Good news for Konami + PC Engine fans

[CrackTiger]

It looks like Gradius is coming to the North American Virtual Console.

This is a good sign that we may actually get to see some Konami PC Engine titles in the future.

What I've heard now and then over the years, is that TTI couldn't bring over any of Konami's games, because Konami had a strict policy of only importing their titles themselves and had no interest in the Turbo Duo(obviously).

Hopefully having Gradius on VC NES won't hurt the chances of the PC Engine version coming over down the road when all the TG-16 hits are exhausted.

[Dark Fact]

Konami is making a BIG mistake in not choosing to import their Turbo Duo titles to the American Wii.  They're library of titles is amazing and I don't see what they're trying to achieve by passing up this business opportunity to Wii users.

[Keranu]

For awhile I thought you meant they were bringing the PC ENGINE version of Gradius out here  , boy that would've been nice. I guess this is still good news though, but they already brought out Castlevania IV which is Konami, right?

[Dark Fact]

They did, although the Castlevania IV here is the censored version without the crucifixion scene and clothed Venus de Milo statues.

[esteban]

OK, let me get this straight:

1. Konami will release Gradius NES on VC
2. Hopefully this will lead to Konami PCE games on VC

Correct?

I'm shocked that Konami wasn't planning on releasing any NES VC games here in North America!!! That's more shocking than news that they'll release Dracula X here!

[CrackTiger]

I had forgotten about Castlevania IV, since I only briefly browsed the SNES games once.

Regardless of who is actually putting these games out for VC, since Konami titles are now in the mix, hopefully we'll at least see some Konami PCE games for the Japanese VC soon. Once they become readily available and I'm not totally broke ass, I want to buy a Japanese Wii and get the PCE VC games if I can.

Also, someone's recent comment on my Drac X YouTube video made me realize that if SotN does well(as it should) on Xbox Live Arcade, then it would be very logical to assume a PCE Drac X download could(should?) follow.

[GUTS]

I thought somebody said you could go into the options and change your region to asia or Japan and then you could download the Japanese VC games here in the US?

[CrackTiger]

I thought somebody said you could go into the options and change your region to asia or Japan and then you could download the Japanese VC games here in the US?

Lots of people have said all kinds of stuff like that, but it's all b.s.

North American Wii's can only switch between countries from this 'region', which excludes Europe & Japan. So unless Argentina starts getting all the killer apps, country switching desn't do much good other than possibly getting a game in a different language.

What I've been trying to confirm, is whether or not you can hook a Japanese Wii up in North America and then shop the Japan VC store.

[SignOfZeta]

What I've been trying to confirm, is whether or not you can hook a Japanese Wii up in North America and then shop the Japan VC store.

Yeah, you can. I confimed with NCS a few weeks ago. You have to fake a Japanese address (just use Sega's, or something) and I think you might have to buy Japanese Wii points cards since there may be a problem with non-Japanese credit cards, but it's certainly possible. I've known people to do something similar to this with tracks from the Japanese iTunes music store.

With Japanese Wiis still going for $400 US though, I'l probably wait until there is at least a partial region hack for discs. I was actually kind of expecting this to be public already given the usual ease with Nintendo machines can be converted.

[Seldane]

People here in Europe have imported american Wii systems and bought these cards and that has worked just fine.

I don't see the point in paying for this junk though, just download the ROMs off the net, or better yet - buy the original games - they are cheaper.

[GUTS]

Yeah no shit, all that trouble just to download some Japanese games that you could get for free and with better emulation on a computer.

[Keranu]

One advantage the Virtual Console has over PC emulation so far is being able to play with the wireless remotes. I really enjoyed playing multiplayer Bomberman '93 wirelessly for over two hours straight . Of course this is only a very small advantage and I agree that it's better just to download the ROMs for free on your PC. I'm hoping that they do more with the Virtual Console though, like program some games (specifically light gun games) to use the Wiimote or translate games from Japan. That would make Virtual Console games worth owning, in my opinion.

However you have to admit from a business point of view that this was a great plan by Nintendo as many people have purchased Virtual Console games already, even people who had no plans of doing so like myself. Lets just hope they use this extra money for good things .

[CrackTiger]

In theory, I 'should' sell all my consoles and games and just stick with emulation. Just as theory, I shouldn't own the U.S. and Japanese versions of the same game.

I already own originals of all the Virtual Console Turbo/PCE games available worldwide and pretty much everything that ever will be released. But that's besides the point.

If a work around hasn't been devised by the time that Japanese Wii's become reasonably priced, I'll probably import one and a bunch of points cards.

