Topic: DS Virtual Console coming sooner than later?

[Kairon]

I personally think that we won't see any sort of Handheld VC until the DS2. The DS is doing just fine right now, and I'm pretty sure that while Nintendo is always researching new features, they're probably saving some stuff for the future handheld.

[UncleBob]

Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
I personally think that we won't see any sort of Handheld VC until the DS2. The DS is doing just fine right now, and I'm pretty sure that while Nintendo is always researching new features, they're probably saving some stuff for the future handheld.

While I agree, Nintendo has to be looking at the sales for the Wii VC, then looking at all the GB/GBC/GBA games and thinking "How much money could we make with this?"

[Kairon]

But don't you think that the GBA/GBC/GBA library is much leass...well... desirable / mineable compared to the home consoles of the past?

[UncleBob]

No.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
But don't you think that the GBA/GBC/GBA library is much leass...well... desirable / mineable compared to the home consoles of the past?

I think so considering I was never a big fan of ANY handheld or its games until NDS.

[Chozo Ghost]

Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
But don't you think that the GBA/GBC/GBA library is much leass...well... desirable / mineable compared to the home consoles of the past?

As a whole, yeah. The GB games are all monochrome which isn't too popular with the HD world of today, but there was still some excellent GB games that I'd love to see available on a VC once again. They would be perfect on the Wii, because the GB has the same button layout as the NES and we see how well the works out with the Wii-mote turned on its side.

Basically, GB games are just NES games but without the color. If you can get past that fact, then you can have just as much fun with them as you could with NES classics like Mario Bros. In fact, in some respect Super Mario Land and the Wario Land games kick serious ass compared to the NES games. You also gotta love the timeless puzzle games like Tetris, and Yoshi's Cookie, and Tetris Attack. So yeah, the GB library can be pretty good for certain genres, but you didn't see a lot of epic games like Final Fantasy on it because in those days (and also somewhat true today) developers tended not to take handhelds as seriously as consoles, and would fill them with weak games. But there were some gems.

But I think the pricing for GB games should be lower than the NES games are. If NES games are $5 per download, then a GB game should be $2.50 per download or something. GBC games could be $3-4 and GBA should probably not be put on the console at all, since that handheld isn't entirely dead yet.

[Ian Sane]

"But don't you think that the GBA/GBC/GBA library is much leass...well... desirable / mineable compared to the home consoles of the past?"

Nintendo seems content to release like 4 N64 games a year and if that's enough for them to have the N64 supported on the VC then why not the Gameboy?  The Gameboy was more popular than the T-16 and the Neo Geo but those are doing fine.  Chozo Ghost summed it up well: they're B&W NES games.  Now there's a lot of shovelware on the Gameboy but the first party stuff alone would be in demand.  Link's Awakening, Donkey Kong, Metroid II, f*cking POKEMON.  Nintendo thinks they can sell crappy NES sports games.  Are Gameboy games any worse than that?

I imagine the mark up for VC games is so high that even having the Virtual Boy library up there would be profitable.  

[Chozo Ghost]

Virtual Boy games... wow! Would that even be possible?  Worst case scenario, you could play them, but without the 3D aspect to it (which really destroys their appeal). The best case scenario would be if Nintendo offered some accessory, or somehow allowed you to use 3D glasses to get that 3D effect back.

I really don't think they would do it, though. The main reason is that while they may profit from it, they aren't going to profit from it as much as with their other systems. They'd have to develop a special emulator for the VB and spend even more money if they wanted it in 3D. Plus, how many people would actually purchase these games? As I recall, not even one of them was a must have title. Plus, I doubt Nintendo wants to reopen the wound of their only hardware failure. They probably want the memory of the VB to stay swept under the rug as much as possible.

Still, I am very intrigued about a Virtual Boy VC addition. Does anyone here think it's even possible?

[Ian Sane]

"Virtual Boy games... wow! Would that even be possible? Worst case scenario, you could play them, but without the 3D aspect to it"

I imagine they would have to be 2D with red & black graphics.  Obviously a lot of the oomph would be gone but I've always been curious about those games.  If Nintendo didn't want to do that I would have no issue with it.  It's just a neat idea that might not even be feasible.

[UncleBob]

The Wario Land game on the Virtual Boy could work well... There were some neat 3D effects, but I don't think the game would lose much going 2D.  It was a great game.

