Last week we quizzed Nintendo on some of the most commonly pondered issues regarding its retro Virtual Console download service on Wii, and we then opened the floor to you guys to throw some questions our way to put to Nintendo. Now, in the latest stage in our mission to uncover every secret about the VC, we have Nintendo's answers, and there's some great info in there.
So without further ado, check out the Q&A;, then sit tight and do your best not to go insane in the wait for the Wii launch on December 8.
Do N64 games on Virtual Console have the rumble feedback compatibility?
Nintendo: The rumble feature is not supported on N64 games downloaded to the Virtual Console.
Multiplayer games - will these now incorporate an option to allow the second/third/fourth player to connect over the internet to play, as some PC emulators have made possible?
Nintendo: All games will be faithful recreations of the original versions so they will not feature new functions like multiplayer or internet play if the original title did not.
Will the Wii iron out all slow-down that existed in old games, including the 2D formats? It would be great to play all the old games at a silky-smooth framerate, but some retro gamers, for some reason, consider the slowdown to a part of the game's old-school appeal.
Nintendo: The Virtual Console games faithfully reproduces the original game in all areas, including content, movement and expressions. Principle programming, characters, sound etc. have not been changed.
Being as the Wii classic controller cannot be used to play GameCube games, will Nintendo continue to produce and sell GameCube controllers?
Nintendo: No plans have been announced to date. But Nintendo GameCube accessories are still available from all good retailers.
How configurable will controls be? The N64, with its C-buttons, effectively had six face buttons. The VC controller only has 4. How will this mapping work?
Nintendo: Controller layouts will be determined on a game-by-game basis and detailed in the electronic manual.
Will their be any price difference between buying Wii Points through the online Wii Shop Channel and via retail stores?
Nintendo: Wii points will cost the same online as they do in retail. They can be purchased on the Wii Shop Channel using all major credit cards. 2000 points cards will cost €20 (£14) both online and in shops.
Will there be a published release schedule of VC games or will they just come out as and when?
Nintendo: More Virtual console games will be announced at a later date. New Virtual Console titles will be added in 2007 and beyond creating a constantly growing library of games.
How large (in storage terms) will VC games be? At present what is the average size for games on each of the formats?
Nintendo: Games vary in size but approximately NES games will be 1MB, SNES 5MB and N64 32MB.
How will VC games be organised on the channels page? Will each game be an individual channel or can users group say all the titles of one format (SNES) or all the titles of one series (Zelda)?
Nintendo: Each VC title downloaded will be displayed as an individual channel. Users may move these channels around to suit them.
Ok, now we're starting to get into the meat of all the virtual console/backwards compatibility stuff. Cheers.
As someone who skipped the Gamecube after my N64 and have just been playing Mario Tennis for the past 7 years, I'm looking forward to being able to supplement my games collection with a fair few GC titles, which I can pretend are exciting new games. I know the Wii will have GC memory card slots (so that GC owners don't lose their precious saves when they stick the GC in the attic), but my £10.99 question is: surely the 512Mb flash memory can be used for GC saves, and you don't need to buy a GC memory card? Ta!
Disappointed. The lack of rumble on N64 games is just lazy but also just about acceptable, but I can’t believe they are not going to tweak the games so you can play other people on line! This isn’t acceptable! Surely it wouldn’t take much! How do I go about complaining to Nintendo? I want to express my bitter disappointment!
I don’t know how this would work but I also think that if someone owns a title that they want to download on a NES or SNES then they should be able to download the VC version for free, like I said I don’t know how this would work, I mean, proving you own a title. It can work with GC games because they came with that scratch card thing that you can register with the Nintendo web site to get point and use those points to buy things. (I wonder if those points will now be able to be used to buy VC games? That would be good!) but if you own a GC game then you don’t need to download it because it runs from the GC CD.
I can't believe Nintendo aren't making vc games multiplayer via online connections, I think they've really shot themselves in the foot with that. It could've been a huge selling point (clearly not as big as the Wii remote) telling gamers they can play Mariokart and others online. Mariokart is one of the best original racing games even still today and that would of improved it even more, don't get me wrong this won't kill the console probably won't affect sales but I was so looking forward to Mariokart online, playing with my old pals (who most of which have moved away).
I can't believe Nintendo aren't making vc games multiplayer via online connections, I think they've really shot themselves in the foot with that. It could've been a huge selling point (clearly not as big as the Wii remote) telling gamers they can play Mariokart and others online. Mariokart is one of the best original racing games even still today and that would of improved it even more, don't get me wrong this won't kill the console probably won't affect sales but I was so looking forward to Mariokart online, playing with my old pals (who most of which have moved away).
I'm sure Mario Kart Wii will have online play. (Whenever it comes out.)
although mk64 online would be good, the best part of mk is having mates round and then taunting them to their face when u beat them on the finish line thanks to a timed green shell!
although mk64 online would be good, the best part of mk is having mates round and then taunting them to their face when u beat them on the finish line thanks to a timed green shell!
the first game i got brought for the snes(i got the street fighter 2 pack in)was Mario Kart in 1992 and its still a fine game today but im not bothered about online play. Ive got Mario Kart DS for that which is the finest Mario Kart around. What i want from Super Mario Kart on the VC is this. I want 60Hz full screen gameplay because if thats not featured there is no point in me downloading it as i still have my boxed snes copy.
