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Difference between revisions of "Virtual Console"

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[[File:VirtualConsole logo.svg|320px|right]]
 
[[File:VirtualConsole logo.svg|320px|right]]
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'''Virtual Console''' is the name for the emulation service provided to Wii, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS users. It allows players to purchase and download games by browsing a specialized section of the Wii Shop Channel. This requires the user to connect to the internet, and to also purchase Wii points beforehand to make the purchase. Games downloaded are stored on the 512MB flash memory built into the system. From there games can be transferred to a memory card, but can not be played directly from the memory card. Games on the memory card can be transferred back to the Wii it came from, but not to another system.
+
'''Virtual Console''' is the name for the emulation service initially provided to Wii users, and later to Nintendo 3DS and Wii U users. It allowed players to purchase and download games by browsing a specialized section of the Wii Shop Channel and later the Nintendo eShop. This required the user to connect to the internet, and to also purchase Wii/Nintendo Points beforehand to make the purchase.
  
−
Games available come from a variety of systems including: [[Nintendo]]'s Nintendo Entertainment System and Super NES and Nintendo 64, [[sega:Sega|Sega]]'s [[sega:Sega Master System|Master System]] and [[sega:Sega Mega Drive|Mega Drive/Genesis]], [[NEC]]'s [[TurboGrafx-16]]/[[PC Engine]] and [[TurboGrafx-CD]]/[[CD-ROM²]], SNK's Neo Geo AES. It also supports region specific consoles such as Commodore 64 (Europe only) and MSX (Japan only). Some publishers may choose to release region-specific games internationally in the special Import category.
+
==Overview==
 +
===Wii===
 +
Games downloaded are stored on the Wii's 512MB flash memory that is built into the system. From there games can be transferred to an SD card, but could not be played directly from the SD card until an update allowed the Wii to utilise the flash memory to play games saved on an SD card. Games on the SD card can be transferred back to the Wii it came from, but not to another system.
 +
 
 +
Games available come from a variety of systems including: [[Nintendo]]'s Nintendo Entertainment System and Super NES and Nintendo 64, [[sega:Sega|Sega]]'s [[sega:Sega Master System|Master System]] and [[sega:Sega Mega Drive|Mega Drive/Genesis]], [[NEC Biglobe|NEC]]'s [[TurboGrafx-16]]/[[PC Engine]] and [[TurboGrafx-CD]]/[[CD-ROM²]], SNK's Neo Geo AES, and various [[Arcade]] systems. It also supports region specific consoles such as Commodore 64 (Europe only) and MSX (Japan only). Some publishers may choose to release region-specific games internationally in the special Import category (for example, the standalone ''[[Bomberman '94]]'' was released overseas this way).
 +
 
 +
NES, Master System and TurboGrafx-16 games can play properly with the Wii Remote, but games for other consoles will likely require either a GameCube controller, or the Classic Controller, which was sold separately.
 +
 
 +
Games for PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16 cost 600 points. Games for CD-ROM² systems cost 800 points. Games in the Import category cost an additional 100 points. Despite continuous strong sales of the Wii, additions to the Virtual Console service had slowed down considerably since the service was introduced in 2006, partly due to the launch of WiiWare.
 +
 
 +
On September 29, 2017{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20181229064252/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/support/information/2017/0929.html}} it was announced that the Wii's Wii Shop Channel (Where the Wii's Virtual Console is housed) would be shutting down on January 31, 2019 at 3PM JST/5PM AEDT/1AM EDT/6AM GMT/January 30, 2019 at 10PM PST. The ability to buy Wii Points to purchase games was stopped on March 27, 2018 at 5AM JST/7AM AEDT/March 26, 2018 at 1PM PDT/4PM EDT/9PM BST. In the interim between not being able to buy points and its closure, players were still able to download items they had previously purchased.
 +
 
