Australians rate Mega Man for Virtual Console

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 21st 2007 at 12:58PM }

The Australian ratings board for film, literature and also video games has done it again, informing us that Mega Man is coming to the Wii's Virtual Console. The game was rated at the same time as billiards sim Lunar Pool, another classic NES game. No word on release.

We can't decide what's more tragic: the milking of Mega Man or the thought that somebody interested in Mega Man (which is sure to have subsequent sequels released on the VC) wouldn't just go out and buy the excellent Mega Man Anniversary on Gamecube? Then again, the Gamecube version did have that insane reverse control scheme, so if somebody can't get passed that it plays perfectly on the PS2 and you'll get remixed songs if you turn on "navi mode." Somehow spending $5 on the VC for the original Mega Man, compared to getting practically the whole series for less than $20 on Anniversary just doesn't make a lot of sense. But this isn't about making sense, it's about milking the blue bomber for every penny imaginable.

[Via Go Nintendo]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

BPM @ May 21st 2007 1:06PM

Doesn't make sense, either, to download Sonic the Hedgehog for 800 Points (600 Points if your Wii is Japanese) when you could get Mega Collection (GCN)/Mega Collection+ (PS2/Xbox) for $20 or less.

But whoever said "sense" mattered to corporations?

stafford @ May 21st 2007 1:12PM

It makes perfect sense. Nintendo are vampires, they just want to squeeze as much money out of the fanboys as possible. So long as people pay for recycled games, they will get away with it.

Grog @ May 21st 2007 1:12PM

I have a very hard time understanding how it is a bad thing to offer another version of an old game. Yeah, some people will already have original (or older rereleases), but then it doesn't hurt them to have this offered. On the other hand, I'm guessing there are plenty of people still out there who don't own one of the old versions but might be interested in this one. I'm one of them - I lost my NES in a house fire, and I'd rather pay a few bucks for several hours of reliving my youth than $20 for a more complete collection that I don't need (and which apparently has junk controls).

JodyAnthony @ May 21st 2007 1:17PM

I knew people were going to get all bashy, but come on, starting at the very first comment? thats a little much.

And this is as much capcom as it is nintendo. But I forgot, capcom is great when they make PS3/360 games, but they suck when they release something for wii.

JodyAnthony @ May 21st 2007 1:18PM

stafford, what games are you looking forward to? I bet theres a ton of sequels in your wanted list.

Yaktastic @ May 21st 2007 1:22PM

And I'll add my two cents...
Gamecube game means having to have a gamecube controller, and to play these games on the controller...
I can't tell you how much better it is to just Freeze state startup the VC games and for the NES, TG16, and Even Genesis game, just simply lay the wiimote on it's side and have a simple sense memory NES controller at your fingertips rather than the batarang that is the GCN controller (no matter how well designed it is for the GCN games.)

And before anyone starts to complain that the Genesis controller was never square, the wiimote is perfectly functional for Sonic where all the buttons do the same thing, and i'd still take the classic controller over the GCN controller for these games anyday.

megaStryke @ May 21st 2007 1:23PM

There's a reason why the first half of my username reads the way it does, and even I am not foolish enough to plunk down five Washingtons when I already have the classic and X collections for the GC, gimped controls be damned!

Bob @ May 21st 2007 1:30PM

haha if it work fine i will play it in class next session....

http://clubvaio.blogspot.com/

Ken @ May 21st 2007 1:47PM

LOL JodyAnthony,

You're so right. If capcom does something good for Nintendo, everyone's up in arms "zOMG! They're milking " but if they do it for the PS3/360... they're awesome!

It happens. I'll probably pick this one up, so I can play it with a "NES-Like" controller.

Jonathan Tran @ May 21st 2007 1:47PM

When are they going to release Sonic 2, or Sonic 3 & Knuckles already? Or hell release Clay Fighters

BPM @ May 21st 2007 2:09PM

Jody, don't get me wrong, I am a HUGE Megaman fan (the "B" in "BPM" stands for "Bass," by the way). And I love Sonic's pre-3D days.
I've nearly all US Megaman releases (missing MM7, MMX2, and MMX3 on Super NES, the Saturn releases, MMBN6 on GBA, and MMBN5DS) and a few Japanese releases (Rockman & Forte on Super Famicom, Rockman EXE4.5 on GBA, Rockman: Battle & Fighters on NeoGeo Pocket Color, etc.)