Here is something to clear up the whole can Gamecube pads be used on the VC debate
http://wii.nintendo.com/virtualconsole.jsp
Thats American but i cant for the life of me see Nintendo Europe removing that feature as it would be pointless.
By the way i still have my NES which i got brought back in 1987 when i was 4 my grandad went for a C64 but came back from Argos with a NES. Super Mario Bros was the first game i played so if that comes on the Wii VC ill be very tempted as it will save getting the NES, SNES and GBC versions out in order to play it.
Slighty off topic but i wonder will freeloader work on the Wii im definatly trying it out when i get one(if play can get one for me this side of Christmas, not end of world though as im lucky enough to have Gears of War, Smackdown vs Raw plus im going to pick up the japanese version of Phoenix Wright 2 as it has an English option)
not end of world though as im lucky enough to have Gears of War, Smackdown vs Raw plus im going to pick up the japanese version of Phoenix Wright 2 as it has an English option)
Gears of War is good but too short! And Phoenix Wright 2 has an English option?!?! OBJECTION!! Err.. I mean Great!
As for Snes Mario Kart running in 60hz...I hope so.
As someone who skipped the Gamecube after my N64 and have just been playing Mario Tennis for the past 7 years, I'm looking forward to being able to supplement my games collection with a fair few GC titles, which I can pretend are exciting new games. I know the Wii will have GC memory card slots (so that GC owners don't lose their precious saves when they stick the GC in the attic), but my £10.99 question is: surely the 512Mb flash memory can be used for GC saves, and you don't need to buy a GC memory card? Ta!
You would think that but i think its the way the GC saved the files on the memory card thats the problem and thats why you need a GC memory card. You can get pretty big ones cheap now though off ebay so its not too bad. I got a GC at launch(i walked into Comet near me on the morning they came out at 11am and picked one up easy none of this pre-order stuff im doing for the Wii, the girl behind the till strangely said the GC were selling better than the xbox though)but i kinda of neglected it in terms of buying games as they were expensive and never seem to come down. Even now they are £30 where as the ps2 and xbox have cheaper prices for games. I decided that when i get the Wii ill try and get those GC games i missed. I imported less games than i expected as well ive got MVP Baseball, Mega Man Collection both American and the Jap version of Sonic Gems for the proper music to Sonic CD(plus the uncut streets of rage 1,2 and 3 yes they are on the japanese version). Thats why im looking forward to the Wii as im going to be getting into it more i think and will pick up those GC games i missed and pretend they are new.
Im also finding it expensive getting Xbox 360 games at £40 a go so ive started to import the Australian versions from www.dvdcrave.com the shallow but fun Dead or Alive volleyball 2 is only £25 including postage. Wii play with the remote is about £30.
Gears of War LE £39.89 sendit.com ordered it on tuesday got it on day of release cheapest price ive seen for the LE which is nice by the way
Lol i love Phoenix wright and was shocked to learn that the first game had an English option too. Its the same translation that will be used for the American and UK versions.
I didnt use Lik Sang as i though they were expensive and they did not pay for customs. Its a shame they went under though.
I use http://global.yesasia.com/en/index.aspx
They have free postage and pay all customs fees to the UK so they are no hidden charges.
thats Phoenix wright 2 on the back of the box they actually sell the fact it has an English option. I know this as i got someone Japanese from Uni to translate it for me from a pic of the back of the box on ebay.
Lol i love Phoenix wright and was shocked to learn that the first game had an English option too. Its the same translation that will be used for the American and UK versions.
I didnt use Lik Sang as i though they were expensive and they did not pay for customs. Its a shame they went under though.
I use http://global.yesasia.com/en/index.aspx
They have free postage and pay all customs fees to the UK so they are no hidden charges.
thats Phoenix wright 2 on the back of the box they actually sell the fact it has an English option. I know this as i got someone Japanese from Uni to translate it for me from a pic of the back of the box on ebay.
But considering how SF2 plays on Live Arcade I dont mind at all.
Yes cause one title on Live arcade plays badly it isn't worth it... What about Gauntlent, Smash TV, Doom etc etc that all play well and not only that have been made to look better and play faster?
All games will be faithful recreations of the original versions so they will not feature new functions like multiplayer or internet play if the original title did not.
Well that is just f**kin stupid, lazy bastards expecting us to shell out for rom that they can't even be bothered put any effort into optimising it or adding any new features to it? Especially as it appears that if we didn't get it in our region originally we won't get it now like MarioRPG.
Just another crap feature of the Wii like the naff browser and pointless weather channel. If it weren't for Zelda I would really be regretting buying it right now and I have pretty much finished that despite taking my time.
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Looks like i'll have to take the emulator path once again.
What about Gauntlent, Smash TV, Doom etc etc that all play well and not only that have been made to look better and play faster? 
