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Will Virtual Console Games Ever Be Improved?
Posted by Michael Cardiff Categories: Internet, Nintendo, Rumors, Wii
A few weeks before the Wii launch, details started to filter in about the Wii’s Virtual Console, the software that would allow you to play classic NES, SNES, TG-16, Genesis, and N-64 games on your shiny white box. In general, Nintendo stated that each of the Virtual Console games would play exactly as they did when they were released for their respective consoles. This was great news for retro gamers who hated seeing “improved” graphics ruin their classic games, but bad news for a lot of fans that wanted to see online-enabled versions of their old favorites. Nintendo’s general line was “if it wasn’t featured in the original game, it won’t be featured in the VC game”, dashing the hopes of folks looking for some online retro gaming.
Well, it sounds like Nintendo may soon give in (or will at least have the ability to!). According to Wii fan-site The Wiire:
According to the Q & A section of Wii Shop Channel on the Wii console, software developers can update already released Virtual Console games free of charge.
The section reads as follows:
The “Update” button indicates there are enhancements for the game. If you have already downloaded the game, you may select “Update” to download the enhancements free of charge. Please note, downloading the update may impact the saved game data.
What could these aforementioned “enhancements” be? Does this just mean “enhancements” in the Microsoft sense (i.e., bug fixes?), or could it genuinely mean that Nintendo is considering adding on to their old classics? I, for one, can’t wait to see some online play in some of these oldies-but-goodies
Read More 
| The Wiire
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Japan Gets Crazy Wii Virtual Console Launch Lineup
Posted by Michael Cardiff Categories: Internet, Nintendo, Release Dates, Wii
Oh Nintendo… why is it that you’re so well-loved over in Japan, but constantly the runner-up here. Could it be because gamers here are into more “mature” content? Could it be that you’re a native company in Japan? Or is just because you save all of your best, most awesomest stuff for Japan only. First there were the Japan-only Game and Watch collection, the Japan-only DS game cases, then the Japan-only “Bit Generations” games and the (now formerly) Japan-only Pink and Black DS Lites. And now? You guessed it, an incredibly awesome list of Virtual Console games for the Wii that is (for the time being at least) Japan-only.
Click the jump for the complete list of VC games that you WON’T be playing on launch day. (Although methinks Nintendo will be bringing a lot of these state-side shortly).
Read More | Wired.com
62 Games In Wii’s First Five Weeks
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Nintendo, Wii
Nintendo of America today announced that Wii owners will have 32 Wii titles and 30 Virtual Console titles available within the first five weeks of the console’s launch date. While third-party software publishers are still polishing Wii software that may or may not be available day-and-date with the console’s launch, Nintendo promises that most or all of these will hit the launch window. As titles get locked down, Nintendo will release an official software launch list. Games appearing within the first five weeks of launch include Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Excite Truck, along with a host of titles from premiere third-party publishers like Activision, Atari, EA, Konami, Sega, and Ubisoft.
Nintendo is also promising 30 Virtual Console games before the end of December, including classic games from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo (SNES), Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and NEC’s TurboGrafx16.
A full list of the launch window titles for both the Wii and the Virtual Console continue below in Nintendo’s official press release.
Commodore 64 Games Could Appear In Virtual Console
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Nintendo, Wii
Gamasutra reports that the latest issue of Nintendo Power indicates that gamers could possibly see Commodore 64 games appearing in Nintendo’s Virtual Console. Specifically, titles from extinct game developer Epyx were mentioned. Epyx had a decent line-up of games for the Commodore 64, including games like Summer Games, California Games, and Impossible Mission. And since the games would be based around their Commodore 64 versions, gamers should actually be able to complete Impossible Mission. Hopefully the emulation isn’t so precise that the FastLoad cartridge will be required.
Read More | Gamasutra
Wii To Be Region Free?
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Hardware, Nintendo, Retro, Wii
The Game|Life blog over at Wired News has some quick updates to what was seen at the news conference today. Speaking with Perrin Kaplan of Nintendo, at the very least, first party titles from Nintendo should not be region locked. She suggested that there may be an optional region lock available for publishers though. Also, when discussing the Virtual Console, it appears that downloads will be tied to an account, similarly to the way they are with Xbox Live. In the case where a Wii has been broken, gamers will be able to re-download their Virtual Console titles. Hopefully, Nintendo can get the DRM right for these cases. Kaplan also confirmed that the Wii will not support storage expansion via USB hard drives at launch, and will be initially restricted to SD media.
Read More | Game|Life
Nintendo Of Japan: Wii Launches December 2, 25000 Yen
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Corporate News, Nintendo, Wii
Famitsu is currently blogging the Nintendo of Japan’s press event, and so far they have revealed that:
- Virtual Console titles will be 500 Yen for Famicom titles, 800 Yen for Super Famicom titles, and 1000 Yen for Nintendo 64 titles. 30 Nintendo games will be available by the end of the year, and 30 for other platforms. Nintendo plans on releasing 10 titles per month after launch.
