Source: videogamesblogger.com

To the dismay of American Wii owners everywhere, the Commodore 64 is one game system that is lacking from the Virtual Console’s repertoire in North America. The system and it’s games are simply absent.

So why is that? How come Europe has been getting Commodore 64 games, but it hasn’t even been announced for North America? And are there any plans for release Amiga games for the Virtual Console?

vc-reviews got some answers in their interview with one of people who was instrumental in bringing the computer system to the Wii Virtual Console.

VC Reviews: How did the decision to re-release Commodore 64 games on the Virtual Console come about?

Nico Kaartinen: At the beginning it was all a crazy idea which came up with Commodore Gaming and some other friends from the gaming industry. We have all our interest in retro gaming as it all brings back the memories of how it all started and how much we time we spent playing or coding in front of the C64. At some point we involved Eidos and Alten8 into the idea and we had all pieces together to get this project started.

We decided to move forward and talk with Nintendo and present them our thoughts. The great thing was that Nintendo of Europe (NOE) was open to our idea from the beginning even though a C64 has never played a big role in Japan. It was not necessarily easy all the time but at the end we established a great relationship with the guys at NOE and are happy that we have so many titles on the Wii C64 VC.

VCR: Do you intend to make C64 games available to the Virtual Console service in Australia and North America soon? What have been the difficulties in doing this so far?

NK: I do understand that this is one of “THE” questions in regards to the Wii C64 VC as I am reading the feedback from your users and other web pages. I can not say if it comes to the regions you refer to.

VCR: Have you got any plans to bring out games from the C64’s big brother, the Amiga eventually?

NK: Did the C64 have a big brother? Seriously speaking, we are currently concentrating our efforts on the C64 releases.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Today Nintendo of Europe and Australia added new classic games to the popular Wii Shop Channel. The games went live at midnight CET. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at stores like Amazon UK (Card).

We’ve included videos of the games so you can see if it’s for you. This week’s new games are:

Mayhem in Monsterland (Commodore 64, Platformer, 1 player, 500 Wii Points = €5 / £3.75): As the triceratops Mayhem, it’s your job to save Monsterland from endless sadness! Originally released towards the end of the C64’s lifetime in 1993, Mayhem in Monsterland marked a great milestone in both technical and gameplay elements.

Space Harrier (Sega Master System, Shooter, 1 player, 500 Wii Points = €5 / £3.75 / AU$7.50): Experience one of the most popular home conversions of SEGA’s classic coin-op from 1986. Fly or run through thrilling ‘into the screen’ 3D levels of non-stop blasting action; your trusty cannon by your side.

Street Fighter II’: Special Champion Edition (Sega Mega Drive, Fighting, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points = €8 / £6 / AU$12): The 1993 Sega Mega Drive version of the all-time classic 2D fighter includes all 12 characters - including bosses - available from the start, a revamped game engine, plus Champion, Hyper and Group Battle modes.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Today Nintendo of Europe and Australia added new classic games to the popular Wii Shop Channel. The games went live at midnight CET. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at stores like Amazon UK (Card).

We’ve included videos of the games so you can see if it’s for you. This week’s new games are:

Ecco Jr. (Sega Mega Drive, 1 player, 800 Wii Points = €8 / £6 / AU$12): Join young Ecco Jr. the dolphin on an aquatic adventure for younger players, as he teams up with his marine pals Tara and Kitnee to seek out the legendary Big Blue.

Pitstop II (Commodore 64, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points = €5): Steely nerves and steady hands are essential in this classic C64 racer. Play solo or against a friend as you race across world famous tracks in your quest to become the best.

Samurai Shodown 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points = €9 / £6.75 / AU$13.50): Regarded as one of the best 2D fighters of all time, Samurai Shodown 2 features new characters, an improved rage system and even more moves to master.

Splatterhouse 2 (Sega Mega Drive, 1 player, 800 Wii Points = €8 / £6 / AU$12): In this Sega Mega Drive-exclusive sequel to the gruesome arcade classic, Rick dons the Terror Mask once again to defeat nightmarish beasts in a new quest to rescue his girlfriend.

Source: infendo.com

Our Nintendo loving brothers and sisters in the EU have been regularly seen delays with game releases in their territory. Occasionally they’ll get something that North America doesn’t (like Tingle’s RPG). One of those EU specific joys they currently get to experience are Virtual Console games for the Commodore 64.

