Virtual Console
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Duck Hunt, others get ESRB's thumbs-up, zapper imminent
The ESRB has approved and rated another pile of Nintendo's Virtual Console throwbacks, including: Duck Hunt (E) Hogan's Alley (E) Kid Icarus (E) Kirby's Adventure (E) PilotWings (E) Pro Wrestling (E) Punch-Out (E) Wild Gunman (E) With Duck Hunt, Hogan's Alley, and Wild Gunman making appearances, the Zapper can't be far behind. Think the E3 prototype fits the bill?[Thanks, Spindash54]
Wii virtual console details
Computer and Video Games has put up an excellent interview that answers some of the lingering questions about the Wii virtual console. Among the interesting points: The virtual console controller will not work on GameCube games, but the GameCube controller will work on Virtual console games. (To recap: VC controller + GC game = NO. GC controller + VC game = YES) NES virtual console games can be played using the packed-in remote. Games are locked to a specific system on download and can't be transported from house to house on an SD card. Games can be re-downloaded for free in case of deletion or system failure. Gamers can store up to 10,000 VC points ($100) on their account at once. Personally, I'm stoked that my GameCube controllers will work on any virtual console downloads, as I wasn't relishing spending $80 for four classic controllers just to play some multi-player Bomberman.
The skinny on the European Wii launch
Nintendo recently confirmed the full list of launch day title available for European gamers on December 8. From these games, you will select the lucky few that get taken home and lovingly opened, cradled, and placed with care inside the belly of your Wii. Though we recommend doing that one at a time -- not all at once.The European Virtual Console line-up is similar to the US launch set, with a notable exception -- Donkey Kong Country for the SNES. You get it. The US doesn't. Odd, neh? Doesn't quite make up for all those DS delays, but hey, it's something.Full launch game list after the jump! What are you picking up?
Japan's Virtual Console line-up (get ready to hate)
Wow, Link to the Past! Super Castlevania! Street Fighter II! This Virtual Console thing is great! Except, of course, most of us don't live in Japan, so we're not getting those games. At least, not yet. There's always the possibility that the VC line-up in the US will expand to include some of these titles that are region-specific for now, and that's the hope to which forlorn gamers will have to cling for now.Joystiq's Ross Miller wrote up a comparison of the VC launch by region (including Europe, which we'll bring to you later) that you might want to check out. And of course, ogle the full list of the Japanese VC launch after the jump and weep.
Comparing the Virtual Console launch by region
Now that we have the Virtual Console launch lists for the US, Europe, and Japan, it's time to compare and contrast how each region fared. To no one's surprise, Japan has every single game being released in the other regions and more, with the exception of Bomberman '93 (Japan owners get the "vastly disparate" 1994 edition). Take note of the publishers found in the US and European regions: with the exception of Tecmo's Solomon's Keys for the NES, all games are first-party titles from Hudson, Nintendo, or Sega. International licensing troubles, perhaps? Looking at the first-party titles, US and Europe are missing out on quite a few high-profile games: Super Mario Bros (NES), Super Mario World and Zelda: Link to the Past (SNES). In fact, the only Mario title coming to US / Europe at launch (Donkey Kong notwithstanding) is Mario Bros., otherwise known as that multiplayer minigame included in all the GBA Mario remakes. We understand Nintendo giving the much-less-popular Fire Emblem to Japan only, but why delay Nintendo's flagship titles of the past? Does Nintendo think it's going to prove something by launching the Wii outside of Japan with as little of Mario's presence possible? One more note: UK-based Rare's Donkey Kong Country is coming to Japan and Europe but is conspicuously absent from the US roster. With Microsoft being a US-based company and the new owners of Rare, the conspiracy theorist in us thinks there might be some funny going on. We've sent off a few questions to Nintendo and Rare and will let you know what we find out. Continue reading for the complete list of VC launch titles, organized in a nifty little chart.Read -- Wii launch window: 32 Wii games, 30 VC titlesRead -- Japan gets way better Virtual Console lineup (Game | Life)Read -- Taking you back to the old school (Nintendo)
Virtual Console titles available by December
We understand that next-gen games are a really big deal, but those upstairs in the big companies already realize that we are willing to pay money for those games lost or forgotten. Nintendo has a huge gaming history under its belt and they are bringing back the childhood glee with the Virtual Console. A whopping 30 titles will be available by December. The list is divided by system and can be viewed after the break! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Wii launch window: 32 Wii games, 30 VC games
Nintendo has blasted out a list confirming the 32 Wii and 30 Virtual Console games (spanning five consoles) that will be available in the five weeks between the system's November 19th launch and the end of 2006. We're not sure exactly which games may not make that November 19th launch date, but it seems reasonable to presume the VC games will be there on launch day, previously dated titles like Zelda, and the 530 GameCube titles they're eager to remind us will work from the get go. Nintendo does remind us that "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess emerges [Ed. will emerge?] as this season's video game masterpiece." Hey, way to throw that third party trash to the curb! We agree it stands head and shoulders above some of the more forgettable entries filling up this list (we're sure Happy Feet will be a slightly less impressive masterpiece), but it's nice to see them being so candid about it. Check out the entire list after the break, and let us know if there's anything missing that we thought would be there. We'll start: Ubisoft's forgettable WWII dogfighter, Blazing Angels. It came out for the Xbox 360 in March, was confirmed by Ubisoft to be a launch window game in August, was again confirmed by Nintendo to be a launch title in September, and now it's evidently missing. What's up? See also: PlayStation 3 launch window titles announced [Thanks for all the tips, everyone!]
