Topic: Wii Virtual Console Titles Not Playable on GamePad

[NWR_DrewMG]

The Wii U is to Wii as Wii was to GameCube.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/31715

Wii, WiiWare, and Virtual Console games will be supported on Wii U much the same way that GameCube titles were supported on Wii, without any special features or GamePad support.

In an interview with Nintendo of America, they stated that the Virtual Console transfer process was not confirmed to be available at launch, and would require both systems to be present and an SD card. The transfer process works much in the same way the DSi to 3DS process works today.

We will post the full transcript of the interview later this evening.

[Kytim89]

This is a real let down. I mean it would have so awesome to have the ability to paly these games on the Gamepad. However, if Nintendo re-releases Virtual Console and Wiiware with upgraded vissuals then  can see them retooling the code to work on the Gamepad. This would all be done to spur more sales.

[Pale]

I really hope this particular representative was smoking crack here.

If the system has to be in "wii mode" for Virtual Console that, to me, is like them admitting that it's a legacy service that won't be maintained. How on earth can I buy more games if this is the case.

I'm so disgusted. I was hyped for the system and I preordered, but if this is true, I may cancel and see how crap plays out. So upsetting.

[bernietoast]

damn, was really looking forward to playing some VC when the TV is in use.

[Ian Sane]

I see no reason other than laziness or incompetance to justify such a decision.  Both the Gamepad and the Wii U classic controlller should be able to play these games.

I suppose this rep might not understand the question.  I certainly don't expect any specific Gamepad features to be implemented here and he might assume that instead of just how we would expect the buttons to be mapped.

[Pale]

Watch. While all the games we already bought can't be played on the Game Pad, we will be welcome to purchase the "Wii U Virtual Console" version and play those on the tablet....

Seriously though, this is so crazy that I really hope the representative fed us bad info, but we report it like we're told!

[Eyothrie]

This sounds consistent with how DS cartridge games and DSiWare games work on the 3DS.   Both work in DS mode.

[Louieturkey]

These does not make me happy.  I must be a lucky one in that I only bought 4 VC games and no Wiiware stuff.  I think I still have some Wii points on my account.  I think I'll hold off on those, though I hope they don't decide to not allow those to be transferred.  They already got my money.

[TrueNerd]

DAMMIT I WANT UPCONVERSION

[KITT 10K]

While I am not surprised by this, there still is no excuse for that.

[broodwars]

Nintendo's taking the lazy way out with supporting a feature we actually care about. Shocking. 

I really do hope that this doesn't mean Nintendo's abandoning the VC with Wii U, just supporting the games already released. I'd really like to see certain GameCube games on the service, since titles like the Baten Kaitos series and Skies of Arcadia Legends got SO overlooked (yes, Skies is popular, but it didn't sell well) in their day.

[Adrock]

Yikes. I'm hoping that VC games at least get patched to stream to the GamePad. Considering how bad those old games look blown up on HDTVs, I'd much rather play them on the GamePad. Plus, GamePad streaming is awesome and a major selling point.

[Sarail]

It just boggles my mind that these things don't automatically come to Nintendo. How could they not realize that we all want to stream our VC and WiiWare games to the GamePad?

Absurd.


And you're right, Adrock. It IS a major selling point. Sheesh! >_<

[the asylum]

There is no excuse for this. None.

Nintendo, you have failed us again.

[Spak-Spang]

I completely understand this with the Wiiware games and Wii games...but my understanding was the Virtual Console games were games written with the emulators built into the game.  I thought it was programmed in such a manner to help games transfer from system to system.


If Nintendo can't get at least previous virtual console games to be playable one the Wii U game pad then that is a HUGE loss...and very disappointing. 


I agree an update or upgraded patch to get it to work would be amazing...but really when you transfer your Wii VC games that patch or update should already be available and it should work as advertised in promotional videos from the start.

[Ian Sane]

It just boggles my mind that these things don't automatically come to Nintendo.

You know how someone is a visionaire because they see things that no one else does?  Nintendo has that but it seems to come with the inability to see things that everyone else does.  Maybe they owe their success to a pact with Satan and this is the ironic curse part of it the devil threw in to **** with them.

There are two constants with Nintendo - Mario games and fucking up stuff that is so simple and obvious you figure to **** it up you would have to specifically TRY to.

[GK]

Ehh. Unless they announce online play for Virtual Console games, I can care less. May as well keep the games on my Wii seeing as I need both systems on hand to transfer them anyway.

