Virtual Console Downloads Declining

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2007-04-30 08:28am

I guess this is proven to be something no one really needs.

One of the little reported facts from Nintendo president Satoru Iwata’s recent Japanese press conference was that downloads on the Wii’s Virtual Console have begun to decline in popularity despite a rapidly increasing Wii user base.

In late January Nintendo announced that Virtual Console sales of retro games had exceeded 1.5m, a figure that has now risen to 3.3m. That means that the number of downloads for the past three months only exceeds games downloaded in the first two months following the release of the Wii by 300,000, not a notable increase for a system with an ever-expanding user base.

There are currently 78 titles available to download via the Wii’s Virtual Console service. One strategy for expanding the service was revealed earlier this month when news materialized that a number of Neo Geo titles would become available to Wii owners during the summer.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2007-04-30 08:40am

How about they a) make the pricing a bit more compeditive and b) implement some actual features. I'm 100% down with the Nintendo 'just works' idea, but just like Wii Sports there should be an 'advanced' tab with actual tweakable options for those that dare enough. The emulators seriously need a emulator GUI option, even if it's just a 'VC settings' button on the Home button menu thing.

And holy shit get some actual fucking manuals.

Alferd Packer · Post by **Alferd Packer** » 2007-04-30 08:44am

I was going to say: the reason the downloads have slowed is because there aren't any new, good games available. It's not like you can download something twice because you really, really like it.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2007-04-30 10:15am

*gasp* sales slowed down slightly in the months after launch, never would have guessed.

Meh, sales are still at an all time high even if the increase isn't as high as it should be. Maybe it'll make Nintendo get competitive and drop the price (I would buy a lot more at a lower price), or release some better games.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2007-04-30 10:17am

Please, Praxis, focus?

In late January Nintendo announced that Virtual Console sales of retro games had exceeded 1.5m, a figure that has now risen to 3.3m. That means that the number of downloads for the past three months only exceeds games downloaded in the first two months following the release of the Wii by 300,000, not a notable increase for a system with an ever-expanding user base.

For a userbase that keeps expanding very very rapidly, the increase in VC downloads dosn't scale at all.

Covenant · Post by **Covenant** » 2007-05-02 01:44am

The games are too pricey. I really don't want to pay 5 bucks for a Nintendo game. They should offer more 'packages' or give me points for buying normal games, or something. But I really can't afford to get many virtural console games at the prices they have.

Elessar · Post by **Elessar** » 2007-05-02 02:40am

Pricey or not, the Virtual Console is packed with mediocre games in an interface that is sluggish and unresponsive. I hate browsing their title list with a passion. And really, the game list is just terrible. N64 games total what, 4? Only Sonic 1 is available, and they're still holding back stuff like Zelda 2 (NES) and Super Mario RPG (SNES).

Bring out the blockbusters, stop hoarding them slowly so that we'll download all the mediocre crap while waiting for the good stuff. The latter strategy just makes fans stop caring about the VC.

Schuyler Colfax · Post by **Schuyler Colfax** » 2007-05-02 09:28am

To be honest those games were fun when they first came but now we have better games so a game like mario kart 64 would only be fun for 10 minutes at the most so after that I would be playing mario kart DS right after that. And games are only gonna get better I can't see myself playing gears of war in 20 years

Laughing Mechanicus · Post by **Laughing Mechanicus** » 2007-05-02 09:45am

Elite Pwnage wrote:To be honest those games were fun when they first came but now we have better games so a game like mario kart 64 would only be fun for 10 minutes at the most so after that I would be playing mario kart DS right after that. And games are only gonna get better I can't see myself playing gears of war in 20 years

Yes because, as we all know, entertainment mediums always, always improve with age and never resort to rehashing previously popular franchises for the lowest common denominator to make a quick buck, ever.

I personally have bought about 5-6 games from the VC. They are almost all games than can be played multiplayer - it's great to sit back with a friend a play through some old classic like Donkey Kong Country. That said the stuff on there is just plain too expensive, I bought some points once and was given a gift card with some more points on it, but once they are gone I don't see myself buying more unless some more decent multiplayer games appear on the service.

Something that annoys me a little is how underused the other "Wii software" part of the store is. Every week it seems like Xbox Live is getting some cool little new, original game to download and it just doesn't compute to me that Nintendo isn't doing something similar. Those types of game are casual gamer crack, which is exactly the kind of market Nintendo has otherwise been targeting so well.

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2007-05-02 10:11am

The problem I have with the VC are the games on it are ones I've already got a still working copy of or they're, well, a bag of shit. I've considered getting Starfox 64, but I've got the N64 version and a rumble pak, and the VC version has no rumble.

Also, the PAL support in the VC is shit.

Laughing Mechanicus · Post by **Laughing Mechanicus** » 2007-05-02 10:38am

Vendetta wrote:The problem I have with the VC are the games on it are ones I've already got a still working copy of or they're, well, a bag of shit. I've considered getting Starfox 64, but I've got the N64 version and a rumble pak, and the VC version has no rumble.

Also, the PAL support in the VC is shit.

True, if I had the space I would just go down to the local Gamestation and re-buy the old consoles instead of buying them for VC. But my flat just isn't big enough, nor does my TV have enough connections, for that to be practical.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2007-05-02 03:57pm

Combine the fact that the hardcore people bought the systems first, and the high price makes it unlikely that early adopters are going to maintain their initial purchasing rates, and the fact that the games selection SUCKS (only one Mario game per platform, no Metroid, one Zelda game per platform, only one Kirby game, one Starfox...and tons of crap)...

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2007-05-02 06:06pm

I don't find anything wrong with the VC's prices, personally, considering how much used games typically go for (at least around here, $10-$20 for NES-SNES titles and such), though I somewhat agree with the sentiment that the title selection and release schedule could be a bit better occasionally. Overall though I don't really have a problem with the Virtual Console at all, something which is more of a supplemental source of income for Nintendo and invested publishers.

Xisiqomelir · Post by **Xisiqomelir** » 2007-05-02 06:12pm

Praxis wrote:*gasp* sales slowed down slightly in the months after launch, never would have guessed.

Silly Praxis, don't you know that software sales remain at Christmas levels all year round?