Buying Real Copies of Wii Virtual Console Games…Ouch! January 31, 2008
This is JJ Hendricks’ first contribution to VC&G:
Since the Nintendo Wii’s release in November 2006, the Virtual Console service has been one of its most popular features. Yet almost instantly after its launch, people began complaining about how much VC games cost. The most common argument against the VC pricing scheme (aside from the illegal emulator option) is the presumed “low price” of the original games if you bought them used. But how much would it really cost to buy physical copies of all the Virtual Console games? Is Nintendo’s retro service a good deal, or are you getting ripped off?
Overall findings:
NES:
USED / VC
$273.53 / $288.00
SNES
USED / VC
$354.38 / $273.53
N64
USED / VC
$169.42 / $102.00
Lot’s more details and more stats
Thanks Benj for the tip
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Well, in Europe where 2000 points do NOT cost 20$, which would equal to about 14 euros, but 20e, I’m not planning to buy any VC games at all. did they cost less, I certainly would.
[...] Original post by hey_suburbia [...]
Wow…lots of work! Thanks for the hard work, JJ Hendricks. This is cool to know. I also really like that picture of the Classic Controller.
The picture of the Classic Controller seems perfect, but I see a little crumb beside it.
I don’t really understand how that works, a game doesn’t cost OVER $100!
HOOWAH!
@skunkchop
I think he means that 100$ is the price for all the vc games. :p
for that system
I like the VC for N64 titles cause it does such a great job playing them and because I haven’t found a N64 emulator for my PC that works really well.
Now all the other consoles, I just play on the PC for free with my USB Playstation 2 controller!
So, in other words, good games are a better buy on the VC, and all the crap NES games that Nintendo released early on for the VC can be found for less than a buck.
@ skunkchop — did you not check out the source link? you should.
Here it is again, in case you missed it.
http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/416
I agree Vc Games are way way to expansive, at least in Europe, so i guess using used games is by far more appropriate, not only you play games the way they were meant to be played but also it gives a sense of nostalgia I enjoy pretty much.
How much a game costs used is irrelevant. The reason VC games are overpriced is that it costs nintendo and third parties next to nothing to offer them as a download. They make mad profits (probably about 90%) on old games that most of us have already paid for at least once. (sometimes twice if the title in question is available on GBA or DS!)
I’ve stopped buying VC titles unless it is something that I missed the first time around and know I really want to play.
@ antho — honestly, i’m not sure why people would buy it if they already have it. i only buy games i don’t have already. it only makes sense. and that way, you aren’t buying games twice and paying extra.
it’s still a rip off when you compare the fact that ps3 classic games are just £3.49 and they have updated graphics. £3 for a nes game is a bit of a rip off.