The Potential Revolution Virtual Console List! (Crisis Of Infinite Gaming?)

[Chad Bonin]

http://joystiq.com/2006/01/10/nintendo-conducts-virtual-console-service-survey/

So, if the survey pans out, you'd have multiple ways to pay to play.

Game Purchase- Most likely like Microsoft's "Download and keep" Live Arcade functionality.

Rental- Probably something like an incredibly reduced price for a week or so.

Subscription- Keep up a subscription (which'd probably be tied to your MyNintendo.com account), which would allow for certain amount of downloads... or all downloads... who knows.

I like the potential list of games included, but there's obviously some flaws (why would you want to purchase Wario Woods' for NES, outside of being the last NES game, when you can get it for SNES? Why is "Yoshi Hunting" listed, when the game was "Yoshi's Safari". And how could Nintendo sweep away Goldeneye [which'd be a major coup])?)

[Yash]

Nintendo's been doing an online survey with various websites, one of which includes http://www.classicgamer.com/, which has offered a more in-depth look with Nintendo's online service than before.

The survey featured eight different mock-ups for the Revolution's interface. On the main menu, there are four options: Settings, Memory Cards, Parental Controls, and of course, Virtual Console.

http://revolutionmedia.ign.com/revolution/image/article/680/680846/first-glimpse-revolutions-virtual-console--20060111050237898-000.jpg

Once chosen, you'll be asked to choose which system you want to download from, the obvious selections being NES, SNES, and N64.

http://revolutionmedia.ign.com/revolution/image/article/680/680846/first-glimpse-revolutions-virtual-console--20060111050248881-000.jpg

Once you've chosen a system, you'll get a list of corresponding games (the examples shown are Super Mario Bros., Punch-Out!, and Donkey Kong), as well as being able to view your home page, library, and account. Once a game has been rented, purchased, and downloaded, it will be fully emulated and playable in its entirety. The images indicate that the console may use a Xbox Live points system for purchasing.

http://revolutionmedia.ign.com/revolution/image/article/680/680846/first-glimpse-revolutions-virtual-console--20060111050259615-000.jpg

The study highlighted three different possible pricing structures. The first was that you could rent and play any game you wanted for a 14.99 subscription fee. The second involved games being specifically priced, with NES games at 2.99 and N64 titles at a more expensive 19.99 (!!!). The third wasn't mentioned in the IGN article.

http://revolutionmedia.ign.com/revolution/image/article/680/680846/first-glimpse-revolutions-virtual-console--20060111050312723-000.jpg

http://revolutionmedia.ign.com/revolution/image/article/680/680846/first-glimpse-revolutions-virtual-console--20060111050325191-000.jpg

http://revolutionmedia.ign.com/revolution/image/article/680/680846/first-glimpse-revolutions-virtual-console--20060111050335862-000.jpg

On top of all this, here's a list of possible launch games:

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Games

Balloon Fight
Baseball
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Jr.
Dr. Mario
Duck Hunt
Excitebike
Hogan's Alley
Ice Climber
Ice Hockey
Kid Icarus
Kirby
Kung Fu
Mario Bros.
Mario Open Golf
Metroid
Pinball
Pro Wrestling
Punch Out
RC Pro AM
Soccer
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
Tennis
Tetris
Urban Champion
Volleyball
Wario's Woods
Yoshi's Cookies
Zelda
Zelda (Adventure of Link)

Super Nintendo Entertainment (SNES) Games

Battle Clash
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2
Earthbound
F-Zero
Illusion of Gaia
Killer Instinct
Kirby's Avalanche
Kirby Dream Course
Kirby Super Star
Kirby 3
Pilot Wings
Sim City
Star Fox
Stunt Race FX
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario RPG
Super Mario World
Super Metroid
Super Play Action Football
Super Scope 6
Super Soccer
Super Tennis
Tetris Attack
Tetris 2
Uniracers
Vegas Stakes
Wario's Woods
Yoshi's Hunting
Yoshi's Island
Zelda

N64 Games

1080
Blast Corps
Bomberman 64
Cruisin' USA
Goldeneye
Mario Golf 64
Mario Party 3
Mario Tennis 64
Ogre Battle 64
Paper Mario
Pilot Wings 64
Pokemon Snap
Sin & Punishment
Star Fox 64
Super Mario 64
Wave Race
Yoshi's Story
Zelda

The full article is here: http://revolution.ign.com/articles/680/680846p1.html

Enjoy.

