Wii VC: 4.7m downloads, 100 games

[UPDATE] Nintendo's digital retro-game service proves popular, will hit catalog milestone Monday with Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.

Today, Nintendo further touted the Wii's success by announcing the platform's virtual console has hit a dual milestone. First, with the Monday release of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, the platform's Virtual Console will now have a catalog of 100 games. Originally released in 1988, Zelda II has not yet been priced on the VC, but original NES games typically sell for 500 Wii points ($5).

Zelda II redux.

Secondly, Nintendo today announced that more than 4.7 million Virtual Console games have been downloaded worldwide since the Wii launched on November 19, 2006. Besides titles from Nintendo's pre-GameCube consoles, the Wii's Virtual Console network also offers games from two former rival platforms--the Sega Genesis and NEC TurboGrafx-16. However, the five most downloaded games are all first-party games for the Mario Factory's own NES, SNES, or N64 platforms. They are, in order of popularity:

1. Super Mario Bros. (NES)
2. Super Mario 64 (N64)
3. Mario Kart 64 (N64)
4. Super Mario World (SNES)
5. The Legend of Zelda (NES)

By comparison, from its launch in November 2005 to March 2007, Xbox Live Arcade--which features both new and classic titles--has seen 25 million downloads worldwide. However, that figure includes demos of XBLA titles, which are free.

[UPDATE] A Sony rep told GameSpot that, as of May 15, 13 million pieces of content had been downloaded worldwide from the PlayStation Store, the PlayStation 3's online service. And although Sony does not break out games from other content downloads, the rep did say there had been 900,000 worldwide downloads of GT HD Concept. The PlayStation 3 went on sale two days before the Wii last November.

296 Comments

  • thomas10soa

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 10:58 am PT

    i love how sony also trys to be a part of this, lol

  • latinqueen221

    Posted Aug 20, 2007 12:31 pm PT

    omg super mario world!!!! i must play it. i really need to get myself a wii

  • j3c1987

    Posted Jul 4, 2007 3:00 pm PT

    um 5x4,700,000 =$23,500,000. Thats the least Nintendo has made off the virtual console. Impressive!!!!

  • PIKA740

    Posted Jun 10, 2007 11:30 am PT

    I need a wii!

  • PIKA740

    Posted Jun 10, 2007 11:20 am PT

    we need super mario kart and I'll be happy

  • PrimusStream

    Posted Jun 8, 2007 3:51 pm PT

    Playing old school games like Donkey Kong Country and Super Mario 64 on the WIi were really fun.

  • Kcube

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 11:00 am PT

    BigBoss

    I agree but it would appear the fanboys wont be reigned in

  • Breakfast_Clubber

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 8:52 am PT

    Now if they will just release the games they feature in Nintendo Power in the beginning of the month instead of the very end.....

  • BigBoss7460

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 7:55 am PT

    there really needs to be less forums flooded by people who hate on consoles so much...*cough* *cough* thomas10soa and XJRockcrawler *cough*

  • sanjt

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 2:52 am PT

    So...an article about the Wii VC, and GS felt the need to include info about how the PS3 was less successull...

    wow...just...wow..

  • GizmoVirus

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 4:15 pm PT

    now thats commitment!

  • thomas10soa

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 2:35 pm PT

    lol
    i agree, sony's ps3 is in the small leauges now compared to wii and 360 they dont compare in sales, they trie to stay in the spot light but look even more stupid

  • XJRockcrawler

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 11:10 am PT

    LOL, Sony had to get in there, "But, but look at us! we had a lot of teh downloads too!!"

  • beedouk

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 6:14 am PT

    when is super metroid comeing out the europeian VC cuz i really want the game

  • JaMeS4418

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 8:30 pm PT

    buying old games for a new console is an innovation for the entire industry

  • G_W_X

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 1:52 pm PT

    UPDATE] A Sony rep told GameSpot that, as of May 15, 13 million pieces of content had been downloaded worldwide from the PlayStation Store, the PlayStation 3's online service. And although Sony does not break out games from other content downloads, the rep did say there had been 900,000 worldwide downloads of GT HD Concept. The PlayStation 3 went on sale two days before the Wii last November. ------------------------------------------------------
    What the **** is that gamespot???

  • SpaceMoose

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 8:06 pm PT

    I never would have guessed that there would be such a huge market for 10-20 year old games that can easily be downloaded for free on the internet.

