During the same conference call with Reggie, the notion for online features in Virtual Console games came up. And, like a huge megaton hammer, Reggie came crashing down on the notion with enough force as to completely shatter each and every dream we'd ever had, from ridiculous to surprisingly plausible. It's a shame, because it wouldn't be that hard to give us something so small as online leaderboards.
For those of you looking forward to updates to these past titles, much like the norm on the Xbox Live Arcade, grab a box of Kleenex and sit with us. It's just not going to happen. It's okay, cry. Let it out. We're here with you, doing the same.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-14-2007 @ 12:05PM
MountainLionLink said...
It is a shame really, since Reggie made Nintendo of America really successfully. I guess that he doesn't see the profits that Sony and Xbox rank in just for their online features as something of a venture that Nintendo could easily out do if the company invested the time into it.
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12-14-2007 @ 12:14PM
dunnypop said...
online is the way to go.
I wished they had a patching system, considering the QA testing for a lot of games is horrid (example GH 3, Red Steel)
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12-14-2007 @ 1:11PM
phoenix said...
No patch can fix red steel
12-14-2007 @ 12:24PM
Avoli said...
So, the DS prints money, the Wii sure does......
But imagine how much more it could print if they filled the engine. Its like they don't want too much to do, or still think that their card making days are still around.
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12-14-2007 @ 12:33PM
Shadow31 said...
Can't believe NWFB didn't notice this yet... scan through the original article. Sure, they aren't considering online features for many virtual console games, but they leave the door open for some (like Pokemon Snap). Now look up a paragraph or two. Nintendo is looking into voice chat for online play. I think this is very relieving. :)
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12-14-2007 @ 3:56PM
Dirk Dorkelson said...
Voice chat would be awesome. My wife and I live in SF, and my best friend and his wife live in Boston. I do a ton of online gaming with them on the 360, and the voice chat has replaced regular phone conversations for us. After all, those long-distance conversations are a lot more fun if you're killing aliens together.
We were actually talking (half-jokingly) recently about how when SSB comes out, we might have to use our 360s to voice chat while we game on the Wii.
12-14-2007 @ 12:49PM
Gonzo said...
From what I've seen. The VC itself is for suckers.
They ask way too much money for games that were out 10 years ago, especially when you consider that it's a simple task to get them running on your pc for free. I'd be willing to pay for the convenience, but no more than $5 for each game. I think the NES games are only $5.
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12-14-2007 @ 1:16PM
Sonic_13 said...
I have to disagree. I think the prices are just right and are a pretty good value.
May I also remind you that "running them on your pc for free" is illegal and something that most of us wouldn't want to venture into.
12-14-2007 @ 1:32PM
B1gC72 said...
im with you. i bought 6 of them from the virtual console (used a free 2000 points card for 4 of them) and i feel like a complete sucker. the games are too expensive for the level of depth they provide OVERALL (there are a certainly exceptions though). the games are just never as fun as i remembered them. i havent bought a VC game since this summer because im tired of spending money to see how much ive aged (and im only 20! lol).
i do believe that not updating some of the games they release on there is very short sighted (almost like we've seen this before...) and some of the games could be completely revitalized with minimal effort.
i think Nintendo's problem is that they just dont have that winners attitude. its like great, we are the best, but the real question is 'what are you going to do to make sure you stay on top?'. and i dont think they are doing what they need to do. eventually the casual gamers are going to realize that spending $250 to play Wii Sports is ridiculous and the small group of hardcore gamers (that they have been neglecting) will be all that is left. i think Nintendo is doing great but they still have potential to do SO much better still.
/end rant
12-14-2007 @ 1:37PM
B1gC72 said...
@ Sonic_13
i think you do have a point that the games are at a good price for people who dont want to use roms and emulators on their PC's. but i do still maintain, that at least for me, the games are nowhere near as fun as i remembered, therefore making them not worth it for me at least. i dont care how well it's priced, but if i dont find it fun anymore, im not going to buy it. but judging from their sales numbers i am a pretty isolated case, but that is just my opinion of the thing.
12-14-2007 @ 1:50PM
Kev said...
Something as simple as demos for VC games would be very helpful. You can try the game for a minute, realize it's not as good as you thought, and save your money. But that won't any money for Nintendo so it probably won't happen.
12-14-2007 @ 2:20PM
Sonic_13 said...
@B1gC72
I think that can definitely be an issue (downloading an old favorite but then not having as much fun with it). That can especially be an issue if turns people away from downloading more titles in the future (as in your case).