[Dark Fact]

That menu sure looks Spider-man esque to me. But it's still pretty simple looking. I like it. :)

http://revolutionmedia.ign.com/revolution/image/article/680/680846/first-glimpse-revolutions-virtual-console--20060111050259615-000.jpg
*sigh* I thought this whole issue with Mike Tyson's prison sentence was a thing of the past now. Is it that big of a deal to put both versions of Punch-Out in this service?

I also want to point out that Illusion of Gaia is in the SNES downloads section. Cool, I hope they can put all the other ENIX games and its precursor, Soul Blazer into that list sometime. :)

[Conekiller]

I'm a bit miffed at the lack of Mario All Stars (I'd prefer to play those over the NES versions) but what ever.

I wonder if they're still doing a "you get ____ points for buying this Revolution game to work toward purchasing an old school game one Virtual Console" thing.

[Agent S7]

The abscence of "Link's Awakening" aggravates me, along with the terrible lack of Super Smash Brothers 1. Why? To make room for Pokemon Snap, "Blast Corps", Sin & Punishment, Bomberman64 and Cruisin' USA?!

(Rips hair out.)

And they really could be more descriptive than just saying "Zelda". Zelda what? "Link to the Past"? "Ocarina"? "Majora"? C'mon!

~s7

[Captain Harlock]

SNES
Earthbound
Illusion of Gaia
Kirby Super Star
Stunt Race FX
Super Mario RPG
Super Metroid

N64
Blast Corps
Bomberman 64
Goldeneye
Ogre Battle 64
Paper Mario
Pilot Wings 64
Sin & Punishment
Star Fox 64
Super Mario 64


That'd keep me occupied for a while.

[Dark Fact]

Conekiller, Agent S7, the service is only getting started. Wait for more developments before judging whether Nintendo screwed up or not.

That said, I hope they put Mike Tyson's Punch-Out on this service.

[Juu-kuchi]

I hope they clean up the menu interface and make it look more striking. I mean, look at the 360's and then compare this with that.

But interesting all the same.

[Yash]

*sigh* I thought this whole issue with Mike Tyson's prison sentence was a thing of the past now. Is it that big of a deal to put both versions of Punch-Out in this service? Well, what happened with Mike Tyson's Punch-Out! is that Mike lost the title, so Nintendo decided it was time to cut ties with him and released Punch-Out! without him in it.

I imagine that caused some legal mumbo jumbo preventing them using the Mike Tyson version for the Revolution emulation. It's not as removing Mike for Mr. Dream affects the game all that much anyway.


The abscence of "Link's Awakening" aggravates me, along with the terrible lack of Super Smash Brothers 1. Why? To make room for Pokemon Snap, "Blast Corps", Sin & Punishment, Bomberman64 and Cruisin' USA?!
The lack of Smash Bros. is odd, but it's probably so that they can sell more copies of Smash Revolution. They mentioned the possibility of online play, so perhaps it's to prevent people from just going for a cheaper alternative.

[Conekiller]

Conekiller, Agent S7, the service is only getting started. Wait for more developments before judging whether Nintendo screwed up or not.

When did I say Nintendo "screwed up"? I was merely stating what game I'd like to see there.

