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[No6]

fixed for accuracy. This is NOA going out of their way to make the service intentionally bad. PAL and JPN all have been getting good to great weeks during this drought of laughability in America.

at this point I really have to wonder if they're doing this to ramp up for a major fall holiday on the service.. we know they have monster games in the queue (both on WW and VC). We know they have shit approved and waiting. My guess is we're going to see shit start actually hitting by the end of September.

Which of course means another 1.75 months of this awfulness. Prepare.

The stupidist part is that Oct-Dec is the worst time to release DD games, since they get drowned out by the flood of major holiday titles (the lack of demos/advertising won't help, too). That's why MS is releasing their big guns now. There hasn't been anything of note released for the Wii over the last two months and this month looks just as bad, so why NOA would pack WiiWare with, at best, C+/B- products only makes sense if they actually have nothing in the queue because the games aren't done.

And Splatterhouse 2 is not a good game. None of them are, really. Yeah, it's better than 1 but big whoop.

 

[egocrata]

OK, it is not a great week, but the Master System / Game Gear version of Sonic is actually a really good game. In fact, it is better gameplay-wise than the Genesis sometimes.

No, I am not kidding. I played the Game Gear version to death.

 

[Marvie_3]

3 months and counting since my last VC download..... This is ridiculous.

 

[borghe]

OK, it is not a great week, but the Master System / Game Gear version of Sonic is actually a really good game. In fact, it is better gameplay-wise than the Genesis sometimes.

No, I am not kidding. I played the Game Gear version to death.

I borrowed Sonic from a friend back in the day. It is extremely good for a SMS game and does have enough to not be straight out port, but it's a novelty at best as 80%+ of it is in fact a port of the genesis game. It is something that should be included as an easter egg on a full release or as a "also-ran" on a week with a good/great game. It is simply NOT good enough to highlight a week on its own, especially when the original genesis version has already been up on the service since its earliest days.

I know what you are saying about the game itself and I agree, but in the context of the releases this week it is an outright insult. which to be fair is far worse than the title actually deserves.

 

[Jme]

I'm not saying that it is or isn't true, but that's a VERY convenient answer. Plus, if that's the case, then it would also have to be the case that European VC releases are under the same situation (no way would Japan control NoA's VC releases and not NoE's), and from what people say in this thread, Europe is getting some decent stuff.

I'm not saying it is or isn't true either. I was more asking if anyone has found it to be absolutely true or not.

Either way, whoever is in charge of North America's VC market, is a sadist and needs a new employer.

 

[Dragona Akehi]

I'm pretty sure this confirms that VC is a joke to nintendo.

I told every single one of you, but noooo, everyone just had to believe.

I blame your negativity for this.
Thanks a lot.

Consider it just a sad dose of reality.

 

[crowphoenix]

Crow: Nothing to be done.
Tom: I'm beginning to come around to that opinion.
...
Crow: Let's go.
Tom: We can't.
Crow: Why not?
Tom: We're waiting for Nintendo.

 

[pakkit]

Crow: Nothing to be done.
Tom: I'm beginning to come around to that opinion.
...
Crow: Let's go.
Tom: We can't.
Crow: Why not?
Tom: We're waiting for Nintendo.

Quoted for sheer genius and tragedy.

 

[[Nintex]]

So that's Nintendo storage solution, no holographic storage then

 

[straydog1980]

really had my heart set on playing Ys this morning

you're not the only one

 

[crowphoenix]

(neutral) Kagari
Banned
(07-31-2008, 09:51 PM)
Reply | Quote

(neutral) Chamellion
Banned
(Yesterday, 12:54 PM)
Reply | Quote

I was curious if they'd be banned.

 

[Mejilan]

No Ys.

My balls are punched and are aching.

 

[Teknoman]

3 months and counting since my last VC download..... This is ridiculous.

Seriously though, im sure Nintendo will blitz people with VC titles in the fall. It would only make sense to do so with the lack of first party stuff.

 

[JSnake]

Who was the last supposed insider that got banned?

Do I count?

