Wii Virtual Console Info

Author: Brett Thomas
Published: 6th November 2006
Comments (35) Stumble
Wii Virtual Console Info

Is Virtual Console the stuff of dreams? Wii think there are some good features, and some interesting quirks.

There is no doubt that the Virtual Console for Nintendo's Wii is one of the top interests that many of us have for it. Who here isn't looking forward to playing some of the classics again, controller gripped in hand, shouting at the screen for Mario to jump higher or Mega Man to shoot faster? I bet not too many hands aren't raised...

An interview over at Computer And Video Games has helped shed a little more light on Ninty's upcoming offering. Some of it is very good, while other parts of the Virtual Console may fall into the realm of true quirks and annoyances.

Here's some highlights:
  • Games can be downloaded to either the 512mb internal memory or an SD card;
  • Games will be locked to the console that downloaded them - you can't take your SD card to a friend's house and play on his or her machine;
  • Nintendo will keep record of all games purchased on a particular account - if you lose a storage card or even if you just have to delete for more space, you can re-download any game previously purchased;
  • Ninty will offer support for those whose Wii breaks or who cannot re-download properly authorised games;
  • Either the "Classic" (Virtual Console) controller or GameCube controller can be used to play Virtual Console games - however, only GameCube controllers will play GameCube games (according to joystiq).
You can purchase up to 2,000 Wii points at a time for £14.99, and your account can hold up to 10,000 at once. Of course, there will be region restriction to what Virtual Console area you link up to, so those of you looking to get some nice Japanese imports may be a bit disappointed.

All in all, there are some pretty nice features, especially the free re-downloading. The console having 'locked' the game is not something that everyone will be overjoyed with, however, and the controller confusion is a little bit intimidating for those looking to just pick up and play.

Have you got a thought on the new Virtual Console info? Tell us about it in our forums
Quote Warrior_Rocker 6th November 2006, 16:03
Is that picture really what the wii is supposed to look like. And all I can say is its time to get that 007 goldeneye on! That an a little starfox and perfect dark. Who cant go wrong with some legends of zelda.

That is if they are going to let you download n64 titles as well.
Quote M4RTIN 6th November 2006, 16:05
personally i'm glad they are using a console lock feature, its far better than forcing you to download to system storage and then having to delete games when it gets full

first purchases will be a 1gb sd card and a gamecube controller i think.
Quote <A88> 6th November 2006, 16:09
Quote:
Originally Posted by Warrior_Rocker
Is that picture really what the wii is supposed to look like.
Yeah, but only in white for now :(

<A88>
Quote DougEdey 6th November 2006, 16:09
The Virtual Console Controller is only £15. May just get a GC pad.
Quote will. 6th November 2006, 16:14
Quote:
Originally Posted by Warrior_Rocker
Is that picture really what the wii is supposed to look like. And all I can say is its time to get that 007 goldeneye on! That an a little starfox and perfect dark. Who cant go wrong with some legends of zelda.

That is if they are going to let you download n64 titles as well.

:'(

Your not going to like this, but, rare (the people behind goldeneye and perfect dark) were bought by microsoft a while back... and... that means... no goldeneye or perfect dark... :'(

Please.. if someone knows better than me, shout out... but I'm pretty sure thats whats happening.. I read it a while back.. :(
Quote Bindibadgi 6th November 2006, 16:15
Quote:
Games will be locked to the console that downloaded them - you can't take your SD card to a friend's house and play on his or her machine;

This BS pisses me off. Every company will do it in time and it's frustrating. As long as you can't copy the game to another persons console (ie: keep it on SD) then you should be able to take it elsewhere. Only when the IDs match you can copy it to internal flash. I suppose there's nothing stopping you making a copy of the game and just giving it to your friend to keep on an SD stick :/

I recommend a wavebird controller to everyone, cause they rock :D
Quote Lazarus Dark 6th November 2006, 17:04
Quote:
only GameCube controllers will play GameCube games
if I understand this correctly, if I want to play a gc game I must use a wired gc controller? lame. I see no reason for them not to work with the classic controller. I thought we were finally going to be able to go completely wireless. :?

One thing I haven't heard: wii uses bluetooth right? so will it be able to connect to standard bluetooth devices like headsets for online play or maybe even other devices for streaming?
Quote Kipman725 6th November 2006, 17:10
lame.. DRM the fun part of consoles is taking games over to freinds houses :(
Quote Tyinsar 6th November 2006, 18:43
Actually (and I'm surprised to be saying this) the DRM on this is OK by me. I understand that it would be nice to copy a game to SD then play it @ a friend's house just like you could with the old cartridges & CDs but then they'd have even more draconian DRM on the stick (once it was authorized I'd have trouble downloading it again if it got wiped / swiped / damaged). Frankly the console looks small enough to be quite portable anyway - as long as the cables in the back aren't too huge of a pain.
Quote Sea Shadow 6th November 2006, 19:33
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyinsar
Actually (and I'm surprised to be saying this) the DRM on this is OK by me. I understand that it would be nice to copy a game to SD then play it @ a friend's house just like you could with the old cartridges & CDs but then they'd have even more draconian DRM on the stick (once it was authorized I'd have trouble downloading it again if it got wiped / swiped / damaged). Frankly the console looks small enough to be quite portable anyway - as long as the cables in the back aren't too huge of a pain.