[veemonjosh]

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Games

Dr. Mario
Duck Hunt
Hogan's Alley
Kid Icarus
Punch Out
Super Mario Bros. 3
Tetris
Yoshi's Cookies


Super Nintendo Entertainment (SNES) Games

Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2
Earthbound
F-Zero
Kirby's Avalanche
Kirby Dream Course
Kirby Super Star
Kirby 3
Star Fox
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario RPG
Super Metroid
Super Scope 6
Wario's Woods
Yoshi's Island
Yoshi's Hunting
Zelda

N64 Games

Cruisin' USA
Goldeneye
Mario Golf 64
Mario Tennis 64
Paper Mario




The games I'll want out of this. :D

By the way, since the NES games might be 2.99 and the N64 games might be 19.99, how much you the SNES games be? It would be a dream come true if I could get Earthbound for only 9.99! :P

[Demonic Raven]

I am overjoyed to see that Super Mario RPG is on the list, but the lack of Banjo-Kazooie is disappointing. I guess Rare has the rights, and Microsoft isn't going to let them help out a competitor.
The abscence of "Link's Awakening" aggravates me, along with the terrible lack of Super Smash Brothers 1. Link's Awakening is a GB game. We'll probably have to wait on GB game downloading in general.

I agree with you on SSB, though.

[Dark Fact]

Well, what happened with Mike Tyson's Punch-Out! is that Mike lost the title, so Nintendo decided it was time to cut ties with him and released Punch-Out! without him in it.
One loss to Buster Douglas and Nintendo thought it was the end of the world for Mike Tyson? That's pretty damn selfish of them. Mike Tyson was a great boxer but he was no Rocky Marciano!


I imagine that caused some legal mumbo jumbo preventing them using the Mike Tyson version for the Revolution emulation. It's not as removing Mike for Mr. Dream affects the game all that much anyway.
Maybe not but this is "Iron" Mike Tyson we're talking about here. This is the guy players "want" to take on. The name alone helped sell many copies of this game and Nintendo damn well knows it. Besides, Mike himself knows about the existence of his game and he doesn't have problems with it. Why should Nintendo? I think Nintendo can pay the license to renew the Mike Tyson name but they just don't want to. If Nintendo is trying to curb the illegal emulation scene, this is no way to do it.


When did I say Nintendo "screwed up"? I was merely stating what game I'd like to see there.
Sorry for the misinterpretation. Give it time, it'll appear on there. :)

[Andrew T. Hingson]

Goldeneye, KI and Blast Corps? How can they even do that?

No Mario Kart 64 or SSB? FOR SHAME!!!!

I was sure this stuff was fake when I first saw it. So this might actually be the real deal for screen shots? Interesting.

[Simpler Simon]

Goldeneye, KI and Blast Corps? How can they even do that?

Yeah I noticed that too. I don't think Rareware's past efforts would conflict with its 360 offerings, so maybe that's why Nintendo can offer them.

The NES lineup feels a little too first-generation, but the SNES and N64 have pretty decent offerings. If they charge any more than $19.99 for N64 games though, it'd probably be more worthwhile for me to hunt down a physical cartridge.

[Chad Bonin]

Please use the search function; I had posted a thread on this same concept earlier in the week.

VG Mods, I hope you don't mind that I simply merged the threads.

[Vermunium]

From what I see, I really like how it looks so far.

[.Automatisch]

If they allow you to re-download your games with your account [perhaps only a certain number of times], then I would have to go with the first option of purchasing games individually. As long as I could have re-assurance that I would be able to use my games should anything happen to my system, or that I get another, then it seems like the most logical choice. They should just allow you to play timed demos of games instead of renting them. Perhaps like 2 min or something per game. Or maybe an accumulative amount of time per month you can use towards demoing games.

[Yash]

Please use the search function; I had posted a thread on this same concept earlier in the week.
My apologies. I did check to see if anyone else posted news on it, but I admit that I only went as far as the first page (I assumed something like this would have gotten some activity).

[Chad Bonin]

My apologies. I did check to see if anyone else posted news on it, but I admit that I only went as far as the first page (I assumed something like this would have gotten some activity).
Oh, it's no problem, it just saves clutter on the board. I'm slightly baffled why my thread got NO responses.

[Conekiller]

Oh, it's no problem, it just saves clutter on the board. I'm slightly baffled why my thread got NO responses.
Well, after the thread merge, I had difficulty finding this one, I think the existing title needs to be more to the point ^__-

[G1Ravage]

Folks, folks... the list of games you'll be able to download isn't finalized in any way, shape, or form. It's simply a preliminary example from Nintendo. I fully expect a larger list than that when the Revolution is finally released.

