Portable Planet

The Wii Virtual Console is going to have a potpourri of titles from systems ranging from NES, SNES, N64, SEGA MEGA DRIVE and Turbografx during the first quarter of 2007. If it’s any indication of what’s coming throughout the entire year, it ought to be a solid year for Nintendo Wii gamers.

From Nintendo:

Owners of Nintendos revolutionary games console, Wii are in for a retro treat at the start of 2007, with 36 new Virtual Console titles spanning Nintendos twenty-year history available to download in Q1. Gamers will be able to turn back the clock and enjoy titles which made their debut on the NES, SNES, N64, SEGA MEGA DRIVE and Turbografx (PC Engine).

Using the Wiis Wii Shop Channel, gamers are able to download retro games to Wiis Virtual Console. Once selected these games are saved to the Wii internal flash memory and added to the consoles Wii Channel Menu allowing them to be easily accessed at any time. The Virtual Console games that will be added to the Wii Shop Channel in Q1 include 20 Nintendo titles, 7 Turbografx (PC Engine) games and 9 classic SEGA MEGA DRIVE games. New Virtual Console titles will be added throughout 2007 creating a constantly growing library of games.

Fans of Nintendos classic titles will be delighted by games from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo (SNES) and Nintendo 64 (N64), including Mario Kart 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Street Fighter II: World Warrior (CAPCOM), Super Probotector and the hugely popular Super Mario World.

SEGA is treating its fans with the release of a host of popular games including Streets of Rage, Bio-Hazard Battle, Bonanza Bros. and Comix Zone. Hudson will also be entertaining gamers with a selection of its best titles from Turbografx (PC Engine) including Soldier Blade, Double Dungeons and New Adventure Island.

Wii owners can download Virtual Console games using Wii Points. Wii Points can either be purchased online via the Wii Shop Channel using a credit card or users can purchase Wii Points by buying a Wii Points card in retail stores. These points can then be redeemed against Virtual Console games via the Wii Shop Channel.

Nintendo will also be rewarding its loyal customers by adding Wii Points to the Stars Catalogue available at www.nintendo-europe.com . When gamers purchase any Nintendo product they will receive stars which can then be redeemed against items including Wii Points on the site. Whats more, Wii owners can synchronise their Nintendo-Europe.com account with their Wii Shop Channel one to earn Stars points on all Virtual Console downloads.

Virtual Console games range in price from 500 Wii Points for NES games to 800 Wii Points for Super Nintendo games and 1000 Wii Points for Nintendo 64 games. Wii points required for titles available in 2007 may vary. Wii Points Cards are available to buy in retail stores and are estimated to retail at around 20 (14) for 2000 Wii Points. In the stars catalogue smaller fractions of Wii Points will also be available.

The Wii console is available at the estimated retail price of around 249 (179 in the UK). Included with every Wii console is one wireless Wii Remote, a Nunchuk, Wii Sports game, Stereo AV Cable and the sensor bar for Wiis unique control system. Software is available at the estimated retail price of between 49 Euros and 59 Euros (34 to 39 in the UK).