    This pricing seems kind of goofy to me when a lot of used PS2 games are around $5 - $10 now, but what do I know. Anyway, I'm not buying games again that I've already played to death. I hope these are mostly people who have never played these games...

    And then...more downloads of Super Mario Brothers than Zelda or Mario 64? That makes my brain bleed.

  • tavisito

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 5:00 pm PT

    more retro games to play awsome! but i would like them to make goldeneye as one of the retro games as well!

  • Jestarius

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 4:14 pm PT

    I'm just hoping they'll release River City Ransom soon. I figure they'll finally put out Super Metroid for me when MP:Corruption comes out.

  • Jebril

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 1:04 pm PT

    But seriously most of Gamespot users are mad bias towards Nintendo.

  • GrimBee

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 12:26 pm PT

    The virtual console is such a great idea (even though emulation is YEARS old now).
    But commercializing it like this is just amazing. I hope that Nintendo get so many titles, that the Virtual Console channel then becomes a massive archive of things.

    I would love for, one day, each VC title to get their just deserts (in a good way of course).
    Like, I would like to be able to buy streets of rage on the VC, but then also read up about it.

    For example, for each VC game, there is a little history about it, and maybe pics of promotinal materials...

    One day, I hope the VC becomes an Encylopedia for retro games. I have a whole room dedicated to my retro collection, because when I have kids I would like to sit with them and tell them stories about stuff like that - because thats what MY generation was about.

    But with the Virtual Console, its not in your hands, the box art isn't there, you kinda miss out on what RETRO is really. So I hope that once the VC matures, it can be a fun thing to visit now and again. If not just to download games, but to get a bit more nostalgia from some pics and a little history - etc.

  • Dolacide

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 11:57 am PT

    Wow, what is old is new again.

  • jameston80

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 8:12 am PT

    All you guys bashing xbox on this subject, you have to remember, just about every game that came out on XBL has been re-done over with HD in mind, just download a game on XBL and play the HD version then try original graphics, the original graphics suck. As for the Wii they don't do this, basically it's just a port to the Wii, the Wii only puts out at 480 p which is standard television, that is why the wii could have more games on the vc quicker, but i'll stick to my XBL games in High def, they look sweet on my HD tvs. So don't knock XBL guys.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 6:21 am PT

    @1357900 Actually, despite all of the things you mention, it has not been confirmed whether we will or will not be getting Goldeneye. This is something we will have to wait to find out.

  • rottenjoe

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 3:37 am PT

    even tho i dont play my wii much sense i rather play my ps3.. i might download some stuff and make that 900,000 downloads turn into 900,001.

  • Llothos

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 9:45 pm PT

    Captainintendo the VC games are bound to your console but for purchasing wise they are bound to your nintendo account. Once you purchase the games they are yours for as long as you have your nintendo account. Just means you'd have to re-download all of them which would be a pain, but you don't have to re-purchase the games you already own.

    You don't have to be on the internet just to play the games either, once they are downloaded onto the console you don't have to have your connection on! If i want to go to the store I have to have it on of coarse, but i frequently have my router off and continue to enjoy all my VC games!

  • DeadBullet

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 9:30 pm PT

    ME WANTS BANJO KAZOOIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 1357900

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 7:41 pm PT

    to stewie628: Unfortunetly, GoldenEye won't be on the VC. This is because Microsoft now owns Rare, GoldenEye's developer. It's already been stated that we won't get GoldenEye, & that this is the reason why. Yeah, I hate it too..but, maybe something will change. You never know...

  • stewie628

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 3:49 pm PT

    All I have to say is.... where is Goldeneye?! that was one of the greatest games for the n64

  • ZeroXraven

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 3:29 pm PT

    I agree with the guy that said Kirby is his favorite VC game...I mean I haven't played any VC games on the Wii yet and I don't even know if its even on there but that was the funnest game I have ever played in my life and lets face it...even if a game has a pink blob in it or a obvious gay plumber and some creatures call Pokemon haha as long as Nintendo keeps making fun as hell games im with them 100% they are the best at what they do and I hope they are around so when I have kids they can enjoy there games to...Keep it up BIG N

  • Davids_4_Life

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 3:19 pm PT

    well to all the XBOX n PS3 guys n gals out there.. Wii seems to have the upper hand

  • Demon-Draco

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 2:13 pm PT

    I like how Sony felt left out. *chuckles*

  • Captainintendo

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 1:26 pm PT

    "The only problem I currently have with the VC is that titles should be bound to your Nintendo account, not your Wii... so if the thing crashes out of warranty you can keep the games you have already paid for.. instead of having the risk of possibly losing all of them and not wanting to buy them all over again. Hopefully they resolve that issue before the next gen... i'd like to be able to move mine on to the next console."