Personally, I am completely psyched just by this little taste of what's to come. I can finally play the original Star Fox for the SNES, as well as finally own Kirby Super Star. And then there's the Yoshi's Safari game, which I've ALWAYS wanted to check out! Looks like we'll be using the Revolution's point-stick for that one. :D

And then there are those rumors that we'll be able to "customize" those classic games in some way. New modes of play? (With the new Revo controls, maybe?) Improved graphics? (Optional, I'm sure.) The ability to play the original Japanese version? The possibilities are endless.

And it's all coming our way sometime this year. :evil:

[veemonjosh]

Oh, it's no problem, it just saves clutter on the board. I'm slightly baffled why my thread got NO responses.

Because yours didn't have shiny new pictures in the topic itself. :p


And then there are those rumors that we'll be able to "customize" those classic games in some way. New modes of play? (With the new Revo controls, maybe?) Improved graphics? (Optional, I'm sure.) The ability to play the original Japanese version? The possibilities are endless.

Yay! I hope that means I can play as Link in Earthbound and vise versa with Ness (seriously, it could work! Though I'm hoping more for playing as Mr. Saturn in a game :p ). Heck, Paper Mario would fit right at home in Yoshi's Story!

Wait a sec... this service COULD turn into that, for a price, Nintendo COULD release whatever was completed of Earthbound 3 for the N64. Heck, they could even release a legal copy of the unreleased Starfox 2! Ahh, how it feels to dream nearly hopeless dreams...

That reminds me, whatever did happend to Nintendo of Japan's whole Earthbound 3 for the GBA plan? Is it in the same boat as the GBA version of Megaman "Anniversary" Collection? Or did it a silent cancellation?

[Mynd Hed]

Personally, I'd kinda be ticked if the old-school goodness was available only as part of a monthly subscription plan. I just have this natural aversion to one more bill taking away my discretionary income every month, especially seeing as how this will probably be the final straw toward making me get broadband.
If the low low per-game prices cited here are anywhere near reality, on the other hand... I could see Nintendo really cleaning up on the "impulse buy" factor. Most people wouldn't even blink at dropping three bucks a pop for NES games. Twenty for N64 games would require a little more thought, but it's still far from unreasonable.

Plug up some of the obvious holes in the launch lineup over a year or so, make a few deals with a few third-party developers for their back catalogs, and Nintendo might have a real system-moving feature here. Some exclusive, original downloadable games might not be a bad move either-- you could do some fun stuff with scaled-back graphics and Freehand controls.

Downloading portable games on the Rev could be a stickier issue, Nintendo has historically avoided competing with themselves when it comes to such things (witness the noticable lack of LttP in the GCN Zelda compilation promos, for example, to avoid hurting sales of the GBA port). I doubt they'd want to do it with currently-supported handhelds like the GBA, but I'd REALLY like to see Gameboy and GBC supported on the Rev. If not at launch, it'd be a great feature to add somewhere down the line.

Somebody mentioned the possibility of receiving some free "points" toward downloadable games with the purchase of new Rev titles-- anybody got a source on that? 'Cause that really would be a killer way to suck people into using the download feature.

Between this and the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade feature (which I've heard touted as the system's real killer app), we may be seeing the first stages of games as physical objects (cartridges, discs, etc.) being phased out in favor of games as purchasable, downloadable software files. Of course, it'll be at least another console generation past this one, if not more, before the trend has a chance of seriously kicking in. Still, it'll be interesting to see how it progresses-- and it'll also be interesting to see whether the PS3 incorporates a similar feature in order to keep up with the Joneses.

[Yash]

I bet if they offered the old-school games (but placing limits on them and such) as a part of the Nintendo Power subscription, the magazine sales would rise and the two would cross-promote each other, instead of the magazine advertising the system.

[Drachentöter]

This prospect makes me all kinds of happy, though I hope I'll be able to afford the massive amounts of games I'll want to download.

As for the games that are lacking, the only one I've heard that bothers me is Banjo-Kazooie, but seeing as how I have both N64 games, I won't die over it. Legal rights do suck the big one though. Mario Kart? Get Mario Kart Double Dash used for cheap or wait for the Revoltuon Mario Kart. Pretty much the same game. SSB? Get SSBM or wait for the Revolution SSB. Pretty much the same game.

