Follow Slashdot stories on Twitter

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×

The Wii Virtual Console Hands-On 143

Posted by Zonk from the business-is-believing dept.
Gamespot has a hands-on with the virtual console for the Wii. From the article: "Nintendo's Wii Virtual Console demo station featured five signature games from system's past: Super Mario Bros. from the NES, Super Mario World from the SNES, Super Mario 64 from the Nintendo 64, Sonic the Hedgehog from the Sega Genesis, and Bonk's Adventure from the TurboGrafix 16. The navigation menu only allowed us to scroll through the five title selection pages, so we didn't get a chance to select and download games to run."
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

The Wii Virtual Console Hands-On More

The Wii Virtual Console Hands-On

Comments Filter:

  • games not published by Nintendo or Sega? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by taxman_10m ( 41083 ) on Friday May 12, 2006 @05:06PM (#15321304)
    Will games be available that were not published by Nintendo or Sega? Like Vectorman?
  • Sounds almost as good as a softmodded Xbox.

    • If you're considering buying an original Xbox to run emulators on as opposed to using the Wii Virtual Console:

      1. How can one softmod an Xbox with version 1.6 firmware? And now that new copies of MechAssault have the buffer overflow fixed, how can one softmod an Xbox at all?
      2. How do you suggest to dump one's Game Paks or otherwise obtain legit copies of games to run in the emulator?
      • 1. a) you cant. b) buy a used copy, or rent a copy, or borrow a copy from a friend, buy/rent/steal other games like 007 that have buffer overflows.

        2. a rom reader with USB or RS-232 interface. buy old games from thrift stores. at this point you may also want to pick up the original console.

        • a) you cant.

          Doesn't the UDE2 exploit work with 1.6? At least, I just did a brand new one in January that I'm pretty sure was a 1.6.

        • Note to moderators: This sub-discussion is about modding an original Xbox console (not the Xbox 360) as an alternative to buying a Wii for its Virtual Console.

          a) you cant.

          So if I'm buying a used Xbox console online, how do I make sure that the firmware is pre-1.6 [xbox-linux.org] before I bid?

          b) buy a used copy [of MechAssault], or rent a copy

          How can I tell, based on the description on half.com or gamefly.com, whether the disc is in fact Part No. X08-82262 (if new in shrink wrap) or Part No. X08-82264 (if used)

      • 1. How can one softmod an Xbox with version 1.6 firmware? And now that new copies of MechAssault have the buffer overflow fixed, how can one softmod an Xbox at all?

        How about finding a used copy of the game without the "greatest hits" banner on the box? MS didn't suddenly make the old version disappear, you know.

        And you could always still hard-mod it. :-) Of course they've made hard mods a total pain in the butt with v1.6 motherboard, but that doesn't stop you from buying an older Xbox used. Besides,

        • How about finding a used copy of the game without the "greatest hits" banner on the box?

          According to the howto page on xbox-linux.org, even some of the non-greatest-hits discs are the new version, which doesn't have the buffer overflow. One has to look for the part number on the packaging, which isn't possible with an online purchase.

          but that doesn't stop you from buying an older Xbox used.

          If I'm buying a used Xbox, how do I make sure that it is older? Would most sellers appreciate it if I asked t

          • I'm fairly certain that all non-Platinum-Hits copies of 007: Agent Under Fire are compatible with the hacked gamesaves that you'll need to mod your Xbox. I'd head down to your local used games retailer and pick up a copy for ~$5. I believe the same is true of Splinter Cell, although that's a game you might actually want to play. :-)

            I'm not big on hard-modding personally; once you have the equipment and games you can literally mod an Xbox in about 5 minutes. The materials are about $20-$30 (exploitable game,

            • The materials are about $20-$30 (exploitable game, Xbox Memory Card, Xbox Controller to USB adapter)

              But do I have to already have a working Linux installation to write to the memory card? Or does Knoppix or Windows support writing to the memory card? And how do I make sure that I'm not buying a 1.6 Xbox?

              • No you don't need Linux to write to the card. I personally use the ActionRelay USB dongle, and the ActionRelay software handles writing the savegames to the memory card. There are other ways, but this one is simple and foolproof.
              • Don't worry about the 1.6 box, it's a non-issue now. To save some scratch I'd probably go used anyway, but the choice is yours.

