Wii U Virtual Console

Anyone else notice how Nintendo is FINALLY starting to roll up VIrtual Console games (now that the system is near extinction?? This week two new Wii Games (Metroid other M, and Excitbots) and a DS game: Fire Emblem. The past few weeks we've seen Majoras Mask, Wario Land, Excitbike 64, Resident Evil, Rhymth Heaven Fever.

In my opinion, this is mainly because they are getting ready to just port these to the switch... but how annoying the company takes 4 years to actually step up and port some of these games. If your a Wii U owner, and plan to get a switch, WHY would you buy it on the Wii U, and potentially not have the game transfer over. It would be nice if nintendo explain this "account" system is supposedly is coming. (Just like gamecube games to the Wii U)

Also, kind of annoying they rarely offer discounts on virtual console games. They try and give away the oddball Eshop stuff that no one wants, but they almost never discount DS or N64 games at 10$ EA. Even after releasing NES Classic, where Nintendo can't keep up with production, yet doesn't discount the 5$ EA VC titles. Wouldn't that at least be a consolation for angry consumers unable to get the product bc nintendo created artificial demand.

Sorry for the rant, but a few observations, and thoughts.

The VC was done very well on the Wii. What we have seen on the Wii U could have been much better.

@The-Butcher248: Few things. Nintendo is one of the only companies who lets you transfer virtual console games to new devices. Nintendo has been releasing new virtual console games but they hardly ever make headlines. Only reason they are now is cause nothing else is being released.

Also, Virtual Console games do go on sale a bunch. Look right now and youll see tons on sale. Also Nintendo does offer discounts on their own games during sales and with the My Nintendo system.

Nintendo doesnt really want you to buy a game cause its on sale. They want you to buy one when you want something to play and looking for a good time.

And last but not least, putting games on sale for cheap hurts sales in the long run. Companies usually only do it for short term gains. And it usually has an agenda behind it.

@iandizion713: Actually... NIntendo is NOT the only company, because Xbox launched Backwards Compatibility for FREE. Nintendo has a small upgrade fee. To be honest, I'm happy with a small fee, If i've already purchased the game on the Wii. The problem i have is 50% of the games i previously bought weren't offered on the Wii U. Not to mention, let's say i bought a 3DS game, i'm very sure that won't transfer. My concern, is why would i sink money into my Wii U when it will be replaced in 3 months. Nintendo has given up on it, and so have I, despite it being my favorite console this generation. (at least it was prior to this year)

Not sure what region you are, or if you understand the different between retro Virtual Console games vs. Nintendo Eshop games, but over 90% of the time it's eshop titles, and not past retro releases. Which, i'm a fan of the VC games, and not the eshop games. So im just out of luck there.

I can understand Nintendo wants their products to hold value/digital content... but Nintendo should be pampering Wii U owners/loyalist with their lack of support of the console. There are rumors Breathe of the Wild may not be released on the Wii U. NIntendo promised Gamecube games on the WIi U, and that didn't happen. Nintendo removed their excellent digital deluxe promotion, for the god awful My Nintendo account, where i'd need to spend money to get small discounts on a very limited selection of games, i may / may not already own. There are numerous examples where Nintendo has dropped the ball for Wii U owners.

Anyways, I'd just be happy to know if purchase said game on Wii U, it will be in my Nintendo account for life. Also there's no reason nintendo couldn't have popped out more VC the first year of the console. They purposely didn't because they wanted consumers to purchase nes/snes games again, and held off on the more desired (n64/gamecube) titles. They were releasing 1 V.C. game per week. They expected the console to live 5-7 years and they would have fresh content weekly, and it only made it 4 years. So they realized the console wasn't going to last as long, so now they are opening the flood games. Hopefully most all of these titles transfer.

@The-Butcher248: Xbox doesnt allow you to port over your old virtual games. It lets you port digital 360 games yes. Nintendo lets you do it for free and is 100% on Wii digital software unlike Xbox's 25%. Nintendo only charges for you to use the Wii U shortcuts.

Nintendo didnt promise Gamecube games on Wii U and Breath of Wild being canceled for Wii U is a weak silly rumor.

Nintendo releases virtual console content slow cause its there agenda to slowly drip feed their games and use them to help promote new games. Which is a lot better then what Xbox does. Plus nobody like oversaturation.

