why do they take so long releasing games for wii virtual console

[Kangum]

where is wave racer and blast corpse for n64 and where is smb 3 for super nintendo. its not like they are going to run out of games any time soon. tons of great super nintendo and n64 games.

i love my wii but i would love it even more if they expanded thier virtual console on a more consistent bases. its so great having access to everything. there are so many old games i would buy if they would just get off thier butt and actually offered it.

[Hoagie_one]

where is megaman 1-6

[slycrel]

I think they are trying to pace themselves so that they can keep the hype up to some degree.  I'd expect when they see some dips in sales they will release some of the more popular titles.  I think they currently release 3 a week on mondays.

I am waiting for SMB3 as well, I think a lot of people are.

At least they released act raiser finally though.

[Kangum]

i have never played act raiser. maybe i will check it out. i was just scanning for super metroid. oh well. no go either.

[Howard_Casto]

Not only are they pacing it, but a game doesn't magically run on the vc, they have to port it, or tweak the emulator somewhat.  Nes/Snes/n64 carts often had custom processor chips on them, so when one of those games are added, it has to be tested and often modified (either their emulator or the rom) so it'll run. 

Legal issues as well.... mega man, for example is owned by capcom... nintendo has to negotiate with capcom to get the rights and the original rom sets.

[slycrel]

Not only are they pacing it, but a game doesn't magically run on the vc, they have to port it, or tweak the emulator somewhat.  Nes/Snes/n64 carts often had custom processor chips on them, so when one of those games are added, it has to be tested and often modified (either their emulator or the rom) so it'll run. 

This is very true.

However, I am sure there are a large swath of games that were/are ready for "release" of the virtual console that sit and wait to be released.  I'd be surprised if it were a technical issue holding them back at this point.

[DaveMMR]

where is megaman 1-6

You know they have a Megaman Collection for the Gamecube, which will play on the Wii.  It has MM1 up to MM8, and two fighters.  Plus now you can actually save your progress in MM1!

[digitui]

theyre spreading it thin. all the big games everyone wants are going to come out one at a time

[Tahnok]

[...]
This is very true.

However, I am sure there are a large swath of games that were/are ready for "release" of the virtual console that sit and wait to be released.  I'd be surprised if it were a technical issue holding them back at this point.

Even if they are seemingly ready, they have to be tested extensively. It would look bad to release a VC game with a bug introduced during porting.

Besides, is around three games a week really so slow? Granted, they aren't all gems, but they are being added.

[...]all the big games everyone wants are going to come out one at a time

I doubt it. Everything so far seems to point to them continuing the pattern of releasing a few games every week, including a big title every once in a while. As has been said, it keeps the hype up about the VC.

For example, anyone else notice that SMB2 being added was posted on the RetroBlast homepage? It's good publicity when they release something they know everyone wants. They would loose a great marketing tool if they released everything at once.

[Guaranos]

Splitting up the big games is smart of them from a marketing standpoint.  If they released them all at once, they'd be in direct competition with each other during their most popular time. 

If all the hits come out in one day, people will only buy one, two, or maybe a handful, and the rest will be put off until later, if ever.

[Kangum]

sometimes it feels like they act like they dont really want to though. like with smb 2 they said well everyone must remember its not really super mario brothers its a port of a japanese game. it doesnt follow the mario story at all. ect and so forth. almost like they were forced to release it. poor shyguy. getting all the hate.

smb 3, chronotrigger, waveracer,super metroid would be a nice line up for tomorrow if anyone is listening =)

[Angry_Radish]

I'm still peeved Mariocart 64 won't let me save ghost data... You woud think they would test stuff more before releasing it