- The Japanese launch date will be December 2, and the console will sell for 25000 Yen.
- Ten companies will be providing software at launch, and the Wii will launch with 16 titles in Japan
- Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will sell for 6800 Yen and will be a launch title. Wii software will retail for 4800 ($40) - 6800 ($58) Yen in Japan.
- Via Press Release: The Wii box in Japan will include: Wii, Remote with Strap, Nunchuck Attachment, Power Cord, AV Cable, Stand, Sensor Bar and Stand, and batteries. Apparently, Japanese gamers will not get a pack-in game.
Nintendo’s official Wii site in Japan is also open now, with videos showing off the user interface for the Wii. Nintendo has also expanded their own site with information on software titles and more for the Wii.
Nintendo of Japan has Satoru Iwata’s presentation linked online as well. Additional details from the presentation:
- The Nunchuck attachment will sell for 1800 Yen
- The Classic Controller will also sell for 1800 Yen separately, but there will be a bundle with the Classic Controller and 5000 Wii Points for 5000 Yen
- Additional Wii remotes will sell for 3800 Yen ($32)
- Pokemon Battle Revolution will sell for 5800 Yen, and will be released by the end of the year. The game will also link via WiFi to the upcoming Pokemon Diamond and Pearl for the Nintendo DS
- Wii Sports will sell for 4800 Yen in Japan
- The version of Opera for the Wii will be much more advanced than the DS Version, and will support AJAX and Flash.
- 24 companies have signed on to provide games for the Virtual Console, including Sega, Hudson Soft, Tecmo, Atlus, Capcom, Bandai Namco, and Square Enix.
Read More 
| Wii Official Site
Read More | Nintendo of Japan
Read More | Satoru Iwata Presentation
Read More | Famitsu
Wii Launches November 19 For $250
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Video Games
So the New York Times has spilled the beans a bit early, letting us all in on what Nintendo is set to make known to all later today. The Nintendo Wii will launch in North and South America on November 19, 2006 at a price of $250 USD. Even better? It will be the first launch console in quite some time to come with a bundled game. Wii Sports, which consists of bowling, baseball, golf, and tennis games will be free with the purchase of Wii. As for other games, we can expect about 30 old-school titles to be available at launch on Wii’s virtual console priced from $5-10 USD, and another 25-30 new Wii games to drop during the consoles launch window. New Wii titles will retail for $50 USD, $10 less than that of Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 games.
So there you have it folks - it appears that we will all be playing Wii before Thanksgiving. The question remains, though, after all the Blue Ocean stuff Nintendo has been feeding us, who is really excited about paying $250 USD for a picture viewer and weather station? Yeah, Nintendo also announced that Wii will be more than a game system - it will be a living room device that is able to display pictures, news, and weather information. How is that for a value-add? Nope, no DVD playback here folks. At least they threw in the Opera browser. Here’s to hoping that it’s at least fifteen times faster than the DS Opera browser.
The other bone we have to pick? Remember how, as recently as a year ago, Nintendo was saying how they absolutely, positively wouldn’t be the last console out of the gate this time? They weren’t going to let their competition get a leg up that way? Seems that’s also out the window as well.
As always, we would love to hear your thoughts.
Read More | Seattle Post-Intelligencer via Playfeed
ESRB Leaks Sega Virtual Console Titles?
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Nintendo, Retro, SEGA, Wii
It looks like the ESRB has let slip information on seven of Sega’s Virtual Console titles for the Nintendo Wii. Codename Revolution found the titles in the ratings database by searching on game ratings for Wii games. The seven titles listed are:
- Altered Beast
- Ecco The Dolphin
- Columns
- Golden Axe
- Ristar
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Toe Jam & Earl
Gamers might notice some slight overlap between this list and the previously rumored titles for the Virtual Console from Play-Nintendo, however, Outrun was on Play-Nintendo’s list but not in the ESRB database. And the ESRB database has information on more Genesis titles. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Play-Nintendo list is incorrect, but certainly more credence must be given to the ESRB.
Read More | ESRB via Codename Revolution
Rumor: Virtual Console Launch Titles
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Internet, Nintendo, Retro, Wii
Game site Play-Nintendo has a list of what they claim to be work-in-progress listing of launch titles for Nintendo’s Virtual Console service. The list is an interesting mix of titles for the original NES, the Super Nintendo, the Nintendo 64, and a couple of Sega Genesis titles. However, the list might be too interesting, since it reads almost like a fan’s dream list of classic games. The appearance of Mortal Kombat on the list is interesting, but with no information about the version, the quality of the title is up in the air. Duck Hunt could be interesting, depending on whether or not light gun support is mapped to the Wii controller. Play-Nintendo’s source also indicated that there were to be at least five new titles to launch with the Virutal Console service. It’s hard to put a lot of weight behind this listing, since Nintendo is unlikely to make any confirmation of this report, but the list does give gamers an inkling of the potential of the Virtual Console.
Read More | Play-Nintendo
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