Nintendo “steering in the direction of WiiWare” in wake of low VC sales
Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 6:07pm by Sean B.
Wonder where the new Virtual Console releases have been? According to wordpress blog “GameBag” writer Jorge, they’ve been passed over in favor WiiWare’s higher sales. Jorge asked a Nintendo customer service representative, who reportedly said:
“We understand your concern about the lack of service on the VC as of late. Due to sales numbers being far greater recently on Wiiware than on Virtual Console, we have decided to steer in the direction of WiiWare.
Also, we in America have NO plans to update the Internet Channel or the Nintendo Channel. We hope you understand”
Blunt, to the point, and heartbreaking. I feel like Nintendo just broke up with my inner-child. The statement by no means signifies the end of Virtual Console, but it’s disheartening all the same. Still, there’s a bight side – a WiiWare focused Nintendo means more great Nintendo exclusive downloadable content – let’s just hope the retro dry spell doesen’t last long.
[gamebag via gonintendo]
July 27th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Virtual Console would sell better if they would focus on converting titles people actually remember and have affection for instead of no-name trash every week. . .how big is the Nintendo back catalog that’s still not on VC? Earthbound, anyone? Ugh.
July 27th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Maybe VC hasn’t been selling well because of all the crap they’ve been releasing on it.
July 27th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Maybe if they actually released games that people wanted *cough*Earthbound DK64 SSB etc.*cough*, it would sell better.
July 27th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario World 2, you complete me.
You would anyways if I had a way of purchasing you other then $30 on ebay.
July 27th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Yeah, if they tried releasing good games on it once in a while instead of re-releasing the shovalware of the day, maybe it would sell better, atleast with some of the poorer wiiware games people don’t yet know they’re bad games, releasing only the lower quality classic games is just asking for small sales..
and
@Storm39, SSB is out on VC here in Europe, I’m sure it won’t be long till it’s released in the US, ect.
July 27th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I agree with everyone here. If Nintendo would put some worthwhile games on their VC for once, I think more people would buy them. As it stands, how expensive could it possibly be for Nintendo to sit a couple of programmers down to emulate an old game? Even if the expenses lie in acquiring rerelease rights for some 3rd party games, why haven’t they released more of the first party games that they already hold the rights to?
July 27th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I believe that low VC sales are in part because of high costs.
$8 for Sonic for wii, $5 for 360. Which should I buy?
I feel ripped off buying gunstar heroes on wii now that is is on the 360 cheaper.
July 27th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
I agree with everything. VC system prices could be dropped as an incentive, but the release schedule has been terrible. Oh well, back to emulators. Ooops. I mean, what’s a rom?
July 27th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
All the fanBoys have purchased the over priced VC titles.
Now everyone else just wont do it.
Good Job N
July 27th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
I have to echo the sentiments…this is a “problem” that Nintendo themselves have helped create. I would buy more VC games if you’d actually put some on there that I want to buy. I mean don’t sit there and complain about it when Japan has had Super Smash Bros. for a good while now and we still don’t.
And sorry but I’m not going to buy many WiiWare games because honestly most of them are shovelware crap.
And finally, maybe if you’d start letting people demo games, maybe some more people would buy them.
July 28th, 2009 at 12:36 am
The VC titles lately have been awful, what do they expect but low sales? And besides Swords and Soldiers, what of late has been good on WiiWare? this week brought the 2nd straight week of crap in mind. I’ve been playing games for a long time, but have no memories of Monkey Island so could care less of the release.
Give us more SNES classics Nintendo, or at least give us the quality WiiWare titles we read about but never seem to see. Too many games have come out that have had no PR releases beforehand, which means shovelware.
July 28th, 2009 at 12:59 am
I honestly feel lost now. Why would Nintendo NOT focus on big name titles like Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island, Super Mario Kart, Donkey Kong 64 & even Super Smash Bros. for the US audience here?! I mean, so what, they’ve done Super Smash Bros. & Super Mario Kart for Japan. Even the UK gets SSB also. Here’s a thought to cear the drought. Why not release a good game like Yoshi’s Safari which in my mind would take & make GREAT USE of the Wii Remote to make it feel like you’re using the old Super Scope 6 again from old days. As for WiiWare games now-a-days. DON’T EVEN get me started with the junk they’re releasing. If only we can see games like what CAPCOM did with Mega Man 9, WiiWare would be doing a HECK of a lot better! Heck, I’d like to see a direct follow-up to The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening be done if Nintendo took the time to do it in 16-Bit style for WiiWare.
