ZenTurtle

@RupeeClock
The difference between the Retron 5 and widely available emulation software is that the Retron 5 does not support ROM files. That is why it has not been taken off the market (yet). It does not directly facilitate piracy so legally Nintendo have little ground to remove it. In general, however, emulation of proprietary hardware is illegal.

@TheHumbleFellow
That's not true about connectivity. It is (relatively) simple to emulate the transfer cable, it's just data output by the program. The virtual console Zelda Oracle games, for example, allow communication to trade save file data.

@RupeeClock
They did that with Mario and Luigi Dream Team Bros. It was another web browser exploit that allowed posting to Miiverse of practically anything.

@Hyperstar96
Actually, emulation of proprietary hardware is illegal.

It's not illegal if you dump the ROM yourself. People are just too lazy to do it, that's all.

It's going to go the way of the GameCube, unfortunately.

@KirbyKirbyKirby
The problem is computing education as a whole in the UK, and the USA. Unfortunately, topics such as Visual Basic are taught which is the result of a lobbying effort by Microsoft, and education is all taught on Windows PCs. It doesn't prepare people for the workplace, which is much more diverse in terms of programming, and while there is nothing wrong with Windows PCs, they are somewhat limiting, they lock you into the Windows platform. Projects such as the Raspberry Pi are opening up computer programming to many more people, however, and thankfully schools are embracing this.

I would say that there is actually nothing wrong with object oriented programming, what I think deterred you from enjoying this type of programming was probably Visual Basic. You should have a look at the Python project. It's good as a broad introduction, and the Pygame project makes simple game programming quite straightforward, if that's your cup of tea.

The N64 was also notoriously difficult to program for. That's what really killed it, that and the a vicious circle meant that since nobody bought it, there was little development of games, which in turn led to a lack of sales. This game... I have not played it.

@nono6400
PS4, XBONE games and modern PC games sometimes reach those large sizes because they have uncompressed textures, which is more of an anti-piracy measure than anything else. HD textures are large, but should not take up as much space as people think.

@bezerker99
The expansion pack added 4MB of RAM, the game was distributed on the same size of cartridge as Ocarina of Time (64MB). Which was still quite large for the time.

I think that the eshop at least should be region-free. Of course, I would like to see it removed altogether, but at the very least we should be able to download games from around the world.
That said, there is an argument to be had that a validation of the game cartridge such as a region check does help to lock out piracy, and widespread cheating, but to me it doesn't hold up, as importing is open to only a small number of people. They should just have a more intelligent anti-piracy system.

@sinalefa
I am curious about the scratched screens. I have an original launch model, and it is not scratched at all. Surely the clam-shell design limits this?

It up-scales the games, which is something, I suppose. However, I would like to see some of the 'rarer' games come up, such as Xenoblade Chronicles

... Actually, it seems it does not upscale it after all, don't take my word for it...

@Chubblings
Actually, unlike in America, the limited editions are hardly ever sold out "within the hour". You'll have plenty of time to get one.

Unfortunately the special editions are not listed at GAME yet, just the standard ones. Which is a pity, as I hoped those were the prices for the special editions...

@Quorthon
Oops! I've edited the comment to clarify what I meant. I would just like to point out that the CELL microprocessor was really a glorified and extended Power processor, in order to increase performance for games, though.

@Quorthon
I never said Wii had an x86 processor, all three of the last-generation consoles used Power CPUs. Just to clarify what I meant by the Web Framework - I meant exactly what you just pointed out.

@Quorthon
Nintendo see a future in Power architecture (and quite rightly so), and in some ways it has advantages in terms of efficient data processing over x86, something which video games can benefit from. The problem isn't that developers are used to x86 and Nintendo somehow need to switch to it. XBox 360, PS3 and Wii all used Power architecture. The problem is that developers are used to tools that make their lives easy on Microsoft Windows on x86, such as Unity and Unreal Engine. If Nintendo can create a tool that makes games development rapid and straightforward, then developers are more likely to flock to Wii U. From what I can tell, they actually have that with the Wii U software development kits and the 'Web Framework' already, The problem is not architectural, it is that the Wii U does not sell.

@Kaze_Memaryu
It's not emulation. It's much simpler than that- the Wii firmware is simply made to run on the processor, it is called a virtual machine. If anything it is actually just as simple to run GameCube games in the same way (with a little bit of fiddling about). N64 games do need to be emulated, and if it is technically possible on Wii, it is possible on Wii U. They ought to get their act together.

We have also been waiting for GameCube games!

I'm hoping that see this Majora's Mask 3D remake being more than a port, which was what OoT 3D was. I want it to run at 60 frames per second, and to have new dungeons and locations, perhaps some sort of challenge area?

I don't think Nintendo will merge the two, but will make them the same architecture. This would make development easier, and the next handheld will likely have similar power to Wii U, so it would be much easier to port the VC to both console and handheld. The Wii U was essentially an experiment in merging handheld and console (looking at the gamepad) and that hasn't really 'clicked' with consumers, so the next console will likely be about innovation with software, not hardware.

@Tsurii897
Other than it being a fan mod, I think that one of the reasons they probably omitted Project M is because it was designed to make Brawl feel more like Melee, and if they actually have Melee, there's no reason to have it. Smash Bros. 4 also partly solves this issue of Brawl feeling different, (to me, at least) it feels like a hybrid of Brawl and Melee.

@Grumblevolcano
I have an original launch 3DS. I didn't think that the GBA games were a particularly great 'reward' for being an early adopter, it has taught me never to buy things when they first arrive: you don't know exactly what you will get. There's no confirmation of anything 'exclusive' whatsoever so there's little enough reason to buy it now. In addition to that, I don't think Nintendo want to repeat such a 'promotion' again, as it was bad press to drop the price so rapidly (although it practically saved the 3DS).

