Virtual Console, the service that allows Wii owners to download and play classic games from ages past, has been one of the best and worst features of Nintendo’s game machine.
Hundreds of games are on the service, virtually perfect emulations of memorable titles from the Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis and other retro platforms. But over the last few years, Nintendo has slowed the release schedule to almost a full stop. So far in 2012 it has only released 15 games on the service.
With the next-generation Wii U platform coming soon, Nintendo has the opportunity to reinvigorate its downloadable games initiative and make Virtual Console more than just an afterthought. In this week’s episode of Game|Life’s video entertainment program, we discuss five things it can do to boost its appeal on the new machine.
Nintendo's mid-noughties revolution feels so distant now, even if its impact hasn't really dimmed. The touch sensation of the DS led in its own way to the iOS revolution, the motion controls of the Wii helped reestablish video games in the living room and push them towards the mainstream, and the reverberations of both are felt to this day. There's another facet of its revolution that sadly never had the same impact, and now is set to finally fizzle away.
yet another part of gaming where the past was better than what we get in the present/future.
Streaming services have become really popular in the last decade. Are subscription and streaming services right for Videogames?
Nintendo Switch Online has replaced the Virtual Console but is the service up to the standard of previous Nintendo offerings? Furthermore, do subscription services like Xbox’s Game Pass and NSO really suit video games? This article explores these issues and looks back at the Virtual Console.
I really miss the VC, I don't want more subscriptions that I have to, I try to keep as few as possible.
VC is better imo. I got games like Super Metroid for like 30 cents. If NSO allowed you to play online with anybody then I would give it the edge.
While that's valid, though, that old social media meme 'why not both?' springs to mind. Why not have subscription options and a Virtual Console eShop? With NSO being multi-faceted in its offering, it seems unlikely that everyone would drop that subscription in a heartbeat in order to buy Super Mario Bros. for $5.
Because a yearly flow of money is better than people buying specifically what they want. If online was also not behind a paywall you'd be surprised just how many people would drop the sub. When you're only given one option there's not much of a choice.
No reason not to have both. Consumers would have the option of buying separately like PS+ and Game Pass owners can or have access to it all with a sub
Of course there's no reason, and Nintendo fans have been very vocal about virtual console being brought back. I think however that those who really have an issue with how Nintendo has handled classic games have stayed with emulation. I know the appeal of being able to buy instead of the free alternative. As I see it, it sends a message that there's still an audience for these games, but for whatever reason it may be it's not been made easy to the consumer.
Just another reason why modding your Switch can fix almost all of the flaws Nintendo purposefully created on their platform. Save file back ups being another reason. Nintendo is the only company that forces you to pay money in order to back up your save files, and it doesn't even work for all games. Talk about anti-consumer B.S.!
Because it was only successful on the Wii. Both the Wii U and 3DS VC offerings were no where as successful. It was time to move on from that service. More and more 3rd parties devs started supplying older games in other ways on the Switch so there's no need. Look at all the Capcom collections for instance. Even Konami got in on it. Same with Neo Geo or Atari collections. I could go on and on.
I want to play virtual console on just the gamepad as well. Nintendo has stated that they will add gamecube games to virtual console. If they are doing gamecube, then they should be able to do GB,GBA, and DS games would work because of the touch screen. The gamepad can go a certain distance away from the Wii U, now i do not know about anyone else, buuuuuut Melee and Sunshine seem a lot more appealing on the toilet lol.
I agree fully with these five things. Get it done Nintendo