[Dark Fact]

It would be in Nintendo's best interest to translate and make official some of the games that were released in japan but not over here.  Case in point: Final Fantasy II & III for the NES.  They didn't bother releasing those games on the NES because they wanted to rush the SNES on the market and use Final Fantasy IV to show off the SNES's 16-bit power!

These business politics seriously need to stop and Nintendo needs to start paying attention to what gamers want.  Thanks to the virtual console, the possibility of making the past games available only in japan before accessible over here has just increased.  Now Nintendo seriously needs to get their act together.  Give us the titles we were denied before!

[esteban]

It would be in Nintendo's best interest to translate and make official some of the games that were released in japan but not over here.  Case in point: Final Fantasy II & III for the NES.  They didn't bother releasing those games on the NES because they wanted to rush the SNES on the market and use Final Fantasy IV to show off the SNES's 16-bit power!

These business politics seriously need to stop and Nintendo needs to start paying attention to what gamers want.  Thanks to the virtual console, the possibility of making the past games available only in japan before accessible over here has just increased.  Now Nintendo seriously needs to get their act together.  Give us the titles we were denied before!

I wish this was true, but I don't know if Nintendo (or any publisher) sees a big return on investment if they were to localize text-laden RPGs. In fact, I'm worried that companies (Hudson!) won't even make Japanese shooters available in North America, so don't hold your breath for any game that has more than a handful of words in it .

When the TG-16 library dries up in VC, I'm hoping we'll see some Japanese PCE games released for the Wii. Until then...

[Emerald Rocker]

I was under the impression that formerly JP-exclusive titles would remain exclusive to Japan on the Wii.  Thus far, all game versions released have been the version originally released in that region... which means that the JP Wii already has some games that you can't get in NA or EU.  If anything, it's probably *bad* for PCE fans that NES Gradius is being released, because that makes it less likely that Konami would release the (superior) PCE version on the Virtual Console in the US.

[Dark Fact]

I was under the impression that formerly JP-exclusive titles would remain exclusive to Japan on the Wii.  Thus far, all game versions released have been the version originally released in that region... which means that the JP Wii already has some games that you can't get in NA or EU.  If anything, it's probably *bad* for PCE fans that NES Gradius is being released, because that makes it less likely that Konami would release the (superior) PCE version on the Virtual Console in the US.

I just don't see the point in all this if there is demand for these types of games to appear on the Wii in the west.  The video game business industry has changed dramatically in the past 15 years.  Gamers are opening up to variety and aren't as oblivious to game varieties now as they were then.  I wish companies would just stop playing business politics and give us what we want!

[GUTS]

Microsoft gives people what they want, look at Xbox Live.  It has nearly every feature now that fans have asked for over the years.

Nintendo gives people what Nintendo wants to give them.  A year from now the Wii will still not have any imports or a rational way of locating friends online, Nintendo is a fucking dinosaur.

[Keranu]

Microsoft gives people what they want, look at Xbox Live.  It has nearly every feature now that fans have asked for over the years.

Nintendo gives people what Nintendo wants to give them.  A year from now the Wii will still not have any imports or a rational way of locating friends online, Nintendo is a fucking dinosaur.

Yet you're saying how ROMs should be downloaded for free while praising X-Box Live.

[CrackTiger]

Microsoft gives people what they want, look at Xbox Live.  It has nearly every feature now that fans have asked for over the years.

Nintendo gives people what Nintendo wants to give them.  A year from now the Wii will still not have any imports or a rational way of locating friends online, Nintendo is a fucking dinosaur.

Microsoft gives people some of what they want, but still aren't trying to make Xbox Live what it should be. It's still way better than the competition, but that just lets Microsoft drag their feet.

But the Virtual Console still provides better games at cheaper prices than Xbox Live Arcade.

[GUTS]

When a game goes up on Xbox live, it has to be updated in some way (that's not counting all the original games on Live).  Whether that's online play, scoring, new graphics, new levels, etc, something new must be added to the game to get it on live, they don't just offer up bare-bones roms like Nintendo.  I'm not rushing out to download any Live games either (until Castlevania SOTN comes out), but at least on live there's a reason to buy games you might already own since they have new features.

Live also has free demos of games, new content for games, movies, tv shows, etc.  Basically it stomps the absolute shit out of nintendo's pathetic online attempt.

[Keranu]

Nintendo is only getting started, I'm hoping they will expand in their online compartment more within the next year or two. I read about the DS connectivity recently and it sounds pretty interesting.

[CrackTiger]

When a game goes up on Xbox live, it has to be updated in some way (that's not counting all the original games on Live).  Whether that's online play, scoring, new graphics, new levels, etc, something new must be added to the game to get it on live, they don't just offer up bare-bones roms like Nintendo.  I'm not rushing out to download any Live games either (until Castlevania SOTN comes out), but at least on live there's a reason to buy games you might already own since they have new features.

