Author Topic: Japanese Wii Shop Goes Live (Read 8897 times)

MegaByte · « **on:** November 30, 2006, 04:16:19 PM »

Thirty-eight Virtual Console games, three days early.

The first batch of Virtual Console games for the Japanese market popped up yesterday on the Wii Shop. Of course, most people will not have access to them until the launch on December 2nd. The first collection of titles only included games from Nintendo systems, but today the Shop was updated again with Mega Drive (Genesis), PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16), and third-party titles, bringing the total to thirty-eight, which is already more than we'll see stateside until sometime next year.

All Famicom (NES), Mega Drive, and PC Engine games are playable with the Wii Remote, Classic Controller, and GameCube Controller. Super Famicom (SNES) and Nintendo 64 games are playable with the Classic Controller and GameCube Controller.

All currently released games were given an "A" rating by CERO, which is the Japanese equivalent of an ESRB "Everyone" rating, except for Street Fighter II, which received a B rating (12+) due to violence.

Famicom games cost 500 points each, Mega Drive and PC Engine games cost 600 points each, Nintendo 64 games cost 1000 points a piece, and Super Famicom games each cost 800 points, with the exception of Zelda III, which costs 900 points.

Notably, the version of The Legend of Zelda being made available is the Famicom Disk System version, which featured enhanced sound compared to the NES version. Super Mario 64 appears to be the rumble-enhanced version, though as of now rumble is not supported.

While it is possible that even more games will be posted between now and launch, Japanese gamers should already be pleased by the launch availability. The full set of titles is listed below.

Game	System	Original Release	Publisher	Players
Ice Hockey	Famicom	1988/01/21	Nintendo	1-2
Akumajou Dracula (Super Castlevania IV)	Super Famicom	1991/10/31	Konami	1
Urban Champion	Famicom	1984/11/14	Nintendo	1-2
Ecco the Dolphin	Mega Drive	1993/07/30	Sega	1
F-Zero	Super Famicom	1990/11/21	Nintendo	1
Gunstar Heroes	Mega Drive	1993/09/10	Sega	1-2
Gradius	Famicom	1986/04/25	Konami	1-2
Columns	Mega Drive	1990/06/30	Sega	1-2
Gomoku Narabe	Famicom	1983/08/27	Nintendo	1-2
Golden Axe	Mega Drive	1989/12/23	Sega	1-2
Soccer	Famicom	1985/04/09	Nintendo	1-2
Shadow Dancer	Mega Drive	1990/12/01	Sega	1
Necromancer	PC Engine	1988	Hudson	1
Project Altered Beast	Mega Drive	1988/11/27	Sega	1-2
Street Fighter II	Super Famicom	1992/06/10	Capcom	1-2
Space Harrier II	Mega Drive	1988/10/29	Sega	1
Super Star Soldier	PC Engine	1990	Hudson	1
Super Mario Brothers	Famicom	1985/09/13	Nintendo	1-2
Super Mario 64	Nintendo 64	1996/06/23	Nintendo	1
Super Mario World	Super Famicom	1990/11/21	Nintendo	1-2
Xevious	Famicom	1984/11/08	Namco	1
Zelda no Densetsu (The Legend of Zelda)	Famicom	1996/06/23	Nintendo	1
Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce (The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past)	Super Famicom	1991/11/21	Nintendo	1
Sonic the Hedgehog	Mega Drive	1991/07/26	Sega	1
Solomon no Kagi (Solomon's Key)	Famicom	1986/07/30	Tecmo	1
Takahashi Meijin no Shin Bouken Jima (New Adventure Island)	PC Engine	1992	Hudson	1
Dungeon Explorer	PC Engine	1989	Hudson	1-5
Tennis	Famicom	1984/01/14	Nintendo	1-2
Toejam & Earl	Mega Drive	1992/03/13	Sega	1-2
Donkey Kong	Famicom	1983/07/15	Nintendo	1-2
Donkey Kong Jr.	Famicom	1983/07/15	Nintendo	1-2
Victory Run	PC Engine	1987	Hudson	1
Pinball	Famicom	1984/02/02	Nintendo	1-2
PC Genjin (Bonk's Adventure)	PC Engine	1989	Hudson	1
Puyo Puyo	Mega Drive	1992/12/18	Sega	1-2
Baseball	Famicom	1983/12/07	Nintendo	1-2
Bomberman '94	PC Engine	1993	Hudson	1-5
Ristar	Mega Drive	1995/02/17	Sega	1

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #1 on:** November 30, 2006, 08:06:23 PM »

Geez talk about giving the finger to the U.S. market, it is virtually inexcusable for Japan to get 38 titles while we got, what, 6 at launch?

