— Nintendo Enthusiast:
The Switch is nearly eight months into its life cycle at this point. While this system is definitely off to a good start, there are a few notable complaints that have been echoed time and again. One of the most popular ones is the seemingly massive desire for the Virtual Console service. Personally, I don’t really get why this feature is wanted so badly.
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 don't understand how you can't see the appeal of playing various retro games on a modern platform
Its BC. Nintendo has been doing it for a while.
"how many people do you know bought the Wii just for the sake of the VC"
The biggest aspect of the Wii for me nowadays is its expansive list of Virtual Console games.
"Ask the average Wii owner if they’re even aware of the Virtual Console. In fact, do the same to the average 3DS and Wii U owner."
And you'll find a large amount of people who are aware. Why stop there? Go ask the average PS2, PSP, PS3, & Vita owner if they're aware their system can play PS1 titles. The answer will also be the same. Playing older titles on your modern platform isn't something that's unknown, especially in this age where information is more accessible than it ever was.
"The novelty of the retro titles on the Virtual Console is mainly appreciated by gamers who are old enough to have a sense of nostalgia about them."
Nope. People can appreciate any kind of quality videogame, book, movie, television show, music, etc. no matter what year it was released in. Nostalgia doesn't have everything to do with it since various times that the product of any medium gets rereleased a whole new generation of consumers will find it appealing. There's really no benefit in denying new/returning consumers from enjoying your product.
"The way I see it is like this: the Switch already has a plethora of games both available and scheduled to release."
So why not add Virtual Console titles to entertain even more people? Consider this. When FFIX was surprised released in September it quickly become one of the best selling games of that month on PSN, despite there already being various titles to enjoy on PS4. That just goes to show that no matter how many modern titles there may readily be available, audiences both old and new will always value a timeless classic.
"This isn’t the Wii U days—the Switch isn’t really starving for releases. So, just sit back, relax and enjoy the games."
Wii also wasn't staring for releases in its first year yet it still managed to put out a great deal of Virtual Console games. The VC or any service like it shouldn't be thought of or equated to a crutch. It's a quality service and it's a shame Switch is still missing out on it no matter how you spin it. Yes it has a great first year lineup like the Wii, but it could always have a plethora of more titles available to its audience just like the Wii provided.
I love what Nintendo has done with the new Mario game,it's absolutely stunning.I also love the concept of the Switch being able to play at home on tv or on the go.My only reason for not buying it is there are no games in the library that interest me except 2 games.I don't want to buy a console & I hardly use it,I traded in my Vita for that very reason.I'm hoping more games of my interest will start dropping on the Switch in the upcoming months then I'll buy.