Topic: Wii U Virtual Console Launches Later This Week

[NWR_insanolord]

With the Wii U system update slated for today, the classic games service goes up for North America tomorrow.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/33969

UPDATE (4/23 at 3 p.m. ET): The Wii U Virtual Console is likely launching Friday, according to our source who claims the system update will go live Thursday.

Original Story (4/22): The Wii U Virtual Console service will launch tomorrow, Tuesday, April 23, as confirmed by an image on Nintendo's Facebook page.

What games will be available day are still unknown, though the inclusion of Ice Climber in the image Nintendo used seems to indicate that it will be one of them. The launch follows today's release of the much-anticipated Wii U system update that brings added speed and stability. 

[lolmonade]

I don't have high hopes for the first couple of runs of virtual console releases.  I expect it'll be mostly games we've already bought 5 times over with one or two surprises.
 
That being said, I look forward to the opportunity to have some of my already-purchased games to have off-TV play.

[NeoThunder]

I thought the update was today? wtf?

[TJ Spyke]

I thought the update was today? wtf?

Nope. Iwata said in the Nintendo Direct that the Wii U Virtual Console would launch the day AFTER the system update (the update is today, which means the VC comes tomorrow).

[Stogi]

I really wish Nintendo would simply just release all the games it's ever made at once. Whether that is simply the NES and SNES, or 64 and GC. I want them all in one place, at one time.

No one would complain about the lack of Wii U titles then. Or at least, not as much.

[TJ Spyke]

I really wish Nintendo would simply just release all the games it's ever made at once. Whether that is simply the NES and SNES, or 64 and GC. I want them all in one place, at one time.

No one would complain about the lack of Wii U titles then. Or at least, not as much.

Even with 409 games on just the Virtual Console, people still complained about it on Wii. Heck, you can still technically download them on the Wii U (it will just be in Wii Mode, and not have support for the Wii U GamePad or Miiverse).

[NWR_insanolord]

I really wish Nintendo would simply just release all the games it's ever made at once. Whether that is simply the NES and SNES, or 64 and GC. I want them all in one place, at one time.

No one would complain about the lack of Wii U titles then. Or at least, not as much.

It doesn't make sense from a business perspective to do that; they'd all cannibalize each other's sales. I hope for a speedier rollout than we've seen on 3DS, but I understand that it's going to be, at the very least, the better part of a year before everything on the Wii Shop is on the Wii U. And realistically, it's likely to be significantly longer.

[pokepal148]

its almost 7pm here and the update is not live...

[Oblivion]

its almost 7pm here and the update is not live...

Because it launches tomorrow?

[Spak-Spang]

Actually I agree Nintendo needs to release as many VC games as possible on release day or soon after.


I don't buy this cannibalize reason.  These are not new games, nor are they expensive.  These are games that gamers either want or not...and putting as many available as possible will mean more sales and more money, and will immediately give Wii U a better value when looking at what games are available to play. 

When Nintendo was slowly releasing the games for the Wii it was sort justified because it took some time to play test and convert to play on the Wii.  But Nintendo needs to be more aggressive this time. 

Let's face it.  If Mario World and Link to the Past is both available I will buy both.  If I can only afford one game, then I will buy the other when I can.  That is usually what happens...people will find what they want to buy and buy it...and if you just delay releases too long then you are delaying profits with these digital releases. 

It is kinda frustrating to think Nintendo might make us wait months and years as they release games sparingly.  Specially when you think that people are going to want to upgrade all their Wii games to Wii U compatible ASAP...well that means the games should be all available for this reason. 

Come on Nintendo go bold and launch the Wii U virtual console with a 100+ titles available. 

[UncleBob]

It's a hard decision.  If they release everything at once, typical customer will buy one game and maybe come back later and buy another.

If I release a "new" game every week and all the gaming blogs run my press release, telling everyone what "new" game was released this week, then it increases the odds of me remembering "Oh, I wanted to buy that!".

Case in point.  I have all of the DSiWare Game and Watch titles, along with the first Game and Watch VC title.  The second would have been a day-one purchase for me, except that the thread about it went to s*** and I forgot about it being released... so I didn't buy it that day.  It was several months later (not too long ago, in fact), I got linked back to that thread and remembered that I wanted to buy it.

Yeah, it's been there in the shop the entire time, but if no one talks about it, it hurts sales.

[azeke]

Or, they could just dump it all and then make random thematic sales, like "this week only! all WarioWare games on sale!".

It doesn't even have to be big discount, just enough to justify press-release and few articles on news sites.

[Spak-Spang]

Azeke:  Exactly.  Or they could do much broader launches.  20 games a week. 

Or sales are a good promotions.  There are tons of ways to promote things.  Having themed sells would be a great idea. 

[pokepal148]

It's a hard decision.  If they release everything at once, typical customer will buy one game and maybe come back later and buy another.

If I release a "new" game every week and all the gaming blogs run my press release, telling everyone what "new" game was released this week, then it increases the odds of me remembering "Oh, I wanted to buy that!".

Case in point.  I have all of the DSiWare Game and Watch titles, along with the first Game and Watch VC title.  The second would have been a day-one purchase for me, except that the thread about it went to s*** and I forgot about it being released... so I didn't buy it that day.  It was several months later (not too long ago, in fact), I got linked back to that thread and remembered that I wanted to buy it.

Yeah, it's been there in the shop the entire time, but if no one talks about it, it hurts sales.

the nintendo eshop on 3DS is pretty good at bringing back older titles...

[UncleBob]

How many websites run articles about a particular 3DS eShop theme-of-the-week?

How many websites run articles about the weekly Nintendo Download?

The 3DS eShop *does* do a good job of promoting older titles, but that's only good once you're in the eShop.  Nintendo needs to get you in the doors first.