Wii: What VC games have you downloaded?

[Lee]

I haven't downloaded a one. Tempted to get F-Zero, but haven't.

So what have you downloaded? Was it worth it?

[Andrew Mallon]

Microsoft's and Nintendo's download services are dead to me. I refuse to use tokens (or points or whatever they want to call them). They've got to be making a fortune on both the interest float on your money as well as points that will never be redeemed.

Sort of related, I was astounded recently when I read a review of Microsoft's Zune and they mentioned that you have to use points to buy stuff from their music store. That alone will sink the service.

[ATB]

They got the ball, they make the rules.

You're right though.  But that's the breaks, Tito.

[Hetz]

I got Zelda, Super Mario 64, Bonks Adventure and Bomberman '93. They are all pretty good but they need a better selection ASAP.

[WinoMcCougarstein]

None for me so far.  Probably wont be getting them anytime soon either.

[Destructor]

I've pulled the original Zelda and F-Zero. Having a lot of fun with them, but obviously the true Zelda is getting the brunt of my Wii playing time right now. Perfect emulation on both, BTW.

Now if I could only get the Virtual Console Controller... Stupid Gamestop STILL hasn't gotten a single one in yet.

[The Grue]

I have Super Mario 64.  There are a few others I want, but I have too many Wii games and not enough time to play as it is, so I can't justify buying more.  I will get more when things slow down a little.

[motodd]

I grabbed Bonk and Sim City. As for the points thing at least Nintendo's makes a bit more sense, 1 point = 1 cent. What is it for Microsoft's?? 1 point = 8 cents??

[depward]

I've pulled the original Zelda and F-Zero. Having a lot of fun with them, but obviously the true Zelda is getting the brunt of my Wii playing time right now. Perfect emulation on both, BTW.

Now if I could only get the Virtual Console Controller... Stupid Gamestop STILL hasn't gotten a single one in yet.

Indeed, had a dandy of a time trying to get a Classic Controller.  Thing is - ordered one straight from Nintendo and THEY'RE telling me to expect my shipment around December 18th!

[Kobra]

Microsoft's and Nintendo's download services are dead to me. I refuse to use tokens (or points or whatever they want to call them). They've got to be making a fortune on both the interest float on your money as well as points that will never be redeemed.

Sort of related, I was astounded recently when I read a review of Microsoft's Zune and they mentioned that you have to use points to buy stuff from their music store. That alone will sink the service.

Point systems are the "Lens Flare" of residual income for companies now..  They take your money, put it into HIY accounts, suck up massive interest, then hope you never use your points and lock up your money into their service.  First companies moved to "Monthly" fee services to play off peoples inability, or lack of desire to "Cancel" something - and how people can't add properly and don't think over the long term with services.  That worked great, but it wasn't enough. Now companies are moving to these prepay point type systems left and right, and it isn't just the console companies.

I want no part of that shit myself, I am pretty strongly adverse to monthly play type services, but I am extremely adverse to ones that make me prepay and hold onto my money - money I would be earning 5%+ interest on.

[Arkon]

I have no problem with the points system.  I generally carry very little balance of points anyways.  I thought part of the reason for a points system is they have no way of doing small charges like 50 cents or $1.00?

[Destructor]

I grabbed Bonk and Sim City. As for the points thing at least Nintendo's makes a bit more sense, 1 point = 1 cent. What is it for Microsoft's?? 1 point = 8 cents??

I think Microsoft's is 1 point = .8 cents. It's something non equal, that much is for sure.

[Tebunker]

Yeah 100 Microsoft Points = .80 cents 100 Nintendo Points = 1.00 USD

Here's the thing, I really don't see how these companies make any extra money when you buy your points at retail. So you can go that route. In fact I would say that they lose money that way. On top of that, spend all your points at once. So wait till you see 2 or 3 things you want and get them all at once, and then you're not supporting a corporations evil mechinations to make money! Gasp!

Me personally, I have Solomon's Key and Bonk. I easgerly await to see if we get our first update this monday. We've got 5 weeks for Nintendo to deliver roughly 20 Virutal Console titles. They said we'd have 32 by years end, with weekly updates on Monday. So if we got 4 new games a week through the system I'd be very happy with that. I am definately holding out for Gunstar Heroes for this year and possibly another TG 16 title.

[Lee]

I am always shocked what people get upset about. I never have more than 100 points sitting on XBL. If MS makes a few cents interest on that, good for them, put it towards giving me new shit.