However, I do think the VC exceptional for letting people play the classic titles that they never got a chance to play. For me, I haven't downloaded any titles that I have owned at some point. But getting the chance to play classics like The Legend of Zelda, Ice Climber, and Kid Icarus for the first time is just awesome!
12-14-2007 @ 12:51PM
Atlantis1982 said...
So they don't want to add online, yet they'll gladly add in sending pictures of pokemon that not many people really give a damn about. I just don't see the logic.
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12-14-2007 @ 1:05PM
Dopple Boppler said...
Sharing your pictures with friends through the sticker mechanic was such a huge part of Pokemon Snap when it first came out that it really only makes sense that they'd want to find some way to replicate it. Or rather, it was a big part of the game for all the 10 year olds like myself who bought the game back then, and it's a very welcome feature for me now that I don't have my original cartridge anymore and bought the Virtual Console version.
12-14-2007 @ 1:03PM
Sonic_13 said...
Personally, I don't really care if they had new online features to old games. I think the classic games should remain the way they are. Perhaps scoreboards for some of the classic arcade games would've been nice (ex. Donkey Kong), but they would probably soon just be filled up with maxed out scores.
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12-14-2007 @ 1:57PM
saylorsgang said...
I love my VC, I justify my Wii purchase on that, the VC was my main selling point, no more blowing on cartridges! Hell Yeah! I think they should put a scoreboard up, or have some contests every so often, but I could care less about playing Super Mario Bros with Dave in another state, or sending pics of Pokemon, but keep the VC games coming!
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12-14-2007 @ 2:25PM
Good_Bytes said...
Well if such event occurs again and again, then Reggie might change his mind.
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12-14-2007 @ 2:42PM
Gonzo said...
Thanks B1g C for bringing up another point:
Compared to the games that come out now, most of the games on the VC are totally crappy. Yes they were great as a part of my childhood (before GTA and Resident Evil) but I think I'd rather just fondly remember them that way. It's just that $10 for an n64 or a neogeo game from 10 years ago is ridiculous. I'm still buying good ps2 games for $10.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not writing angry letters or anything. On the contrary, as a Nintendo shareholder I'm not going to complain to them one bit (they probably make the best profit vs overhead on the VC) just as I'm sure Gamestop shareholders don't complain about the $2 markdown for used games from the new price or the fact that their customers have to pre-order EVERYTHING.
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12-15-2007 @ 12:04AM
Atlantis1982 said...
Well for some, like me, believe that games from yesteryear are FAR SUPERIOR than games today. Some they just don't make anymore (ala Beat-em-ups, crazy Sports titles etc...)
12-14-2007 @ 4:04PM
gevenstaines said...
*scoff* kaillera is the way to go
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12-14-2007 @ 7:25PM
Orenthol James said...
Things were are never, ever going to get, because either
A) It'd be too much work for Nintendo, entirely defeating the purpose of the VC (Minimal effort, maximum profit. Rip off the naive).. that'd be online play, leaderboards, or any real effort in general toward the VC.
or B) It'd make maybe a few people less likely to buy a game... Which means no demos. None. None.
No VC demos, no Wii demos. DS demos are a go, I suppose!
But nothing else will ever come out of it.
It's because Nintendo is usually only willing to try one new thing every generation, and after that, they're stuck in a rut of being so extremely profit minded, they're not willing to try anything at all ever that's remotely new, for fear of losing that ever profit margin.
I imagine Nintendo is a lot like the ferengis of Ferenginar. Huddled around a table, discussing everything that'll result in profit. Someone brings up, say, VC demos, or VC online features, and someone's like "Where would be..... the profit in that..."
"How about we just stick roms on there, and see how much the bafoons will pay at a maximum? Hell, we can even charge 200 points more for Genesis games in America! Those fools will never know!" "I see.... much profit" and then Nintendo execs huddle over a pot of gold, and follow exactly what'll give them more gold, and nothing more.
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12-15-2007 @ 1:47AM
Trashman said...
i just want my super mario rpg! and final fantasy III or VI as it is called now
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12-15-2007 @ 1:17PM
Sonic_13 said...
Just out of curiosity, why does everyone expected Nintendo to add online and new functionality to these classic games?
The whole point of the Virtual Console is to be able to download and play classic games just as if you were playing them on their native systems. If Nintendo were to add online play, etc. it just wouldn't be the Virtual Console anymore.
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