QFT

This DRM scheme doesn't bother me. I mean it isn't like it is really going to bother us. They keep track of what games we own so we can delete them from our console if we need more space, but if we ever want to play the old games again then its a simple matter of downloading them again. And if the console dies Nintendo will help you get your games back as well. The only reason I see people have to complain is that they can't take an SD card with the games and take it to a friends house, and given the size of the console it isnt going to be that much effort to take it with you. Especially so if your friend already has a Wii, you can leave your cables controllers and everything, just grab your console and go. Even if you had to bring all the cables and controllers, the console is smaller and takes up less space than the rest of the peripherals. You can't say that about the Xbox 360 or PS3.
Quote BladeofTheImmortal 6th November 2006, 20:12
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bindibadgi
This BS pisses me off. Every company will do it in time and it's frustrating. As long as you can't copy the game to another persons console (ie: keep it on SD) then you should be able to take it elsewhere. Only when the IDs match you can copy it to internal flash. I suppose there's nothing stopping you making a copy of the game and just giving it to your friend to keep on an SD stick :/

I recommend a wavebird controller to everyone, cause they rock :D

Sucks for Wii people, but guess what Sony is allowing you to DL your games on other systems. Bought games are bought on the User Profile, not by your system(hope you get what I'm saying). So you can go to a friends house with a PS3, log in to your name and get your game on.
Quote:
if I understand this correctly, if I want to play a gc game I must use a wired gc controller? lame. I see no reason for them not to work with the classic controller. I thought we were finally going to be able to go completely wireless.

One thing I haven't heard: wii uses bluetooth right? so will it be able to connect to standard bluetooth devices like headsets for online play or maybe even other devices for streaming?

Sorry, but the Virtual Controller isn't wire free anyway. You have to hook it up to the Wii Remote through a cord.
Quote Skutbag 6th November 2006, 20:39
Oh, no way. Now my friends have to pay £5 to download a copy of Mario Kart 64 as well as me? If they're too tight fisted to fork out for some truly awesome software then I don't want them as freinds!
Quote DougEdey 6th November 2006, 20:54
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skutbag
Oh, no way. Now my friends have to pay £5 to download a copy of Mario Kart 64 as well as me? If they're too tight fisted to fork out for some truly awesome software then I don't want them as freinds!

qft
Quote DXR_13KE 6th November 2006, 21:15
The console is realy realy realy small, it is almost as portable as the PSP, this does not bother me, and i think it will rock.

I bet that the Virtual Controller will be wireless anyway.
Quote BurningFeetMan 6th November 2006, 21:31
Exactly. How to play virtual games at a mates house in 6 easy steps.

1) Download Cybernator (SNES).
2) Unplug Wii.
3) Go to mates house.
4) Plug in Wii.
5) Play Cybernator at a mates house.
6) Don't forget popcorn.
Quote speedfreek 6th November 2006, 21:46
I do like the way I do it better, take out the cartrige and bring it with me. But at least the Wii is small.

And the games better not cost much seeing as I can get them for my nes still for less than $2.
Quote Bindibadgi 6th November 2006, 22:09
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skutbag
Oh, no way. Now my friends have to pay £5 to download a copy of Mario Kart 64 as well as me? If they're too tight fisted to fork out for some truly awesome software then I don't want them as freinds!

Yes but how many old skool games do you want to play though? I know of at least a dozen at £5 a pop gets expensive. I suppose you can split it in half with your mates but it still goes against fair use. If the PS3 ties it to a profile rather than a unit then kudos to them!
Quote cebla 6th November 2006, 22:37
Quote:
Originally Posted by will.
:'(

Your not going to like this, but, rare (the people behind goldeneye and perfect dark) were bought by microsoft a while back... and... that means... no goldeneye or perfect dark... :'(

Please.. if someone knows better than me, shout out... but I'm pretty sure thats whats happening.. I read it a while back.. :(

Nintendo was the publisher for both goldeneye and perfect dard so I suspect that they own the rights to publish them on the virtual cosnsole. Even if they didn't MS are still letting Rare develop game boy games and I see no reason why they wouldn't let Nintendo put the games on the virtual console as they could make money from it.
Quote BladeofTheImmortal 6th November 2006, 22:59
Yes, as far I've heard(from a movie like a month ago that I cannot find, sorry) I think it was Phil himself that said it was tied to User Profile. Also, Sony isn't using any of this Points systems crap. It has a wallet and you pay for games in dollar amounts(you know, like you do at a store). I thought someone here said something about Sony using a points based system(might've been Kotaku).
Quote plug_in_ross 7th November 2006, 00:14
Quote:
Originally Posted by cebla
Nintendo was the publisher for both goldeneye and perfect dard so I suspect that they own the rights to publish them on the virtual cosnsole. Even if they didn't MS are still letting Rare develop game boy games and I see no reason why they wouldn't let Nintendo put the games on the virtual console as they could make money from it.

