24 Wii VC devs ID'd

  • By Hirohiko Niizumi, Brendan Sinclair, GameSpot
  • Posted Sep 14, 2006 12:10 pm PT

Service will offer new games as well as old; list of some participating publishers announced.

Nintendo's plan for worldwide Wii domination is being laid out piece by piece today, and part of that plan includes the previously announced Virtual Console service.

In a press event earlier today, Nintendo of Japan president Satoru Iwata said that the Virtual Console would not only let gamers download and play older games on their Wii systems, but it would also play small Wii-exclusive games, as well. A number of such titles are already in development.

While those games will come eventually, the Virtual Console will at first focus on offering an array of vintage games. Iwata said that Nintendo will offer 30 downloadable retro games for the Japanese system's December 2 launch, with 60 available by the end of the year, and 10 more added each month thereafter.

To produce such a stream of content for the service, Nintendo has teamed up with other gamemakers. Check below for the list of announced publishing partners who will provide content on the Virtual Console.

Virtual Console partners:
Atlus
Bandai Namco
Banpresto
Capcom
Chunsoft
D4 Enterprise
Enterbrain
Hal Laboratory
Hudson
Irem
Jaleco
Kemco
Koei
Konami
NCS Masaya
Netfarm
Paon
Rocket Company
Sega
Square Enix
Sunsoft
Taito
Takara Tomy
Tecmo

122 Comments

  • Binarynova

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 8:50 pm PT

    Silvernix: At some point Square-Enix will release their classics on the Wii. It's easy business sense. It would take almost no work on their part and they would sell like hotcakes. It's easy profit that they won't be able to ignore for long... especially when they need money for the next chapters of their long-running series.

    I imagine it's really just a matter of time.

  • Silvernix

    Posted Feb 25, 2007 6:05 pm PT

    Well..... no TigerFang, it doesn't mean Final Fantasy games. It most likely means games like Ridge Racer, World Runner, and games like that. I hope the Final Fantasy games DO return to the Wii..... But then again, I hear Budokai Tenkaichi is going to the Wii as well via the VC. So here's hopping.

  • ardandil

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 9:11 pm PT

    awesome!!!

  • TigerFangRed

    Posted Sep 26, 2006 5:13 pm PT

    square enix eh? that means FF games...wohoo! take that Sony!

    " With an open mind you'll find there's a lot that you could miss out on by not revisiting the past. " so true leapfrog91, so true indeed.

  • Donald_Duck_Fan

    Posted Sep 19, 2006 9:12 pm PT

    WOO-HOO!!! Maybe we'll finally get the Wonder Project games over here...

    BJ

  • leapfrog91

    Posted Sep 18, 2006 2:31 pm PT

    "But when trying to copy it will probably have some sort of encription."

    Just a little comment: Encryption won't stop the copying of data or receival of data; it stops the use of data in certain situations. There will likely be an encryption that does not stop copying the files to other SD cards, but instead allows you only to play on your own Wii (or, alternatively, when logged on to your Wii account if something Live-esque is available.)

  • leapfrog91

    Posted Sep 18, 2006 2:25 pm PT

    "I don't get retro gaming. Ijust don't get it........."

    What a silly comment. Better graphics does not mean better gameplay - even the next generations of younguns (according to sales) love the older sidescrollers that they get to experience for the first time on the GBA.

    Even more, I guess now Mario 64 is a "retro" game, and that game still easily stands to today's 3D platformers.

    FPS' have gotten new physics engines, RPGs have gotten...well, they're still Square and Enix but now combined. Games have changed, and I love where they are and where they are going, but the old ones are still fun!

    Now Pong? I probably couldn't play that for 40 hours like FFVII. Then again I probably couldn't enjoy many of the newer games as much as FFVI.

    It's a media, it progresses, but there will always be classics. With an open mind you'll find there's a lot that you could miss out on by not revisiting the past.

  • abbath101

    Posted Sep 18, 2006 12:42 pm PT

    ---------------Are the VC games going to be stored on the SD card or internal memory? If it's the SD card, wouldn't it be possible to just copy it or email it to friends straight off of the card instead of them paying for it?---------------

    Its obviously going to be tied into your account. If you take it to a friends machine they are going to have a different Wii account and thus unable to play them.

  • ftjx

    Posted Sep 18, 2006 2:07 am PT

    I don't get retro gaming. Ijust don't get it.........

  • diablobasher

    Posted Sep 17, 2006 8:26 am PT

    i am hoping for Metal Gear too, but seeing as Kojima doesnt consider it part of official storyline canon anymore, i doubt that will happen :\

    Oh well, ive got it on the nes

    Looking forward to some hudson games though, like bomberman

    Also, dunno who its by, but i hope Zombies ate my neighburs turns up on there

  • gigidey

    Posted Sep 17, 2006 6:39 am PT

    Sweet we might get Metal Gear.