                The memory card is in a special Xbox filesystem format, so there's a few different ways to access it. I'm pretty sure you could use one of the PC Linux distributions to directly upload using the filesystem, but the easier way is to use one of the utilities. I believe Datel's Action Replay for Xbox software still works to access the memory card; then all you do is drag the zip file w
              • You can write the memory card from Windows, Linux, Mac... or any system with USB. It is easy. There are "installers" that are very easy to use.

                1. Put the "installer" save file on the memory card via an Action Replay USB dongle.

                2. Load the save using a buggy version of whatever game you choose to use.

                3. Burn a DVD for each console, loaded with the emulator for that console and all of that console's games. Since the Xbox is softmodded, it will run these DVDRs, and the end result is very nice and polished.
        • Even if you had a cartridge dumper and put the output of that on your hard drive, technically even that is illegal.

          Or so the cartridge publisher says; the reality is a bit more complicated. There certainly hasn't been any shortage of court rulings upholding domain-shifting for private use as legitimate, not even when involving the continued use of code written for now-obsolete hardware...

          Heck, Nintendo can't even stop the bootleg Famicom makers peddling their wares in booths at every shopping mall in the c
      • I'll lend you my copy of Mechassault if you like. :)
      • 1(a): The latest exploit installers easily work with version 1.6 firmware. See the Xbox-scene forums for details.

        1(b): MechAssault is one of many games that can be used to install the exploit. It is easy to find the older versions of these games in used game stores, Ebay, or you can simply borrow a copy as you only need to use it for like 5 minutes... then you don't need the disc any longer.

        2: You can use a copier to rip your cart's ROM images. You can buy a copier off of Ebay, www.tototek.com, and many

        • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

          by account_deleted ( 4530225 )
          Comment removed based on user account deletion
          • I find it funny that people are "literally creaming themselves" over anything. Ewwww.
          • I find it funny that Xbox fanboys are litterally creaming themselves over a feature that PCs had years before that!

            I find it funny that PC fanboys are ejaculating semen from their penises over a feature that people who owned actual NES, SNES, Genesis, TG-16, etc. consoles had up to a decade before they did.

        • Re:Xbox soft-modding issues (Score:4, Insightful)

          by PyroMosh ( 287149 ) on Saturday May 13, 2006 @04:13AM (#15323928) Homepage
          My Xbox can play more NES, SNES, TG16, Master System, Genesis, Game Boy, and N64 games than the Wii will ever be able to play. I find it funny that Nintendo fanboys are literally creaming themselves over a feature that Xbox had years ago.

          No it can't. It's not the same thing at all.

          You're using a clumsy hack to download illegal ROMs from unknown sources.

          That's not what I'm excited about at all. I could do this for the past 10 years or more on my PC.

          I'm excited that I can obtain legal copies of games that compensate the people who brought the game to me, and that I know it's from people who know how both the origional was programed, and how to emulate it on the new hardware. Without guesswork or clumsy hacks.

          I log on, select a game, buy it legally, and play it. Simple. "Just works".

          This is the same reason I don't purchase used games if I Can help it. New game sales tells the publisher that people like their game. I'm more likley to see more games like them in the future. This is a way for me to continue to tell publishers and developers that I liked their classic titles. This is what I've been waiting for for a long time.

          Before you answer that you can legally rip any ROMs you own the carts for, it's not so. It's a common fallacy in the emmulation world. In most piracy circles, people get "legal advice" where they find some "loop hole" they like, and they are convinced it's valid. Whether it's based in reality or not (24 hour rule [gamefaqs.com], for instance.) The common myth in the US stems from USC 117 Section 17. It allows for owners of software to make a single backup copy. The purpose of this dates back to the 70s or 80s when software was distributed mostly on volatile magnetic storage mediums. People like to pretend that it extends to ROMs too, but in fact, not only is it not true, but case law (See Atari vs JS&A [worldofspectrum.org] or google it) contradicts it.

          Obviously this will vary from country to country, but the most vocal "advocated" of this kind of thing come from the U.S.

          Long story short, what the x-box has nothing like this at all. There's a series of hacks that try to aproximate it, but give almost none of the benefit I'm looking for, and none of the legality. Not the elegance or ease of use. It's like comparing building a car yourself to buying one off the lot. Good luck with that.

          • This is the same reason I don't purchase used games if I Can help it.

            However, Lumines Plus (for PS2), Lumines 2 (for PSP), and Lumines Mobile (for mobile phones) are distributed by a unit of The Walt Disney Company, which (unlike most other software publishers) has lobbied Congress for copyright term extensions. If I want Lumines Plus (and not some homebrew clone [pineight.com]), I have to either buy from Disney or buy used. I'd rather buy used, so as not to support Disney [losingnemo.com].

