Topic: Nintendo Downloads - May 3, 2012

[Patchkid15]

Birds, bacteria, and bikes hit Nintendo's downloadable services this week.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/30040

This week we have one eShop, one DSiWare, and one Wii Virtual Console game to fill our downloadable Nintendo needs. The 3DS Virtual Console is once again barren, with the last release being the Game Gear games on March 15.

First is the new eShop game, Bird Mania 3D. Control Mojo, a flying bird trying to regroup with this flock in Africa, as he takes to the skies. Avoid obstacles and collect bonuses while flying through the air. Bird Mania 3D even  features achievements for those looking for an extra challenge. Bird Mania 3D is available on the eShop for $1.99. Our review of it should be up today.

Next is Amoebattle on both the DSi Shop and eShop. This real-time strategy game takes the fight to a microscopic level. You can use the touch screen to control your army and help fight off a mysterious infection. Amoebattle is available now for $4.99. We will have a review of it soon.

Lastly is the Wii Virtual Console Arcade game, Super Hang-On. Originally released in 1987, Super Hang-On features 48 tracks of street bike racing action. It is available on the Wii Shop for 900 Wii Points.

[geo]

I'd love to hear if the bird game is worth it or not.  It looks good, but on the other hand it is kinda cheap which makes me worry.

[5kytar]

Still no Game boy games... sigh... I want Wario Land

[leahsdad]

How long has it been since we had a 3DS VC?  A month, maybe?  Was the last one Bionic Commando, or was it a NES game?


I starting to think that NOA, maybe even NCL, are planning to abandon Virtual Console.  Anyone notice that there hasn't been any word, whatsoever, of VC on the Wii U?  I know we all think that VC is just free money for Nintendo, but there must be something about it, maybe a perceived opportunity cost, that makes it unattractive for them to continue.  At least, for NOA, they seem to want the eshop to resemble the Itunes App store.  Do they honestly think that will bring back all the casual users who migrated to IOS devices?

[MegaByte]

NCL has been pumping out VC titles consistently, approximately two per week (one on Wii, one on 3DS).

[NWR_Neal]

NCL ain't abandoning 3DS VC. It's all on NoA.

Some stats:
- There have been 2 Game Boy games on VC in NA this year (Lock 'n Chase (January), and Maru's Mission (February 9))
- Since February 9 (the last GB release in NA), Japan has received 9 more Game Boy games (including 3 GBC games), and Europe has received 5 (including 1 GBC game).
- Technically, Nintendo released 6 more VC games on 3DS in NA since then (3 Game Gear and 3 NES)

This is abysmal. I'm at a point where I don't give a crap about these download announcements anymore, and judging from the next few weeks of content as leaked by Nintendo.com and other sources, it's not looking much better.

Except Amoebattle. That's a pretty cool game.

[Bman87301]

How long has it been since we had a 3DS VC?  A month, maybe?  Was the last one Bionic Commando, or was it a NES game?


I starting to think that NOA, maybe even NCL, are planning to abandon Virtual Console.  Anyone notice that there hasn't been any word, whatsoever, of VC on the Wii U?  I know we all think that VC is just free money for Nintendo, but there must be something about it, maybe a perceived opportunity cost, that makes it unattractive for them to continue.  At least, for NOA, they seem to want the eshop to resemble the Itunes App store.  Do they honestly think that will bring back all the casual users who migrated to IOS devices?

I don't know why NOA has been holding out on GB releases, but if I had to guess, they're probably anticipating a software shortage later on in the year and saving these games to filling in the gaps. It's never been Nintendo's strategy to win back the casual market with the 3DS-- it was clearly designed to appeal to core gamers, and Nintendo certainly hasn't been trying to produce casual games for it, so, I don't see your theory being all too likely as they seem to saving all their casual efforts for the Wii U.

[StrawHatChopper]

I still want Kirby's Block Ball. The game page is just sitting there on the eShop, taunting me with the message 'Coming Soon'.

[ejamer]

How long has it been since we had a 3DS VC?  A month, maybe?  Was the last one Bionic Commando, or was it a NES game?


I starting to think that NOA, maybe even NCL, are planning to abandon Virtual Console.  Anyone notice that there hasn't been any word, whatsoever, of VC on the Wii U?  I know we all think that VC is just free money for Nintendo, but there must be something about it, maybe a perceived opportunity cost, that makes it unattractive for them to continue.  At least, for NOA, they seem to want the eshop to resemble the Itunes App store.  Do they honestly think that will bring back all the casual users who migrated to IOS devices?