I think Nintendo has a chance of coming back by opening up their backlog. It'll certainly outsell the Gamecube, barring any unforseen suicidal moves.

[Artimus Gigan]

Can any of these downloadable games be saved to memorycards? I'm wondering this, because then you could trade or swap games by just copying files.

[Vermunium]

Can any of these downloadable games be saved to memorycards? I'm wondering this, because then you could trade or swap games by just copying files.

I'm going to say probably not. I'll just speculate that maybe they'll be downloaded onto the system and you can put saves onto a memory card, but they most likely won't let you put whole games on a memory card so you can just swap games as you said, but knowing Nintendo, you never may know.

[Artimus Gigan]

I'm going to say probably not. I'll just speculate that maybe they'll be downloaded onto the system and you can put saves onto a memory card, but they most likely won't let you put whole games on a memory card so you can just swap games as you said, but knowing Nintendo, you never may know.
I know the 360 has downloadable games. Does Microsoft allow game swapping?

I don't have the system yet(I'm still on the reserve delivery list) so I'm curious

[Vermunium]

I know the 360 has downloadable games. Does Microsoft allow game swapping?

I don't have the system yet(I'm still on the reserve delivery list) so I'm curious

I don't own the system myself, but my friends do, and to my knowledge, no, you can't swap any games that you've bought, unless someone can prove me wrong on that.

[peacebyanymeans]

You know... Nintendo could allow for moving of a downloaded game to a memory card, but not copy.

So, if you want to bring it over your friend's house and let him keep it, you'll have to re-download it again, if you want it.

That would work, right?

[Chad Bonin]

As a proud owner of the 360...

Via your XBox Live Gamertag, Microsoft remembers your download and purchase history. Therefore, they, say, remember you bought Joust, Gauntlet, and Street Fighter Deluxe. If you delete them, you can redownload them for free (because Microsoft remembers you bought them).

If, in case, you had the file transferred to a memory card that you then plugged into a friend's 360, I'd wager that the card would have your Gamertag information on it (it's not just ANY memory card, it's "Knux Five's Memory Card", and thus allow you to play it on another system. If you COULD copy the file (not sure if you can), the friend's XBox Live Gamertag would not have any purchase information on it, and would only play the game in Demo mode.

[Noukon]

Can any of these downloadable games be saved to memorycards? I'm wondering this, because then you could trade or swap games by just copying files.

Given the size of N64 games, storage on memory cards will probably be required. Nintendo has said that a form of DRM will be in place, though, to prevent rampant spreading.

[Zach]

Where the hell is Contra on that list? It better be added at some point.

[Dark Fact]

Where the hell is Contra on that list? It better be added at some point.
Konami hasn't signed on to the project yet. I'm pretty sure they will eventually. I'd like to see downloaded version of Castlevania myself. In addition, I hope Konami can put Castlevania III up with the enhanced music that was released only in Japan.

[Artimus Gigan]

Konami hasn't signed on to the project yet. I'm pretty sure they will eventually. I'd like to see downloaded version of Castlevania myself. In addition, I hope Konami can put Castlevania III up with the enhanced music that was released only in Japan.
Konami is one of the big companies that hasn't done a "Best of/Classics" collection yet, however they are releasing the Japanese Metal gear 2 NES Game with Special Edition Snake Eater, which could mean they are starting some re-issues. So If anything I think it would happen some point after that, it's more likely we'll see a hard copy of re-issue Castlevania series before we see DL versions.

[Dark Fact]

Konami is one of the big companies that hasn't done a "Best of/Classics" collection yet, however they are releasing the Japanese Metal gear 2 NES Game with Special Edition Snake Eater, which could mean they are starting some re-issues. So If anything I think it would happen some point after that, it's more likely we'll see a hard copy of re-issue Castlevania series before we see DL versions.
Konami is way overdue in giving us the true sequel to Metal Gear. Maybe the re-release for the NES can get a translation and download on the Revolution's service.