[bhurak]

This is crazy!  VC games are in Wii emulation mode?  It's so shocking it's just got to be not true.  (Unless they are abandoning the service)

[AV]

This seriously is bullshit, I hope it gets clarified and the uproar from internets causes Nintendo to change this. I see Wiiware and Wii games being a hassle to reprogram for wiigamepad but the vc games should be easy as pie to do.

[leahsdad]

This is crazy!  VC games are in Wii emulation mode?  It's so shocking it's just got to be not true.  (Unless they are abandoning the service)

It also makes me afraid for the emulation quality...will it be as good as it was on the Wii?   

Also, will we be able to purchase VC on day one?   I know eshop will be up and running, but they didn't mention VC.

[supergtt]

this is lazy pure and simple. and tells me that the VC is fixing to be a fractured service forever now. when it should be unified. you shouldn't transfer over the Wii executables for the emulators, you should transfer your liscense and download new files.

This is like having to stop my computer, boot into dos off a disk every time I wanted to run ipconfig.

[Bman87301]

"In an interview with Nintendo of America, they stated that the Virtual Console transfer process was not confirmed to be available at launch..."

Is that a typo? I thought it WAS confirmed for launch...

[stevey]

Watch. While all the games we already bought can't be played on the Game Pad, we will be welcome to purchase the "Wii U Virtual Console" version and play those on the tablet....

Seriously though, this is so crazy that I really hope the representative fed us bad info, but we report it like we're told!

But that's the driving principal behind DLC. The reason companies in music/Hollywood/VG dying to adopt digital distribution is so they can use DRM to block people from playing it beyond x years after launch, forcing them to either rebuy it over and over and over again or be prosecuted as terrorist pirates.

[ejamer]

Wow. People are really upset, huh? I agree that it sucks if we can't play transferred VC games on the tablet, but don't see how that news is surprising.


It makes a lot of sense that transferred games would play in Wii-compatibility mode instead of being completely converted to Wii U versions. Each VC game you buy has the full emulator code included in the download, and those emulators are designed and tested to work with Wii. When you transfer games over, how do you think they will be magically updated to work with Wii U?


Hopefully people will be given the chance to upgrade their existing VC games to improved Wii U versions at no cost some day... but I wouldn't hold my breath. You purchased a Wii Virtual Console game, and now you own a Wii Virtual Console game. End of story. Dumb decision by Nintendo? Sure... but I can't see the cost of having every existing Virtual Console game updated to Wii U versions and QA approved by launch making any sense from a business perspective, even if I would kill to have my VC games playable on the tablet. Frankly I'm glad we are given the option to transfer at all, since there was some serious doubt about that initially.


The interesting question to me is what Nintendo will do when Wii U Virtual Console starts rolling and they re-release the same old games. Will they be treated as something completely separate from the Wii version, and people will have to re-buy to take advantage of the new features? Will both versions continue to exist and be available for purchase? Will the new one replace the older version, and if so what happens to people who still own Wii consoles and want to re-download an old game? I have my guesses (all based on what makes the most business sense for Nintendo) but will wait and see how things play out.

[ShyGuy]

This doesn't seem worth the RAGE.

[TJ Spyke]

Fanboys don't understand logic.

[MagicCow64]

Well, there is the example of the 3DS Ambassador rollout, where non-frilled versions of classic games were quasi-beta released and later upgraded to the enhanced versions. So it might be possible that Nintendo will gradually re-release WiiU compatible Virtual Console titles to the eShop and allow owners of the previous version to overwrite.

[thedefalcos]

Now hang on a minute, guys.  Let's talk this out:


Wasn't it the case that the Gamepad had a sensor bar built into it? I thought that was feature showcased for Just Dance 4. Or am I imagining things... If it IS the case that there's a sensor bar, then it really is crazy that the gamepad wouldn't support Wiiware/VC transfers since it doesn't have to map anything. It would be just acting as an extra screen with a sensor bar.


However, if it doesn't have that censor bar feature, then that would be a shame for some of you who have dozens of digital games. I only have about a half dozen, all of which I have played to death so not a big loss for me to not be able to use the gamepad.


Here's where I hope the rep is absolutely wrong: you have to have BOTH SYSTEMS PRESENT? What?? I was planning on selling my Wii to pay for new games. But, I wanted to keep my SD card with my VC games on it. Now I have to wait until after I buy the WiiU to sell it? I want my launch day games dammit!


