. 5-10 bucks, pff that's a Wendy's value meal or a full-price movie ticket, not bad if you ask me.

SonicRift @ Dec 26th 2006 2:09AM

I got a TG16 in '98 for $15 with R-Type and some other lame games. Oh, one was Vigilante, which was cool cuz you had to save Madonna, who looked hilarious in the game, despite the fact you never saw her face... That needs to be ported over... Oh yeah...

Had that bad boy hooked up till 3 years ago, put it away because I had R-Type Final and no room for stuff. Still missed the original, and here it is. I'm very happy to have this. Didn't think it was a Hudson release, and didn't expect to see it.

And to PS1 guy, also check out R-Type Delta.

Dakara @ Dec 26th 2006 3:29AM

You guys DO realize that Nintendo only prices its own games right? The other companies have a say so in how much for thwe ones they made.

Jonathan @ Dec 26th 2006 3:38AM

i can believe people buy these over priced games
you should not buy vc games to force to lower the price

Unimental @ Dec 26th 2006 8:51AM

Toejam & Earl is worth every point. So happy they picked that one to release on VC.

Bob @ Dec 26th 2006 11:03AM

Nintendo really needs to redo their system and release some games! $5 for pinbal and $5 for SMB1? That doesn't make sense. Pinball should be like a $1 or $2 tops.

JKNIGHT @ Dec 26th 2006 12:14PM

If you can pay 6-8 bucks for a 2 hour movie, you should be able to pay 6-8 bucks on a 5+ hour game regardless of when it was made. How do you price quality entertainment? By what people are willing to pay for it.
I'm personally sick and tired of SMB, so I wouldn't buy it for 500 points, but most of the VC titles I have downloaded have entertained me past their price.
If you recommend pc emulators over Wii VC console titles, then you aren't the Wii VC demographic.

Tebunker @ Dec 26th 2006 12:53PM

They could've just released the SNES version and we wouldn't have had any problems with the price, to a degree. I think the fact that was a double cart in Japan, and was also released on the SNES here, factored into the pricing. This is also the first 3rd party TG-16 game to come out. While technically published by Hudson, I am sure Irem had something to do with this price as well. I also think calling a price increase is a misnomer, if the next TG-16 game comes out at 800 and then the rest of them do, then I would call it a price increase.

Eggmanimn @ Dec 26th 2006 1:22PM

Oh my god, let's all complain some more when the system is still basically brand new! People need to get over themselves. Gamers in general these days love to just ignore facts and harp on points that don't even actually exist. R-type was originally two separate games. Hudson SAVED US MONEY AND PUT BOTH GAMES TOGETHER FOR ONLY TWO DOLLARS MORE. Two dollars is literally nothing these days. I mean come on, a small candy bar is about $1.