Wii's LiveMove could be building block for industry's future
We were skeptical about AiLive's motion-making development tool when it was announced earlier this month, but after seeing a tech demo of LiveMotion in action, we're convinced it can produce novel work. The problem is the price. At $2,500, LiveMotion is only attractive to a select crowd and excludes smaller parties who will likely turn to Microsoft's XNA project for a more affordable creative outlet.Nintendo should consider setting up a program, like XNA, that would invite indie game makers and hobbyists to explore Wii's ingenuity. The DS's success has shown that there's an interest, a market, for small quirky games -- it's what Jaffe was getting at; an era of churn'em-out hits. With Wii, Nintendo could p0wn this niche.
Like a Phoenix from the ashes: Nintendo World 2006
Okay, so it's not Space World, the legendary Nintendo-only event whose last appearance occurred in 2001. Nintendo's announcement of a new event, however, named Nintendo World 2006, certainly conjures fond memories. The event, which takes place over a mammoth ten-day period from November 3rd to the 12th (and again on November 25th and 26th), will feature hands-on playtime with the Wii and some of the hottest new DS titles. Best of all, it's open to the Japanese public, and completely free. Awesome.While it's unknown if Nintendo will be making any major announcements at the event, it's understood that they will, at the very least, announce more specific details of the Virtual Console service (read: launch titles) a bit closer to Wii Day. What better place to spring some good news on the unsuspecting Japanese?(The image is a personal favorite, from digital artist Greg Martin. Check more of his work here.)
Square Enix on the Virtual Console
Time for more guessing games -- Square Enix has confirmed that they will be supporting the Wii's Virtual Console, but they're not giving up the goods on what games we might see. The possibilities, considering their long and storied catalogue, are vast. But with their sudden penchant for remaking games for the GBA and the DS, we might not see some of the most beloved titles, like Final Fantasy VI. Perhaps we'll see Chrono Trigger, hailed by many as one of the best RPGs of all time. Anything else you'd like to see from Square Enix? Let us know!
C64 games to hit Virtual Console
For those of you out there who fill your hobby hours with finding new and innovative ways to bring Commodore 64 games to new platforms (like the DS), we're sorry. Epyx is trying to trump you. On the bright side, at least we can enjoy some old school action on the Virtual Console. Epyx was responsible for a long list of titles in the eighties, and since there's no confirmation on precisely what they'll be offering on the Virtual Console ... that's right, it's speculation time. What would you shell out five bucks for?If you need us, we'll be busy practicing our Hot Doggin' in anticipation of Winter Games.