Whatever happens, the average customer is going to be confused as hell when it's explained to them that they have to have both systems present and they can't play their VC games on the gamepad unless they rebuy the SAME GAMES to get the WiiU version.

[TJ Spyke]

I actually assumed you would need to have the Wii present to transfer games, just like you do for DSi and 3DS transfers. It also helps make sure people don't give their Wii to someone with VC games, then copy them to their Wii U. And I don't think it will be confusing, people didn't get confused by having to have two Xbox 360's to transfer content from the old HDD's to the slim one (and in that case, Microsoft even charged you for a cable..

[Neifirst]

I wanted nothing more from virtual console going forward than the ability to play them on that gamepad screen.  Here's hoping it's only a temporary situation or a misunderstanding of the question on the part of the Nintendo representative.  I never had an expectation of Wii games on the screen, but I would think an emulator wouldn't be too much trouble to mirror to the pad screen, but what do I know?

[Miyamoto]

V disappointing.

[Shaymin]

So what are the odds that this functionality comes down in a system update?

[broodwars]

So what are the odds that this functionality comes down in a system update?

NFR 4.5 talk here, but if they don't even have an emulator written for the Wii U I wouldn't expect one.  Remember that the emulator is packed-in with every downloaded copy of the game, so even if they DID issue a firmware update to allow this functionality they'd have to force you to redownload all your VC and WiiWare titles.  But considering at that point they might as well just allow you to play Wii games on the thing, I doubt that would happen.  Sales would REALLY have to tank because of this to make Nintendo budge now that they're committed.

[Pixelated Pixies]

Laziness. Pure & simple.

[shingi_70]

Maybe I'm giving them to much credit but whose to say that they haven't started the process of making new emulators a few months ago.

[lolmonade]

This is by far the most disappointing thing to me.  I loved the idea of my wife being able to watch tv while I used the gamepad to play wiiware/virtual console games.  As everyone here has already said, it seems crazy that they would neglect to offer something that seems so simple and obvious.
 
This hasn't changed my plans to purchase it, but it does make me reconsider if I should bother transferring my virtual console library to Wii U.

[NWR_Neal]

"In an interview with Nintendo of America, they stated that the Virtual Console transfer process was not confirmed to be available at launch..."

Is that a typo? I thought it WAS confirmed for launch...

No it's not. We'll have the full interview up later, but from our interview, there was not a confirmation of it being at launch. It could very well be there (and I guess it will in Japan?), but the NoA rep we spoke to did not confirm it.

[Eyothrie]

So is every future Nintendo console after the Wii U going to have a "Wii mode"?  I assume not, so Nintendo will have to come up with a solution if they want the Virtual Console to exist beyond the Wii U

[broodwars]

So is every future Nintendo console after the Wii U going to have a "Wii mode"?  I assume not, so Nintendo will have to come up with a solution if they want the Virtual Console to exist beyond the Wii U

I think Nintendo's crossing that bridge when they get to it, as history has shown that they really don't seem to know what to do with the service. They're not exactly a good company at planning ahead.

[mustbeburt]

I'm also really disappointed by this.  Playing virtual console games on the gamepad anywhere in my house was one of the features I was looking forward to.  When they talked about being able to play a game on the Gamepad while other people watch something on TV - I did NOT assume they only meant WiiU software.  Bummertown.

[bhurak]

Really I thought Nintendo had figured this out.  I figured they'd be announcing GameCube joining the Virtual Console along with everything getting the enhancements seen in 3DS (proper save state support!).  Instead they can't confirm it's at available at launch.

[broodwars]

I'm also really disappointed by this.  Playing virtual console games on the gamepad anywhere in my house was one of the features I was looking forward to.  When they talked about being able to play a game on the Gamepad while other people watch something on TV - I did NOT assume they only meant WiiU software.  Bummertown.

"The Wii U GamePad: strong enough to play Assassin's Creed 3. Too weak to play Super Mario Bros. Pre-Order Today!"

[Ceric]

Frankly BC is never very high on Nintendo list of features they want to focus on because for the most part it doesn't make them much money if any really.  Throwing into a Wii mode is the cheapest and least buggy way to do anything Wii related.  Once we get out of launch & down the way I would not be surprised to find out Nintendo enable VC to Gamepad & open a little more RAM to developers.

[ShyGuy]

I'm still mad that Nintendo was too lazy to add new levels to my Wii Virtual Console Super Mario Bros NES download. LAZY NINTENDO. L-A-Z-Y.

