Wii ability to download "legacy" games... worth it?

Ability to download old games really worth while?

  • Yes, I can go back and play super mario 2 for hours!!!

    Votes: 109 84.5%

  • No, because i've already played them... last decade...

    Votes: 20 15.5%
  • Total voters
    129
M

Molingrad

Gawd
Joined
Aug 28, 2004
Messages
706
I was thinking about the ability to download old games on the Wii, when i first heard it i though it was interesting, now that i think about it, I have changed my mind...

I have downloaded some emulators to replay some old games and found that after the initial feeling of nostaligia wears off, i come to the realization that this is an old game and really not that much fun anymore.

so just out of curiosity seeing who feels the same on "classic" gaming
 
It's one of the reasons i'll be buying one. I don't feel like playing around with getting an emulator to work and i don't want to buy a gamepad. I'd rather just pay Nintendo the extra money and be reasonably sure that everything will work without any problems. I've never owned a Nintendo console (except for the DS Lite i just bought) so i plan on doing a LOT of catching up. I've never played a Zelda game for christ's sake. And since they're including old Sega games, i can get some old school Sonic and Gunstar Heroes action in. :D
 
The ability to download old games is reason enough for me to buy the Wii. There are so many games from the NES days that I'd like to have again and they're games that won't wear down over time. Super Dodgeball and Bionic Commando are the two I'm especially looking forward to. Ah Bionic Commando. Killing Super Nazis. It'll be great.
 
it depends on what kind of person you are... old RPGS on the snes can't be beat. chrono trigger ftw!
 
I was actually fairly down on it but I'm turning my stance around a bit. Having every Zelda ever made in one console would just be awesome. As well as most every Metroid, Castlevania, Contra... I'm getting more excited about it.

I understand the "last decade" sentiment, but I think a balance is in order. For me the ideal set up is going to be a 360 and a Wii/DS, giving me access to the old and the new.
 
It depends, I am almost done with the games I want for the NES/N64/SNES (slowly buying them on eGay).

TG16/Genisis on the other hand would be nice since I barely started to collect those games.
 
nonameo said:
it depends on what kind of person you are... old RPGS on the snes can't be beat. chrono trigger ftw!
Click to expand...
Agreed on both counts, though Secret of Mana deserves a mention too.

Older systems have plenty of fun games, you just need to pick those out from the crap (SNES Mortal Kombat, I'm looking at you).
 
I hope your refering to the real Super Mario Bros 2, aka Lost levels(hardest game ever?), and not the poop they re-labled as a Mario game.

I think it's worth it, I still fire up the N64 or the SNES these days, or play A Link to the Past on the GBA and the games easily hold a candle to today's titles, I do agree it doesn't feel the same when you fire up an emulator on the PC though.
 
There are quite a few old legacy games I wouldn't mind playing.
For example, I never played SMB 3.
By the time it came out, I had already sold my NES and bought a Genesis.
They will probably charge more than I'm willing to pay though.
Old NES/SNES/Genesis games are worth, at most, $5 to me.
 
Stereophile said:
Old NES/SNES/Genesis games are worth, at most, $5 to me.
Click to expand...

This is the sticking point for me. They need to price it low to avoid backlash. If they come out with Ocarina of Time at $19.99, there's going to be problems. They should just make things in the $4.99 to $9.99 range and it will take off like a rocket, as well as set the stage for such distribution in the future. Make people think it is a value and they will eat it up. Get greedy with it and they will tell you where to stick your wind waker. :p
 
This will be the main reason I'm upgrading my Gamecube to a Wii. I don't really care for or against the new controller, but the virtual console, now that's cool! The only people who vote No on this are Sony !!!!!!s :p

anyway, why play Super Mario Bros 2 when you could play Super Mario Bros 3?? :D
 
As long as the downloads are cheap enough i'd be tempted to pick up a few old games but i wonder about availability since they'd have to get the publisher for the game on board before they could sell it so this could mean no squeenix games for example.

It would be nice if they added common emulator features such as save states (instant saves anywhere)
 
*crossing fingers for Dracula X*

PC Duo game never released here. you can download an ISO image of it but the music didn't sync. Well at least during the time I did that years ago. I'd like to play the game again with syncd music :D
 
IMO the virtual library will only be worth it if

1) The games are real cheap
2) They enhance them somehow (maybe add multiplayer modes, or wii-mote functions, something)

otherwise I dont think it will be all that special, another bonus would be if you could somehow transfer them to your DS and take them with you. That would be huge (to me atleast).
 