The Commodore 64 (or C=64) was released in 1982, over a year before the Famicom made its debut in Japan.  Throughout its twelve year run, this home computer sold over 30 million units, making it the best-selling personal computer of all time.  Sure, there were business and productivity apps galore, but the majority of people I knew had a ton of games for the thing (myself included).

A scream of joy erupted on the Internet from classic gaming geeks earlier this year when it was announced that the Virtual Console on Wii would soon feature games from the C=64.  The cheer quieted down and then became a distant echo from Europe and the UK when it was revealed that only their region would be playing their ancient favorites without waiting for their 1541 drive to load up.

Now, over six months later, there are a dozen Commodore 64 classics available for the VC and the releases don’t seem to be slowing down.  Impossible Mission, International Karate, The Last Ninja, and Epyx’s Games series are all available at a measly 500 Wii Points.  So why aren’t they being released in North America?  If the games are being sold in the UK and EU, they’re obviously all in English.  It’s not like the C=64 didn’t sell well in the US.  And it’s not like I’m asking for a whole new system to be added to the Virtual Console line-up (like the Atari 2600).  The work has already been done for Europe, so just drag and drop those games onto the North American servers, Nintendo!

Were you a fan of the Commodore 64 and would you buy any of its classic titles?

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Today Nintendo of Europe and Australia added new classic games to the popular Wii Shop Channel. The games went live at midnight CET. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at stores like Amazon UK (Card).

We’ve included videos of the games so you can see if it’s for you. This week’s new games are:

City Connection (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points = €5 / £3.75 / AU$7.50): Burn rubber across the world from New York to Tokyo in this thrilling mix of racing and platform action. You’ll have to contend with cops ambushing you at every turn, but luckily you have an arsenal of oil cans to give them the slip. And watch out for stray cats; they might have nine lives but you only have three!

Neo Turf Masters (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points = €9 / £6.75 / AU$13.50): Tee off for arcade-style golfing action in Neo Turf Masters, featuring four different courses and six different characters to choose from, each with their own unique set of skills.

International Karate + (Commodore 64, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points = €5): This sequel to the original International Karate (also on Virtual Console) pits three fighters against each other in fast-paced bouts of sparring action, featuring a typically British sense of humour.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

This is the fiftieth in a series of bad video game reviews by the Angry Video Game Nerd. Watch as the Angry Nerd reviews classic Batman games. From Ocean’s Batman: The Caped Crusader for the Commodore 64 (1989), and Sunsoft’s Batman: The Video Game for the NES (1989), and Konami’s Batman Returns for the SNES & Sega-CD & Atari Lynx (1993), and Konami’s The Adventures of Batman & Robin for the SNES (1994), to Acclaim’s Batman Forever for the SNES (1995).

What will happen to the Caped Crusader when The Nerd gets ahold of him?

Source: videogamesblogger.com

This is the forty-ninth in a series of bad video game reviews by the Angry Video Game Nerd. Watch as the Angry Nerd reviews two more old Superman games. From Superman: Man Of Steel for the Commodore 64 (1988) to… yes! finally!… Superman 64 for the N64 (1999).

Fly in close for the Nerd’s second look at the Man of Steel. Prepare for much violent rage and coarse language.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Today Nintendo of Europe (and Australia) added new classic games to the popular Wii Shop Channel. The games went live at midnight CET. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at stores like Amazon UK (Card).

We’ve included videos of the games so you can see if it’s for you. This week’s new games are:

Super Fantasy Zone (Sega Megadrive, 1 player, 800 Wii Points = €8 / £6 / AU$12) Sunsoft’s 1993 side-scrolling shoot ‘em up Super Fantasy Zone was the last addition to the Fantasy Zone series. The game follows Opa-Opa as he fights to avenge the death of his father, (O-papa), who was killed defending the Fantasy Zone against the invading “Dark Menon”. Opa-Opa must rid the Fantasy Zone of the minions of the Dark Menon and restore peace.