I don't know why NOA has been holding out on GB releases, but if I had to guess, they're probably anticipating a software shortage later on in the year and saving these games to filling in the gaps. It's never been Nintendo's strategy to win back the casual market with the 3DS-- it was clearly designed to appeal to core gamers, and Nintendo certainly hasn't been trying to produce casual games for it, so, I don't see your theory being all too likely as they seem to saving all their casual efforts for the Wii U.

Sorry, did I miss something?  The shortage is coming later in the year?  Nintendo gamers haven't exactly been swimming in quality software lately, and if things are expected to get worse then I'm pretty disappointed.

[Ian Sane]

This is abysmal. I'm at a point where I don't give a crap about these download announcements anymore, and judging from the next few weeks of content as leaked by Nintendo.com and other sources, it's not looking much better.

If this continues on the Wii U, this could be a potential issue regarding third party support.  I ignore this stuff too because there is so rarely anything good.  But I also largely ignore Wii Ware for the same reason.  Why would I look if the announcements suggest nothing good ever comes out?  Third parties don't want Wii U owners to ignore the online store because Nintendo neglects it too much.  No one will check the store out if they feel there is a no reason to check the store out.  The last thing Nintendo should want to do is make people ignore their store.  Nintendo has to support the store, just like how they had to support online on the Gamecube and didn't and the whole feature went unused.  They set the example and only after the online store is successful with third party games can Nintendo ease off and let third parties take care of it.

And it is just NOA how is screwing this up.  What has did Reggie ever do to win over the fans beyond a cool speech at his first E3?

[leahsdad]

  Nintendo has to support the store, just like how they had to support online on the Gamecube and didn't and the whole feature went unused.  They set the example and only after the online store is successful with third party games can Nintendo ease off and let third parties take care of it.

And it is just NOA how is screwing this up.  What has did Reggie ever do to win over the fans beyond a cool speech at his first E3?

You know, there was a time, maybe for most of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, that everyone single Eshop game released every week was worth getting.  It didn't feel like an online store as much as it was a curated experience, and I loved it.  I was charging my 3DS $50 at a time!  Everything was either obvious quality (Mighty Switch Force, Mutant Mudds, Pushmo, VVVVVV) or, at the very worst, debatable quality (Dillon's Rolling Western, Sakura Samurai).   But with this week, it just seems bad.  Like, App Store bad.   This week's game is $2, right?  Yup, sounds like App Store.  Except there, you'd only be throwing away $1.

I really hope we haven't already tapped the Eshop well dry.   

[Halbred]

Somebody should (NEEDS TO) ask Reggie about this at E3. He'll give a canned answer, but the issue should be raised. It took NoA four years to completely abandon the Wii VC. It's taken them nine months with 3DS. Unbelievable.

[UncleBob]

On one hand, I see constant complaints about the lack of innovation and Nintendo sticking with known formulas, etc., etc.

On the other hand, I see a bunch of people getting bent out of shape because Nintendo doesn't re-release old games enough.

Hm.

[NWR_insanolord]

They're not mutually exclusive, especially when the latter requires almost no effort.

[leahsdad]

On one hand, I see constant complaints about the lack of innovation and Nintendo sticking with known formulas, etc., etc.

On the other hand, I see a bunch of people getting bent out of shape because Nintendo doesn't re-release old games enough.

Hm.

That's a good point.  I will, for my part, claim that I have never complained about Nintendo clinging to the past, and probably won't anytime soon.   I bought Starfox 64 and Ocarina of Time 3D at their respective launch days.   I will buy New Super Mario Bros 2 at launch as well.   I think when Nintendo revisits the well, it's because the well isn't dry yet.

I just want them, at least on the eshop, to go to that well more often.

[MegaByte]

They're not mutually exclusive, especially when the latter requires almost no effort.

In fact, I'd say they're exactly complementary.

[UncleBob]

I understand that they can coexist.  And I understand that it's not necessarily the same group of people who want VC Games re-released... It's just funny how some fans want to play the same games over and over, while others want brand new stuff all the time with no hint of repetition.

[broodwars]

I understand that they can coexist.  And I understand that it's not necessarily the same group of people who want VC Games re-released... It's just funny how some fans want to play the same games over and over, while others want brand new stuff all the time with no hint of repetition.

Or maybe people want to play old games they haven't played since they were children 15-20+ years ago, or games they never had a chance to play back in the day.

The thing is, I want Nintendo to re-release old games I loved rather than make new games that are just the old ones rehashed.  I'd rather they save the old stuff for the re-releases and treat me to new stuff in their new titles.