Zelda for N.E.S
Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers for N.E.S
Duck Tales NES
Silent Service NES
Bionic Commando NES
Master Blaster NES
TMNT (s) NES
Metroid
Catlevania
SMB(s)

Zelda (SNES)
SOM
FF3
C.T
BoF
Bomberman 5
Tetris Attack
Street Fighter
Zombie ate my neighbors
Metroid
Yoshi Island..
..

Wow, I could go on forever, but I had to stop because I think everyone gets the point. I love old school games, I am psyked for the Wii.
 
phoderpants said:
The ability to download old games is reason enough for me to buy the Wii. There are so many games from the NES days that I'd like to have again and they're games that won't wear down over time. Super Dodgeball and Bionic Commando are the two I'm especially looking forward to. Ah Bionic Commando. Killing Super Nazis. It'll be great.
Click to expand...


Funny you bring that up, The only game console I have is an NES (Same one i bought when they came out years ago) and still play bionic commando ever so often. Still hard as heck too. Some of my current favorites are; Rush'n Attack, Operation Wolf and Air Fortress.

Wonder if they will have Pilot wings, F-Zero and Star Fox from the SNES?
 
Does anyone know any of the Pricing info?

Is it a dollar per game? Are some of the games more expensive and some free? Do you think they will have a subscription service? ($5 per month for unlimited play?)
 
I love going back to play old games. I just can't get enough of mario 2&3. Some games are not as much fun as they used to be since my tastes have matured over the years, but on the whole I enjoy a lot of the old nes&snes games.
 
TheBluePill said:
Does anyone know any of the Pricing info?

Is it a dollar per game? Are some of the games more expensive and some free? Do you think they will have a subscription service? ($5 per month for unlimited play?)
Click to expand...

Nobody knows, but what you said is exactly what they're thinking.

1) A monthly fee (XBox Live style) for unlimited rentals
2) iTunes-like service for those who want to own games (cheaper for older platforms and less-known games)
3) free downloads with new game purchases (i.e. buy Metroid Prime 3, get Super Metroid free)
4) Promotions that give you free or cheaper games (think XBL achievments)
5) Games will be included with system purchase.

So far, those are the most prominent rumours.
 
1. I am buying a Wii.
2. I do not plan on downloading ANY content off VC.

I have zero desire to play through games from 10-20 years ago, and pay for them when there are free options available at my fingertips. I think its a noble effort by Nintendo to swing this option and make it available for those millions of people who will fork over cash for a rehashed memory of a game...

...but I'll pass.
 
I don't see the big deal unless they add 2-player functionality over the web.
I guarantee every person on this board knows how to emulate old games on their PC.
I also guarantee there are yard sales in your area no matter where you live.
If you REALLY want old games that aren't going to be any different (ie. no 720p) ... why not hit up a game store and pick up these old used games? Ebay 'em? Yard Sale 'em? Download the ROM?
This applies to ALL throwback games on the 360 and PS3, too. Unless there's something added, I can play all of those game on an emulator (w/ resolutions options) or even via the old system for next to nothing.
I saw mentions of games I've seen in the used bin at EB games for $3-4 each. A Genesis, NES, or SNES can be obtained for next to nothing, too. I've seen them at yard sales for free. Even at a game store they're less than $20 and come bundled with all sorts of goodies.
I don't care about this feature at all unless they can give me some kind of added value.
 
Domingo said:
I don't see the big deal unless they add 2-player functionality over the web.
I guarantee every person on this board knows how to emulate old games on their PC.
I also guarantee there are yard sales in your area no matter where you live.
If you REALLY want old games that aren't going to be any different (ie. no 720p) ... why not hit up a game store and pick up these old used games? Ebay 'em? Yard Sale 'em? Download the ROM?
This applies to ALL throwback games on the 360 and PS3, too. Unless there's something added, I can play all of those game on an emulator (w/ resolutions options) or even via the old system for next to nothing.
I saw mentions of games I've seen in the used bin at EB games for $3-4 each. A Genesis, NES, or SNES can be obtained for next to nothing, too. I've seen them at yard sales for free. Even at a game store they're less than $20 and come bundled with all sorts of goodies.
I don't care about this feature at all unless they can give me some kind of added value.
Click to expand...