  • _Sam_

    Posted Sep 16, 2006 12:54 pm PT

    that's great

  • shasam712

    Posted Sep 16, 2006 12:03 pm PT

    There are some fantasti developers on that list. With their old classics and the chance of some new, original IP's the Virtual Console is shaping up nicely.

  • WeAreVenom

    Posted Sep 16, 2006 1:02 am PT

    Square Enix is on that list, that can mean only one thing... SUPER MARIO RPG!

  • Finale_Wanderer

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 2:22 pm PT

    Square-Enix yeah! DQ4???

  • Dav_id83

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 12:57 pm PT

    The games will probably be downloaded to either internal or external memory I think they may put a lock on the games. Something like a code that will only let it be played on that certain machine it was downloaded to. You probably can put it to SD card and play it on another mates console. But when trying to copy it will probably have some sort of encription.

    I don't know we'll see when the console hits the shops!

    But if it didn't then website will be created all over the place for you to download them for free or slightly less. As for game size I used to have a few SNES games emulated on my PC and some of them where only 2-5mb in total. The Wii comes with 512mb internal flash memory so you could get quite a lot few games on there and put your saves to another SD card.

  • wooooode

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 8:50 am PT

    Strong list, gald to see some of the greats up there.

  • kewlrats

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 8:47 am PT

    Are the VC games going to be stored on the SD card or internal memory? If it's the SD card, wouldn't it be possible to just copy it or email it to friends straight off of the card instead of them paying for it? And if it IS on the internal memory, would the memory "fill up" too fast and limit how many games you can have at once?

    And am I asking too many questions?

  • Murpheus007

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 7:59 am PT

    Well thankfully I own a NES, a N64 with alot of my favorites right there. But there are alot of titles I wouldn't mind getting on a VC. Goldeneye is a great game, and very good still today. Is it as good as Halo is today. No, but it was then. It was easily the most played game at my house in it's hayday. I still own it to this day, and every time I have my friends over, we put it in just to reminisce(sp).

  • arandaboy

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 7:25 am PT

    I most definitely agree with Mr_Saturn26 on the Lolo games. I also want to play Faxanadu and Super Mario All-Stars, among thousands of others.

  • Agghyson2

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 6:17 am PT

    Koei is there, great news, maybe it will be like the old days where we played Genghis Khan or Aerobiz during a weekend.

  • ragin_massaih

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 4:54 am PT

    CAn every1 please stop saying they want Goldeneye!!!!?? Its made by Rare!!!! God cant you see we aint ever guna get this as a@@hole M$ own Rare now!! And who ever said Goldeneye was rubbish slow multi-player, god what an idiot- obviously no friends to play with hehe
    RARE COME BACK TO WHERE YOU BELONG!!!

  • Mr_Saturn26

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 3:30 am PT

    Hal Labs, YES!!!! NOW I CAN GET Lolo and Lolo 2

    Square-Enix, YES!!! Secret of Mana, FF's hmm was chrono trigger on snes?

    Konami, YES!!! Castlevania games YAY, and a few others i dont remember

    Sega, YES!!! Sonic Games, and if 32x is there Knockles Chaotix

    Where the heck is Tengen????

  • Mr_Saturn26

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 3:24 am PT

    Hal Labs, YES!!!! NOW I CAN GET Lolo and Lolo 2

    Square-Enix, YES!!! Secret of Mana, FF's hmm was chrono trigger on snes?

    Konami, YES!!! Castlevania's, and a few other games i cant remember

    Sega, YES!!! Sonic games, wonder if we are getting 32x games if so Knuckles Chaotix

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 1:42 am PT

    Great list. I want to be able to download Rare games though .

  • stlthriot

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 1:10 am PT

    i can't wait for many of the SNES classics i loved like Chrono Trigger, Mario RPG, Donkey Kong Country, Yoshi's Island and more!

  • Berem

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 7:39 pm PT

    Goldeneye was one of the best games ever made, it was the first kicka$$ FPS, I spent half of my childhood owning in that game. If it would have had online, I would have been first in the world! >, seriously though, the single player was awsome, to say the least and the multiplayer was friggin' rockin 4 player... Mines only games, rockets only, pistols only.. license to kill mode.. ahh the good old days.

  • Kbs64

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 7:26 pm PT

    Sweet!!