The interactive Wii cost calculator [update 2]
Let's face it: the true "price" of the Wii is nowhere close to two hundred and fifty dollars. It varies wildly from person to person, dependent on launch titles, extra controllers, and virtual console points. That's why some clever folks at N-sider.com have put together a lovely calculator for you, to determine how much you'll be spending come November. It gives accurate descriptions of all confirmed launch titles, and takes into account just about everything you could possibly desire ... except, unfortunately, an SD card. Still, with the limited number of Virtual Console titles at launch, the chances that you'll be needing a additional storage immediately are pretty slim. Check below for the entire Wii Fanboy staff's expected costs!Jason Wishnov - $476.94Extra controller w/nunchuk, classic controllerZelda: Twilight Princess, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz2000 Virtual Console pointsDavid Hinkle - $667.70Extra controller w/nunchukElebits, Excite Truck, Rayman Raving Rabbids, Red Steel, Zelda: Twilight Princess, Trauma Center: Second Opinion2000 Virtual Console pointsAlisha Karabinus - $635.90Extra controller w/nunchuk, classic controllerExcite Truck, Red Steel, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Zelda: Twilight Princess2000 Virtual Console pointsNikki Inderlied - $558.99Extra controller w/nunchuk, classic controllerZelda: Twilight Princess, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Red Steel, Rayman Raving Rabbids500 Virtual Console pointsWhat are you guys spending? Let us know![Update 1: Added in Alisha's projected costs.][Update 2: Added in Nikki's projected costs.]
Mysterious Wii/DS connectivity
It's the picture that has everyone frothing -- but Nintendo's not giving up the details just yet, despite rampant speculation about precisely how the two Nintendo platforms will hook up. Will it be a whirlwind romance or a true partnership? Here's what we know -- the Wii will serve as a "download station" for the DS. And we have the image from Nintendo's site. The translated text mentions Pokemon, and though our Google translation is weak at best, it seems that you can pull Pokemon off the DS and onto the Wii. What for? We're not sure yet. And what will a "download station" provide, anyway? Will the DS be able to handle Virtual Console titles? Connectivity is nothing new when it comes to Nintendo. Eventually, we'll be able to connect enough Nintendo platforms to build a giant stompy robot, so it's not at all surprising that the Wii and the DS will have a special relationship. As for theories, we are firmly behind the PinkSquiggle Technology mentioned at the Ars Technica forums. And we'd still like a pony.[Thanks, Marc!]
The skinny on Wii Channels
The new interface of the Nintendo Wii is organized into "channels", each containing different services and functions. The English version of wii.com gives a nice summary of the initial channels. Here's what they do: The Disc channel is simply for playing games based off of optical media, i.e. Wii or Gamecube discs. Nothing fancy here. The Mii channel allows a player to create his or her own digital avatar. These avatars will most likely be your online "identity", but will also appear in certain software, such as Wii Sports. The Photo channel is a channel that allows you to view and share digital photos and movies from an external source. The Wii also contains an iPhoto-like functionality, allowing you to touch up, alter, and distort your photos to your heart's content. The Forecast channel will give you a look at local weather. You can also zoom out in a very Google Earth-esque fashion, and view data for pretty much anywhere in the world. The News channel is for, well, news. Various topics will be broken down into topical categories for your viewing pleasure. Remember, this and the weather service are free of charge. The Wii Shop channel is, as expected, the online marketplace for the Wii. You'll mainly be in here buying games for the Virtual Console, but you can also purchase Opera's web browser and whatever else Nintendo decides to charge. Hopefully, extra multiplayer maps and the like will remain free, but we suppose that's up to the publisher. The Virtual Console channels are the channels that allow you to play games from any of the various systems supported: NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis, and the TurboGrafx-16. The Internet channel allows one to surf the internet. However, this is not free; an Opera browser must be purchased for a currently unknown price. However, the browser supports Adobe Flash, AJAX software, and essentially every feature a major browser should; it's a nice step up from the DS version. The Message Board channel allows users to post messages on various boards, and send messages or photos directly to PCs or cell phones. This is also the service through which games will be updated and patched. And there you have it! Looks like we're gonna be doing some hardcore channel surfing when the Wii hits the streets.