[NWR_insanolord]

Frankly BC is never very high on Nintendo list of features they want to focus on because for the most part it doesn't make them much money if any really.  Throwing into a Wii mode is the cheapest and least buggy way to do anything Wii related.  Once we get out of launch & down the way I would not be surprised to find out Nintendo enable VC to Gamepad & open a little more RAM to developers.

This is the correct answer. Right now, Nintendo is focusing on things that can make them money, which updating those old games wouldn't really do that much. Once they've got the heavy lifting of the console launch out of the way and a few profitable quarters under their belts, I'm confident they'll go back and update at least some of the games for Wii U specific features.

[supergtt]

but if they are going to have the VC on WiiU, that means they are going to have to have Wiiu version of the Current catalog ANYWAY. So why not have us redownload those versions? That's what any modern... oh, right. my bad.

[NWR_Neal]

I urge everyone to look at Sony and the PS1 Classics that took six months to come out.

I think we'd be way more pissed off if we couldn't play VC games at launch.

[LittleIrves]

I don't know if "lazy" is the word I'd use. Maybe overwhelmed? Profit-focused? Because as some have said against the tide of ragers, it doesn't behoove Nintendo the Company to allow us to play old games on the new system. I thought VC would be playable on the GamePad too, and I'm bummed out. BUT after thinking about it for a minute, the decision makes some sense. The GamePad isn't magic -- games developed years before they even made the thing won't just magically appear on a separate video-streaming screen without some kind of coding in place. So it's crappy, sure. But I don't think Nintendo is being lazy in their lack of effort....    they're kind of busy, probably, building a new system and developing new games and creating online infrastructure and working on 4DS and Super Wii U prototypes, etc., etc. I hope this is wrong info and we get what we want. Buuuttt it's not as simple as many claim. Paint a big A for Apologist on my lapel if ya like.

[supergtt]

I don't know if "lazy" is the word I'd use. Maybe overwhelmed? Profit-focused? Because as some have said against the tide of ragers, it doesn't behoove Nintendo the Company to allow us to play old games on the new system. I thought VC would be playable on the GamePad too, and I'm bummed out. BUT after thinking about it for a minute, the decision makes some sense. The GamePad isn't magic -- games developed years before they even made the thing won't just magically appear on a separate video-streaming screen without some kind of coding in place. So it's crappy, sure. But I don't think Nintendo is being lazy in their lack of effort....    they're kind of busy, probably, building a new system and developing new games and creating online infrastructure and working on 4DS and Super Wii U prototypes, etc., etc. I hope this is wrong info and we get what we want. Buuuttt it's not as simple as many claim. Paint a big A for Apologist on my lapel if ya like.

but they don't have to do anything special. lets say I run a dosbox game on my pc. It doesn't care which of my two displays it is on. the video driver handles all of that. They have the emulators written for the wiiu, if they want to to sell vc games to wiiu owners without wiis anyway. So all I'm left with.. two things. there are no unified accounts, and they are lazy.

[bhurak]

I don't know if "lazy" is the word I'd use.  .... it's not as simple as many claim. Paint a big A for Apologist on my lapel if ya like.

Fine - but so what.  The title of this thread is about the GamePad support, but frankly the concept that VC is now a legacy Wii Only feature supported only through some odd backwards compatibility mode is the worst part of this.  I expected the VC to continue and thrive in new ways on Wii U.  To be upgraded to match the 3DS (i.e. proper save states) and to start including even more games from systems.  Perhaps even add GameCube titles.   It's disappointing to see that Wii may have been it. 

It also reopens the constant wounds that Nintendo does not treat your downloads the way every other modern company does.  You never worry about losing your digital downloads from Steam, or Apple, or the rest of these online markets.  (Hopefully that will all be fixed in Wii U, but they certainly haven't wanted to talk about it yet)

[Mop it up]

I think this'll just be around launch, and will be an update in the future. The 3DS didn't even launch with an online store whatsoever.

[marty]

I think this'll just be around launch, and will be an update in the future. The 3DS didn't even launch with an online store whatsoever.

yes, let's remind ourselves how well the 3DS launch went...

[tendoboy1984]

I recognize a few people from GoNintendo on here. Hey supergtt!


Anyways, I was hoping the GamePad streaming function would be built into the system on an OS-level. Meaning you simply press a button and the entire game is brought down onto the GamePad. In fact, that's what I originally thought the "TV" button was for. It's so simple, yet Nintendo probably has no idea how to do it.