 

[MoxManiac]

(neutral) Kagari
Banned
(07-31-2008, 09:51 PM)
Reply | Quote

(neutral) Chamellion
Banned
(Yesterday, 12:54 PM)
Reply | Quote

I was curious if they'd be banned.

:lol

 

[Stumpokapow]

Do I count?

You got banned for piracy.

 

[JSnake]

You got banned for piracy.

I was still an insider. :x

 

[bryehn]

Last thing I got from WiiShop was Toki Tori.

Last VC game was Wonder Boy.

By comparison, I spend at least $10 a week on both XBLA and PSN.

In other words, I'm a consumer whore Nintendo, I want to give you my money!

 

[WiiRevolution1]

Stongbad is on the Nintendo Channel when only WiiWare games that are already released go on there...:lol

If you click its profile it says "release date very soon" :lol

Might pick up Sonic.

 

[straydog1980]

is there any real way to complain about this to Nintendo? Where can I voice my concerns? This is getting rediculous.

 

[Teknoman]

Meh download titles on all accounts havent been that enticing for me. Im going to buy Siren Blood Curse at some point, last wiiware title I bought was Dr. Mario, and last XBLA title I bought was Ikaruga. Of course that'll change when Castle Crashers and Bionic Commando Rearmed release, but so far im glad they have been releasing hit after hit.

As for VC/Wiiware titles, im just waiting for Earthbound, Demon Crest, Shining Force II, and Megaman 9.

 

[EphemeralDream]

God knows what's going on with NoA and the VC service, but both Japan and Europe seem to be handling things well. I know NoA reps have passed the buck before by saying that Japan sets releases, but is that really true? Why would NCL be steaming away with a great Japanese lineup and a pretty good European one, but leave the American service to wither?

People have speculated that it's due to the low dollar value in the US as of now. Sounds a bit farfetched but not unbelievable.

It's good that we seem to be on a consistent 2 game trend, but seriously could the actual releases have been any bigger a buzzkill?

 

[The Lamonster]

Holy fucking shit. Where is Mega Man? What the fuck?

Mega Man 1-6 should have been out for ages by now.


FUCK YOU NINTENDO.

 

[Man God]

SMS Sonic>Genesis Sonic.

Three amazing games again. Each week is better than the week before!

 

[Deku]

lol @ kagari

 

[JSnake]

Stongbad is on the Nintendo Channel when only WiiWare games that are already released go on there...:lol

If you click its profile it says "release date very soon" :lol

Might pick up Sonic.

that's pretty funny lolololol :lol :lol :lol

:|

Anyway, the PC version of StrongBad is being sent to reviewers (CapnDrake has it), so this makes sense

 

[The Lamonster]

Well I've got 1400 Wii points



nothing to spend them on









ever

 

[Htown]

is there any real way to complain about this to Nintendo? Where can I voice my concerns? This is getting rediculous.

I want to know the answer to this, too.

 

[Totobeni]

3 months and counting since my last VC download..... This is ridiculous.

uh , you guys were whining about Wii's storage problem for too long , this is Nintendo's solution for that problem , yeah Nintendo do care , be thankful .

 

[Dragona Akehi]

uh , you guys were whining about Wii's storage problem for too long , this is Nintendo's solution for that problem , yeah Nintendo do care , be thankful .

Uh, want to not be a condescending dick?

 

[Somnid]

Must be looking for leaks or something. Meltdowns are hilarious as always.

Anyway you can bet with confidence that we'll get all that crap sometime this month so I don't really see why this is an issue.

 

[Azure J]

Wow, what a fucking ugly turn of events today... I was looking forward to Megaman & SamShoII too.

Sonic Master System was this weeks big thing? For real Nintendo? Damn, what's next?

 

[Dragona Akehi]

Must be looking for leaks or something. Meltdowns are hilarious as always.

Anyway you can bet with confidence that we'll get all that crap sometime this month so I don't really see why this is an issue.

I don't know where you get your unending optimism. The fact that publishers have gone and sent press releases stating their games will be released today, and NOA essentially going "lol jokes on you" does not strike you as a bad business practice with your closer VC partners?

 

[Man God]

It's all good, three more great games up for download. Plenty of time in the next two years or so for Ys.