  • yyr57695

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 7:16 pm PT

    Why would anyone want Goldeneye? Single was alright, but the multiplayer was so slow and boring even for its day. Anyone with a PC, mouse and keyboard knew that Quake was many times faster and more exciting...plus it looked a whole lot better. Goldeneye is one of the most overrated games of all time.
    ...oh yeah, and even if Rare wasn't Microsoft-owned, they'd have a heck of a time getting the Bond license again. Ever notice how you never saw Terminator 2 or Revolution X on any of the Midway compilations? Or X-Men on any of the Konami comps? Or Alien vs. Predator, or the Dungeons & Dragons games on any of the Capcom discs? They'd have to license the material all over again...which means that the chance you'll ever see any of them re-released is slimmer than the new iPod nano.

  • Berem

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 6:55 pm PT

    True, but at the time Goldeneye 64 was developed Nintendo had the rights... which leaves me to reason that Nintendo still owns the rights to past Rare games on its systems.. but then again Im now a lawyer.

  • nintendorocks

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 6:31 pm PT

    Berem-Rare is now owned by Microsoft....I don't think they would get into the Virtual Console.

  • Berem

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 6:29 pm PT

    Nice list, although its missing Rare, which puts in to question Goldeneye 64 as being one of the titles available. Cant wait to download all those old FF games and Chrono Trigger/Cross.

  • Valen_Ca

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 6:23 pm PT

    OldStupidGeezer
    with the VC, it may be possible to get the Mario and Zelda games that were only released on the 3DO

    Trust me, you want to stay far, far away from the CDi Zelda games

  • pizzamanopenup

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 6:12 pm PT

    Sweetness! I'm looking forward to supersmash bros, goldeneye, and OOT. Have they announce whether or not you'll be able to use the Wiimote on the virtual console, or do you HAVE to buy the old school controller? OR does the old school controller come with it?

  • Charlie2688

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 5:51 pm PT

    Do I smell the old FF games?

  • JohnTheGamer

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 5:43 pm PT

    Awesome

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 5:32 pm PT

    yaaaa i might be able to get mario tennis fom hudson

  • mhder

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 5:29 pm PT

    Generic_Dude
    Sweet... Atlus. Bring on the River City Ransom, baby. --- That game was awesome.

  • Karjah

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 5:13 pm PT

    ?? There were Zelda and Mario games on the 3DO?

    Well now then...to the internets!

  • PuffTheDragon

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 5:09 pm PT

    You mean 3DO or CD-i? I don't see Philips on the list, so we won't be seeing the horrible Zelda games. Not that anybody would actually PAY for them.

    "I'm so hungry I could eat an octorok!" Ugh.

  • OldStupidGeezer

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 4:48 pm PT

    with the VC, it may be possible to get the Mario and Zelda games that were only released on the 3DO

  • DvsG

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 4:43 pm PT

    WolfSkill5544 - ""Nintendo of Japan president Satoru Iwata said that the Virtual Console would not only let gamers download and play older games on their Wii systems, but it would also play small Wii-exclusive games, as well. A number of such titles are already in development."
    Does this means that only few games will use the virtual console, and maybe not thir-parties developers?"

    This means that besided the old games being available for download, there will be games made specially for the Wii that will be downloadable through yje Virtual Console.. What you mean with games using the virual console? This isn't online playability for retail games, if that's what you were thinking...

  • Firosen

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 4:40 pm PT

    Yes yes, definately an awesome list of 3P devs. so far. That which I'm most curious about however, is if this means we'll finally get some of the games that the US missed out on during the 16-bit era (ie: Bahamut Lagoon, the first Star Ocean, Mother 1 [Earthbound Zero], Mother 3 [Earthbound 2... okay, so N64 generation too])... Is it too much to ask?

  • WolfSkill5544

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 4:08 pm PT

    "Nintendo of Japan president Satoru Iwata said that the Virtual Console would not only let gamers download and play older games on their Wii systems, but it would also play small Wii-exclusive games, as well. A number of such titles are already in development."
    Does this means that only few games will use the virtual console, and maybe not thir-parties developers?

  • rbarahona

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 4:07 pm PT

    Definitely nice publishers on the list. I hope that now I will be able to get all those NES classics I couldn't buy. Just a question... Isn't Hal Laboratories a Nintendo 2nd Party? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

  • chikahiro94

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 3:46 pm PT

    You know... SNK really does belong on this list

    C'mon guys! I want to get King of the Monsters and Magician Lord again! And I don't want to buy another AES to do it!

  • SM2099

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 3:44 pm PT

    Wow Jaleco is bringing Tuff Nuff... Just kidding that game was garbage... but that VC is looking pretty amazing.

  • japanesegoth

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 3:32 pm PT

    omg jaleco!! i thought they died forever! bases loaded is coming to virtual console!

  • Seffiroth

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 3:28 pm PT

    AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! GO WII!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • alberto2045

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 3:27 pm PT

    I cant wait for MORTAL COMBAT, CONTRA, MARIO BROS, DONKEY KONG, and every old game that i used to play when i was little yeah!!!!!!!

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