NeoGeo games to hit Wii Virtual Console

Last year SNK Playmore revealed that it was getting into the downloadable retro gaming market with a Japanese release of the NeoGeo fighter Fatal Fury Special for the Xbox 360's Live Arcade service. However, the Xbox 360 won't be the only console to offer downloadable NeoGeo games. Nintendo has updated its Japanese Virtual Console page with word that it would begin supporting the NeoGeo this summer.

The site also gives a few more Virtual Console-related updates. The first two MSX games announced for release on the VC are Eggy and Aleste, both slated for release this spring for a price of 800 Wii points ($8) each.

A handful of new companies have also been added to the list of Virtual Console publishers, including Pony Canyon (Dr. Chaos, Phantom Fighter), Spike (Fire Pro Wrestling, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi), SNK Playmore (Fatal Fury, Metal Slug), and mobile game developer G-Mode. This doesn't necessarily mean the Virtual Console will host ports of cell phone games; G-Mode acquired the rights to Data East's catalog of games (including Burger Time and Magical Drop) in 2004.

As of press time, neither Nintendo nor SNK Playmore representatives had responded to GameSpot's request for comment on when (or if) NeoGeo games would be added to the Virtual Console offerings outside of Japan.