Arbok · « **Reply #2 on:** November 30, 2006, 10:04:04 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: VGrevolution
Geez talk about giving the finger to the U.S. market, it is virtually inexcusable for Japan to get 38 titles while we got, what, 6 at launch?

Well we did get the system itself much earlier...

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #3 on:** November 30, 2006, 11:48:55 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Arbok
Quote
Originally posted by: VGrevolution
Geez talk about giving the finger to the U.S. market, it is virtually inexcusable for Japan to get 38 titles while we got, what, 6 at launch?

Well we did get the system itself much earlier...

True, but still we have maybe half of what Japan is getting right now. I just don't see the hold up, even if the games aren't all must haves, I think the library should at least be comparable in size.

Maximilian · « **Reply #4 on:** December 01, 2006, 02:27:05 AM »

Yeah, what bothers me is that I heard that in an interview about it, Reggie was saying he didn't think all of the games Japan is getting are applicable to Western markets. WTF guy? I'd be uber ticked if most of those games don't come out here eventually. Sure, there are probably a couple that were Japan-only games, but the majority on that list are not.

UltimatePartyBear · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2006, 02:55:36 AM »

We didn't even get all the ones we were originally promised for launch. I wonder if a third of these will also mysteriously disappear. To be fair to Nintendo, though, I expect them to make sure every game they release is completely playable, which means QA time, which means games can't be released instantly. I also expect them to test the Japanese and American versions separately.

That said, I also expect them to pick up the pace already.

nitsu niflheim · « **Reply #6 on:** December 01, 2006, 03:07:26 AM »

I just don't understand Nintendo's way of thinking, why don't we get Zelda ALttP too? Sometimes they are so stupid.

couchmonkey · « **Reply #7 on:** December 01, 2006, 03:09:03 AM »

I think the reason is business strategy. Reggie later changed his comment when the interviewer pointed out that a lot of games would appeal to North America and said, "Oh we're saving them for strategic releases".

So what do we think of Reggie now? I doubt it was our hated enemy, NCL that decided to make the North American VC lineup so small. The natives should be restless!

Ceric · « **Reply #8 on:** December 01, 2006, 03:57:13 AM »

I have gone on record multiple times stating that I don't like Reggie the President. NoA keeps making stupid decisions. I take a look at the list and only see a couple gamesI have no interest in and that people wouldn't flock to get.

Caliban · « **Reply #9 on:** December 01, 2006, 03:58:14 AM »

There's alot of blatant jealousy in these forums.

couchmonkey · « **Reply #10 on:** December 01, 2006, 07:57:18 AM »

Ha ha ha, yeah, I'm jealous of that darn Reggie.

He's so sexy.

Caliban · « **Reply #11 on:** December 01, 2006, 08:15:43 AM »

I meant jealous in regards to the Japanese VC launch list, I don't get all this knitpicking(sp?) about certain games that they are getting but we aren't at the moment. I am anxiously waiting for several north-american titles that have a very small chance of ever appearing on the VC but you don't see me whining about that. Grow up.

UltimatePartyBear · « **Reply #12 on:** December 01, 2006, 08:32:04 AM »

If there were no whining, the Internet would shrivel up and die.

Please, think of the Internet.