[TJ Spyke]

It's not as simple as you think tendo.

And when the TV button was announced, Nintendo specifically said it was to use the GamePad a a universal remote.

[tendoboy1984]

It's not as simple as you think tendo.

And when the TV button was announced, Nintendo specifically said it was to use the GamePad a a universal remote.

Why isn't it that simple? The GamePad is just a second screen that streams content from the TV, it has no computing power of it's own. All Nintendo has to do is enable the GamePad to natively direct the video feed from the TV to the controller screen. It's like switching the AV input on your TV when a game system/laptop/DVD player is connected.

[Crimm]

Well there are a few added levels of complexity, but the biggest is those two devices (the screen, the tablet) are not the same resolution.

Every VC game probably has two outputs: 480i and 480p and two screen sizes (wide/standard). The GamePad is neither of those. It is its own shape and resolution.

Also, keep in mind the reason each game has its own emulator: you can tweak the emulator for game-specific performance. That means EVERY SINGLE VC GAME MUST BE TESTED FOR EVERY REGION if you aren't going to run it in Wii Mode. Regression testing means more than a quick play of the game. If beating a game is like swimming a lap in a pool, a regression test is like swimming a lap in a huge lake.

[MegaByte]

Every VC game probably has two outputs: 480i and 480p and two screen sizes (wide/standard). The GamePad is neither of those. It is its own shape and resolution.

The GamePad resolution is 480p widescreen.

[tendoboy1984]

Every VC game probably has two outputs: 480i and 480p and two screen sizes (wide/standard). The GamePad is neither of those. It is its own shape and resolution.

The GamePad resolution is 480p widescreen.

In a world where screens are expected to be HD at all times, 480p seems like a step backwards.     


Now the fanboys will cry out, "Nintendo is still (technically) living in the past! Give your mobile devices HD screens!"

[broodwars]

Now the fanboys will cry out, "Nintendo is still (technically) living in the past! Give your mobile devices HD screens!"

The irony of YOU calling anyone a fanboy just floors me.

I do think it is a little sad that Nintendo wouldn't shell out the cash to produce an HD GamePad, though perhaps the Wii U just couldn't handle processing 2 HD images at the same time.  Hey, we have to at least pretend that the Wii U is a next-generation console! (j/k) 

[NWR_insanolord]

I really don't see the benefit of making the GamePad screen HD. At that size it's not a huge issue, and it would only serve to unnecessarily tax the GPU.

[tendoboy1984]

I really don't see the benefit of making the GamePad screen HD. At that size it's not a huge issue, and it would only serve to unnecessarily tax the GPU.

Tell that to Apple, Samsung, HTC, LG, ASUS, Nokia, and every other mobile device manufacturer out there. These days, people expect HD screens as standard. The picture quality is just sharper, crisper, and more vibrant in HD.

[Kytim89]

I really don't see the benefit of making the GamePad screen HD. At that size it's not a huge issue, and it would only serve to unnecessarily tax the GPU.

Tell that to Apple, Samsung, HTC, LG, ASUS, Nokia, and every other mobile device manufacturer out there. These days, people expect HD screens as standard. The picture quality is just sharper, crisper, and more vibrant in HD.

I really like the Vita's OLED screen, and would have much prefered something like it for the Gamepad, but it is not cost effective and so it is unnecessary in the eyes of Nintendo.

[NWR_insanolord]

There's also the question of whether the wireless tech Nintendo's using has the bandwidth to stream HD to the GamePad at the performance level Nintendo demanded, and the fact that doing so would either reduce the graphical capabilities of the hardware or have required a more advanced GPU

[tendoboy1984]

There's also the question of whether the wireless tech Nintendo's using has the bandwidth to stream HD to the GamePad at the performance level Nintendo demanded, and the fact that doing so would either reduce the graphical capabilities of the hardware or have required a more advanced GPU

Then Nintendo shouldn't be low-balling the Wii U's specs. People expect more from a next-gen machine. Yes it can do full 1080p HD graphics, but the actual hardware is barely more powerful than the current gen of consoles. It's basically an Xbox 360 x1.5; slightly better than a PS3 with more RAM and a better GPU. But the CPU is allegedly slower than the Xbox 360's CPU, which is unheard of, considering the Xbox 360 uses 6 year old hardware.

I'm guessing Nintendo deliberately crippled their hardware (i.e.: underclocked the CPU) so it runs cooler and more stable in a smaller box.