Wii needs Commodore 64 on Virtual Console in North America
Saturday, August 2nd, 2008 at 8:45am by David
Our Nintendo loving brothers and sisters in the EU have been regularly seen delays with game releases in their territory. Occasionally they’ll get something that North America doesn’t (like Tingle’s RPG). One of those EU specific joys they currently get to experience are Virtual Console games for the Commodore 64.
The Commodore 64 (or C=64) was released in 1982, over a year before the Famicom made its debut in Japan. Throughout its twelve year run, this home computer sold over 30 million units, making it the best-selling personal computer of all time. Sure, there were business and productivity apps galore, but the majority of people I knew had a ton of games for the thing (myself included).
A scream of joy erupted on the Internet from classic gaming geeks earlier this year when it was announced that the Virtual Console on Wii would soon feature games from the C=64. The cheer quieted down and then became a distant echo from Europe and the UK when it was revealed that only their region would be playing their ancient favorites without waiting for their 1541 drive to load up.
Now, over six months later, there are a dozen Commodore 64 classics available for the VC and the releases don’t seem to be slowing down. Impossible Mission, International Karate, The Last Ninja, and Epyx’s Games series are all available at a measly 500 Wii Points. So why aren’t they being released in North America? If the games are being sold in the UK and EU, they’re obviously all in English. It’s not like the C=64 didn’t sell well in the US. And it’s not like I’m asking for a whole new system to be added to the Virtual Console line-up (like the Atari 2600). The work has already been done for Europe, so just drag and drop those games onto the North American servers, Nintendo!
Were you a fan of the Commodore 64 and would you buy any of its classic titles?
[Edit: I sort of put my money where my mouth is today .. I just bought Impossible Mission DS for $10. It's got a classic C=64 mode and I couldn't be happier with it!]
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:29 am
There are a ton of C-64 games that I would gladly part with 5 bucks for. The C-64 had some of the most unique and enjoyable games of all time, and I am hoping that someday soon we will see these great gems on our VC list.
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:48 am
Meh, we have them on our VC but it’s not that big of a deal. And yes, I had a C64 back in the day.
August 2nd, 2008 at 11:28 am
The Last Ninja and Ghostbusters were the first video games I viewed as epic. I sure as hell would pay for them.
August 2nd, 2008 at 11:52 am
I haven’t really paid much attention to the C64 releases to be honest, it’s kind of wasted on me… I have 600 points left on my Wii and I have no idea what to spend them on.
August 2nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I’ve never played a C64, to be honest. But I’m not too enthusiastic with the idea of them bringing it over here for the VC, because that would mean that every time a C64 game was released there was one more Nintendo (or Sega) game that was pushed back in its place, and that rubs me the wrong way. They’ve already limited the VC released to, like, one or two now that WiiWare is out, so the more Nintendo stuff, the better.
But I’m being selfish. If only for you, David, I hope they release C64 games on the VC, because you’re awesome enough.
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I would for sure buy some c64 games. Heck, I play them emulated, but d64 stuff is kinda a pain on a modded xbox because you have to deal with the virtual keyboard. Just having that resolved would be worth the $5 to me.
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Yes and no.
You’re not missing much David.
I downloaded IK+ and it plays like a dog as far as I’m concerned. Most of the 8-bit classics have aged quite poorly.
I’d much rather see this kind of stuff remade for WiiWare.
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I’d pay another 5 bucks for Jumpman, absolutely. Probably even Jumpman Junior.
There are a lot of other games I’d shell out for again (I think C64 emulators aren’t nearly as good to play games on as actual game console emulators are) but that’s really the only Epyx one I’m jonesing for.
As for the reason they’re snubbing the US with the C64 stuff, I think it’s because NOA has a shorter memory than NOE. After the NES came out here, all the 8-bit computers kind of dried up and the 16-bit ones never did as well here as they did in Europe. So it’s easy for Nintendo to pretend the US video game industry didn’t exist before 1985, whereas in other territories that wasn’t the case.
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
and they cost $1, right?
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:26 pm
I sort of put my money where my mouth is today .. I just bought Impossible Mission DS for $10. It’s got a classic C=64 mode and I couldn’t be happier with it!
August 3rd, 2008 at 12:56 am
Well, if we get to see some really unique C-64 games I wouldn’t mind giving one a spin. Some old school keyboard adventure titles would tickle me pink.
August 3rd, 2008 at 1:02 am
i would definately buy c=64 VC games. i grew up in europe and played commodore before i ever heard of the nes. i also had a c=128 before i got my nes
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:37 am
“and they cost $1, right?” LOL
Yeah, IF they come over to North America, they will be yet another overpriced VC console, I am afraid.
I dont remember any must buy titles that would be worth playing over again all these years later, not for the guaranteed overpricing that would follow…
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Listen to Raindog guys. If you haven’t played Jumpman (no relation to Donkey Kong other than platforming) then you’re missing out, it is amazing.
There are some other C64 games that are definitely worth it as well. Maybe EA could even be convinced to release M.U.L.E., a.k.a. the greatest multiplayer game of all time.
August 4th, 2008 at 9:37 am
John H. that’s exactly the game I was thinking of!
Jumpman… Just give us Jumpman! That was my Super Mario World…
August 4th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
No I agree with whoever said that would be one less game that we really want. Even if the system did have a 12 year run I think it was over for us here the second the NES came out. After 1985 I don’t remember ever going to anyone’s house to play anything but the NES. Pre-NES we always had Atari systems and the Coleco Vision. Honestly besides the nostalgia I’d get from the games for five minutes I can’t see myself really playing them, but that’s just me.
August 4th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
The C64 sold more units in the US than the Colecovision, actually. It just skewed a little more adult because keyboards and tape/disk drives are a little more fragile than carts and joysticks.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
no i was just saying that’s what my family had not that it sold more or less than the C64. it just didn’t have the same impact on me that other companies had that’s all.
August 10th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
On you, maybe. On me and my family and my friends it had far more impact than even the NES.