Svevan · « **Reply #13 on:** December 01, 2006, 08:55:03 AM »

Caliban, if we cut off all complaints there wouldn't be a journalistic press. The whole point is to mention Nintendo's flaws (and achievements), and judging by the amount of responses here and elsewhere a lot of people believe the VC game selection is flawed. Why did MTV ask Reggie about it in the first place? Why did he give a BS answer? MARKETING. They want more money, and they hope a slow-moving release schedule will encourage gamers to buy everything. No one, no matter how devoted, should defend this action as a consumer. Business wise, it may work, but I think Nintendo would make the Virtual Console a selling point for all gamers, not just a few, if their selection was wider. I also think their sales would go up by having a lot more available by the very fact that there would be MORE TO BUY. There must be another way to get those smaller games some attention, and I think advertisements (make it a Nintendo.com special), lower prices, and internet press coverage (give independent sites exclusive VC details to drum up support) will all do wonders.

Tiered updates are expected, but the speed needs to pick up in 07 - otherwise this is a Realistically Flawed Virtual Console.

Ceric · « **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2006, 08:59:22 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: PartyBear
If there were no whining, the Internet would be nothing but porn.

Please, think of the minors.

Caliban · « **Reply #15 on:** December 01, 2006, 09:52:49 AM »

Svevan, I agree, but my basis is that if at launch they offered every single title available for each system many of you would still complain about it, either way someone is always going to complain, but that's just my opinion, one against 30, you win democratically.

Svevan · « **Reply #16 on:** December 01, 2006, 10:20:38 AM »

You are correct - there will always be complaints. At the very least I can play SM64 whenever I want, and I got to try Hudson games for the first time, and I'll get to revisit Solomon's Key soon too. VC is awesome, just not as awesome as it should be. (Also, played three player Bomberman 93 last night with Wii Remotes. Pretty darn fun!)

Please note that this is the last time you will see me say something positive. Savor it.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #17 on:** December 01, 2006, 10:53:08 AM »

NINTENDOWHINEREPORT.com

THIS IS THE NEXT GEN

NWR_pap64 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 01, 2006, 10:59:22 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: VGrevolution
Geez talk about giving the finger to the U.S. market, it is virtually inexcusable for Japan to get 38 titles while we got, what, 6 at launch?

Not to mention DELAYED and few updates.

I REALLY hope Nintendo gets their VC act together in the US. Its a joke right now.

capamerica · « **Reply #19 on:** December 01, 2006, 01:10:34 PM »

It sucked that they were getting titles we're weren't getting (Street Fighter II, Super Mario Bros, Super Mario World, & Zelda:ALttP) But now they are getting 38 games at launch! WTF? The Virtual Console better start picking up over here, I've been very disapointed with it and this announcement really kind of gets me mad.

Kairon · « **Reply #20 on:** December 01, 2006, 05:28:25 PM »

I wonder what NOAs excuse is for the trickling when NOJ is clearly ready to launch huge numbers of titles?

I'd be perfectly fine with the American release schedule, except for the fact that Japan clearly shows that things can be better for us gamers!

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

King of Twitch · « **Reply #21 on:** December 01, 2006, 07:27:41 PM »

LTTP is $1 more.. greedy SOBs. They will @*^! you in the !#$ as long as they can get away with it the way they did Memory Card 59

Kairon · « **Reply #22 on:** December 01, 2006, 07:33:16 PM »

/ looks down at his multiple memcard59s

...

Does the one that came with Animal Crossing count too?

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

DjEcKo3742 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 02, 2006, 03:02:54 AM »

if you think about it, who cares if a game would not fit with this market.......its not like they have to go thru the whooole production process to get it boxed up, wrapped, and shelved. they just make sure its compatible with the emulator, work out the operations guide, and upload it to the server. give those HAL guys something to do when theyre not working on smash bros, lol.
theyre not gunna deal with units that didnt sell, cuz its just the ROM thats being handled electronically, and therefore they can accomodate everyone's panties from getting in a bunch.

Arbok · « **Reply #24 on:** December 02, 2006, 03:24:34 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: DjEcKo3742
if you think about it, who cares if a game would not fit with this market.......its not like they have to go thru the whooole production process to get it boxed up, wrapped, and shelved. they just make sure its compatible with the emulator, work out the operations guide, and upload it to the server.

Except the fact that some of them, like the Fire Emblem titles, would require a lot of translation work before hand. No excuse for titles that have already been released internationally, though, of course.

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Author Topic: Japanese Wii Shop Goes Live (Read 8897 times)