 +
===Nintendo 3DS===
 +
[[File:VirtualConsole 3DS PCE Gradius.png|thumb|right|200px|''[[Gradius]]'' running on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console, with square pixel aspect ratio.]]
 +
The Virtual Console was also brought to the Nintendo 3DS, with games available primarily coming from handheld systems including Nintendo's Game Boy and Game Boy Color, and Sega's [[sega:Sega Game Gear|Game Gear]]. The 3DS also received games normally available on home consoles, such as the NES, Super NES (available only on New Nintendo 3DS systems) and the TurboGrafx-16 (Japan only). A select number of Game Boy Advance games were made available as exclusives for the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Programme.{{ref|https://archive.is/GkHBj|http://www.nintendo.co.uk/News/2011/Nintendo-3DS-Ambassador-programme-253337.html}}
 +
 
 +
Games downloaded are stored on the SD card inserted into the system and loaded from the HOME menu. They can only be played on the system they were originally purchased on.
 +
 
 +
TurboGrafx-16 games were released solely by [[Konami]], and only a total of four games were released.
 +
 
 +
On February 15, 2022{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20220216022354/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/57847/~/wii-u-%26-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation}} it was announced that the 3DS's eShop would be shutting down in March of 2023. The ability to add funds with a credit card was stopped on May 23, 2022 while the ability to add points through eShop cards was suspended entirely on August 29, 2022, although download codes were still able to be redeemed until its shutdown in March 2023, however. Users who linked their Nintendo Network ID from their Nintendo 3DS to their Nintendo Account on the Nintendo Switch were able to use a shared wallet and purchase things from the 3DS eShop until its closure in March 2023.
 +
 
 +
===Wii U===
 +
The Wii U's Virtual Console service features games originally released on Nintendo's Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, NEC's TurboGrafx-16, and the MSX (Japan only). TurboGrafx-16 releases were primarily handled by Konami and were at first exclusive to Japan, but had later come out for Western regions a few years later, even after the release of the Nintendo Switch. These games included button and screen configurations and the use of in-game savestates, as well as support for up to five players with the Wii U GamePad required for at least one player. However, Virtual Console games released for the Wii are compatible with the Wii U and can be played in the system's Wii Mode, including TurboGrafx-16 games - the Wii U versions of games already owned in Wii Mode could be purchased for a discounted "upgrade" price.
  
−
NES and Sega Master System games can play properly with the Wii Remote, but games for other consoles will likely require either a GameCube controller, or the Classic Controller, which is sold separately.
+
Games downloaded are either stored on the system's 8/32GB internal flash memory, or on an external hard disk drive connected to the system.
  
−
Games for PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16 cost 600 points. Games for CD-ROM² systems cost 800 points. Games in the Import category cost an additional 100 points.
+
On February 15, 2022{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20220216022354/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/57847/~/wii-u-%26-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation}} it was announced that the Wii U's eShop would be shutting down in March of 2023. The ability to add funds with a credit card was stopped on May 23, 2022 while the ability to add points through eShop cards was suspended entirely on August 29, 2022, although download codes were still able to be redeemed until its shutdown in March 2023, however. Users who linked their Nintendo Network ID from their Wii U to their Nintendo Account on the Nintendo Switch were able to use a shared wallet and purchase things from the Wii U eShop until its closure in March 2023.
  
 +
It was later clarified that the Wii U eShop would shut down on March 27th, 2023.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20221104195919/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/57847/~/wii-u-&-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation}}
  
−
==PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 Games on the Virtual Console==
+
==PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 games on the Virtual Console==
 
===Wii===
 
===Wii===
 
====Japan====
 
====Japan====
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 
*''[[Adventure Island]]''
 
*''[[Adventure Island]]''
−
*''[[Ai Cho Aniki]]''
+
*''[[Ai Chou Aniki]]''
 
*''[[Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo]]''
 
*''[[Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo]]''
 
*''[[Alien Crush]]''
 
*''[[Alien Crush]]''
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*''[[Champion Wrestler]]''
 
*''[[Champion Wrestler]]''
 
*''[[Chase H.Q.]]''
 