But would anyone want to actually play Goldeneye or Perfect Dark on the VC Controller? Everyone knows the N64 Controller is the only controller you can use for these games. Using a SNES pad with some analogue sticks won't work at all.
Quote Tyinsar 7th November 2006, 04:24
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bindibadgi
... If the PS3 ties it to a profile rather than a unit then kudos to them!
That would work for me too But what if said friend isn't connected to the net?
Quote Jamie 7th November 2006, 10:15
I've already paid for a lot of n64 games, I don't want to have to purchase them all again.
Quote Darv 7th November 2006, 15:06
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lazarus Dark
if I understand this correctly, if I want to play a gc game I must use a wired gc controller? lame. I see no reason for them not to work with the classic controller. I thought we were finally going to be able to go completely wireless. :?

You could use a Wireless Wavebird. The reason it won't work is because the GC controller has analogue shoulder buttons and the classic controller doesnt.

Also the classic controller is wireless in a way IIRC. I think it connects to the WiiMote and uses that to connect to the console with bluetooth.

Goldeneye and Perfect Dark could come to the Virtual Console but it could be quite complicated, especially for Goldeneye. Firstly Nintendo own the Goldeneye code because they published it. But EA/Activision own the James Bond licence and would need to agree to it or be payed royalties for it. I'm not sure if Rare would get a say in it. Perfect Dark on the other hand was published by Rare and so they own it (or Microsoft do now)
Quote Blademrk 7th November 2006, 15:53
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bindibadgi

I recommend a wavebird controller to everyone, cause they rock :D

QFT

I bought 4 (new) from Gamestation a couple of months back at £15 each (cheaper than the wired controllers for some reason :D). Awesome pad


It would be better if the games were tied to a profile (the 360's idea seems robust - any gamertag can play on the console it was originaly downloaded on, but the game is tied to the original gamertag on any other machine - although thinking about it, if you bought doom on your mates 360, the game is tied to your gamertag, but as it was originally downloaded on your mates machine, wouldn't that mean it would be unlocked on both machines?)
Quote g3n3tiX 7th November 2006, 16:43
they found a way to make you buy GC controllers even AFTER the Wii is out... About the ganes, it reminds me of Steam, but locked to hardware instead of account.
Quote DXR_13KE 7th November 2006, 19:11
this might even be safer than locked to acount...... it cant be hacked and you cant be robed of your games.... remember steam?
Quote BladeofTheImmortal 7th November 2006, 21:14
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyinsar
That would work for me too But what if said friend isn't connected to the net?


Then bust in an SD memory card and DL it to ur friends HDD...
Quote Zayfod 8th November 2006, 04:21
it would be nice if the downloaded games could be transported in the internal storage of the Wii Remote, like you can with the little Mii charecters, and then shared out to another console. Simmilar to how you can do multiplayer games from one cartridge over wifi on the DS.
Quote Tyinsar 8th November 2006, 05:44
Quote:
Originally Posted by BladeofTheImmortal
Then bust in an SD memory card and DL it to ur friends HDD...
Please before commenting on the conversation - your suggestion has already been discussed.
Quote BladeofTheImmortal 8th November 2006, 07:04
^Please read my post and who I was responding too. That was about PS3s download service and not Wii's, but good job on catching that brother.
Quote Tyinsar 8th November 2006, 16:10
I was quoted, it is natural that that indicates a response to me., meh
Quote M4RTIN 8th November 2006, 16:30
when you manage to put an SD card into any sony device then feel free to brag about it.
Quote BladeofTheImmortal 8th November 2006, 19:00
Doesn't the 600 PS3 come with an SD Media slot as well as memory stick, and one more format slot?

EDIT: Yes, I'm right...comes with MemoryStick / SD / CompactFlash slots.
Quote DougEdey 8th November 2006, 19:02
According to C&VG
Quote:
Originally Posted by C&VG
Nintendo has previously promised that it will add 10 games to its retro Virtual Console library stating January 2007, and it looks like ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) might have revealed part of the first batch to come.

The eight games that have turned up on the ESRB website are Duck Hunt, Hogan's Alley, Kid Icarus, Kirby's Adventure, PilotWings, Pro Wrestling, Punch-Out, and Wild Gunman.

We're interested to know how Duck Hunt will work - if the game has been modified to replace the original lightgun operation with the pointer-style functionality of the Wii Remote.

No release date is currently known, although we expect these games to appear on the Virtual Console service early next year. Unfortuantely, Nintendo wouldn't disclose any further information at this time.
Quote BurningFeetMan 9th November 2006, 22:21
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougEdey
According to C&VG


PilotWings O_o Totally forgot that game existed! I wonder if Blast Corps will be available too! Although that was one of RARE's first N64 games, and thus, probably not. :(

Still.... Pilotwings! W00t!
Log in

You are not logged in, please login with your forum account below. If you don't already have an account please register to start contributing.







Mobile Phones

LG Arena ReviewHTC Magic Review

Compare over 250 mobile phones &
52,000 deals!



Broadband

Mobile Broadband

Compare over 100 broadband & mobile broadband deals online!

Dragonage