Topic: Wii U Virtual Console inadequate

I just read an 6 months old article stating that Nintendo 64 games would be available on the Wii U Virtual Console. 6 months! It still has yet to appear.

The whole Virtual Console across all Nintendo systems is a mess. It has to become more flexible.

Since the site I used to get roms from got taken down for legal reasons I have started buying Virtual Console games instead of using PC Emulators because I also want to support Nintendo. Now that I'm paying for the games I was hoping to get a better experience, but no. From what I have read the Virtual Console leaves much to be desired.

A couple of problems:

Region restrictions/differences
Differences from the Original games
Inadequate amount of games
Having to buy special controllers
Bad button layout
Wii having better library than Wii U
Wii mode only having 512mb memory
Having to pay to upgrade games from Wii to Wii U
It's all a big hassle. I can't play this on 3DS, I can't play that on Wii U and so forth.

Btw, why not release the Ocarina of Time HD remake on the Wii U!

Some of these points are more understandable then others due to the sometimes difficult process of emulation, but when looking at the big picture it makes no sense that Nintendo doesn't do more. If a group of individuals can create emulators that run as good or better than the original console then why can't a big company like Nintendo do it.

All the bad stuff aside I appreciate the Virtual Console, but some of Nintendo's decisions do not make sense and I feel that they are not putting enough effort into the matter.

I agree with most of your points, but why the hell would they want to make an HD remake of OoT on Wii U? We already have a 3DS remake, so why waste resources on a Wii U one?

@mrgreen9708 you're completely right, the whole thing is an embarrassment in its current state. It should have launched with the console, started with the Wii line up (just running the Wii code with remapped controls, forgetting the gamepad screen and save state add-ons), transferring over your old Wii games and should have added new consoles (GCN, Saturn and Dreamcast). It's doubly galling now it's been shown than the Wii U natively runs both Wii and GCN code without the need for an emulator meaning everything on the Wii and the GCN (as a new console) could have been made available from day one with minimal effort on Nintendo's part. It was such a massive selling point of the Wii for me, I wish they'd got more companies on board for the Wii U (Sega in particular). It makes me very sad to see how neglected it is, the limited supply of the GCN adaptor shows they have no intention of ever putting the GCN on it.

@mrgreen9705 In fact Nintendo 64 games were promised to exist at some point even at launch 2 years ago but really I think they're avoiding making VC better to prevent the classics leading to people overlooking the new titles. Like if the DKC trilogy came out in NA on the same week as Captain Toad, the latter would probably suffer in sales.

Correct, the spec of the Wii is 512 MB RAM. What does that has to do with VC?

I agree VC is lacking so much it is pathetic at points the Wii VC was so much better at this point in its life.

He's talking about the storage amount before SD cards.

Because it doesn't exist?

1. This is a system wide thing, not just the VC. Plus AFAIK each region manages their own release schedules
2. What differences? They're pretty damn true to the originals. This is the first time I've heard this whine
3. Yes, no disagreement there
4. They work with the GamePad that comes with the system. What more do you want?
5. Same as the original games and if memory serves me correctly you can remap them
6. Again, this is a thing. Worth noting that the Wii had a good six years to get the VC library it has now but
7. Then buy them on the Wii U VC
8. They didn't have to even acknowledge the purchase really. Plus for what you get it's worth the upgrade.
9. GBA games struggle on the 3DS, SNES is likely just as bad. Cross-play and cross-buy would be nice but I get why it's just NES on 3DS

I completely agree with most comments. Maybe the reason Ninty is not allocating resources to the Virtual Console is due to crap sales on the Wii.
I am not defending them, but unless people buy the games, it is unlikely we will see any improvement (I always thought the VC was a cash cow for Ninty, considering how much they charge).
Perhaps someone @nintendolife could contact Nintendo to get feedback on why they not giving better support

@Jmaster
Because the 3DS has no video output. It would be nice to play it on a TV.

@Grumblevolcano
You are probably right. The sales have not been too good.

@jariw
The Wii modes 512mb is very limiting.

@SpookyMeths
It was just a side note on how I think Nintendo would profit from releasing what many consider to be the best game of all time on multiple platforms.

@skywake
1: Aight, but I still do not think it is cool to sometimes limit the frame rate and aspect ratio depending on region.
2: Certainly not the first time I heard it. Some who claim themselves true fans of the games claims the Virtual Consoles worse than the originals.
4: Nope, some require a classic controller or equivalent.
5: Not all are remappable.
6. Yep, but the Wii U have existed for quite a while and the amount of games is still inadequate.
7: Some are exclusive to Wii mode.

Pahvi
6: No it's just that the Wii has more VC games that bothers me.

I think it's obvious Nintendo is artifcially limiting the Virtual Console so they don't put all their cards on the table too soon.

2015 will be an amazing year with most of the main franchises receiving a new game but after 2015, with only Metroid and F-Zero missing a new entry, they will probably start to show DS an GC games on Virtual Console.

1. This is how the games were originally, some games in the EU get US versions which is nice... some don't...
2. The only difference I see is crisper visuals. I've heard some argue that the US version isn't "authentic" so, can't win.
3, 4, 5, 6, 7. These are all ultimately the same problem, not in disagreement. The Wii U VC needs more content

To my knowledge, Duck Hunt is the only game in the entire Wii U VC library that requires a separate controller, the Wii Remote. All other games can be played on and with the Gamepad, and all of them have remappable controls.