*''[[Chase H.Q.]]''
−
*''[[Cho Aniki]]''
+
*''[[Chou Aniki]]''
 
*''[[Chou Eiyu Densetsu: The Dynastic Hero]]''
 
*''[[Chou Eiyu Densetsu: The Dynastic Hero]]''
 
*''[[Crest of Wolf]]''
 
*''[[Crest of Wolf]]''
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*''[[Fire Pro Wrestling: Combination Tag]]''
 
*''[[Fire Pro Wrestling: Combination Tag]]''
 
*''[[Fire Pro Wrestling 2nd Bout]]''
 
*''[[Fire Pro Wrestling 2nd Bout]]''
−
*''[[Fire Pro Wrestling 3 Legend Bout]]''
+
*''[[Fire Pro Wrestling 3: Legend Bout]]''
 
*''[[Gaiflame]]''
 
*''[[Gaiflame]]''
 
*''[[Galaga '88]]''
 
*''[[Galaga '88]]''
 
*''[[Gate of Thunder]]''
 
*''[[Gate of Thunder]]''
−
*''[[Genpei Toma Den]]''
+
*''[[Genpei Toumaden]]''
−
*''[[Genpei Toma Den: Kannoni]]''
+
*''[[Genpei Toumaden: Kan no Ni]]''
 
*''[[Gradius]]''
 
*''[[Gradius]]''
 
*''[[Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou]]''
 
*''[[Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou]]''
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*''[[Jaseiken Necromancer]]''
 
*''[[Jaseiken Necromancer]]''
 
*''[[Jigoku Meguri]]''
 
*''[[Jigoku Meguri]]''
−
*''[[Kawa no Nushi Tsuri Shizenha]]''
+
*''[[Kaizou Chounin Shubibinman 2: Aratanaru Teki]]''
 +
*''[[Kawa no Nushi Tsuri: Shizenha]]''
 
*''[[Kaze no Densetsu Xanadu]]''
 
*''[[Kaze no Densetsu Xanadu]]''
 
*''[[Kaze no Densetsu Xanadu II]]''
 
*''[[Kaze no Densetsu Xanadu II]]''
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*''[[Seirei Senshi Spriggan]]''
 
*''[[Seirei Senshi Spriggan]]''
 
*''[[Sengoku Mahjong]]''
 
*''[[Sengoku Mahjong]]''
−
*''[[Shockman]]''
 
−
*''[[Shockman 2]]''
 
 
*''[[Silent Debuggers]]''
 
*''[[Silent Debuggers]]''
 
*''[[SimEarth: The Living Planet]]''
 
*''[[SimEarth: The Living Planet]]''
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*''[[Vigilante]]''
 
*''[[Vigilante]]''
 
*''[[Volfied]]''
 
*''[[Volfied]]''
−
*''[[Wallaby!! Usagi no Kuni no Kangaroo Race]]''
+
*''[[Wallaby!!: Usagi no Kuni no Kangaroo Race]]''
 
*''[[Winds of Thunder]]''
 
*''[[Winds of Thunder]]''
 
*''[[Winning Shot]]''
 
*''[[Winning Shot]]''
 
*''[[Wonder Momo]]''
 
*''[[Wonder Momo]]''
−
*''[[Yokai Douchuki]]''
+
*''[[Yokai Douchuuki]]''
 
*''[[Ys Book I & II]]''
 
*''[[Ys Book I & II]]''
 
|cols=3}}
 
|cols=3}}
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*''[[Chew-Man-Fu]]''
 
*''[[Chew-Man-Fu]]''
 
*''[[China Warrior]]''
 
*''[[China Warrior]]''
−
*''[[Cho Aniki]]''
+
*''[[Chou Aniki]]''
 
*''[[Cratermaze]]''
 
*''[[Cratermaze]]''
 
*''[[Dead Moon]]''
 
*''[[Dead Moon]]''
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*''[[World Sports Competition]]''
 
*''[[World Sports Competition]]''
 