 

[FFantasyFX]

Anyway you can bet with confidence that we'll get all that crap sometime this month so I don't really see why this is an issue.

Just like we got all those Hudson import titles the month after Europe received them? Or Vectorman? Or Crackdown & E-Swat? :lol Can I play against you in poker? That way I could earn some money that I could then turn around and not spend on Virtual Console titles.

 

[Zihark]

Wow, I just don't know what to say-how could all 3 companies have screwed up so bad. Don't they know by now NOA or is it NCL decides what games get release every week. The VC is so irrelevant-in NA, I've given up hoping for SF2 and PS4 to be released in NA anyways

 

[The Lamonster]

Mega Man 1-6
Yoshi's Island
Castlevania III
Super Mario RPG
Goldeneye
Majora's Mask
Maximum Carnage
etc
etc
etc


FUCK the Virtual Console

also: I already paid for all these games anyway and N can't even give me the chance to pay for them again? At least there's emulators and roms. But seriously how can you fuck up so bad with one of your most promising services?

 

[Sixfortyfive]

OK, it is not a great week, but the Master System / Game Gear version of Sonic is actually a really good game. In fact, it is better gameplay-wise than the Genesis sometimes.

No, I am not kidding. I played the Game Gear version to death.

The usual routine in this thread is for everybody to hype themselves up for impossible releases, then throw a temper tantrum when merely decent to good alternatives are released instead. Though, this week is somewhat different with all of the conflicting official PR making it worse.

8-bit Sonic doesn't get nearly enough love. Great music too. Sonic 2 is probably my favorite of the 8-bit games, though you have to be a bit of a masochist to put up with the Game Gear version (smaller visible area than SMS).

 

[Somnid]

I don't know where you get your unending optimism. The fact that publishers have gone and sent press releases stating their games will be released today, and NOA essentially going "lol jokes on you" does not strike you as a bad business practice with your closer VC partners?

SNK had the only official press release. But as we've kinda learned the week to week VC is decided really close to the actual publish date, in terms of long term stuff you just can't trust much. What next week holds will probably be decided next Friday for sure, and while Nintendo might give publishers a clue, I'm sure they've allowed themselves to change on a whim.

It's also entirely possible someone fucked up when uploading. If the rumors theat NCL is handling the whole operation then I think it's very likely someone on that end of the Pacfic had something to do with it. I don't agree with it, but it is what it is and it certainly made my Monday a little more entertaining with game release drama.

But as far as my optomisim I'm not impatient for games released 10-20 years ago. What Nintendo decides to release each week doesn't really matter to me. Most retail games I wait for over a year from the time they are announced. If by the end of this year I have more stuff to add to my collection then that's cool and if over that period of random releases I don't then I'll be a bit angry. I'm not going to clamour for any specifics, just anything that might pique my interest which is often titles I've never heard of before. Seeing what Splatterhouse 2 and Sonic MAster System can offer me is more interesting then asking where the fuck is Mega Man, a game I've played through a number of times is.

Just like we got all those Hudson import titles the month after Europe received them? Or Vectorman? Or Crackdown & E-Swat? :lol Can I play against you in poker? That way I could earn some money that I could then turn around and not spend on Virtual Console titles.

We are getting the Hudson titles, it's being dragged out though. The point is the patient will eventually get them. Sega's lost titles remain the biggest VC mystery though. They had official press releases and never came. But so far that problem is local to Sega so I'm not concerned with it happening here. That's not to say they weren't safe bets but even safe bets do lose.

 

[RedBoot]

I don't believe the whole "NoJ sets up the release schedules for everyone" thing when the release styles for all three regions are so radically different.

Japan: Consistent, decent releases of 3-5 games a week, titles announced in advance (and said titles actually come out)
Europe: Weekly alternating releases for WiiWare and VC, VC weeks usually contain about two weeks worth of VC titles, occasional special events (Hanabi Festival)
US: Absolute laughable crap, no consistency, no reliable sources of information, slight WiiWare focus

I can't see the same people running all three services when each is treated so differently. Either that, or the guy running it really, really hates the US.