[Kevin Grey]

I have no problem with the points system.  I generally carry very little balance of points anyways.  I thought part of the reason for a points system is they have no way of doing small charges like 50 cents or $1.00?

Yet, somehow I manage to charge my credit/debit card every morning at 7-11 for a dollar cup of coffee.

MS uses points for two big reasons:

1)  As noted above, by making you buy in bulk not only do they get an interest free loan but there will be those out there who buy $20 worth of points just for Geometry Wars and never, ever use anymore points, which means MS pockets the difference.

2) The idea of points uncouples the charge from real money, especially since MS doesn't use a 1:1 point/dollar ratio.  So you can say something costs 500 or 1000 points without making it too obvious what the actual dollar amount your spending is. 

[EngineNo9]

I have no problem with the points system.  I generally carry very little balance of points anyways.  I thought part of the reason for a points system is they have no way of doing small charges like 50 cents or $1.00?

Yet, somehow I manage to charge my credit/debit card every morning at 7-11 for a dollar cup of coffee.

MS uses points for two big reasons:

1)  As noted above, by making you buy in bulk not only do they get an interest free loan but there will be those out there who buy $20 worth of points just for Geometry Wars and never, ever use anymore points, which means MS pockets the difference.

2) The idea of points uncouples the charge from real money, especially since MS doesn't use a 1:1 point/dollar ratio.  So you can say something costs 500 or 1000 points without making it too obvious what the actual dollar amount your spending is. 

Perhaps your dollar morning coffee costs more than a dollar, because I've never been able to use my debit/credit card for purchases under $1 when I forgot I didn't have cash.  Part of the reason they do that is because each transaction costs them an interchange fee as well as processing fees. 

The other points are also valid reasons for them to use that system, though.  In addition you will often end up with extra points that aren't enough to buy something large so they either sit in the system or get spent on something you might not have otherwise bought.  That's a win-win for them. 

[Kevin Grey]

Perhaps your dollar morning coffee costs more than a dollar, because I've never been able to use my debit/credit card for purchases under $1 when I forgot I didn't have cash.  Part of the reason they do that is because each transaction costs them an interchange fee as well as processing fees. 

Yeah, it's technically $1.08 or something like it with tax (.99 refill).  However, I've used my debit card for a .50 candy bar as well.  Yeah there is a cost to the store associated with using the cards and some smaller stores still pull the $10.00 minimum credit card purchase crap, but in this day and age I expect (and find) that most stores don't set minimums anymore.  If they have to eat some of the charge then it's the cost of keeping me as a customer.  I carry very little cash these days and there is no quicker way to lose me as a customer than limit my use of my debit card. 

Considering the scarcity of items on Live that cost less than a dollar as well as the enormous costs associated with console development elsewhere, I feel pretty confident that MS's reasoning on points has a helluva lot more to do with my two points than with the fees they'd incur if each purchase was done a la carte. 

[jersoc]

Microsoft's and Nintendo's download services are dead to me. I refuse to use tokens (or points or whatever they want to call them). They've got to be making a fortune on both the interest float on your money as well as points that will never be redeemed.

Sort of related, I was astounded recently when I read a review of Microsoft's Zune and they mentioned that you have to use points to buy stuff from their music store. That alone will sink the service.

Point systems are the "Lens Flare" of residual income for companies now..  They take your money, put it into HIY accounts, suck up massive interest, then hope you never use your points and lock up your money into their service.  First companies moved to "Monthly" fee services to play off peoples inability, or lack of desire to "Cancel" something - and how people can't add properly and don't think over the long term with services.  That worked great, but it wasn't enough. Now companies are moving to these prepay point type systems left and right, and it isn't just the console companies.

I want no part of that shit myself, I am pretty strongly adverse to monthly play type services, but I am extremely adverse to ones that make me prepay and hold onto my money - money I would be earning 5%+ interest on.

so why not, i dunno, maybe just add points when you want to buy something like i will be doing? i mean nintendo's point system is pretty easy to figure where as MS you need a math degree or something. I mean honestly, is that so hard to do? Believe it or not, I dont think the gaming world is out to destroy you.

[metallicorphan]

which zelda is available at the moment?...is the N64 zelda games available yet?...i heard they were gonna appear

[Destructor]

which zelda is available at the moment?...is the N64 zelda games available yet?...i heard they were gonna appear

The NES Zelda 1 is the only Zelda title on the VC right now. I'm guessing the other 4 (1 NES, 1 SNES, and 2 N64) will show up eventually, but I'm not guessing anytime soon. Why put out all of their top hits now?