*''[[Ys Book I & II]]''
 
*''[[Ys Book I & II]]''
−
}}
+
|cols=3}}
 
====Europe/Australia====
 
====Europe/Australia====
 
(As of 28 July 2016)
 
(As of 28 July 2016)
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*''[[Chew-Man-Fu]]''
 
*''[[Chew-Man-Fu]]''
 
*''[[China Warrior]]''
 
*''[[China Warrior]]''
−
*''[[Cho Aniki]]''
+
*''[[Chou Aniki]]''
 
*''[[Cratermaze]]''
 
*''[[Cratermaze]]''
 
*''[[Dead Moon]]''
 
*''[[Dead Moon]]''
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*''[[World Sports Competition]]''
 
*''[[World Sports Competition]]''
 
*''[[Ys Book I & II]]''
 
*''[[Ys Book I & II]]''
−
}}
+
|cols=3}}
 
===Nintendo 3DS===
 
===Nintendo 3DS===
 
====Japan====
 
====Japan====
 
(As of 28 July 2016)
 
(As of 28 July 2016)
−
{{multicol|
 
 
*''[[Alien Crush]]''
 
*''[[Alien Crush]]''
−
*''[[China Warrior]]''
 
 
*''[[Gradius]]''
 
*''[[Gradius]]''
 
*''[[R-Type]]''
 
*''[[R-Type]]''
−
}}
+
*''[[The Kung Fu]]''
 
===Wii U===
 
===Wii U===
 
====Japan====
 
====Japan====
−
(As of 01 May 2017)
+
(As of 2023)
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
−
*''[[Ai Cho Aniki]]''
+
*''[[Ai Chou Aniki]]''
 
*''[[Alien Crush]]''
 
*''[[Alien Crush]]''
 
*''[[Battle Lode Runner]]''
 
*''[[Battle Lode Runner]]''
 
*''[[Be Ball]]''
 
*''[[Be Ball]]''
 
*''[[Blazing Lazers]]''
 
*''[[Blazing Lazers]]''
−
*''[[Break In]]''
 
 
*''[[Bomberman: Panic Bomber]]''
 
*''[[Bomberman: Panic Bomber]]''
 
*''[[Bomberman '93]]''
 
*''[[Bomberman '93]]''
 
*''[[Bomberman '94]]''
 
*''[[Bomberman '94]]''
−
*''[[Cho Aniki]]''
+
*''[[Break In]]''
 +
*''[[Chou Aniki]]''
 
*''[[Detana!! TwinBee]]''
 
*''[[Detana!! TwinBee]]''
 
*''[[Devil Crash]]''
 
*''[[Devil Crash]]''
−
*''[[Digital Champ]]''
+
*''[[Digital Champ Battle Boxing]]''
 
*''[[Double Dungeons]]''
 
*''[[Double Dungeons]]''
 
*''[[Dragon Egg!]]''
 
*''[[Dragon Egg!]]''
 
*''[[Dungeon Explorer]]''
 
*''[[Dungeon Explorer]]''
 
*''[[Final Soldier]]''
 
*''[[Final Soldier]]''
 +
*''[[Gai Flame]]''
 
*''[[Gaia no Monshou‎]]''
 
*''[[Gaia no Monshou‎]]''
−
*''[[Gaiflame]]''
 
 
*''[[Gradius]]''
 
*''[[Gradius]]''
 
*''[[Hisou Kihei X-Serd]]''
 
*''[[Hisou Kihei X-Serd]]''
 
*''[[Image Fight]]''
 
*''[[Image Fight]]''
−
*''[[Image Fight II]]''
+
*''[[Image Fight II: Operation Deepstriker]]''
 
*''[[Jaseiken Necromancer‎]]''
 
