Next week, underrated Nintendo 64 game Pokémon Snap will be coming to the Wii's Virtual Console in Japan. While this is not really news unto itself (unless you secretly adore the game like me), what is exciting is the fact that the game will come with some surprise Wii online functionality.
All the pictures taken in the addictive on-rails “shooter” will be able to be posted to your Wii message board and sent to any of your Address Book buddies. I don’t know any of my friends that are chomping at the bit to see a photo of Charmander hiding in a tree trunk, but at least the option is there, right? If anything, just the fact that Nintendo -- originally adamant about not wanting to change any of the Virtual Console games -- is willing to add extra features to these sometimes expensive downloads is very exciting.
Imagine the possibility of an online Goldeneye, a pointer-friendly Mario Paint, or a motion-controlled Uniracers. Little added touches to these older games would not only be completely welcome to fans, they would most likely raise their value exponentially. I know for a fact most people that are hesitant about purchasing these VC games either own them already or have no motivation to spend money on something without any new features.
What do you think? Could this potential new trend sway you to purchase more titles on the Virtual Console, or do you not care one way or the other? What retro games would you love to see get a fun Wii makeover?
[Via CVG]
Chad Concelmo is Destructoid's features editor. He loves hanging out with awesome people. That's why Destructoid makes him so happy, since it is full of THE MOST AWESOME PEOPLE OF ALL TIME! Also, dolphins.
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Chad enjoys punching old ladies in the face, Super Metroid, Zelda: A Link to the Past on the SNES (best system ever!), Final Fantasy VI, Day of the Tentacle, Shadow of the Colossus, Mother 3, Beyond Good & Evil, Contra III, Valkyria Chronicles, Punch-Out!!, Half-Life 2, and Super Mario Galaxy 2.
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Contest:
1:19 PM on 11.30.2007
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I hope Nintendo adds Wii functionality for more VC games, I really do.
If they force me to use an updated version of the game, this is a terrible idea.
I totally agree: optional is the key. Don't mess with my babies! :)
Also I've never been in this situation before but I believe some sort of gloating is de rigur: I p05t3d this in ma blog B4 U, U ur sux I R kewl!!
(Sorry)
Even though these are small changes that some gamers may not care for, its still cool that Nintendo is willing to do stuff like this. Even some Wii ware games are expected to have some online functionality. Who knows? Something cool and worthwhile may come out of all this one day.
I still have the N64 cartridge which I got as a gift from my dad's friend which was weird because I wasn't a pokemon fan.
There's clearly an API in existance to output the images from the game in relatively standardized image formats. The cool part is that they're taking advantage of functionality already in the game to do something for the Wii. Which is still a promising sign for the future.
Saying things like Wii, online and Goldeneye in the same article . . .
made me drop the phone I was working on . . .
. . . do want . . .
I want it yesterday!
METAL COMBAT
METAL COMBAT
Mmmm.. Pokemon Snap. Daddy likes.
I fear you may be right ... :(
So adding more crap like picture-taking, or something like savegame sending in the Home button menu is nice and easy, but screwing with the game itself to add online play or entirely new features like that is significantly harder, thus they won't bother.
Getting ahold of a game's original sourcecode, retrofitting their (e.g.) SNES emulator so that the virtual SNES suddenly has network connectivity, writing a TCP/IP stack in SNES code ... no chance. An overhaul like that suddenly becomes WiiWare territory.
And Chad, you can send me pictures of Vileplumes and Chanseys and whatnot. Wait, do I have you on my Wii Friend list yet?
Uh...
DUCK
HUNT
Essentially, I expected it to happen.
Give me GoldenEye online, a higher res Banjo-Kazooie, and motion controlled Rogue Squadron!
Duck Hunt would have been the ultimate announcement, of course PKMN Snap was awesome, but I still have the cart and my n64 so- no buy for me...
Jet Force Gemini Wii! YES!
That would be awesome!
Or EarthBound. Make the 3D glasses a virtual download from WiiWare. it wont' be 3D (of course), but having downloaded that "thing", those sections that needed the glasses will be "decoded"
Possibilities abound . . .
Online Multiplayer Blades of Steel!!!
"I had no issues with Twilight Princess, much less having to do an action 5 times for a register...maybe you just suck at games?"
Lol, get defensive much? OH OH I forgot!!!! Nintendo does no wrong. Me so sorry MuffinMan. I don't know what batteries are, and whats kalabraaaatzions? I been playing games for over 15 years. I guess thats not long enough to be good at games. It must be that I started playing on Intellivions & Ataris while you started on PS2.
Im such an old man compared your generation sunny. Sorry for talking the truth on the second console you ever owned.
Um ... why are "Wii" (he he) not Wii friends? E-mailing you my Wii # in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...
That is just a mean thing to say. We all know that it will never happen, no matter how awesome it would be.
I cannot wait to hear about the release Stateside.
I don't know why they never made another one. Personally, I think it's the best Pokemon spin-off game out there.
And again, this makes me wonder about how Fatal Frame 4 for the Wii will work out... And then that makes me hope for a possible Pokemon Snap sequel.
*overwhelmed with hope for the future of the Wii*