Actually Xbox does port digital 360 games, if you bought it through the microsoft store and BC eligible. Your right you CAN do it on the Wii U, but you do need the old controllers / motion sensor bar hooked up. I think we can agree both of these scenarios is better than Sony's offering of nothing.

Well... nintendo did the slow drip feed,which has caused them to ramp up at the end of the life cycle... which is the point of the thread.

@The-Butcher248: Slow drip is needed. No one has the time or money to just drop an insane amount of games at once. Would be a waste. And no, Xbox still dont allow many. Its missing a ton and we are pretty far into this current gen.

I look at it like Nintendo has all of these different consoles over the last 30 years, and they are trying to conserve their vast game library while at the same time add to it. I see the Switch and the new account system as a new foundation to streamline backwards compatibility going into the future in a way that they were not able to do earlier. This is all my take on it of course, and we will not know for sure until Nintendo talks about it in depth later. The transition from one console generation to the next must be a thing of organized chaos. I will say that I have been wondering what is to become of my Wii and Wii U Virtual Console, Wiiware, and Nintendo e-Shop games after the Switch comes out. Nintendo has been honorable with the allowing us to retain ownership of these purchases and transferring the games from the Wii to Wii U, and I am feeling optimistic that they will continue to be so. I don't really feel like Nintendo is holding back so much as trying to catch up and keep up since they have 30 years of content to manage. I appreciated their rewards programs, but never expected a lot from them since I was not paying a monthly subscription. And I do appreciate what I have gained from the programs over the years. I did get a birthday coupon from Nintendo to use in the e-Shop this year, and I don't remember if that happened before.

agree to disagree, bc i don't feel slow drip is needed. For example, i wanted to play Majora Mask on the gamepad as soon as i could. (let's just say i didn't have it on the wii ) I would have had to wait 4 years to have that chance. My biggiest issue with it, is that not everyone is NES or SNES fans... Some prefer N64, some prefer wii titles. Some like DS/GBA games. There can be 2-3 month gaps between different consoles, and who's to say thats the game the want. In the first 3 years they had like 10 N64 games, and like 6 Wii Games on the VC. To date, there is only 13 N64 games on the VC today. There is almost has many GBA games as SNES, N64, and Wii combined!!!

Really this only hurts nintendo. In the case of Majora's Mask, they could have released it 4 years ago, and potentially made sales on it for 4 years. Now, that have a limited 3-4 month window... thats IF the small install base, is still buying for that console.

I get your point, I just don't think it's good for the fans or nintendo.

@The-Butcher248: I think Nintendo knows whats best for them. They have stats on what, when, and how much people buy. Most sales from an old game come before a new one in the series releases. Thats with Breath of the Wild news, Nintendo has been putting bunch of Zelda games on sale and making more available.

Yes, but the wii u was a commercial failure. Sony/Microsoft are both selling a lot more consoles. So maybe nintendo should listen to it's fans a bit more, and let their ego go. I think the switch will change some things, and seems like there is a lot of emphasis on it. I hope that can turn things around for them.

@The-Butcher248: 3DS sells more than PS4 and Xbox, so maybe fans should listen to Nintendo more? Of course they can turn things around. Wii U when announce was a missed message. Plus it had tons of weak third party games and no big Nintendo games which also helped in its struggle.

With Switch the message is low and clear. Now Nintendo will be able to invest more into Switch and not lose much money like they did with Wii U. If you want Nintendo to be stronger, then youd want them to forget Wii U asap and focus on the future.

Another VC major title came out today... Mario Party 2 for N64. Better late than never... Although i wonder if the VC really needed games like City Connection, skykid, Flying Dragon, the ignition factor, Polarium advance, with less than 10 rates/review each in the prime of the Wii U lifecycle.

Side note: I purchased Mario Party 2 on the Wii, so it should be eligible for the 2$ conversion, however it's only showing a price of 9.99. Anyone else have this issue? Figured i'd wait a bit, and this would be sorted out.

Update: fixed now. Got it for 2$. (Hope this ports to switch)

@The-Butcher248:

Now we just need other relevant titles like:

Super smash bros 64

Star fox 64

F-zero 64

Mario kart 64

Mario party 1&3

Pokémon stadium

Well....Got one right.... Mario Kart 64 for the VC for Wii U added today.