*''[[Jaseiken Necromancer‎]]''
−
*''[[Kaizou Chounin Shubibinman]]''
+
*''[[Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman]]''
−
*''[[Kaizou Chounin Shubibinman 2: Atanaru Teki]]''
+
*''[[Kaizou Chounin Shubibinman 2: Aratanaru Teki]]''
−
*''[[Kaizou Chounin Shubibinman 3: Ikai no Princess]]''
+
*''[[Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman 3: Ikai no Princess]]''
−
*''[[Langrisser: Kouki no Matsuei]]''
+
*''[[Langrisser: Hikari no Matsuei]]''
 
*''[[Legend of Hero Tonma]]''
 
*''[[Legend of Hero Tonma]]''
 
*''[[Moto Roader]]''
 
*''[[Moto Roader]]''
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*''[[Victory Run]]''
 
*''[[Victory Run]]''
 
*''[[Vigilante]]''
 
*''[[Vigilante]]''
−
*''[[Wallaby!! Usagi no Kuni no Kangaroo Race]]''
+
*''[[Wallaby!!: Usagi no Kuni no Kangaroo Race]]''
 
*''[[Winds of Thunder]]''
 
*''[[Winds of Thunder]]''
−
}}
+
|cols=3}}
 
====North America====
 
====North America====
−
(As of 01 May 2017)
+
(As of 2023)
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 +
*''[[Air Zonk]]''
 +
*''[[Alien Crush]]''
 +
*''[[Battle Chopper]]''
 +
*''[[Battle Lode Runner]]''
 +
*''[[Bomberman '93]]''
 
*''[[Bomberman '94]]''
 
*''[[Bomberman '94]]''
 +
*''[[Bomberman: Panic Bomber]]''
 
*''[[Bonk's Adventure]]''
 
*''[[Bonk's Adventure]]''
 +
*''[[Bonk's Revenge]]''
 +
*''[[Break In]]''
 +
*''[[Chew-Man-Fu]]''
 +
*''[[China Warrior]]''
 +
*''[[Detana!! TwinBee]]''
 +
*''[[Devil's Crush]]''
 +
*''[[Digital Champ Battle Boxing]]''
 +
*''[[Double Dungeons]]''
 
*''[[Dungeon Explorer]]''
 
*''[[Dungeon Explorer]]''
 +
*''[[Final Soldier]]''
 
*''[[Gradius]]''
 
*''[[Gradius]]''
 +
*''[[Image Fight]]''
 +
*''[[Image Fight II: Operation Deepstriker]]''
 +
*''[[Legend of Hero Tonma]]''
 +
*''[[Lords of Thunder]]''
 +
*''[[Moto Roader]]''
 +
*''[[Necromancer‎]]''
 
*''[[Neutopia]]''
 
*''[[Neutopia]]''
 +
*''[[Neutopia II]]''
 
*''[[New Adventure Island]]''
 
*''[[New Adventure Island]]''
 +
*''[[Ninja Spirit]]''
 +
*''[[Power Golf]]''
 
*''[[R-Type]]''
 
*''[[R-Type]]''
 +
*''[[Salamander]]''
 +
*''[[Shockman]]''
 +
*''[[Soldier Blade]]''
 
*''[[Super Star Soldier]]''
 
*''[[Super Star Soldier]]''
 +
*''[[Victory Run]]''
 +
*''[[Vigilante]]''
 
*''[[World Sports Competition]]''
 
*''[[World Sports Competition]]''
 
}}
 
}}
 
====Europe====
 
====Europe====
−
(As of 01 May 2017)
+
(As of 2023)
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 +
*''[[Air Zonk]]''
 +
*''[[Alien Crush]]''
 +
*''[[Battle Chopper]]''
 +
*''[[Battle Lode Runner]]''
 +
*''[[Bomberman '93]]''
 
*''[[Bomberman '94]]''
 
*''[[Bomberman '94]]''
 +
*''[[Bomberman: Panic Bomber]]''
 
*''[[Bonk's Adventure]]''
 
*''[[Bonk's Adventure]]''
 +
*''[[Bonk's Revenge]]''
 +
*''[[Break In]]''
 +
*''[[Chew-Man-Fu]]''
 +
*''[[China Warrior]]''
 +
*''[[Detana!! TwinBee]]''
 +
*''[[Devil's Crush]]''
 +
*''[[Digital Champ Battle Boxing]]''
 +
*''[[Double Dungeons]]''
 
