Post by: Jonnyboy117 on April 30, 2007, 02:13:20 PM
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=13385
It doesn't happen often, but some Virtual Console games are updated after their initial releases to correct various bugs. Many users of the service may not realize these updates are available, because Nintendo does not announce them or notify consumers through Wiimail or any other means. The only way you can keep abreast of the updates is to look at "Titles You've Downloaded" on the Store Channel. Games with updates available will have a small "Updated!" tab above the title. Of course, these patches are free, but you will have to download an entirely new ROM, which may take a while in the case of larger games like Star Fox 64.
Just released today, the update for Star Fox 64 corrects a major complaint about the original Virtual Console release -- that the Classic Controller's joystick was far too sensitive for this game. The updated version puts the Classic Controller on equal ground with the GameCube controller, which was previously the only way for cool people to play this game on Wii. However, you may still find the GameCube controller's button layout to be better suited for the game, and that's one advantage not likely to be fixed by a software update.
Unfortunately, the update for Star Fox 64 also unravels one of the improvements over the original cartridge release, because slowdown is back in the game. After hearing about this rollback on various gaming forums, we tested it for ourselves and found that there is definitely some slowdown in the updated version which was not there before. The effect is immediately noticeable on the planetary map screen before each level. It's the same slowdown that was present in the old N64 version, but the first VC release corrected nearly all of the game's frame rate problems. (Incidentally, the proper speed made levels such as Aquas far more difficult.)
So, is this update worth downloading? Yes, if you don't own any GameCube controllers and found the game to be unplayable with the Classic Controller, as we stated in VC Mondays a few weeks ago. If slowdown really bothers you, and you're already used to playing the game with a WaveBird, there's no need to grab the update as far as we can tell. (It's entirely optional, so if you've already downloaded the game, you are free to leave it as is.)
We also tested to see if rumble support for GameCube controllers was added. It wasn't.
We'll update this story if any other changes in the update are confirmed, but so far it's just joystick sensitivity and reintroduced slowdown. Until Nintendo starts to provide some kind of documentation for these patches, we have to rely on anecdotal reports and our own testing.
Post by: that Baby guy on April 30, 2007, 02:29:32 PM
Post by: nickmitch on April 30, 2007, 02:55:35 PM
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on April 30, 2007, 03:01:14 PM
Post by: Alfonse on April 30, 2007, 03:02:29 PM
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So, if I were to buy the game now, it would be the "patched" version?
Almost assuredly.
I don't understand what the problem is with slowdown. It was in the original. And if this is supposed to be a near-perfect version of the original, then slowdown should be on the VC version too. It might make it actually possible to medal on Area 6.
Post by: Shecky on April 30, 2007, 03:12:32 PM
Post by: Kairon on April 30, 2007, 04:20:57 PM
YEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSs!!!!!!!
Thank you Nintendo!!!
... no, seriously guys. Slowdown is PART of the nostalgia. I paid Nintendo 10 bucks and by Golly if they can't give me rumble AT LEAST give me my childhood naivete in thinking the game was being dramatic!
~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on April 30, 2007, 05:28:15 PM
Post by: S-U-P-E-R on April 30, 2007, 05:31:17 PM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on April 30, 2007, 09:09:43 PM
Post by: DAaaMan64 on April 30, 2007, 10:06:20 PM
Post by: UltimatePartyBear on May 01, 2007, 03:18:11 AM
If I had known that the frame rate was improved, I might have bought it before this happened.
Post by: vherub on May 01, 2007, 04:46:40 AM
Post by: Ceric on May 01, 2007, 05:27:01 AM
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Originally posted by: vherub
Have any other vc titles been patched?
Yes, Military Madness. It had a scrolling issue. Which means I own every game that was patched... (I also own every game on the Cube that uses the Dance Pad... All two of them...)