[TheFleece]

There were a few Final Fantasy games for the Game Boy, I'd like to see Enix revisit those since most people in the states never played them, me included. Super Mario Land, Wario land and Link's Awakening are classics.  But how many original Game Boy games were not seen on the NES? How many decent original games could you expect to see? Also I think that the Game Boy games would need some fixing  on all fronts.  I wouldn't mind if they were cheaper than a NES VC game or at least the same price. But are you expecting to play this on the DS?
Kairon is right in that we will have to wait for a DS 2, but who here can say for sure that will happen this year?
It's a tough deal to see interesting peripherals made for one reigon not bought to another, I hope this isn't the case with the DSvision.
If we ever see Virtual Boy games on the VC then I would say they've gone too far. How many of you remember it? Ever play it? It was awful and there's no need for any of that sort of insulting piece of work.

[UncleBob]

I've played the Virtual Boy.  In fact, I've still got it.  It's sitting on it's stand by my Guitar Hero guitar.  I like it.  There weren't a lot of strong games (or a lot of games at all), but there were a couple of real good games.  The Wario Land game still stands as one of the best in the series, IMHO.

[Ian Sane]

"But how many original Game Boy games were not seen on the NES? How many decent original games could you expect to see?"

I could probably think of at least 20 if I stopped and thought about it.  Even more if I include the GBC.  I think that's enough to justify supporting it.  Hell people constantly request Sega Master System support and I'm certain I could name more good games for the Gameboy than the SMS.

[Chozo Ghost]

The Gameboy had tons of simple puzzle games like Daedalean Opus which I fondly remember. Someone stole my copy, and I've never been able to find it since. I also remember a Vegas Casino game which kicked ass, and I also love that Wario Vs. Bomberman game. These games aren't really must haves or anything, but they may justify a VC purchase provided Nintendo keeps the price very low. The question is, how much are people willing to pay for monochrome 2 button games?

I would even pay NES level prices for a handful of GB masterpieces. Metroid II and Zelda: Link's Awakening come to mind immediately. These are just as good or even better than most NES offerings, except for the lack of color. Now, if they include a Super Gameboy ability to colorize your games (or perhaps alter the ROMs themselves to be in color) then we've got something great going on here.

[EasyCure]

Quote
Originally posted by: Chozo Ghost
The Gameboy had tons of simple puzzle games like Daedalean Opus which I fondly remember. Someone stole my copy, and I've never been able to find it since. I also remember a Vegas Casino game which kicked ass, and I also love that Wario Vs. Bomberman game. These games aren't really must haves or anything, but they may justify a VC purchase provided Nintendo keeps the price very low. The question is, how much are people willing to pay for monochrome 2 button games?

I would even pay NES level prices for a handful of GB masterpieces. Metroid II and Zelda: Link's Awakening come to mind immediately. These are just as good or even better than most NES offerings, except for the lack of color. Now, if they include a Super Gameboy ability to colorize your games (or perhaps alter the ROMs themselves to be in color) then we've got something great going on here.

Im glad i finished reading the rest of that post because i was going to respond "who says they have to be black and white?" im sure they cude give you color options like the super gameboy or even the GBC (when playing standard GB games). I bet they'd even use that to justifty charging the same prices as NES games too..

oh and a slight side note, everyone keeps mentioning Links Awakening as a must have game for GB but no ones yet mentioned the other two Zelda games on GB(C)! I found a used copy of Oracle of Seasons not too long ago and just finished it, it was great! if i didnt happen to see it in the used GB game display i would of missed out on it, unless nintendo put them up on the VC

[Chozo Ghost]

While they should include a color option, it would also be nice if they kept the option for you to play them in their original spinach colored glory. Many people would want to do that for nostalgia reasons.

[EasyCure]

I never said they shouldnt and i agree.

i remember being dissapointed with the gbc's color optoins for GB games when i realized the "black and white" mode actually black and white and not the "black and green" display of the original. i would of loved for it to of mimiced that

[Chozo Ghost]

I never actually owned a GBC, but if that's how it was then I would prefer it be more like the Super Gameboy where you can customize it yourself. The SG also had neat borders you could put around the game window, and the GB games which were designed to make use of it often came with special borders. Like, space invaders had a border of the original arcade machine so that was cool. If the VC had something like that, it would be awesome... especially if you could also download and upload borders and/or color schemes online.