About cross-buy, it was not as you said. It was a deal on one game, which is not the same as actually implementing cross-buy throughout the eshop, which is what we should have by now.

These are not good sales. They're probably even lower too, as retailers are probably including all pre-release sales.

@NodesforNoids
That just demonstrates how the eshop should be region-free, not that Europeans are spoilt. The VC should be for games that were never released or localised as well as all of the games people had. The games they release on VC are (mostly) still readily available, so it's not particularly surprising that people don't buy them.

The DS version was fine. It also plays well with the 3DS's circle pad, as if Nintendo were planning to include an analogue-stick-style control on it, but decided not to at some point.

Skyward Sword theme

They'll restore a boring Pokemon transfer tool but they won't bring back Flipnote Studio 3D...

@CosmoXY
I do not oppose collectors, but there are people who buy video games solely for show, which is unfortunate. It makes it difficult to buy many games, as the value has inflated due to lack of supply, and it is not as the creators intended to have them sealed in a glass display case. I think in Japan they have a more reasonable attitude towards games; they keep them in good condition, but play them, appreciate them, and often sell them on afterward.

Video games are meant to be played, not stored on shelves sealed.

I think Code Name S.T.E.A.M. is biggest (so far) for me, because I (and most people on this website) have played it before in some form or another. I am interested to see what the game will be like, as its combat seems to scream "Valkyria Chronicles"!

They could include a VS mode, if they split the TV screen, and made it possible to use wii classic controllers, GameCube controllers or Wii U pro controllers.

It costs 75p at car boot sales and online so if people are really determined to play this, they can just play it on an old Game Boy. GBAs can be picked up for practically nothing, so its no real loss for many people.

Well, there's a reason that Destiny and Advanced Warfare were beaten...

A subscription-based system could work, but I think it would need to be more like the Sattelaview service of old. It would need to be exclusive games, broadcasted at different times, but once you download the game, it is yours, forever. The best of these exclusive games would get full releases, as voted for by subscribers.

Release VC games around the same time worldwide. Make the VC a place for forgotten classics and games that never made it out of Japan. Bring more variety to the VC, such as GameCube and N64 games for Wii U, SNES (and at a push N64 games too), Game Boy Advance and Virtual Boy games for the 3DS.

How do these get past Nintendo, and the people at Game, GameStop or whichever shop that sells them? Some of them must be fake!

Its price will crash soon enough. Nobody in their right mind will pay £100 for a copy of a GameCube game.

@Grumblevolcano
Just to clarify what I meant was that they should be on 3DS too, as a handheld is a more natural player of handheld games, although playing them on the controller is no doubt quite comfortable. I just think that they ought to be on the 3DS too, just as the GameCube and N64 games should be on Wii U.

@Einherjar
It's run in DS mode, but it is should be possible to run the GBA games native or semi-native on 3DS hardware, as both are variations of ARM architecture. If they can emulate the GBA games on Wii U, then they could of course get it to work on the 3DS 'properly'. It might be slightly difficult, but it can be done, and even releasing some of the other GBA games running in the GBA user mode that the Ambassador games use would be something. Usually, for emulation, the console needs to be 10 times more powerful, and the 3DS is more than sufficient in that aspect, however you may be correct about the New 3DS and rumours surrounding GBA games...

I have Fire Emblem Sacred Stones already on my 3DS. It's where the GBA games should be.

I'd like to see a discount over the winter for the whole eshop. The retail titles remain hideously expensive - Pilotwings Resort is still £39.99! Some of the older ones ought to cost around £15-20, even if for a short period of time. It would be good for DLC to be less pricey too, namely the Fire Emblem Awakening DLC. It would also be nice for the parched VC range and download-only titles to be a little bit more reasonable, it can't be right that the original cartridges cost less than the VC release. Again, even 10, 20% off would be welcome across the entire eshop,

Brilliant, but I would love an English release of the original Ni No Kuni.

@ericwithcheese2
Perhaps, although like most things on the internet, a small vocal minority do tend to perhaps, shall I say, exaggerate things a little. I'm unsure about the USA, but from where I live all of the so-called rare amiibo(Marth, wii fit trainer etc) have been on Game's shelves for a couple of weeks now. That does include two Marths and two wii fit trainers. I think some of the demand might be rather locally concentrated, that's all I can really conclude.

@ikki5
I know there is demand, I'm just unsure of how much of it is people who use and admire the figurines, rather than people who (naively) believe they will make a large profit from selling them online. I think many of the so-called rare figurines are merely rare because there are a select few buying up a lot of the stock. On the other hand, they are rather appealing to some people, so we should wait and see, because after all, they've only been out for a couple of weeks...

I am skeptical as to how well many of these sales are due to actual demand from people who like the figurines, rather than resellers. This is a craze, I think, one which will likely be fruitless in the end as the value of the 'rare' amiibos will probably plummet when it becomes apparent that many people don't actually want some of these. Marth is one such example of this. Pound shops! Bargain bins! Car boot sales! Prepare yourselves!

@NodesforNoids
I think you have interpreted my comment adversely. I was not being negative about the game, I was merely making the point that this is a tool as well as a game. Granted, I was not clear. Calling my comment contrite somewhat degrades your point, I was just making the distinction that New Super Mario bros is the same formula, for better or for worse.

My only gripe with the game (if that is what it is) - that it was only ugly NES Mario and 'new' Mario - has now been resolved! I do hope they make it for both Wii U and 3DS, though, as I think it's probably a better fit on a handheld, for short sessions.