Wii Virtual Console: Mediocrity or Great Value?

[timewarpgamer]

Howdy. I've been in a very Wii retro mood lately, and I've written two very different features, covering:

Virtual Console Mediocrity
http://timewarpgamer.com/features/wii_vc_mediocrity.html

Virtual Console Value
http://timewarpgamer.com/features/wii_vc_bargains.html

Those are two rather different perspective, and I wonder how y'all feel about the Virtual Console service. Personally, I recognize its many disappointments, but it doesn't seem like price (one of the most common complaints) is among the biggest problems.

[Bojay1997]

Howdy. I've been in a very Wii retro mood lately, and I've written two very different features, covering:

Virtual Console Mediocrity
http://timewarpgamer.com/features/wii_vc_mediocrity.html

Virtual Console Value
http://timewarpgamer.com/features/wii_vc_bargains.html

Those are two rather different perspective, and I wonder how y'all feel about the Virtual Console service. Personally, I recognize its many disappointments, but it doesn't seem like price (one of the most common complaints) is among the biggest problems.

I guess I don't really understand the whole premise of the new article. Listing rare video games with their average sale prices doesn't really have any meaning in the context of a download of a game which can't be sold or otherwise transferred. To the extent there are some good, rare games available on the VC that aren't otherwise readily available, it's nice that the games are available, but that doesn't make them any more a bargain than all of the other good VC games otherwise available inexpensively or not. It seems like the more interesting analysis would be along the lines of how well the games live up to their reputation when viewed in light of their prior rarity, how fun they are to play, etc...The financial angle just seems really boring and frankly not worth reading or writing about especially since it's no different than comparing rare collectible games to all the pirate roms out there of the same games.

[Leo_A]

The youngest games on the service are from 2001. The 17 years bit isn't accurate (I thought at first you were talking specifically about the NES, but than you mention examples like Cruis'n USA in the next sentence). And there is a user rating system implimented for this stuff via the Nintendo Channel. And don't forget the ability to access the FM sound in the Sega Master System games (Something we couldn't do back in the day in North America).

I think the games are overpriced compared to original efforts on services like XBLA. The Virtual Console just uses a standard emulator for each platform that runs original code that has largely been unmodified (With the occasional exception). When I can buy something like Outrun Online Arcade for $10, it's a hard sell to get me to pay $8 for a Sega Genesis game programmed and paid for 20 years earlier with the only direct cost typically involved being a ESRB review fee, hosting cost, and a few minutes of employee time to do things like create the mini virtual manual.

And Nintendo's entire approvals process and control over the service has been disappointing. It's been let known by Capcom that they submitted their entire nonlicensed 8/16 bit library to Nintendo for Virtual Console approval, for instance. And look at what Nintendo has done with that resource so far. And some sections are downright embaressing (The Commodore 64 and the arcade section with little content and none of Nintendo's own popular coinops).

It's just been a disappointing lack of effort, which is clearly demonstrated with the Nintendo 64 section. The games lack rumble capability dispite being compatible with wired GameCube pads that have rumble capabilities (Isn't a big deal in most of the games, although it detracts from both Zelda titles and maybe a few others). It's not a huge deal, but neither was Nintendo keeping a feature that was already present with their emulator on the GameCube. Or why memory pack games can't be saved to the Wii's internal memory for things like Mario Kart 64. It's so simple that it's downright shameful that they didn't take the small amount of time to impliment both features. Some other significant issues have been the weak release schedule we've had in recent years and the inability to transfer our content to a new system when such a system was in place since day 1 on the competition. And their lack of effort has perhaps been best exemplified by the myriad of issues that poor PAL gamers have encountered on the service.

I've enjoyed it and must have something close to 50 games (Was far less before SD support was finally patched in since I refused to delete games off my filled internal memory) that I've don't own or have rebought for convenience and to gain the benefits the Wii's emulators and component connection can bring to visual quality (and the ability to use wireless controllers on some of my favorite games).

But it's going to be remembered by me as a missed opportunity by Nintendo for many reasons. They had halfway decent emulators, an excellent idea, an excellent start, and some of the best videogames in history to draw from. Yet they let it fizzle out early and never came close to taking full advantage of it.