[metallicorphan]

i have downloaded sonic the hedgehog,and donkey kong country...sonic is pretty dire..hasnt stood the test of time IMO,although it was the second one which i was more fond off
donkey kong country on the other hand has really done well,came out in 94..so 12 nearly 13 years old....still pretty cool graphics and good gameplay

[stuntgibbon]

So far, I downloaded Wario Woods, Ristar, Golden Axe, Super Star Soldier, Bonk and Bomberman 93.  I got exactly what i thought i would, so I suppose that's working out for me.   I personally like having downloadable games saved on my console, so without getting up to change the game you can take breaks with simpler games.  Like be playing Zelda for awhile, then exit out and do a couple Ristar levels or something. 

[stuntgibbon]

BTW which territory has DKC?  It's not on VC in the States yet.

[Zarkon]

I haven't gotten anything.  Don't need Zelda, as I've got that Gamecube compilation disc

[Misguided]

I used to absolutely love a shareware game called Stardust
It looks like that game may have been based on Solomon's Key, so that's one I'm interested in.

[Bullwinkle]

I got Bonk and Ecco and Ristar (I like platformers) and F-Zero, which was a mistake for me.

Form the ones coming soon, I'm looking forward to Toe Jam & Earl and Donkey Kong Country (I like platformers) and maybe Dungeon Explorer and Gunstar Heroes.  And if Monday brings Alien Crush, then that too.

For the folks who got Bomberman '93.  Are you just playing multiplayer?  How is the single player side of it?  Useless or a little fun?

[weleavefossils]

do you think they will ever take down games from that catalog, or just keep having it grow?  Man if I had a wii I would love to get Bonk.  Definitely saves time to have to dig out the old Turbo. 

[Misguided]

BTW. I love pinball, but find it surprising there's broad interest in it. What's so special about Alien Crush?

[stuntgibbon]

Bomberman 93 is mostly for the multiplayer, but the main game isn't bad.  It's pretty similar to most of them, where you gradually ramp up while clearing the boards and picking up little items to increase speed, bomb distance, # of bombs and so on.  

do you think they will ever take down games from that catalog, or just keep having it grow?  Man if I had a wii I would love to get Bonk.  Definitely saves time to have to dig out the old Turbo. 

I bet they'll leave them all up like XLA has done so far.  It's better from a business perspective if no matter when you buy your Wii, you have a chance to find something you might like on the service.  It also works like cell phone games, so while there's not a TON of space on the system to start, you can simply redownload at no charge if you need to clear some room.

[Knightshade Dragon]

Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.

[stuntgibbon]

Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.

Such a party poop.

[ROTC1983]

I haven't gotten anything yet either...to tell you the truth, the only time I went to the store was when I accidentally clicked on it. 

[Laner]

I wonder if those worrying about giving MS/Nintendo an "interest-free loan " are planning on getting a large tax return this year...

[metallicorphan]

BTW which territory has DKC?  It's not on VC in the States yet.

#
yeah sorry i think its just europe...or at least UK...i have heard(but dont quote me)12th december you guys get it...but thats a tuesday

i wish we had sim city,i loved that game and played it for hours,and then bombed it down with a tornado

[Zinfan]

Nothing yet but I'll grab a few once my classic controller shows up.  I got one off of Amazon (thanks to JSL over at OO for the heads up) before they sold out.

[denoginizer]

Are there demos of the VC games available or are you expected to buy the games on face value?

It seems to me that the prices of these games are too high for what you are getting.

[Lee]

Are there demos of the VC games available or are you expected to buy the games on face value?

It seems to me that the prices of these games are too high for what you are getting.

Nope, and yes the system needs work. They could learn a lot form MS.

[metallicorphan]

see this page for what country got what..not inc japan

http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/wii/available_now.php

this site is pretty good actually,quite handy,says we in the UK are getting sim city come the end of december

then ther is this page,LOL

http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/wii/coming_soon.php

[metallicorphan]

I haven't gotten anything.  Don't need Zelda, as I've got that Gamecube compilation disc

hey Zarkon i have that disc as well,i didnt think it got released in America

[Ridah]

donkey kong country on the other hand has really done well,

DKC is one of the best games of all-time in my opinion, it screams quality. I almost want a Wii just for this game, hehe.