Seattle P-I: Wii on November 19, $250; did they slip? [update 2]
Just before the Japanese press event started in earnest, an article surfaced at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that declared the Wii would launch November 19 at $250. Chat rooms and forums exploded as gamers debated the legitimacy of the story, which listed the New York Times as its source. Since no one could find the information anywhere else -- not on Reuters, the AP, or the NYT itself, we called both the New York Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer to attempt to verify the story. Though we could not reach anyone at the NYT, we did speak with the city desk at the Seattle P-I, and they verified that the story was indeed pulled from the NYT's wire and that it was not altered by the Seattle publication. Less than an hour later, the link disappeared from the main business page -- though the article was still available via direct link and still listed as the "most read" on the RSS feed. Minutes later, even the direct link disappeared, and was replaced with the following information:The page you have requested was not found. The link is either incorrect or the page no longer exists. If you believe there is a problem, please send a message to newmedia@seattlepi.com.Did the Seattle P-I slip up and release the information early? Since the article disappeared, we will be reproducing it almost in its entirety after the jump. Please note that we are not claiming credit for this article -- we are just working to bring you the most accurate news possible.[Update 2: Apparently the article reappeared. Once the cat's out of the bag .... However, as of 2:15 Eastern, the headline has not reappeared on the business page at the Seattle paper. We are working to compare the copy to see if changes have been made. Also fixed coding error.]
Wii: last minute rumors [update 1]
It's almost time, fanboys and girls, for the big announcement that is almost certain to bring us the launch details on the Wii. What does that mean for Wii Fanboy?Rumor roundup time! Yee-haw!After the jump, we not only bring you a rumor compendium, but we also offer the official (!) Wii Fanboy predictions on launch and release date.
ESRB rates seven Genesis games for Wii
A recent search of the ESRB website turned up some scintillating results. Though not confirmed for launch or any specific timeframe, the names of seven Sega greats are listed on ESRB as coming to the Wii virtual console...and holy hell, can they pick 'em. Check it out: Altered Beast Columns Ecco the Dolphin Golden Axe Ristar Sonic the Hedgehog Toe Jam & Earl You might recognize these games as being utter classics, some of the very best the Genesis had to offer. Most have at least a cult following, and they're sure to add a huge boost to the VC's popularity. Oh, how we long to echo-locate once more... [via Joystiq]
ESRB shows seven Sega games for Wii
While PS2 and PSP users won't be getting the under-appreciated classic Toe Jam and Earl as part of a recently announced Genesis collection, it looks like Wii owners might get the game on their virtual consoles. The ESRB lists these seven classics when you search for Sega games for Nintendo's upcoming system: Altered Beast Columns Ecco the Dolphin Golden Axe Ristar Sonic the Hedgehog Toe Jam & Earl Each game got an E rating, with descriptors for comic mischief, animated violence and animated blood thrown in for good measure. While this isn't an official confirmation that the games are Wii-bound, it does seem to confirm that they have at least been submitted for ESRB rating, a logical first step. We can only hope that we'll be able to spend hundreds of dollars on new hardware just to relive the joy that is the Toe Jam rap.[Thanks, SuicidalMuskrat]
New Myst screens unveiled; I think I've seen them somewhere before
If you're a member of the anti-PSP port camp, then I have some bad news for you – Myst, a 13-year-old game, is making its way onto the PSP sometime next year. And to make you even happier, IGN has just posted some new screens of the game in "action."Unlike some ports, developers Hoplite Research/Cyan Worlds, Inc. isn't resting on its laurels and just porting the ancient game to the PSP. The port will have "new adventure scenarios, as well as updating the game's visuals for the PSP's widescreen format," according to IGN.I'm actually pretty excited about this game. I played the hell outta it back in the day and to get it on the go, has me salivating. Oh, and I have a question for you port haters. Why aren't you complaining about the ports on Xbox Live Arcade and Nintendo's Virtual Console, but are always bashing any old-school game or port released on the PSP?(Via IGN)
Speculating on the Virtual Console [Update 1]
Play-Nintendo has a "reliable list" (yeah, we know how those are) of games that are rumored to be on the Virtual Console. But it looks reasonable, and in fact, some of the titles are already confirmed by various sources. Their list is packed with classic titles, and some of them (oh, Castlevania, how we love you) are expected but still exciting, and others many of us still play on lazy Sunday afternoons (Ocarina of Time, anyone?) If this list turns out to be the real deal, we may have to take some extended breaks from our actual Wii games. A fanboy's life is full of difficult choices. Play-Nintendo also reports that their "source" confirmed five brand new games for the Virtual Console, but they couldn't reveal the details. We'll see. What are you dying to see? Frankly, we think Super Mario Bros. 3 is a necessity, if only because we know there'd be videos everywhere of fanboys reenacting scenes from The Wizard. If you could add any three games to this list, what would you choose? Full list after the jump.