[j_factor]

The Virtual Console was never something that would have much appeal to me personally, but it does seem like Nintendo has half-assed it. Perhaps Nintendo has mostly given up on it because it turned out to be not as lucrative as they thought? I don't know. But I do know that Master System, Commodore 64, and arcade should've been there on day 1. Those three sections are still lacking, and the C64 emulator has poor sound. Weeks go by with no new VC games, and it's not as though there aren't tons of potentials.

[sfchakan]

I just feel like the actual value you get is a little lacking. The prices for some platforms are just too high for what you're getting (basically a ROM and a virtual manual). While I bought a handful of games initially, I can't recall what the last release I bought it was, but I bet it was back in 07/08.

Also, the lack of some releases is beyond a little silly. Earthbound, for example.

[Aussie2B]

I mostly don't care about the Virtual Console, but I'll always appreciate it for the handful of releases that are truly worthwhile. Like I instantly jumped on Dynastic Hero. Unlike what the article claims, that game usually sells more in the range of 300-500 dollars. I'm happy to play my Japanese copy, but heck yeah I'll be all over a cheap, legit way to play it in English. Same kind of deal with the upcoming Monster World IV. I can't wait to play the first ever official English localization for it.

[treismac]

The best thing that I can say for the Virtual Console is that my disappointment with it spurned on my collecting of the genuine article. For this reason I can thank Nintendo for not releasing Contra and Bionic Commando for the NES.

[SpaceHarrier]

The implementation could have been so much better. However, let's not overlook all the greatness that is there..

The black cloud hanging over all this is, of course, ROMs and rampant piracy that nets you everything yet costs you nothing. VC kind of seems like an idea that was about 6 or 7 years too late. I don't think the games cost too much, but I'm sure alot of people are weighing 8-10 dollars against free and seeing that there isn't a huge difference between emulation on Wii or on their PC or other modified media device.

I have 14 or so VC games on my Wii and the memory is nearly full. I've been putting off buying an SD card for along time now, since that would simply open the floodgates to buying a ton more stuff!

[sfchakan]

I mostly don't care about the Virtual Console, but I'll always appreciate it for the handful of releases that are truly worthwhile. Like I instantly jumped on Dynastic Hero. Unlike what the article claims, that game usually sells more in the range of 300-500 dollars. I'm happy to play my Japanese copy, but heck yeah I'll be all over a cheap, legit way to play it in English. Same kind of deal with the upcoming Monster World IV. I can't wait to play the first ever official English localization for it.

Feels like MWIV is taking forever...

[timewarpgamer]

I guess I don't really understand the whole premise of the new article. Listing rare video games with their average sale prices doesn't really have any meaning in the context of a download of a game which can't be sold or otherwise transferred. To the extent there are some good, rare games available on the VC that aren't otherwise readily available, it's nice that the games are available, but that doesn't make them any more a bargain than all of the other good VC games otherwise available inexpensively or not. It seems like the more interesting analysis would be along the lines of how well the games live up to their reputation when viewed in light of their prior rarity, how fun they are to play, etc...The financial angle just seems really boring and frankly not worth reading or writing about especially since it's no different than comparing rare collectible games to all the pirate roms out there of the same games.

Thanks for the constructive criticism. Maybe I'll frame it more as a guide for getting the most bang for your buck on VC downloads. I could also easily add more analysis about the actual games to accompany the boring rarity/financial side.

[timewarpgamer]

Howdy, I just uploaded a revised version of this feature, trying to clarify the focus (i.e. bargains on the VC) and also trying to make it more interesting with some actual game commentary. Same link, just different (hopefully better) content. Thanks for all the comments.

http://timewarpgamer.com/features/wii_vc_bargains.html

[joshnickerson]

I'm not terribly disappointed with the service... I mean, I can see how it can be disappointing to those who still have their old retro collections, but in all honesty, it seems like the service was geared more to the "lapsed" gamers, the ones who had NES or SNES/Gennys as children, bought a Wii, and decided to download some of their old favorites they had long since forgotten about.

Personally, I have no reason to download Super Metroid, when I have a boxed version sitting on my shelf. But a chance to play the never-released Ufouria? Or Rondo of Blood without paying out the ass (or the crappy PSP port)? Totally worth it.

Sure, it could be a lot bigger (more N64 games?) and more special (Star Fox 2, plz?), but as it stands, it's not really as horrible as some make it out to be.

Besides, maybe they're holding back some titles for the inevitable WiiU VC. ;)