All entirely valid, but there is something to be said for having everything you want inside one very small little system as opposed to having about 8 different machines to hook up. Now, of course, it's not worth $19.99 a pop. Like I said before, if they price things low it will be a smash, they just can't get greedy with it. (Think $4.99 and under for most retro games; under $9.99 for big names like Ocarina)
 
Domingo said:
I don't see the big deal unless they add 2-player functionality over the web.
I guarantee every person on this board knows how to emulate old games on their PC.
I also guarantee there are yard sales in your area no matter where you live.
If you REALLY want old games that aren't going to be any different (ie. no 720p) ... why not hit up a game store and pick up these old used games? Ebay 'em? Yard Sale 'em? Download the ROM?
This applies to ALL throwback games on the 360 and PS3, too. Unless there's something added, I can play all of those game on an emulator (w/ resolutions options) or even via the old system for next to nothing.
I saw mentions of games I've seen in the used bin at EB games for $3-4 each. A Genesis, NES, or SNES can be obtained for next to nothing, too. I've seen them at yard sales for free. Even at a game store they're less than $20 and come bundled with all sorts of goodies.
I don't care about this feature at all unless they can give me some kind of added value.
Click to expand...

They're upconverted to ED resolution (480p) and they looked quite nice and crystal clear on the HD plasmas at E3.

Also, emulation itself is legal... but ROMS are not (in any way) legal to have - even if you own the game. It's piracy, plain and simple. Not to mention that more than 95% (more like 99%) of the population has no clue about emulation, how to use it, how to remap controllers or purchase adapters for the original controllers, etc etc despite what us knowledgable nerds may think.

Also, I have a question for theNoid - you don't seem to mind paying $5 for card games and $15 for online Street Fighter on the Live Arcade... (not to mention ancient arcade titles like Joust) why is it such a useless feature to pay $5 (or less) for a legal copy of a game that has MUCH more depth than Uno or the other simple $5 diversions on Live (such as Super Mario 3 or Zelda SNES?)
 
Netrat33 said:
*crossing fingers for Dracula X*

PC Duo game never released here. you can download an ISO image of it but the music didn't sync. Well at least during the time I did that years ago. I'd like to play the game again with syncd music :D
Click to expand...
Yep, same here. The only problem I see though is having to translate the game to English.

Netplay with games like Dungeon Explorer would be nice too.
 
tosp said:
Also, I have a question for theNoid - you don't seem to mind paying $5 for card games and $15 for online Street Fighter on the Live Arcade... (not to mention ancient arcade titles like Joust) why is it such a useless feature to pay $5 (or less) for a legal copy of a game that has MUCH more depth than Uno or the other simple $5 diversions on Live (such as Super Mario 3 or Zelda SNES?)
Click to expand...
because it interferes with his world view that nintendo suxorz and the xbox roxorz
 
tosp said:
Also, I have a question for theNoid - you don't seem to mind paying $5 for card games and $15 for online Street Fighter on the Live Arcade... (not to mention ancient arcade titles like Joust) why is it such a useless feature to pay $5 (or less) for a legal copy of a game that has MUCH more depth than Uno or the other simple $5 diversions on Live (such as Super Mario 3 or Zelda SNES?)
Click to expand...

1. Seamlessly integrated online multiplayer.
2. No price has been confirmed for Street Fighter.
3. $5 or less is pure speculation.
 
Domingo said:
I don't see the big deal unless they add 2-player functionality over the web.
I guarantee every person on this board knows how to emulate old games on their PC.
I also guarantee there are yard sales in your area no matter where you live.
If you REALLY want old games that aren't going to be any different (ie. no 720p) ... why not hit up a game store and pick up these old used games? Ebay 'em? Yard Sale 'em? Download the ROM?
This applies to ALL throwback games on the 360 and PS3, too. Unless there's something added, I can play all of those game on an emulator (w/ resolutions options) or even via the old system for next to nothing.
I saw mentions of games I've seen in the used bin at EB games for $3-4 each. A Genesis, NES, or SNES can be obtained for next to nothing, too. I've seen them at yard sales for free. Even at a game store they're less than $20 and come bundled with all sorts of goodies.
I don't care about this feature at all unless they can give me some kind of added value.
Click to expand...