Live also has free demos of games, new content for games, movies, tv shows, etc.  Basically it stomps the absolute shit out of nintendo's pathetic online attempt.

That's true, but Xbox Live in general could be a lot better and the Arcade games, like the VC games, are disgustingly overpriced. And although I appreciate updates to classic games, I'd still like the original version included as accurate as possible.

Nintendo is only getting started, I'm hoping they will expand in their online compartment more within the next year or two. I read about the DS connectivity recently and it sounds pretty interesting.

All I've heard about DS connectivity is that it might happen. But I'm not looking forward to a repeat of Gamecube/GBA connectivity.

[Seldane]

Xbox live sucks, Wii online (whatever it is called) sucks. Microsoft is charging money for nothing (Xbox live) and that is disgusting.

Leave the Internet to the computers, consoles are for gaming. Modern gaming. Old stuff can (and should) be played on their respective systems. Kids should play new games or re-releases on GBA.

[esteban]

When a game goes up on Xbox live, it has to be updated in some way (that's not counting all the original games on Live).  Whether that's online play, scoring, new graphics, new levels, etc, something new must be added to the game to get it on live, they don't just offer up bare-bones roms like Nintendo.  I'm not rushing out to download any Live games either (until Castlevania SOTN comes out), but at least on live there's a reason to buy games you might already own since they have new features.

Live also has free demos of games, new content for games, movies, tv shows, etc.  Basically it stomps the absolute shit out of nintendo's pathetic online attempt.

My brother told me that he recently replied to a survey (or provided some sort of feedback) to Microsoft about how they can further improve Xbox Live. Whilst I don't know the details (obviously!), I agree that MS should be given credit for taking their customers' feedback more seriously than most companies do. I'm no fan of MS, but I think they have taken the right approach (that is, getting the Live community involved).

I'm hoping that Wii and PS3 will push MS to make Xbox Live even better, which can only benefit its users.

Personally, my brother and I think that the downloads, in general, are too expensive. We would rather pay more for a hardcopy of the game. We're the sort of folks who always buy CD's (as opposed to paying for mp3's), so I don't know if we represent most gamers on this issue.

Then there is Lumines Live: it sports an outrageous price because you don't get the full game without at least one add-on. An awesome game, but still...

[Keranu]

All I've heard about DS connectivity is that it might happen. But I'm not looking forward to a repeat of Gamecube/GBA connectivity.

From what I read, you can use your DS as a controller for some games, which hopefully turns out cooler than the Gamecube/GBA connectivity. Though what I really like what I read is that you'll be able to download game demos onto your DS from your Wii and do some other things with your DS using your Wii as well.

Leave the Internet to the computers, consoles are for gaming. Modern gaming. Old stuff can (and should) be played on their respective systems. Kids should play new games or re-releases on GBA.

While I do agree that consoles should be more focused on making console games, I think it's perfectly acceptable to play old stuff on emulation or elsewise, especially due to the fact that older consoles eventually die out.

[GUTS]

Anyone who says Microsoft is charging "money for nothing" has obviously never used Xbox Live.

[CrackTiger]

Anyone who says Microsoft is charging "money for nothing" has obviously never used Xbox Live.

I'm happy with Xbox Live, although I think it should be about half the price and their renewel policy is a scam.

But yeah, I agree that anyone who thinks it's nothing hasn't made much use of it.

[Keranu]

I haven't used X-Box Live, but I am not going to say Microsoft is charging money for nothing .

Could this same line be applied to the Wii Shop Channel?

[GUTS]

Don't they only renew once a year?  I wouldn't know, I just buy those prepaid cards when I want to use Live Gold, otherwise the free silver is good enough for me.  I love prepaid cards, I fucking HATE giving my credit card # to companies.

[CrackTiger]

Don't they only renew once a year?  I wouldn't know, I just buy those prepaid cards when I want to use Live Gold, otherwise the free silver is good enough for me.  I love prepaid cards, I fucking HATE giving my credit card # to companies.

Maybe it's different in the U.S. or Microsoft was just forced to change their policy recently.

I bought a prepaid card/kit, but although it said nothing of the sort anywhere on the box, Microsoft wouldn't activate my account unless I provided a credit card number that gets automatically billed if I don't wait on hold for 6 hours (literally) to request that it not be renewed. But I wasn't allowed to have my account set to not renew until the last minute(I originally asked for it not to be when I set my first account up).

Many different events have happened with my few attempts to halt renewals. In the end I wound up with two active Gamer Tags.

[GUTS]

Yeah it must be different here because I had Gold for 3 months and didn't have to put my credit card # in, this was last year around summer.