            I log on, select a game, buy it legally, a

          • You make all of these grand claims about the quality of the Wii's emulation, when all that they have demonstrated is that their emulation can run games that any crap emulator for the PC can easily run. You can bet that Nintendo will only emulate a very small fraction of every game available for their previous systems.

            In fact, you have probably never even played emulated games on an Xbox, let alone have you played them on the Wii. I have played them on the Xbox, I know what it is like. I can also deduce t
        • My Xbox can play more NES, SNES, TG16, Master System, Genesis, Game Boy, and N64 games than the Wii will ever be able to play. I find it funny that Nintendo fanboys are literally creaming themselves over a feature that Xbox had years ago.

          What a stupid comment. Of course they're excited - because it's a) legally sanctioned and b) doesn't involving any kind of mods.
    • The virtual console has the added bonus of not infringing on copyright. That makes it better to me. Probably makes it worse to the 'entertainment wants to be free' crowd, though.

  • Fan favorite? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by lpangelrob ( 714473 ) on Friday May 12, 2006 @05:22PM (#15321450)
    From the Wii website [nintendo.com]:

    Virtual Console: Wii will have downloadable access to 20 years of fan-favorite titles originally released for Nintendo 64, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and even the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The Virtual Console also will feature a "best of" selection from Sega Genesis titles and games from the TurboGrafx console (a system jointly developed by NEC and Hudson). It also will be home to new games conceived by indie developers whose creativity is larger than their budgets.

    (italics mine)

    I can't help but think that this means Superman 64 [ign.com] is all out...

  • Wiiiiiii ! (Score:5, Insightful)

    by suv4x4 ( 956391 ) on Friday May 12, 2006 @05:26PM (#15321471)
    An year ago I discussed with friends how Nintendo is going the way of SEGA and soon they'll go out of the hardware biz and port Mario to other platforms.

    Then I wondered why Nintendo chose to throw out the standard controller and move to something totally unorthodox, and thought that's a stupid move.

    I also recently laughed about the Wii name and discussed with friends that it'll fail sales.

    Now I know, Wii is THE console I will buy the moment it's out, because it provides an amazing value at a lower price and amazing innovation right in your living room.
    I may even buy one for my mother and grandmother, cause I always like to push technology down their throat, like any self-respecting geek should, and I think it'll be easier and more fun this time :)

    BTW, did you notice the guy talking on the Sony pressconference sounded pretty depressed after the Wii presentation the previous day :) they've all the reasons to be.
    • I hear you. I just left E3, I played the PS3 but I couldn't get near the Wii. The PS3 is fun, but am I going to shell out a bag of money for it? Nintendo seems to know what they're doing pretty well (as long as they don't ditch the GBA in favour of the DS). Get the games out there, make them fun, make them accessible to your market: middle class families with kids. Kids that will pester for every lousy thing they stick Mario in. Mario in a whacked out mushroom trip? Check. Mario dancing? Check. Mario drivin
    • The key to Nintendo's success has, and always will be, making/hosting fun games. As long as people want to play fun games, Nintendo will have a place. Add to that not selling consoles at a loss, and Nintendo is in a great position. I think Nintendo could only sell units in Japan and still turn a profit this year.

    • Re:Wiiiiiii ! (Score:5, Funny)

      by mgabrys_sf ( 951552 ) on Friday May 12, 2006 @08:54PM (#15322789) Journal
      re:"I always like to push technology down their throat"

      I could make some filthy joke about people shoving wee's down other people's throats - but that would be crass and wrong and I'd never stoop to doing something like that, particularly in a public forum. It's just wrong.
    • The Wii is cool no doubt (it's certainly the best looking of the new consoles) and the controller is a nice idea, but I'm still concerned about it's sticking power. All the games I've tried with the Wii have essentially used it as a gimmick, in other words the game is built around the controller. So you can bang drums, or play tennis, or guide a character down a course. But it all still felt a little "bolted on"...like it was fun at first because of the novelty but who knows when that will wear off? So I'm

    • BTW, did you notice the guy talking on the Sony pressconference sounded pretty depressed after the Wii presentation the previous day :) they've all the reasons to be.

      Sony has no reason to be depressed or worried about Wii at all.

      I've wondered about this before and I still don't get it: Sony sucks for releasing a truly next gen console ("no innovation!") and Nintendo rocks for releasing Gamecube in a new case ("innovation!") and a new controller?