Who wants to go searching for these old carts at yard sales and local game resale shops? At present, they're nearly impossible to find at any Gamestop. Hell, they barely even have any N64 games at most of those stores anymore. Plus, on eBay, you're gonna end up paying at least $5.00 for shipping to get the cart (which may or may not work and may or may not be in good condition), which makes that argument pointless if the Wii ROMs price anywhere around $5.00.
 
phoderpants said:
Who wants to go searching for these old carts at yard sales and local game resale shops? At present, they're nearly impossible to find at any Gamestop. Hell, they barely even have any N64 games at most of those stores anymore. Plus, on eBay, you're gonna end up paying at least $5.00 for shipping to get the cart (which may or may not work and may or may not be in good condition), which makes that argument pointless if the Wii ROMs price anywhere around $5.00.
Click to expand...

Impossible? Mine has a gigantic crate full of them. Actually my CompUSA and Wal-Mart do, too. Fro N64 games, there are a lot of them still unsold in the box.
You're assuming that every game you want from every system will be on the Wii simultaniously, too. What if it takes years for all of those to show up?
There's also still that $5 assumption.
There are a lot of assumptions being thrown around, but I can go any get pretty much any game I want at my local pawn shop.
I still don't dismiss the ROM idea. We on this forum aren't the typical "wal-mart" gamers. Everyone on this board knows how to utilize ROMS and there are a ton of threads that confirm that. This thread is about whether WE think these emulated old games are worth it...not whether the typical gamer might. Say what you will about piracy, but emulators and stolen divx movies are one of the things keeping the PSP afloat. I think it's a little more of a problem and a little more common that many people realize. My friend's mom somehow managed to find NES games online using google. It's not some kind of wacky secret.
 
I'm totally for it and I know how to use ROMs but if I can get good resolution and some type of improvement to the classic gameplay I would be happy. I think the big reason I like the Wii is because of the virtual console idea.
 
theNoid said:
1. I am buying a Wii.
2. I do not plan on downloading ANY content off VC.

I have zero desire to play through games from 10-20 years ago, and pay for them when there are free options available at my fingertips. I think its a noble effort by Nintendo to swing this option and make it available for those millions of people who will fork over cash for a rehashed memory of a game...

...but I'll pass.
Click to expand...

http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1029264206&postcount=24

Busted
 
Nobody has stated that Nintendo couldn't screw up game downloads. A poor library and bad pricing would drive away even their biggest fans.

If they have a reasonable catalog and reasonable pricing, though, the download service would have several big advantages over emulation or collecting old boxes.

A system that's:

1. Cheaper than old boxes (Secret of Mana and Chrono Trigger sell at $20-30 each on ebay, my local pawn shop has very few SNES games, sports & shit games mostly)
2. More convenient than keeping 5 old consoles + carts
3. All around more convenient than emulation (I want to use my TV and don't want to piss around with yet another computer)
4. Legal, unlike ROMs (that counts to some of us)

A crap service would outweigh all of those advantages, but unless you have reason to believe they'll present something terrible, you're only arguing with yourself.
 
Domingo said:
Impossible? Mine has a gigantic crate full of them. Actually my CompUSA and Wal-Mart do, too. Fro N64 games, there are a lot of them still unsold in the box.
You're assuming that every game you want from every system will be on the Wii simultaniously, too. What if it takes years for all of those to show up?
There's also still that $5 assumption.
There are a lot of assumptions being thrown around, but I can go any get pretty much any game I want at my local pawn shop.
I still don't dismiss the ROM idea. We on this forum aren't the typical "wal-mart" gamers. Everyone on this board knows how to utilize ROMS and there are a ton of threads that confirm that. This thread is about whether WE think these emulated old games are worth it...not whether the typical gamer might. Say what you will about piracy, but emulators and stolen divx movies are one of the things keeping the PSP afloat. I think it's a little more of a problem and a little more common that many people realize. My friend's mom somehow managed to find NES games online using google. It's not some kind of wacky secret.
Click to expand...

Where do you live that there are new N64 games on the shelves, 1999? Do Wal-Mart and CompUSA even sell used games? I haven't seen SNES or NES games in any amount at used game stores for years.
And the really good games sell for a ton on eBay as well. I've been watching for Ogre Battle 64 on eBay for a couple weeks now and just the cart is going for about $40 with shipping. I, by the grace of the flying spaghetti monster, found one at Gamestop the other day for $18, but it was one of a very few N64 games on the rack, most of which were in unbuyable condition (a lot looked like they spent the last few years up someone's !!!!!!!!) and were also way overpriced.