    The problem with that is that you always have to be hooked up to the internet to play them. Id rather store the info on my wii.

  • xboxdudeman800

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 12:07 pm PT

    I modded my xbox and currently have all those games on my xbox exept mario kart. It's pretty fun.

  • Seiyox

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 11:40 am PT

    Some games that I wish would come to the VC:
    Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (mine stopped working ;
    Super Metroid (Metroid 3)
    Super Mario Kart
    Perfect Dark (N64.. Rare made this one and XBox360 Has PD: Zero so... most likely not)
    Super Mario 3
    Killer Instinct

    The only problem I currently have with the VC is that titles should be bound to your Nintendo account, not your Wii... so if the thing crashes out of warranty you can keep the games you have already paid for.. instead of having the risk of possibly losing all of them and not wanting to buy them all over again. Hopefully they resolve that issue before the next gen... i'd like to be able to move mine on to the next console.

  • Jedilink109

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 11:34 am PT

    I haven't gotten any Virtual Console games yet, but I will.

  • BlueFlameBat

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 9:25 am PT

    acerazer Also, for all the haters out there, this site is definitely biased towards XBLA, no doubt about it. I mean, Xevious (which was, and always will be, a really bad game) was released on VC, it got a 3.9 (a score I believe it deserves). But then it's released 3 months later on XBLA and receives a 6.5???? What the **** is up with that?

    Those two games are in different formats and were reviewed by two different people.

  • geo888

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 9:11 am PT

    I really like the VC because it gives me, with the wii being my first nintendo system, an opportunity to play some past games of nintendo.

  • Shishio817

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 8:22 am PT

    The Wii...greatest console ever!

  • metc123

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 7:57 am PT

    Wow... The VC.... kinda speechless. Nintendo becomes even more profitable, Lets hope with all this money nintendo invests in their 1st party titles and more dev teams

  • SEr_803

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 7:28 am PT

    =)

  • Micoor

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 7:18 am PT

    If I remember correctly Nintendo has stated that about 40% of Wii's userbase have been connected to the internet. Considering that this is pretty impressive.

  • _-SMILEYDUDE-_

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 6:14 am PT

    all the VC games are over rated and nintendo isn't having problems keeping up with demand it only send 1/4 of there total at the warehouse anyway they just want to create the illusion tha teveryone has it same with the nintendo GC and it was a dud they stop creating them and they still are in Best buy for 70 dollars

  • chubhold

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 4:37 am PT

    I'm not sure that number is good at all. Isn't that only about 1 download per console sold? Granted many owners haven't had the console long, but most of the Wii's top-rated games are VC. And at $5-$10, I'd think they'd be selling more.

    Seems like Nintendo does almost nothing to market the VC.

  • clownofpoetry

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 11:57 pm PT

    Biased is, as biased does. It's either present or it is not. Stating facts is one thing, opinion is another. I'll tell you sister or brother; that this is what's given thus far. Simply facts and nothing less; just blessed, and undershoots par.

  • Two400

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 11:03 pm PT

    I will pee my pants if there is ever online play in VC

  • acerazer

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 10:35 pm PT

    Also, for all the haters out there, this site is definitely biased towards XBLA, no doubt about it. I mean, Xevious (which was, and always will be, a really bad game) was released on VC, it got a 3.9 (a score I believe it deserves). But then it's released 3 months later on XBLA and receives a 6.5???? What the **** is up with that?

  • acerazer

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 10:13 pm PT

    Stop complaining. No pain, no game.

  • dragonfreak001

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 9:05 pm PT

    the virtual console is the greatest idea that nintendo has ever done. GOOD JOB NINTENDO!!!

  • T-bone123

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 7:40 pm PT

    The Virtual consel is great and all, but will they ever sell games that only made it to Japan retailers but in English, or original gameboy games?

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