[TheMecca]

On top of all this, here's a list of possible launch games:

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Games

Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Jr.
Dr. Mario
Duck Hunt
Excitebike
Kid Icarus
Kirby
Mario Bros.
Mario Open Golf
Metroid
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
Tetris
Yoshi's Cookies
Zelda
Zelda (Adventure of Link)

Super Nintendo Entertainment (SNES) Games

Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2
Earthbound
F-Zero
Kirby's Avalanche
Kirby Dream Course
Kirby Super Star
Kirby 3
Star Fox
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario RPG
Super Mario World
Super Metroid
Zelda

N64 Games

Cruisin' USA
Goldeneye
Mario Golf 64
Mario Party 3
Mario Tennis 64
Paper Mario
Pokemon Snap
Star Fox 64
Super Mario 64
Yoshi's Story
Zelda

Wow, there really is a god.

[Lazyboi13]

meh **** revolution and downloadble games I say, oringal hardware and software is for the win.

Sersoilly, retro games jsut arent same playing them on a newer contoller. When i think of why i like retro games, I think, amongost other things, the simplity of them, which really comes into its own with a 3-button-and-a-d-pad controller rather than a 4-button-and-two-joysticks-and-3-sholder-buttons-and-d-pad.

[Rasputin]

The controller is more important than the game? Wha?

[Artimus Gigan]

I think the Revolution controller could easily be retro fitted to solve any controller issues

Just create a newer version of the NES Advantage with all the GC buttons set in place like a typical arcade stick and made a slot for the revolution controller to be inserted

[Lazyboi13]

The controller is more important than the game? Wha?
wtf? thats not what im saying, im just saying that id much rather get a game on the oringal hardware then an emulter.

plus, real copies look nice on yo shelf ;)

I think the Revolution controller could easily be retro fitted to solve any controller issues

Just create a newer version of the NES Advantage with all the GC buttons set in place like a typical arcade stick and made a slot for the revolution controller to be inserted
Yeah, but unless your playing a fighting game of some sort, arcade sticks dont really work that well.

[Artimus Gigan]

wtf? thats not what im saying, im just saying that id much rather get a game on the oringal hardware then an emulter.

plus, real copies look nice on yo shelf ;)

Yeah, but unless your playing a fighting game of some sort, arcade sticks dont really work that well.
More games could be added in time, X-Box already has Street Fighter II, so it would be nice to be able to change the controller with 1st part accessories. I mean they could have a Revolution Driving Wheel, an Arcada Stick, a NES/SNES shaped pad, and such.. The GC controller is not best suited for the fighting genre so allowing a change off would be beneficial. You would just need to insert the remote into the controller block.

[EinBebop]

Regarding Mike Tyson's Punch-Out:

They paid Tyson a licensing fee to use his name in the game. But it was for a limited time period.

The time period expired, and the two either did not come to agreeable terms; perhaps Nintendo wasn't even interested in trying.

There are other games that have either had to be altered, or could never be re-released, due to licensing. The two Dungeons and Dragons games for Intellivison are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head right now.

[Artimus Gigan]

One of the Midway games on Arcade Treaures Vol.3 had one of the licences removed as well. But it played like the original, it just did not have the celeb stamp on it.

[Killtacular]

I don't know why they want to charge $20 for an N64 game. You can find them for cheaper at GameStop/Funcoland, and I don't EVER want to have to say "cheaper at GameStop/Funcoland" because that is the catalyst for the damn APOCALYPSE.

[Dark Fact]

I don't know why they want to charge $20 for an N64 game. You can find them for cheaper at GameStop/Funcoland, and I don't EVER want to have to say "cheaper at GameStop/Funcoland" because that is the catalyst for the damn APOCALYPSE.
Funcoland? They're still around? :confused:


Regarding Mike Tyson's Punch-Out:

They paid Tyson a licensing fee to use his name in the game. But it was for a limited time period.

The time period expired, and the two either did not come to agreeable terms; perhaps Nintendo wasn't even interested in trying.

There are other games that have either had to be altered, or could never be re-released, due to licensing. The two Dungeons and Dragons games for Intellivison are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head right now.
Any hot-headed feud that occurred between Nintendo and Mike Tyson should've long cooled off by now. I don't think it would be too big of a deal for Nintendo to renew the license agreement with Mike, would it?