Also, personally, I buy every game I play and don't have a single pirated game. That's just how it is for me, since I think that intellectual property is a valuable commodity just like the plastic used to print the CDs. The Wii will form a centralized clearing house for old games, making them available on one system and for (hopefully) reasonable prices. I'm ambivalent about the benefit of such a system, since it will likely put a sizable dent in the used games market (driving down prices and potentially putting gamestops and such out of that business, especially if MS and Sony follow suit with their own downloadable libraries), and would also inevitably lead to a used game market more controlled by the game companies themselves (which could be bad since they would be able to pull or supply any game they wanted at any time). So it could be good, it could be bad. We'll have to wait and see what happens I guess. I'm looking forward to the service because it will probably make a lot of games available to me that I would otherwise have to spend a lot of time looking for, but we'll see how it goes.
 
phoderpants said:
Where do you live that there are new N64 games on the shelves, 1999? Do Wal-Mart and CompUSA even sell used games? I haven't seen SNES or NES games in any amount at used game stores for years.
And the really good games sell for a ton on eBay as well. I've been watching for Ogre Battle 64 on eBay for a couple weeks now and just the cart is going for about $40 with shipping. I, by the grace of the flying spaghetti monster, found one at Gamestop the other day for $18, but it was one of a very few N64 games on the rack, most of which were in unbuyable condition (a lot looked like they spent the last few years up someone's !!!!!!!!) and were also way overpriced.
Click to expand...

Denver metro. My mall stores sell used N64 games. Ditto for some Genesis, SNES, and even NES games, too. They aren't as good as an actual mom & pop store for used games, but there's no shortage. My Wal-Mart has a gigantic back-stock of "new" N64 games that never sold in a bin for $10 each. CompUSA does too. They're actually a good spot for used game as even stuff from last year can be $5. We've also got a chain of stores called GameForce that sell old systems and games dating back to the NES, Sega, etc. There are at least 10 in the metro area. Denver isn't that big...so I don't think that my situation is unique at all. I grew up in rural Alabama and we had used game stores and used bins there, too. If people are in a huge metrao area in California or New York, this would be even easier. Of note, Ogre Battle is a rare game, so of course that'll be tougher to get. Who's guaranteeing the Wii will have it at all, too?

I think the assumption that people are making is that the Wii will INSTANTLY have the entire library for every Nintendo-based game EVER on release day and that they're all going to be $5. Ever consider that this might not include all the 3rd party games, the price might be higher, some games might simply not be there, and this might take years? If you're so fanatical about all of these old games...they're not hard to get NOW. I don't see the huge selling point. I think the same applies to all 3 systems. If you really want to play old games, there are multitudes of ways to do so right this second. I don't think this feature will make or break the Wii at all. I'm going to get one because it's cheap and they have Mario Kart on it. There are just way too many assumptions on this feature to completely be sold on it yet anyway. Let's see the service, prices, and the number of games first.
 
Martyr said:
because it interferes with his world view that nintendo suxorz and the xbox roxorz
Click to expand...

ScreamingBroccoli said:
http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1029264206&postcount=24

Busted
Click to expand...

http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1029028547&postcount=1

Bang bang!

BTW, who cares if the whole library isn't available at launch? Of course they're going to launch with a hundred or so (or whatever) and stagger them a few times a month. Much in the same way that Microsoft is releasing 1 Live Arcade game per month for the summer. The point is that as long as the prices are right (Iwata called it the iTunes of video games, which usually means low prices), or there is an unlimited rental option (extremely likely) for a small monthly fee - what's NOT a selling point for us retro gamers?

I mean... so many systems, so many games that they could port to the Wii - I'm probably going to have to use one of my SD cards or USB hard drives just to store all the games that I will eventually have, freeing my entertainment centre from the NES/SNES/Genesis/etc + carts in the process. Most of the publishers that you see making games for the Wii, GBA, or DS (i.e. all of the major ones) will have their games on the service, whether it be right off the bat, or after some negotiation. Still, Zelda 2 for $5 >> Uno or Frogger for around the same price. And speaking of price, I'm sure the XBL Marketplace is being watched very carefully for price points... Microsoft, being first out with their new system, is the one that's going to set the base for microtransaction pricing.
 
With any luck earthbound will get on there (and be mass downloaded) bringing the mother series back to the western world
[/dream]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top