*''[[Dungeon Explorer]]''
 
*''[[Dungeon Explorer]]''
 +
*''[[Final Soldier]]''
 
*''[[Gradius]]''
 
*''[[Gradius]]''
 +
*''[[Image Fight]]''
 +
*''[[Image Fight II: Operation Deepstriker]]''
 +
*''[[Legend of Hero Tonma]]''
 +
*''[[Lords of Thunder]]''
 +
*''[[Moto Roader]]''
 +
*''[[Necromancer‎]]''
 
*''[[Neutopia]]''
 
*''[[Neutopia]]''
 +
*''[[Neutopia II]]''
 
*''[[New Adventure Island]]''
 
*''[[New Adventure Island]]''
 +
*''[[Ninja Spirit]]''
 +
*''[[Power Golf]]''
 
*''[[R-Type]]''
 
*''[[R-Type]]''
 +
*''[[Salamander]]''
 +
*''[[Shockman]]''
 +
*''[[Soldier Blade]]''
 +
*''[[Super Star Soldier]]''
 +
*''[[Victory Run]]''
 +
*''[[Vigilante]]''
 
*''[[World Sports Competition]]''
 
*''[[World Sports Competition]]''
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
−
{{SegaRetro|italics=yes}}
 
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20110912235959/http://vc-pce.com/ PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 Virtual Console official website]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20110912235959/http://vc-pce.com/ PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 Virtual Console official website]
 
* PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 Virtual Console on Nintendo eShop: [http://www.nintendo.com/games/game-guide/?pv=true#filter/wii_u|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|other|-|-|-|-|-|featured|des|-|- US], [https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Search/Search-299117.html?q=&faf=GAME&gst=turbografx UK]
 
* PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 Virtual Console on Nintendo eShop: [http://www.nintendo.com/games/game-guide/?pv=true#filter/wii_u|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|other|-|-|-|-|-|featured|des|-|- US], [https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Search/Search-299117.html?q=&faf=GAME&gst=turbografx UK]
 +
 +
==References==
 +
{{SegaRetro|italics=yes}}
 +
<references/>
 +
 
[[Category:Non-NEC consoles]]
 
[[Category:Non-NEC consoles]]

Latest revision as of 17:13, 9 April 2024

VirtualConsole logo.svg

Virtual Console is the name for the emulation service initially provided to Wii users, and later to Nintendo 3DS and Wii U users. It allowed players to purchase and download games by browsing a specialized section of the Wii Shop Channel and later the Nintendo eShop. This required the user to connect to the internet, and to also purchase Wii/Nintendo Points beforehand to make the purchase.

Overview

Wii

Games downloaded are stored on the Wii's 512MB flash memory that is built into the system. From there games can be transferred to an SD card, but could not be played directly from the SD card until an update allowed the Wii to utilise the flash memory to play games saved on an SD card. Games on the SD card can be transferred back to the Wii it came from, but not to another system.

Games available come from a variety of systems including: Nintendo's Nintendo Entertainment System and Super NES and Nintendo 64, Sega's Master System and Mega Drive/Genesis, NEC's TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine and TurboGrafx-CD/CD-ROM², SNK's Neo Geo AES, and various Arcade systems. It also supports region specific consoles such as Commodore 64 (Europe only) and MSX (Japan only). Some publishers may choose to release region-specific games internationally in the special Import category (for example, the standalone Bomberman '94 was released overseas this way).

NES, Master System and TurboGrafx-16 games can play properly with the Wii Remote, but games for other consoles will likely require either a GameCube controller, or the Classic Controller, which was sold separately.

Games for PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16 cost 600 points. Games for CD-ROM² systems cost 800 points. Games in the Import category cost an additional 100 points. Despite continuous strong sales of the Wii, additions to the Virtual Console service had slowed down considerably since the service was introduced in 2006, partly due to the launch of WiiWare.