It's a shame that this week had to happen like it did, Sonic SMS and Splatterhouse 2 are decent games that don't deserve getting shunned like they probably will. They can't hold a candle to any of the three games that were supposedly coming, of course, but they're not too bad.

 

[Grecco]

What's worse is this shit really makes the companies that put out press releases for their games look like idiots. Obviously they had reason to believe their games were being released on a specific day, likely from dealing with nintendo. Then Nintendo goes and does this. It's a good way to alienate 3rd parties from the service.

Has to be a mistake. No company would alieante others like that on purpose.

 

[Talamius]

Crow: Nothing to be done.
Tom: I'm beginning to come around to that opinion.
...
Crow: Let's go.
Tom: We can't.
Crow: Why not?
Tom: We're waiting for Nintendo.

<3 MST3K

 

[ahoyhoy]

<3 MST3K

I think he's quoting Waiting for Godot.

 

[crowphoenix]

I think he's quoting Waiting for Godot.

It's both, actually. There was a skit on the Gorgo episode of MST3K where Mike and the Bots put on Waiting for Gorgo, and as that skit had the needed lines closer together, I went with that over the actual Beckett play, though I did miss some great lines. :/

 

[PepsimanVsJoe]

Wow what the fuck?

 

[big black woman]

maybe other countries have a better vc because they have less of a demand for the system?

 

[mclem]

Sonic for the Master System when the Genesis version is already on VC? :lol :lol :lol

It isn't the same game, and counting the MS/GG versions as the same game as one another, it's the second best game with that title.

 

[mclem]

I'm not saying that it is or isn't true, but that's a VERY convenient answer. Plus, if that's the case, then it would also have to be the case that European VC releases are under the same situation (no way would Japan control NoA's VC releases and not NoE's), and from what people say in this thread, Europe is getting some decent stuff.

Which pretty much guarantees that NoE can't possibly have anything to do with it.

 

[mclem]

I borrowed Sonic from a friend back in the day. It is extremely good for a SMS game and does have enough to not be straight out port, but it's a novelty at best as 80%+ of it is in fact a port of the genesis game.

Eh? As I implied above, I'm pretty sure that the entirety of the level designs are original. Some zones match the name/visual style of Genesis ones (Green Hill, Labyrinth, Scrap Brain - any others?) but even those are still original designs.

 

[A Black Falcon]

The ironic thing is, Splatterhouse 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog for SMS are both pretty good games... but because people were hoping for/expecting other games, they get bashed.

I have Splatterhouse 2 for Genesis, got it cheap without having played the series before. It's a decent sidescrolling beat 'em up with some platforming elements, but it definitely feels limited by having just the sidescrolling view... I haven't played the third one, but evidently it goes to the more standard (for a beat 'em up) isometric view, which is great. But Splatterhouse 2 is fun, particularly for fans of the first one -- 2 is very similar to the first one.

As for Sonic SMS, yeah, it's completely different from the Genesis game. The 8-bit Sonics certainly weren't as good as the 16-bit ones, but particularly the SMS versions were at least some fun... (the Game Gear versions are hurt by limited viewing distance) For an 8-bit version of a 16-bit franchise, it's quite solid. Just don't expect the equal of Genesis Sonic speed and action... even so, it's fun.

This week isn't terrible, although I find it hard to classify as a good week either. I can imagine that some people were looking forward to Splatterhouse 2 (when the original came out and disappointed - a lot of people chimed in & said that the sequels were better), and some might have even been looking forward to Sonic the Hedgehog SMS (it is a completely different game than the Genesis version). The big problem is that our expectations were built up by Capcom PR, SNK PR, and Hudson's website. To get none of the anticipated games is a giant hosing for consumers and the respective companies involved.

Indeed. But really, these are good games... but Nintendo can, and DEFINITELY should, be treating VC better. Random releases, no prior warning as to what is being released in a way that even the companies whose games are being relesed have no idea when their stuff is going to come out, as a result essentially banning advertising upcoming VC games... it's like the worst game-release concept ever, pretty much. I have absolutely no idea what NOA is thinking with this incredibly stupid system.

And it's definitely NOA's fault, as has been said NCL and NOE do things differently and a lot better.