Have you used the service yet? Or are you basing this all on your experience with the Wii VC?

As for 2, literally the only person I've ever seen complain about visuals on the Wii U VC is unrandomsam, but his opinions are rather... well, they're contrarian.

The virtual console service is virtually dead and thats a sad thing to, iwata promised us a back-catalog worth 20 years of Nintendo gaming back at E3 2005!, 2000 and five, when the Wii was first announced, and now with the Wii U and 3DS all they've been doing is slowly re-released virtual console games we already got on the Wii minus a select few circa Earthbound and whelp, Duck Hunt. Seriously they promised N64 games over and over, can't decide on giving us GCN games or making HD catalog remakes, and DS games. heck only 1 was released. I thought the virtual console was under-utilized on the Wii, hell its virtually dead right now, and thats really, really sad, because if anyone can emulate Nintendo games its.. well NINTENDO >.> yea.. I've posted numerous times how the Virtual Console service is dead and depressing on NL forums. Also what do they do on christmas, we got SMW on the SNES side of the VC right, they released... -drum rool- SMW on the GBA side FACETABLE if they wanted to give us a great christmas present on the GBA side there was always Mother 3 but wait yea they don't want our money with that I forgot.... i'll stop rambling now, this topic gets me fired up lol

I agree it's pretty inadequate. Less GBA, more SNES! (and other Nintendo consoles)

It is pretty depressing that emulating Nintendo's old games for free is the better option, and still would be even if you had to pay for them. I want to support Nintendo more with the Virtual Console but come on:

• Insane pricing (£4.50 for an NES game? really? You realise Skyrim has been on sale for less right?)
• Lack of features (The GB games cant even be run with GBC palettes. Nintendo's emulation cant compete with their own 16 year old hardware.)
• Slow releases (One NES game a week at best? Seriously Nintendo? If they actually put some effort into the service more people might actually use it)
• Promised systems missing (So many systems of games still not present, and also, not putting GBA games on the 3DS. Don't even try arguing that cannibalising of emulated 20 year old games is what's stopping them - that's idiotic thinking).

No use complaining, be proactive! You know what needs to be done, wrangle those old games and put them on the eshop yourself. You can do it! Seek your fortune! Show them you've got what it takes. Be the best you can be! Generic inspiring comment! Do what they don't have the stones to do! If you don't, who will? Why should they have all the fun? Revolutionise the world! For just $1 a day, you can end VC poverty!

Toad is pumped and ready to get things done!

Man tycker ju att dom borde skaffa GameCube spel till VC.
PS: gillar din profil bild

Sorry, what? "If a game were available for a small amount of money, how many people would still buy it, and who would they be?"
Well, more people would buy it, because it's cheaper. They would be anyone with a 3DS who is interested in playing VC games. If you're trying to imply that less money would be made with a lower price, then I wholeheartedly disagree. The amount of people out there who wont even touch the VC service solely because of its price is very high, and there have been many games that I have considered buying if only they cost a little less. Maybe have considerable sales as an alternative to permanently slashing the price, but this logic of "Oh if we don't charge £4.50 for an NES game we wont make as much" is absurd. I thought I covered this with a line that says it all; Skyrim goes on sale for less. In this day and age, the prices just aren't competitive or worth it.

Also, December 18th saw two Capcom's NES games (EU). December 4th saw three NES VC releases (EU). So - there have been weeks with multiple NES releases per day. (If you meant Nintendo's first-party NES titles... there aren't many worthwhile ones left, are there? Especially if you think they should be spread throughout the remainder of Wii U's lifespan.)

Yeah, my point wasn't that sometimes we get lucky and get more NES games, it was that on average we're seeing one VC game a week, and a lot of the time its something extremely niche. Bear in mind I'm also talking about the 3DS VC service, which is getting barely 1 game a week now, if that.

Out of all the things said on this site, defence of the Virtual Console service is the one I find most ridiculous. If you think that the release of 20+ year old games for large price tags at a really slow release pace without cross-platform play is good service, then I despair.

So I agree with a lot of your points, though I would point out that all VC games (at least on Wii U) are completely customizable as far as button configurations. And can be played with just about every Nintendo controller known to man. That's one of the prize selling points for me. The only exception to this of course, would be Duck Hunt, and understandably so.

And I actually think the upgrade option is a huge asset to VC, seeing as Wii U does allow transfer of Wii VC. So not only do you get to transfer the games you already paid for on Wii, you can pay a minimal fee to get the newer version with Gamepad support, customizable buttons, virtual saves, controller options, etc.

But I do agree the game selection is sparse. Now, I am a huge fan of the GBA releases. They are fantastic- the true gold standard of VC (full screen mode options, screen smoothing, color manuals on gamepad while you play, etc) but I'm still waiting for DKC trilogy, games I've been wanting to play so bad for so long I actually just ordered a DSi XL and flash cart just to have access to them on a handheld.

Which brings me to my next point- I believe that so long as a game is not for sale in the Virtual Console service, it's ok to play a ROM. However, if and when that game ever does release for VC, I believe one is obligated to purchase it if they have already engaged in playing the ROM. So my plan is, use my new DSi XL for the DKC trilogies among other retro gems unavailable on Wii U, but I do so knowing that if any of those games ever release I will purchase them immediately.

That's just how I see it anyways...