On September 29, 2017[1] it was announced that the Wii's Wii Shop Channel (Where the Wii's Virtual Console is housed) would be shutting down on January 31, 2019 at 3PM JST/5PM AEDT/1AM EDT/6AM GMT/January 30, 2019 at 10PM PST. The ability to buy Wii Points to purchase games was stopped on March 27, 2018 at 5AM JST/7AM AEDT/March 26, 2018 at 1PM PDT/4PM EDT/9PM BST. In the interim between not being able to buy points and its closure, players were still able to download items they had previously purchased.

Nintendo 3DS

Gradius running on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console, with square pixel aspect ratio.

The Virtual Console was also brought to the Nintendo 3DS, with games available primarily coming from handheld systems including Nintendo's Game Boy and Game Boy Color, and Sega's Game Gear. The 3DS also received games normally available on home consoles, such as the NES, Super NES (available only on New Nintendo 3DS systems) and the TurboGrafx-16 (Japan only). A select number of Game Boy Advance games were made available as exclusives for the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Programme.[2]

Games downloaded are stored on the SD card inserted into the system and loaded from the HOME menu. They can only be played on the system they were originally purchased on.

TurboGrafx-16 games were released solely by Konami, and only a total of four games were released.

On February 15, 2022[3] it was announced that the 3DS's eShop would be shutting down in March of 2023. The ability to add funds with a credit card was stopped on May 23, 2022 while the ability to add points through eShop cards was suspended entirely on August 29, 2022, although download codes were still able to be redeemed until its shutdown in March 2023, however. Users who linked their Nintendo Network ID from their Nintendo 3DS to their Nintendo Account on the Nintendo Switch were able to use a shared wallet and purchase things from the 3DS eShop until its closure in March 2023.

Wii U

The Wii U's Virtual Console service features games originally released on Nintendo's Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, NEC's TurboGrafx-16, and the MSX (Japan only). TurboGrafx-16 releases were primarily handled by Konami and were at first exclusive to Japan, but had later come out for Western regions a few years later, even after the release of the Nintendo Switch. These games included button and screen configurations and the use of in-game savestates, as well as support for up to five players with the Wii U GamePad required for at least one player. However, Virtual Console games released for the Wii are compatible with the Wii U and can be played in the system's Wii Mode, including TurboGrafx-16 games - the Wii U versions of games already owned in Wii Mode could be purchased for a discounted "upgrade" price.

Games downloaded are either stored on the system's 8/32GB internal flash memory, or on an external hard disk drive connected to the system.

On February 15, 2022[3] it was announced that the Wii U's eShop would be shutting down in March of 2023. The ability to add funds with a credit card was stopped on May 23, 2022 while the ability to add points through eShop cards was suspended entirely on August 29, 2022, although download codes were still able to be redeemed until its shutdown in March 2023, however. Users who linked their Nintendo Network ID from their Wii U to their Nintendo Account on the Nintendo Switch were able to use a shared wallet and purchase things from the Wii U eShop until its closure in March 2023.

It was later clarified that the Wii U eShop would shut down on March 27th, 2023.[4]

PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 games on the Virtual Console

Wii

Japan

North America

(As of 28 July 2016)

Europe/Australia

(As of 28 July 2016)

Nintendo 3DS

Japan

(As of 28 July 2016)

Wii U

Japan

(As of 2023)

North America

(As of 2023)

Europe

(As of 2023)

External links

References

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Sega Retro has more information related to Virtual Console
  1. ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/support/information/2017/0929.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-12-29 06:42)
  2. ↑ http://www.nintendo.co.uk/News/2011/Nintendo-3DS-Ambassador-programme-253337.html (archive.today)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/57847/~/wii-u-%26-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation (Wayback Machine: 2022-02-16 02:23)
  4. ↑ https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/57847/~/wii-u-&-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation (Wayback Machine: 2022-11-04 19:59)
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