Virtual Console - The Real Revolution?

Amongst the numerous features of the Wii, one has been ( for the most part ) forgotten. It is easy to see why. People are inclined to talk about what new features the Wii can bring to gaming, rather than bringing back old ones. Is there really room for discussion about a feature that allows gamers to download classics from the past?

The answer is quite simply yes - I would even go as far to say that the Virtual Console is equally as important to the Wii as the controller. Oh yes.

Nintendo want to attract new gamers by introducing new control methods and simplifying their games so that they are accessible to everyone. Older games are generally more accessible than the new games. This is largely due to their simple controls and simple graphics. 2D graphics generally appeal to new gamers as they are usually quite simple and represent fun rather than realism. The Mario series fits this category perfectly, with simple graphics, very simple controls and one heck of an adventure on top. While the virtual Console will no doubt attract new gamers, it is just as likely to attract old gamers.

Many people have given up gaming because they don't have enough time, or it has gotten too complex for them to keep up with. The Virtual Console will prove effective in this demographic ( providing the people do now have the time that they lacked before ). People will want to relive the games that they played before, but have most likely sold. Another aspect that will re-introduce gamers is the price of the games. Whilst no specific pricing plans have been revealed, it isn't too hard to predict what they will be. I don't want to get our hopes up too much, so I'll just say that I assume that games will be around the five pound mark (obviously the price will vary between console, with NES games being cheaper). This is clearly going to gather a huge amount of gamers. You could buy the console for however much it will be, and then purchase games through the Virtual Console at small prices which would be cheap and you would be able to have many classic games at your disposal. Although it's not just the classics that will be available for download

When Nintendo first announced the virtual console service, I was excited - it's certainly an excellent feature for the console, with a massive catalogue of games Nintendo could pontentially use.

I can't wait to see some classic Nintendo games, and the added support from Sega, Hudson and numerous others is great. Nintendo really should promote it as one of the reasons to buy the console, along with the Wiimote. I don't think that Nintendo will have a massive library to begin with, I have the feeling it will be terribly limited (due to recent rumours), but I hope most of our favourites will be avaliable from day 1.

The recent idea of possibly having store-bought download cards could really take off. It's more secure than giving out details over the net, and would help parents have peace of mind when their young-uns nag for a game to download.

Can't wait!

I agree totally, but I think there's a couple of other aspects of gaming that the Virtual Console will bring back.

The first of these is old franchises. Have a look on Wikipedia for lists of NES games. How many great old games are there that have never seen an update. There's not been a Kid Icarus since the NES and Gameboy games. What about a new Bionic Commando? What about all the fantastic side scrolling shmups on the Megadrive?

The second, probably related, point is that old games, particularly pre-CD games like those on NES, SNES and Megadrive, tend to be more arcade-y. There's no desperate desire for realism or heavy plot/story progression. There's point collecting. There's power-ups. There's fun, for the sake of it.

Think of games like Smash-TV: ridiculous power-ups, senseless, pointless, comical violence, no story, all action, points bonuses (and VHS and toaster prizes). I think the Virtual Console, and the new controller, may bring this back.

I want to know if they'll be doing CD games for the PC Engine or just HuCards. Translated Dracula X would kick ass.

( Edited on 08.08.2006 14:00 by Der SegaHund )

The potential of the Virtual Console is huge; small developers on low budgets will have a great platform for their games to be showcased on, something that they won't have ever had before.

But talk is cheap, and although that's theoretically possibly, I'm not sure it actually will. So far I'm not aware of any developers announcing exclusively virtual console projects, and there's always the possibility that they may be drowned out by the thousands of retro games on offer.

It's certainly a fantastic idea, but we won't know quite how well it'll work until it's here.

The summer games drought wont matter. with a wealth of classics to download, we'll never go bored. Until we run out of money...

Soundworks said:
The potential of the Virtual Console is huge; small developers on low budgets will have a great platform for their games to be showcased on, something that they won't have ever had before. But talk is cheap, and although that's theoretically possibly, I'm not sure it actually will. So far I'm not aware of any developers announcing exclusively virtual console projects, and there's always the possibility that they may be drowned out by the thousands of retro games on offer. It's certainly a fantastic idea, but we won't know quite how well it'll work until it's here.

I think you're probably right. What Nintendo probably should do is release most of the retro titles quickly. There's a finite number of them after all. If we get the good retro titles out the way quickly then, save a few massive big name games later on (Ocarina of Time, Mario 3, Super Metroid, Gunstar Heroes), there could be a good market for new VC games.

If the retro market is established quickly and becomes the norm, then the new titles will float to the surface.

Here's hoping

The Virtual Console looks set to be the Wii's

fenno2001 said:

The Virtual Console looks set to be the Wii's

CALUM said:
The summer games drought wont matter. with a wealth of classics to download, well never go bored. Until we run out of money...

Its best feature is letting old games live on long after their host consoles have died. Its a videogame archive, and thats exciting.
Hopefully enough stuff will be on there, and retro titles won't be hampered by too much red tape.

msenyszak said:
Its best feature is letting old games live on long after their host consoles have died. Its a videogame archive, and thats exciting.Hopefully enough stuff will be on there, and retro titles wont be hampered by too much red tape.

Yeah; hopefully most of them have aged well.

It's going to do a great job of bringing people back to gaming. Just think of all the people who gave up due to complexity. Now they can get back into games by playing their old favourites, then they'll no doubt begin to try the wii's own games. Nice move by nintendo!

If they let you download Chrono Trigger, I will be very Happy. Great game.

Tin Can Man said:
If they let you download Chrono Trigger, I will be very Happy. Great game.

I've heard so much praise for that game; I really want to play it. Hopefully Square Enix will have a few classics up for download.

I guess the excitement was lost when we learnt that many of our favourites would be on the Virtual console due to legal reasons such as many games made by Rare, some companies that made SNES and NES games no longer exist so the virtual console could be lacking manu Gems.
I think that the virtual console is a lovely little idea but i would prefer to own an original copy of the Game as it feels more complete.

Erotic_Spider said:
I guess the excitement was lost when we learnt that many of our favourites would be on the Virtual console due to legal reasons such as many games made by Rare, some companies that made SNES and NES games no longer exist so the virtual console could be lacking manu Gems.I think that the virtual console is a lovely little idea but i would prefer to own an original copy of the Game as it feels more complete.

Most of us had predicted that happening. If Activision (who now hold the bond license) and Rare could form some kind of a deal with Nintendo, it would be great. It would be great to play Goldeneye and all the other Rare games and it would be great to see such a miracle. Seriously, it is very unlikely that Rare could release games for download on the Wii.

I agree in some respects that having a physical copy of the game is better. It makes it collectible for a start and it just feels right. but the advantage of downloading is that the rarer games will become available (hopefully) so you don't have to pay over the top prices to play one of these classics that are so hard to find. although having the box and instructions would be better in that case.