      Many Nintendo fans seem to think that Nintendo will win th

      • Wii's problem is that the masses expect gorgeous next gen gaming from the new consoles and Wii simply cannot deliver it.

        Please define "next gen".

        I could (and will) argue that creating a new paradigm for player/game interaction is a more important indicator of "next gen-ness" than any other new feature present on the new batch of consoles, possibly excluding the maturation of online multiplayer.

        It's great that a 360 or PS3 will be able to push more polygons at higher resolutions than their predecessors ever

  • Answer me this: (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Quaoar ( 614366 ) on Friday May 12, 2006 @06:10PM (#15321798)
    Is the virtual console service free, per-game, or a monthly fee? I haven't seen anything indicating how much this will cost.
    • You shouldn't worry about it. We 're talking Nintendo, who currently provides online gaming over the Internet for free (And used by millons).
      Expect no more than a few bucks per title and maybe some games for free.
      • You shouldn't worry about it. We 're talking Nintendo, who currently provides online gaming over the Internet for free (And used by millons).
        Expect no more than a few bucks per title and maybe some games for free.

        You should worry about it. We're talking about Nintendo, who currently resells old console games on the Game Boy for $30 each instead of bundling several games into a "collection" like every other retro-gaming company on earth.
        • We're talking about Nintendo, who currently resells old console games on the Game Boy for $30 each

          Got a link to support that?

          I've never seen the "NES Classic" series games retailing for more than $20, and that was when they were new -- the prices are down to $15 now

          Still too expensive for your tastes? Maybe we should look at the release of many of those same NES launch titles in GBA e-Card format, instead. Those titles typically sold for under $5.

          In any case, the Virtual Console won't have any of the bric

    • Re:Answer me this: (Score:3, Informative)

      by AnyoneEB ( 574727 )
      Answer me this

      Good luck on getting an answer. This is Nintendo we are talking about. They don't give out information any earlier than they have to even if there is no reason to be secretive.

      They have mentioned per-game fees differing by console with N64 games the highest at $10, but those numbers were not final. A monthly fee option is not out of the question.

      • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

        by account_deleted ( 4530225 )
        Comment removed based on user account deletion
        • I understand keeping the Wii release date/price secret, but I don't see how virtual console details could hurt them. Most likely, they just have not decided yet.
    • A monthly fee would be great, and free even better, but I have a good feeling it's going to be per-game, and likely not as cheap as we'd like it to be (judging by the pricing of the nes reissues for the gameboy).
    • I think they are charging roughly 5$ for the games on the iQue. The system remembers what you've already downloaded and allows you to redownload as often as you want if you had to delete it because you ran out of space.

  • Virtual Console to support Home-Brew? (Score:5, Informative)

    by inio ( 26835 ) on Friday May 12, 2006 @06:35PM (#15321939) Homepage
    From the Official Page [nintendo.com]:
    Virtual Console ... will be home to new games conceived by indie developers whose creativity is larger than their budgets.
    This fits nicely with previous claims that developers of any size will be able to develop for the Wii (virtual console).
  • It'll never happen, primarily because the DL size would be prohibitive, I would think, but it sure would be cool to play through Ys Book I & II [gamespot.com]. My spoiled-rotten cousin had a TurboGrafx CD system and all I ever got to do was watch him play and "help" him with puzzles and stuff... Grrrrr.

    That game was so mesmerizing at the time. The music was some of the best ever composed for a game, in my opinion. I'm tempted to buy a copy of the disc from ebay just to rip the music... I recall with the TGCD games,
  • I wonder how much they will charge for each game. If they priced it rather low, $5 or less, a lot of people would buy them legally. Lets face it Emulation wont go away, and the only way to find some of the old games is to either search flea markets or download them off the internet. Miyamoto is like the Steve Jobs of the console business and the Picasso of game design.
  • Is this service limited to the consoles supported at release or will the Wii be able to emulate other consoles in the future too?

    Personally, I'd be waiting for SNK Neo Geo support. Though I believe the NG is still somewhat alive.

    The current range of systems doesn't really attract me personally, but if they can support the NG, I'd buy the Wii. I'm sure there will be others for whom different types of console emulation would also strike a chord; Lynx, Game Gear, Master System, Game Boy, NG Pocket, perhaps eve

Slashdot Top Deals

Scientists will study your brain to learn more about your distant cousin, Man.

Close