But when you consider the cost of a compilation DISC (which contains all the costs of any retail product: manufacturing, distribution, marketing, etc.) to a single game digital download, it really seems unbalanced.

And, yeah, MMAC for GCN had somewhat awkward controls, but I got used to them (heck, it was the only time I ever beat Megaman 8! I never did beat my PS version... Damn you, Wily!!).

I knew Megaman on VC was an inevitability. I just think VC prices are too much when a cheaper (and LEGAL) alternative is not too hard to find. Even if most retailers no longer carry new copies of MMAC (for GCN, PS2, or Xbox), used copies could probably be found at any of the stores under GameStop's umbrella, small local game shops, or even pawn shops (pawn shops are great for used games; River City Ransom (NES) for $2.50? HELL YEAH).

It isn't really bashing on my half. Just a criticism. Or perhaps advice to gamers out there who haven't yet played the greatness of Megaman's and Sonic's earlier works.

JodyAnthony @ May 21st 2007 2:16PM

so it sounds like you are a huge mega man fan. so wouldn't you want more people to be able to play megaman?

BPM @ May 21st 2007 2:20PM

Oh, I do. I'm saying, though, that the Anniversary Collection is the better bang for someone's buck.

Grog @ May 21st 2007 2:32PM

What if I'm just a casual fan who wouldn't mind spending less than the price of a movie for a few hours enjoyment? Not everyone wants the most complete collection ever - I downloaded Super Mario World on a whim because I didn't have plans for the weekend, not because I wanted to get all of the Mario games.

samfish @ May 21st 2007 3:01PM

Wait, what's wrong with the controls in MMAC for the Gamecube? I never had any problem with them.

...although it had been years previously since I had last played a Mega Man game, so...

Bergasa @ May 21st 2007 4:15PM

I REALLY wanted to get MMAC, but I know I couldn't play with the gimped controls. For those not in the know, they switched the A and B button functionality. So A shoots and B jumps. Doesn't sound like a big thing at first, but it makes it really awkward, especially while charging and jumping at the same time.

I'd actually considered rewiring a GCN pad to switch the buttons just for use with that game, but didn't want to wreck a controller. I'm glad the Megaman games are coming to VC, but I do agree prices are a bit high. Oh well, the first 3 Megaman games are the best of the original series anyway.

Croz @ May 21st 2007 4:26PM

Europe didn't get Mega Man Anniversary for Gamecube, so with Mega Man as a VC download I can see a fair few nostalgia trips going on this side of the pond. As for me though, I think I'll pass until Mega Man 2 gets its turn.

Donutta @ May 21st 2007 4:56PM

"17. Europe didn't get Mega Man Anniversary for Gamecube, so with Mega Man as a VC download I can see a fair few nostalgia trips going on this side of the pond."

Exactly. I love how this post is about how Australia has rated the game, but not once is it mentioned that this is the first time since the actual NES that those of us down-under will legally be able to play the original Mega Man in all its NES-tastic glory. I guess sometimes its hard to look outside your own borders . . .

Anyway, I'll be picking this up for sure. While it's not Mega Man 2 (and there will be much rejoicing when that hits the Virtual Console), it will certainly tide me over until that game hits the scene. :)

Aberu @ May 21st 2007 5:21PM

DLC isn't going to take off like this. Even if they sell 1 million of something online, it's still not THAT successful. This article is right. Why would we spend 5 bucks on 1 game that is exactly the same, when we can get a collection of many many games in that series, with upgrades here and there and extra features for 20? All that on a reliable, tangible DVD as well.

hvnlysoldr @ May 21st 2007 5:26PM

Because selling 300k is still a challenge for game publishers so selling a Million through digital distribution is huge.

skrati @ May 22nd 2007 1:07AM

I know, I should like Mega Man, I just never did. Which is why the art at the top of this article just looks like a bad drawing of Stinkoman to me. 20XD6!

BPM @ May 22nd 2007 5:19AM

The funny thing about America being the only region to get the Megaman collections?
Megaman Anniversary Collection was developed in Europe.
Megaman X Collection was developed in Japan.

And, skrati, it's 20X6. Which is most likely how some stories, like Megaman, keep an ambiguous sense of time by refering to the year as "20XX."
Moreover, Stinkoman (while very awesome) is a parody of many things Japanese in origin. Heck, the sprite for him in the game is a modification of Megaman!