Topic: Digital Wii (and GCN) games a missed opportunity?

Gamecube games are interesting. I think it's been demonstrated that certainly the Wii mode is capable of running them and with the adapter they have different methods of using native controllers, so there doesn't appear to be anything stopping them. I suspect they'll want to space this stuff out, but I have to think we'll see further expansion of the virtual console over time.

Incidentally are Wii games actually listed in the Virtual,Console section of eShop? I downloaded Super Mario Galaxy 2 direct from the ad link that appeared on my Gamepad following the direct video, so I didn't check.

Here are my thoughts:

I love the Wii games being released on the eShop. I did not own SMG2 or Punchout so those I will definitely buy along with many others. I would love to buy LoZ:TP if it came out but I still believe that is going to be a HD upgrade game like LoZ:WW (in my head TP would have a mirrored world/Remix dungeon master quest like OoT 3D and 4 different control methods: GamePad and Pro Controller like WW, Wii Remote and Nunchuck from the Wii or GC controller) between the upcoming Zelda game and the franchise's next home console release. Yes, it would have been nice if they were ported as Wii U games with other controller support and enhanced graphics but the solution they came up with is simple and opens up a wide range of potential opportunities for those publishers with games on the Wii VC or WiiWare. For example Sega has said they have no Wii U VC plans but if this method can be used they can release all their Wii VC games on Wii U eShop. If these "shortcuts" could be downloaded for free by those that already own the game in Wii mode and bought by those who don't I see no downside to that.

This, IMO is how Nintendo will get the N64 VC going. N64 doesn't need State Save functionality of the other Wii U VC games (NES, SNES, GBA) and with this Wii game method they could all be played on the Wii U GamePad, which to me is the key functionality I want for these games. They could slowly start releasing the N64 games that are already on the Wii VC for the same $10 price with a promotional price for those who already own the games in Wii mode (we can hope for free but I see $2, in line with the NES and SNES discounts, more likely)

Gamecube is still, I think, a much harder trick. I still firmly believe it will happen. Unlike some though, I do not believe Nintendo will bother with porting controls to the Gamepad/Pro controller. I do not believe the Gamecube controller adapter came out just for Smash Bros. This is their avenue. They then have 2 choices for implementing GC games:

1. Use the same method for GC games they are using for the Wii games. This would mean each download would be a shortcut to Wii mode. I think this would probably be easier to implement on the game porting side but Nintendo would have to do the leg work to get Wii mode to recognize the GC controller adapter.

2. Take the extra time to make the GC games work as Wii U games. Upscale them to 1080p, a la Dolphin, and get them compatible with the adapter.

I think it will happen and don't particularly care which way. Because I think they will simply use the GC controller adapter for this it means playing on the GamePad is not a realistic option unfortunately.

Wii U needs to be the retrocompatible console of the century if they can do some adjustements for the Virtual Console (but they are lazy, this is the problem):

• Unify the wiiware and wii VC to eshop (they already did it in 3DS with the DSi).
• Unify the wii mode with the wii u (they already did it in the 3DS with the DS).
• Update to use the GC adapter with wii mode and wii u.
• Update to use again GC discs.
• Bring again non- Nintendo consoles to VC and again publishers to VC (Sega, Square Enix are some examples).
• If you have a VC game in Wii U you can download it cheaper in 3DS (and viceversa) (they already did it in Wii U detects your Wii VC catalog).

And some minimum extras to better the experience:

• All GameGear options needs to be included in all 3DS VC games.
• All GB games needs to be updated with Super GB options.
• All GBA options needs to be included in Wii U VC games.
• Maybe to put the original boxart when you enter the game (part of the boxarts appears in 3DS eshop selecting the game).

If Sega, D4 and Konami (I think they own the PCE/TG-16 rights) are truly not as interested in porting everything to Wii U as Nintendo seems to be then I agree, they should do for those VC platforms what they've done for Wii VC and sell them in the eShop. Ditto for WiiWare. I cannot see a reason that the Wii channel should exist: you can already use the disc channel to run Wii games - just run the Wii mode in the background; I should think backups to SD would be easily done from the Settings menu - Smash has shown us that the Wii U can certainly access the SD slot - and Miis should be translatable in both directions.

I'm hopeful that Nintendo will eventually provide the level of transparency to Wii games that they arguably should have had at launch and give those game owners a chance to make back that investment on their WiiWare and VC offerings.

1 & 2. I suspect this would be a nightmare to implement and wouldn't actually drive sales
3. Agreed, the GC adapter needs more uses outside of Smash. Though it is a niche device.
4. Wouldn't make any sense at all. If they're to do this they should sell them digitally
5. Yes, the VC should expand. This goes without saying
6. I've been wanting this for ages. I hope that the closure of Club Nintendo may be a step towards something like this

Yes, all of this please!

Wii U will not be able to read GCN discs with a simple update

If that were the case, hackers could make the Wii U play PlayStation discs or DVDs with a simple update.

Like I said before, when my Wii stopped reading discs, it still read GCN discs.

Also, rather-dubious-methods have only demonstrated playing digital GCN games on Wii U

Didn't New Play Control also include changes to support widescreen displays? And Pikmin 2 at least included a sharper graphics mode which I rather doubt was in the original release. I don't know how major these are, but if the widescreen support involved additional artwork then that's not a minor update.

I don't recall any stretching of image in Metroid Prime (though it's been years since I played it); I certainly don't notice any in Pikmin 2. That doesn't mean that they didn't zoom the image and crop it, but if they did so it's really hard to tell, so they may or may not have done a lot of work on the visuals.

Having said that I think it's possible they would do updates to Wii VC games, but it might be on an "as needed" basis. Given how most Wii games were made with a Remote/Nunchuk in mind I cannot see Nintendo putting effort into creating a new Gamepad control scheme when likely only a small minority of players would want/use that. After all they do seem to want people to continue to buy Wii Remotes or they wouldn't be doing all these special character-branded ones. Face it, people who only want to game with a Pro Controller are the minority of Wii U owners; it would have made as much sense as having all Wii games with a Classic Controller mode when they were originally released.