Pac-Attack (Super NES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points = €8 / £6 / AU$12): Namco’s Pac-Man makes a rare appearance outside of a maze environment in Pac-Attack, a fun and quirky puzzle game. This unique entry in the genre puts its own twist on established conventions and adds one of gaming’s most iconic characters to the mix. The goal is simple: Keep your screen clear of falling blocks and ghosts by lining up blocks horizontally, causing them to disappear. Clearing the ghosts, though, requires the help of a hungry Pac-Man (who just happens to swing by every so often for a snack). It’s up to you to get all of the ghosts lined up for him, because Pac-Man will keep eating them until he is stopped by a block or he runs out of ghosts. In addition, his range of movement on the playing field is limited to horizontal or downward—thus adding further strategy. There are three game modes to choose from: 1 Player Normal, 2 Player VS., and the challenging 1 Player Puzzle. Feel like gobbling up some ghosts?

King of the Monsters (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points = €9 / £6.75 / AU$13.50) This 1991 SNK classic is a two player or one player vs. computer fighting game, in which the players take control of two gargantuan monsters (like Geon, Woo, Astro Guy and others) to battle it out in different destructable city locations.

Cybernoid: The Fighting Machine (Commodore 64, 1 player, 500 Wii Points = €5 / £3.75) In Raffaele Cecco’s 1987 shoot ‘em up, the pirate craft have activated all planetary defence systems which you will have to negotiate as well as the pirates themselves. If you fail to reach the depot within the time limit or the value of your retrieved cargo is insufficient you must forfeit one of your Cybernoid ships.

Summer Games II (Commodore 64, 1-8 players, 500 Wii Points = €5 / £3.75) Eight Olympic events feature in Epyx’s sports game from 1985, and any selection of these can be played at a time. The events are: Triple Jump, Rowing, Javelin, Equestrian, High Jump, Fencing, Cycling, and Kayaking. Footage is hard to come by, the second game shown is Summer Games II:

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Today Nintendo of Europe (and Australia) added new classic games to the popular Wii Shop Channel. The games went live at midnight CET. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at stores like Amazon UK (Card).

We’ve included videos of the games so you can see if it’s for you. This week’s new games are:

Alex Kidd In Miracle World (Sega Master System, 1 player, 500 Wii Points = €5 / £3.75 / AU$7.50) An 8-bit platform game first released in 1986 that came built into the revised Sega Master System console starting in 1990. Explore dangerous lands in Alex’s quest to save his brother Egle and Radactian from the evil hands of Janken.

Fatal Fury 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points = €9 / £6.75 / AU$13.50) An SNK fighting game from 1993, which is the sequel to Fatal Fury: King of Fighters. A new opponent, Wolfgang Krauser, has come forth to begin a new Fatal Fury tournament. The Lone Wolves return, with new faces amongst them. Only one can be declared the winner.

Ninja Combat (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points = €9 / £6.75 / AU$13.50) It’s a side-scrolling combat-action game SNK released in 1990. Take control of the ninjas Joe (one player) and Hayabusa (two players), and enter into battle against a group of evil ninjas called the Kage Ichizoku.

Last Ninja 2: Back with a Vengeance (Commodore 64, 1 player, 500 Wii Points = €5 / £3.75) It’s an action-adventure game released by System 3 in 1988. It contains a blend of exploration, puzzle solving and combat. After being mysteriously transported to modern New York, the goal is to defeat the Evil Shogun once again.

Nebulus AKA Castelian and Tower Toppler (Commodore 64, 1 player, 500 Wii Points = €5 / £3.75) Is a side-scrolling platform-puzzle game released by Hewson in 1987. It has pseudo-3D graphics. Your goal is to get Pogo to the top and lower the towers into the sea.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Today Nintendo of Europe added a new classic game to the popular Wii Shop Channel. The game went live at midnight CET. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the game. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at stores like Amazon UK (Card).

We’ve included a video of the game so you can see if it’s for you. This week’s new game is:

Paradroid (priced 500 Wii Points = €5 / £3.75): A Commodore Gaming shooter/puzzler/platformer game from 1985 on the Commodore 64 for 1 player.

I suppose that it’s a bit hard to figure out what’s going on in the game without knowing the story and gameplay. Reports indicate that the droid crew of a galactic space freighter has turned against their masters. A droid Influence Device number 001 has been beamed aboard to help you regain control of the situation. Use the Influence Device to destroy the droids by shooting them, ramming them, or temporarily taking control of a droid’s circuitry (transferring) to redirect its energy and armaments against its own kind. Your goal is to clear all 999 droids from all of the space freighter’s 20 decks. When you have completely cleared a deck of droids, the ship’s computer shuts down the deck lights and you are awarded bonus points.