[Rasputin]

wtf? thats not what im saying, im just saying that id much rather get a game on the oringal hardware then an emulter.

plus, real copies look nice on yo shelf ;).

I apologize for misinterpreting.

So...basically the argument you're advancing is 'I'd rather have something genuine than a fake, virtual experience'. Fair enough, but there's a problem with perception of the second-hand-game market, mainly that it occupies dingy cellars below video stores. This perception is largely unjustified, but its sheer lack of presence is one reason why people don't go out and buy old consoles, they just have genuinely no idea where to get them and it would never occur to them to find out.

The Virtual Console, however, is there and right in front of you. It would be so easy and painless to buy a copy of a game you remember playing in those halcyon childhood days, and even better it's invisible, so you don't have to own up to being such a 'saddo'.

I found a second-hand-game shop recently. I saw the old consoles. And wanted them. ALL. But most people, regrettably, aren't like you or I, so we'll just have to accept this idea for the sake of Nintendo and its profits.

[Artimus Gigan]

If Starfox and Super Mario RPG are with this online thing then I can say that I own all the SNES games I ever wanted....without owning an SNES

Those re-issues I've collected as they came out, pretty much filled in the lack of the system....I've pretty much got every single heavy hitter

I might be interested in Super Metroid, but I did not play Return of Samus...and being that I have the Original, Fusion, and both Primes, I would have every single one of the main line except one....because Pinball is a spin-off.

[Noukon]

I don't know why they want to charge $20 for an N64 game. You can find them for cheaper at GameStop/Funcoland, and I don't EVER want to have to say "cheaper at GameStop/Funcoland" because that is the catalyst for the damn APOCALYPSE.

They haven't even hinted at pricing yet.

[G1Ravage]

I don't know why they want to charge $20 for an N64 game. You can find them for cheaper at GameStop/Funcoland, and I don't EVER want to have to say "cheaper at GameStop/Funcoland" because that is the catalyst for the damn APOCALYPSE.

Those cartridges have a finite life span, as far as their batteries go. Purchasing these classic games in a digital format means they (and your respective save files where applicable) will live forever.

[Killtacular]

They haven't even hinted at pricing yet.

Evidently the study highlighted three different pricing structures. The first was a subscription based package that would enable users to rent and play any game they wanted for $14.99 per month. Meanwhile, NES titles were listed for approximately $2.99 and N64 titles for a more expensive $19.99. These numbers are naturally neither finalized nor confirmed by Nintendo itself.
I consider that a HINT. Not an answer because it's not final but a HINT.


Those cartridges have a finite life span, as far as their batteries go. Purchasing these classic games in a digital format means they (and your respective save files where applicable) will live forever.
Yeah and? What are you paying extra for, the cost to dump the ROM? (approximate: $0.00) Xbox Live Arcade's games are $5-$10 and have online play, leaderboards, and changed graphics. Nintendo needs to be a little more aggressive with their pricing.

[Noukon]

I consider that a HINT. Not an answer because it's not final but a HINT.

A question in a secret survey (one that could be misleading or even fake) doesn't even remotely qualify as a public hint on the part of Nintendo.


Yeah and? What are you paying extra for, the cost to dump the ROM? (approximate: $0.00) Xbox Live Arcade's games are $5-$10 and have online play, leaderboards, and changed graphics. Nintendo needs to be a little more aggressive with their pricing.

I expect they will be fairly aggressive, but who knows? Making judgments now is extremely premature.

[Killtacular]

A question in a secret survey (one that could be misleading or even fake) doesn't even remotely qualify as a public hint on the part of Nintendo.
It's not FAKE, Nintendo paid them to conduct the survey. Marketing companies do not promote other people's products for charity.


The concepts below are by no means final, but nevertheless Zanthus prepared these materials based on direction from Nintendo of America and therefore they should not be discounted.

[Yash]

You know, Matt has a point.

Why should I pay 20 dollars for an N64 game? If I get about 20 games, that amounts to around 400 dollars. Seeing as how I can get that many for less than half the price online on places like eBay, it'd be much more convenient to just track down the cartridges.

