01.29.2007 NEW VIRTUAL CONSOLE UPDATES AND RUMOR
There's some new games available for download on the Wii Virtual Console, but before we get to that, there's some new rumors going around about the Virtual Console's future.Much like the Xbox Live Arcade, the rumor was that a new "Games Channel" would show up on the Wii channels, letting gamers download additional amateur-made games. The rumor came from an oddly worded statement by a marketing director at Hudson Entertainment in a Game Informer interview, but when Nintendo was asked about the rumor they replied with:
"Well, the VC was specifically designed to bring back classic games, not to introduce new content. So to answer your question specifically: No. However, in the future, you should rephrase that question to: Are there any plans to launch original content on some downloadable service on the Wii, and you might get a different answer."
So CVG went ahead and did just that, and Nintendo responded with "Nintendo has developed a programming system that will allow small independent developers to make games for Wii download service. We cannot confirm at this time in what format the new content will be delivered, but in the future there will be original games available for download through the Wii Shop." So Nintendo will probably wait until right before the E for All Expo to release this next step in their plan, giving them barely-bragworthy stuff to boast about. Here's the new games now out on Virtual Console for you to download:
- Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points)
- Contra III: The Alien Wars (Super NES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
- Bonanza Bros. (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
- Comix Zone (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points)