July 28th, 2009 at 1:04 am
@Sean: Please, don’t even joke about no more Virtual Console on Wii Shop Channel. That would be the ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT!!
July 28th, 2009 at 1:19 am
Personally, I think VC has plenty of good games and WW has plenty of good games. Good content comes out on these services too fast for me to keep up with, so there is a growing backlog of games that I want to get around to playing. So if there’s a dry spell in VC releases, I’ll just take some time to revisit the hundreds of titles that are already on there. For example- Pulseman was released on VC earlier this month in the US, and I’ve been hearing good things about that one.
July 28th, 2009 at 4:28 am
I wont support nintendo anymore if they dont put out more VC titles soon and good ones! Thats one of the main reasons i bought a Wii.
July 28th, 2009 at 4:57 am
*multiple boos emanate from crowd*
July 28th, 2009 at 6:59 am
By essence VC is a finite catalog. So asking for title not available is natural and Nintendo must be quite happy to get the good balance of expectations on future release, is that the case ? Frequent gamers and multi console owners have a different opinion than the main market. One day all games will be there hopefully. But then the long tail theory of online stores has received quite a lot of lead bullets lately. Nintendo is simply not promoting the stuff, no timed demo, no video and a store that is not helpfull. We blame Nintendo but what Capcom, Sega and the like are doing to promote the old ware ?
July 28th, 2009 at 8:18 am
DOH! Is Nintendo really dropping the ball on this one? How about a poll via their website, Nintendo Channel, or Shop Channel to see which Virtual Console games we would buy? How about coins awarded to MyNintendo Club for more games/give aways! Don’t give in guys make your voice heard. LET NINTENDO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT!!! By the way no update to the Internet Channel sucks as well.
July 28th, 2009 at 8:18 am
DOH! Is Nintendo really dropping the ball on this one? How about a poll via their website, Nintendo Channel, or Shop Channel to see which Virtual Console games we would buy? How about coins awarded to MyNintendo Club for more games/give aways! Don’t give in guys make your voice heard. LET NINTENDO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT!!! By the way no update to the Internet Channel sucks as well.
July 28th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Why does it even matter if the games are selling well or not? It’s not like it takes much effort to throw an old game on the VC. This is so lame.
July 28th, 2009 at 10:54 am
@XCWarrior
Since the release of Swords and Soldiers there have been a few good titles released. Tales of Monkey Island is a great game. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Dark Lord, Ant Nation, Bit.trip Core. Those are all good games. Just because you didn’t buy them or look into them doesn’t mean they’re crap.
You really should look into the titles a bit more before you start casting judgement around.
As far as the VC goes, Nintendo needs to realize there are a ton of titles out there still that people want. The prices are not bad. Especially considering how much you would have to pay to obtain many of these game legally now days. Just put out the titles and start asking people more what they would like to see on the service.
July 29th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
@TRyd
Great comments. Some people just like to whine and complain without worrying about little things like facts or other people’s opinions.
I ordered a copy of Pokemon Colliseum off of ebay for $40 CAD. He was asking $21, I offered $16 which was accepted. Once the $ conversion from USD to CAD, the shiiping, and taxes were added in, it came to just over 40 bucks.
A $10 Wii points purchase is inexpensive in comparison.
I did download FF CC: MLaaDL and am loving it. I also picked up Little King’s Story and, on discount, de Blob, from EB Games. LKS is great and I haven’t tried deBlob yet. I’ll play through the other two first.
I guess I am busy enough with great games to not notice the lull in the Virtual Console.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
The thing that really blows about the announcement, for me, is that there won’t be an update to the browser! I was hoping for better access to Facebook on Wii, and I guess I’ll have to switch over to my 360 for that…
July 30th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Maybe Nintendo is feeling upset because of all the people with Homebrew and emulators so they feel like we don’t deserve any new VC titles… or it would just be a waste of their time. That sure would make me upset if people stole my games.