[Dark Fact]

Nintendo better sign on Square-Enix for the deal. That'll get some hits for sure! And maybe we'll finally see some official translations for NES Final Fantasy II and III!

[.Automatisch]

I consider that a HINT. Not an answer because it's not final but a HINT.


Yeah and? What are you paying extra for, the cost to dump the ROM? (approximate: $0.00) Xbox Live Arcade's games are $5-$10 and have online play, leaderboards, and changed graphics. Nintendo needs to be a little more aggressive with their pricing.

XBLA doesn't have Nintendo games. Simple as that. And you know fans will be willing to pay for old games if they were something that brought them good times. That doesn't mean I'm buying N64 ROMs for $20, it just means that some people would be willing to.

[EinBebop]

Seeing as how I can get that many for less than half the price online on places like eBay, it'd be much more convenient to just track down the cartridges.Not if you're looking for Earthbound or Super Mario RPG. Maybe a couple other rarities on there, too.

[Noukon]

It's not FAKE, Nintendo paid them to conduct the survey. Marketing companies do not promote other people's products for charity.
Okay, maybe it's not fake. It's still useless for speculation, though, being presented in a private survey as an attempt at gathering possible market demand data. Saying that Nintendo shouldn't charge $20 for N64 games is one thing (and I would agree completely), but being judgmental about the remote possibility is just silly.


You know, Matt has a point.

Why should I pay 20 dollars for an N64 game? If I get about 20 games, that amounts to around 400 dollars. Seeing as how I can get that many for less than half the price online on places like eBay, it'd be much more convenient to just track down the cartridges.
I'll say this again -- assuming that N64 games will be $20 is beyond speculatory. The virtual console system may be the only thing that can prop up the Revolution when it first comes out (given Nintendo's history of weak launch lineups); why would they shoot it in the foot by making it so expensive? This kind of stuff only works off of micropayments; they know most people won't be shelling out $20+ for an old game that they won't get the physical media for.

[BigLouMan20]

The Gamestop's and EB Games I go to they still have some N64 games for $20. The cheapest I've seen is ranged from $5, but for the good games they range abpve $10

[Teio]

Well I want to ask who are the type of people that subscribe to X-box Live Arcade or Game Tap type services? Who is the audience that these companies market it too?

Anywho, my two cents is that these games already made/lost their potential profit a long time ago regardless if "X" game was 10 years in the making, costed 15 million dollars to produce, used top-notch voice actors, Volumes of text, army of designers & programmers and pioneered break through technology at the time. The time has passed. Their ability to recoup profit or justify the price due to the man power at the time is lost.

Seeing as that’s the case and that you’re not paying for something physical (Cartridge, Box, Casing or Instruction Manual), or even direct advertising of the game, why charge such varying degree of money for NES, SNES and N64 games when they are all virtual properties owned by Nintendo? You already paid for the hardware & peripherals to play the downloadable software on. The only thing I could think of that would add more to the charge would be 3rd party licensing fees & other intellectual fees (If they ever do acquire 3rd party titles), maybe charging the re-engineering/emulation process for more complex games, or charging for the bandwidth to download larger games files?

[Killtacular]

Well I want to ask who are the type of people that subscribe to X-box Live Arcade or Game Tap type services? Who is the audience that these companies market it too?
Xbox Live Arcade is available to anyone that has a 360. It is accessed directly from the dashboard. GameTap advertises itself on TV in every venue, from kids networks to adult networks; I've even seen it advertised during FOX NFL playoff games.


XBLA doesn't have Nintendo games. Simple as that. And you know fans will be willing to pay for old games if they were something that brought them good times.
Yes, I do know that, because people buy Smash TV, Robotron, Joust, and Gauntlet all the time from XBLA with online play, co-op, and leaderboards for $5. Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting is coming from Capcom, and Sega looks to be about to license Genesis games to Microsoft in the near future. They're the same product being offered -- emulator + ROM + online tunnelling. Nintendo thus has to be responsible with its pricing. Any more than $10 for an N64 game is absurd. It would be essentially paying an emulator royalty.