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Nintendo confirms Wii U Virtual Console launch and suite of new eShop titles

The Wii U's spring firmware update will launch the Wii U Virtual Console; cult RPG Earthbound will also release this year.

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Nintendo has announced that the Wii U Virtual Console will officially launch in North America next week with the console's spring firmware update.

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Speaking during today's Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata said Virtual Console games on the Wii U would be playable on TV and from the GamePad. Games will also be able to access the Miiverse community.

At launch, the Wii U Virtual Console will feature classic Nintendo titles F-Zero, Balloon Fight, Donkey Kong Jr, Excitebike, Punch Out, Super Mario World, Ice Climber, and Kirby's Adventure

As part of the announcement, Nintendo confirmed that cult 1995 SNES RPG Earthbound would be also be coming to the Wii U Virtual Console this year in North America and Europe.

Elsewhere in the Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo confirmed that Wii U eShop title Game & Wario would release in North America on June 23.

As for the 3DS eShop, Nintendo will be releasing Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move on May 9. This year the 3DS eShop will also see three original games from Professor Layton publisher Level 5: The Starship Damrey, Bugs vs Tanks, and Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale.

Finishing off Nintendo's downloadable announcements, the publisher confirmed Capcom-developed The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Seasons will be released for 3DS Virtual Console on May 30.

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Earthbound Virtual Console Announcement
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Silinel

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Edited By Silinel

My original Wii spent over a year and a half as an overpriced dust collector before I finally sold it. The thing was even modded to play "homemade" games too, and even the ability to own and play any game I wanted to for the console couldn't inspire me to turn it on.

Number one reason for the Wii U's tripping out of the gate is millions of people like myself that were burned in the last years of owning their Wii. Adults young and old just became bored with it, mobile gaming on tablets and smartphones took off, and parents can keep their kids entertained with just a cheap tablet and Angry Birds. Suddenly, the the hottest thing on the block only a few years ago had lost its luster among the casual and hardcore gamers alike.

Pokemon for the PC, Nintendo. I've been asking for a Pokemon MMO for over 15 years. Fire up the Kickstarter, I'll even chip in (Exclusive Ash Ketchum Hat with $20 Contribution, plus a Master Ball!)

I'm a horrible person for saying this, I know, but I think I WANT the Wii U to fail miserably if it forces Nintendo onto the PC. Love Nintendo, love the franchises, but daddy wants Pikachu running on Windows.

3 • 
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mario1028

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mario1028

@Silinel That's not going to happen.

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Elem187

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Edited By Elem187

@Silinel So you think Nintendo would ever put one of their titles on PC? What are you smoking?

There is a Pokemon game in the works for the Wii U (releasing later this month in Japan, and NA/EU later down the road)

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ScreamDream

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Edited By ScreamDream

@Silinel You had a modded Wii and you want a Pokémon for the PC so you can pirate that?

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deactivated-5f10ebd2cd96f

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Edited By deactivated-5f10ebd2cd96f

@ScreamDream @Silinel While I certainly do not want o Nintendo to FAIL-- A Pokemon MMO is a very good idea

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Elem187

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Elem187

@bonzaibillie @ScreamDream @Silinel If Nintendo made a Pokemon MMO, it would only be avaible on one of their consoles.

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Celsius765

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Edited By Celsius765

@bonzaibillie @ScreamDream @Silinel hmmm if they did leveling up would seriously have to be slowed down and maybe raise the level cap, idk how they'd spin it for gyms

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the_craig

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the_craig

@Silinel Nintendo should focus on two areas. Handhelds and multi-platform games. If they were to release their top selling games on all consoles and PC they could get back to printing money. The Wii U failed in so many ways, and i just can't see it picking up the pieces. I asked around my work to see how many people knew that it was a new console, and out of 14 people, 5 thought it was an add on for the Wii, 2 had never heard of it, 5 said they have no need for another nintendo since nobody in their family even uses the Wii anymore, and 2 said they don't play video games.

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Aiberg

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Aiberg

Only good move Nintendo performed in last 5 years.

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EricShadow366

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EricShadow366

Earthbound? Being released for virtual console? *Happy Tears*

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mario1028

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mario1028

"cult RPG"? Do the characters participate in Scientology sessions, or something?

2 • 
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alvarokike

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Edited By alvarokike

@mario1028 Ironically, there IS a Cult in the game, The "blues" or something like that, they were like a blue KKK kind of thing

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baxwam

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baxwam

Oh sweet Orcales are coming out for the 3DS and a sequel to link to the past. Its a great year to be a zelda fan

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Cartr1dgeBased

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Edited By Cartr1dgeBased

well, fuzzy pickles. never thought i'd see the day.

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Silinel

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Silinel

@Cartr1dgeBased Watch them edit that line in the game.

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