Topic: Virtual Console Titles on 3DS Will Be Improved After Ambassadors Program

[NWR_Karlie]

The just-announced Virtual Console titles on 3DS will have additional features in their final releases.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/27292

NES games released on the Virtual Console for Nintendo 3DS will eventually be improved over the initial versions.

The pre-release versions available through the Ambassadors Program, as announced earlier, will have some missing features compared to the final releases. The earlier versions will not have proper co-operative play. For two players to play these games, they will have to alternate. However, in the paid releases, co-operative play will be included. Save states are possible by using the Home button and separate, selectable save states will also be added in the final release. User manuals will not be included in the pre-release version but are accessible online. The Ambassadors versions can be updated free of charge once the general versions arrive. These games can also be moved to another 3DS console.

Specifications for the GBA games were revealed too. The games will not have built-in instruction manuals, but these can be viewed from the web. The Home button will not go to the usual menu, but instead brings up a simplified menu. StreetPass and SpotPass are rendered inactive while the games are running. Wi-Fi play and accessories are not supported, and finally, these titles cannot be moved to another 3DS, in contrast to the NES games.

[gbuell]

Well, this is slightly irritating.

[Ceric]

The announcement said that Ambassadors would also be able to download the updates for free.

[Oblivion]

Well, at least they can be updated earlier.

[gbuell]

You're right Ceric, I missed that line. Good to hear.

[Mop it up]

Co-op? Extra features? Hm, maybe this won't be so bad if the stuff they add gives me reason to play these games again.

[Pale]

The GBA limitations are seriously irritating though. What the heck are they doing that the much touted home feature doesn't work for them? It's obvious that the system is just going in DS/GBA mode for them, and as such, they are probably just unmodified versions of the exact data from the carts.


In other words, this is very similar to what Sony is probably going to pull with the PS3... remove the backwards compatibility with the hardware even though it could be in there easily, and then just resell the games.

[Mop it up]

I think that's just so that they can give the games out early to the Ambassadors, and once they are available for purchase on the eShop, they will have those features added into them.

[Traveller]

Thing is, if they can have 2-player support for these NES and GBA games down the line, why weren't the original GB games supported already?

[UncleBob]

Here's hoping the Super Mario Advance games eventually get a working co-op mode.  4 Player Mario Bros Arcade is pretty awesome.

[NintendoFanboy]

I THINK THERE WAS a line in the oher press release that said only ambassadors got
the GBA games, with no current plans(gotta love that line) to release to everyone.
but the NES games will be retail and updateable. if tru, then the early adoptors get
more the free early, they get exclusive content. (and im an early DAY ONE adopter)

[NWR_insanolord]

The GBA limitations are seriously irritating though. What the heck are they doing that the much touted home feature doesn't work for them? It's obvious that the system is just going in DS/GBA mode for them, and as such, they are probably just unmodified versions of the exact data from the carts.


In other words, this is very similar to what Sony is probably going to pull with the PS3... remove the backwards compatibility with the hardware even though it could be in there easily, and then just resell the games.

I definitely wouldn't argue that GBA compatibility could easily be in the 3DS. Adding a cartridge slot would take up a lot of space, making the system less portable.


Also, don't anyone believe Nintendo when they say they have no plans to bring GBA games to the eShop. There is no way they will be able to leave that much free money on the table.

[King of Twitch]

Exactly, it'd be like leaving the house with the iron on.

[TJ Spyke]

I don't recall Nintendo ever saying they wouldn't bring GBA games to the eShop, they only said that the 10 GBA games in the Ambassador Program wouldn't be coming to the eShop.

[UncleBob]

I don't recall Nintendo ever saying they wouldn't bring GBA games to the eShop, they only said that the 10 GBA games in the Ambassador Program wouldn't be coming to the eShop.

They didn't even say that.  They just said "no plans".  You could ask Nintendo if there's going to be a successor to the Wii U and they'd say "no plans" - but they're tinkering on one.

[TJ Spyke]

True enough, I just meant that Nintendo never said GBA games wouldn't be coming (then again, they never said they WOULD be coming either). I don't own a GBA (any version) anymore and don't own a DS or DS Lite, so I would love to be able to buy GBA games in digital form.