Post by: trip1eX on May 01, 2007, 05:36:42 AM
Post by: Kairon on May 01, 2007, 05:38:32 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenix
Always leave it to Nintendo fans to be happy for graphical problems that were never really part of the game designer's plan that does nothing but hamper gameplay. Heaven forbid cleaning up the graphical glitches and slowdown that plagued games and was never a positive feature, UNTHINKABLE.
I'm not happy for the graphical problems. But nostalgia is nostalgia, for better or for worse.
~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: Klapaucius on May 01, 2007, 07:00:14 AM
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I'm not happy for the graphical problems. But nostalgia is nostalgia, for better or for worse.
There was a glitch (?) in 'Link's Awakening' on Gameboy, that let you jump over walls and such by pausing as the screen scrolled between squares of the map.
They removed it for 'Link's Awakening DX'
Post by: Ian Sane on May 01, 2007, 07:11:37 AM
That would be nice. Then people who like accidental flaws that were never part of the original design can have them if they want them. I think R-Types for the Playstation which contains R-Type I and II offers slowdown as an option. You're right that Nintendo would never risk confusing their audience and that's a shame. I really don't like how Nintendo assumes we're all idiots. It would be nice if they just made all the "confusing" stuff accessable by code. Thus of us who care would know the code and can enter it to access button mapping options or multiple versions of the same game and stuff like that.
One game I would love to play without slowdown is Mega Man X. I never really noticed it at the time (except for the minecart part) but that game slows down tons. An enemy explodes and there's a hiccup. It's still playable but playing it with a smooth framerate would be fantastic.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on May 01, 2007, 08:52:22 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: KaironQuote
Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenix
Always leave it to Nintendo fans to be happy for graphical problems that were never really part of the game designer's plan that does nothing but hamper gameplay. Heaven forbid cleaning up the graphical glitches and slowdown that plagued games and was never a positive feature, UNTHINKABLE.
I'm not happy for the graphical problems. But nostalgia is nostalgia, for better or for worse.
~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
I really disagree there, nostalgia is much more than graphical glitches it is the game itself. I'm not asking for graphic overhaul but if they can get rid of slowdown and elminate glitches, that will make the game BE what it was meant to be further increasing its playability.
Post by: Kairon on May 01, 2007, 10:39:28 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenixQuote
Originally posted by: KaironQuote
Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenix
Always leave it to Nintendo fans to be happy for graphical problems that were never really part of the game designer's plan that does nothing but hamper gameplay. Heaven forbid cleaning up the graphical glitches and slowdown that plagued games and was never a positive feature, UNTHINKABLE.
I'm not happy for the graphical problems. But nostalgia is nostalgia, for better or for worse.
~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
I really disagree there, nostalgia is much more than graphical glitches it is the game itself. I'm not asking for graphic overhaul but if they can get rid of slowdown and elminate glitches, that will make the game BE what it was meant to be further increasing its playability.
My dear Dark Queen: Greedo did NOT shoot first, Ganon spit up RED blood, and "old" is mispelled in the first castle of SMB3 as "oid."
~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on May 01, 2007, 02:17:16 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: KaironQuote
Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenixQuote
Originally posted by: KaironQuote
Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenix
Always leave it to Nintendo fans to be happy for graphical problems that were never really part of the game designer's plan that does nothing but hamper gameplay. Heaven forbid cleaning up the graphical glitches and slowdown that plagued games and was never a positive feature, UNTHINKABLE.
I'm not happy for the graphical problems. But nostalgia is nostalgia, for better or for worse.
~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
I really disagree there, nostalgia is much more than graphical glitches it is the game itself. I'm not asking for graphic overhaul but if they can get rid of slowdown and elminate glitches, that will make the game BE what it was meant to be further increasing its playability.
My dear Dark Queen: Greedo did NOT shoot first, Ganon spit up RED blood, and "old" is mispelled in the first castle of SMB3 as "oid."
~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
I would say those changes are something to get upset with because they are changing how the game was originally designed (well maybe not the typo). Graphical glitches and slowdown are not in the same league as changing content, which IS changing the original vision.
