PAL Virtual Console could see NTSC games - Nintendo

By Tom Bramwell Published 19 February, 2007

Maybe even third party stuff.

Nintendo Wii's European Virtual Console could play host to games that were never released here, Nintendo has confirmed.

"There is always the potential for games that haven't seen the light of day in Europe to be on the Virtual Console. The Virtual Console is the perfect platform for them," a Nintendo UK spokesperson told Eurogamer this morning.

"Obviously any game not ever released in Europe would have to under go the PEGI and BBFC ratings process," he added.

That doesn't just mean first party games either. We asked whether Nintendo could speak to the possibility of third party titles, like Super Nintendo RPG Chrono Trigger, finally being made available to European gamers.

"I can't speak for third parties, but if it's the right game then there's absolutely no reason why it should just be a first party game," the spokesperson told us.

That comes on the back of comments in the US, made by Nintendo of America vice president George Harrison, who said that the platform holder was "open" to previously unavailable Japanese games being released in the US "if we can get them translated properly".

The news may signal a shift in Nintendo's thinking, with representatives having previously indicated that Virtual Console would initially stick to versions of games released specifically in the target territory.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (39) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Psi #1 5 years ago

    sort it out ninty

  • krudster #2 5 years ago

    Woo, and indeed, hoo.

  • Killerbee #3 5 years ago

    Cool. Mario RPG please!

  • Roarer #4 5 years ago

    And while you're at it, give us the option of chosing either the 50 Hz or 60 Hz version when we purchase our games.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #5 5 years ago

    Chrono Trigger!

    Edit: I just hope they offer it in German speaking countries too because I doubt that they will translate the game. A couple of SNES titles never saw our shelves because it was only available in English; If I am not mistaken Breath of Fire was on of those games.
    Edited by 1 at 19/02/07 @ 09:28

  • Carrybagma #6 5 years ago

    Oh hang about - obvious mistake in this article:

    a Nintendo UK spokesperson told Eurogamer this morning.

    That probably means that they'll we'll never see them. Or they'll appear on XBLA instead. :o)

    If you're not into retro stuff, the NVC comes across as a minefield of potential crud. They really need allow user feedback/star ratings on these games, and start adding original content soon too.

  • Ignatius_Cheese #7 5 years ago

    Sin and Punishment here we come!

  • Steroyd #8 5 years ago

    Woohoo i hope Sony sees this and starts doing to fecking same.

    In fact putting up these regional separations in the first place is retard.

  • Blerk #9 5 years ago

    Listening to criticism? Whatever next? :-)

    Shame Squenix are showing no signs whatsoever of being interested in VC stuff. And why would they, when they can rehash, repackage and resell their games on new formats for full price?

  • Mr_Bogus #10 5 years ago

    From the quote it doesn't really look like a fully committed promise or anything, just a "yes it's possible" comment.

    Why not just allow us to download both / all 3 versions if we've paid for it? I mean, how serious is it to allow someone to download both the US and Eur versions of the same game and play whichever they prefer / whichever their tv supports?

  • Tonka #11 5 years ago

    pleasepleaseplease

    I've already lowered myself to plugging the composite in just to be able to play SimCity. I'll take all the punishment Nintendo send my way. The only thing I ask in return is Chrono Trigger, Sin and Punishment and Mario RPG.

    (which is quite a lot)

  • Tonka #12 5 years ago

    Blerk: And why would they, when they can rehash, repackage and resell their games on new formats for full price?

    To keep the distribution costs at a minimum. The VC is like a cheap warehouse that sits in everybodys livingroom. Tp årint manuals/cartridges/disks/boxes and then ship them doesn't make sense.

    It's the long tail.

  • dog2_99 #13 5 years ago

    I would suggest that Nintendo's reasoning on this is that 'average Joe' would not notice the difference btween 50/60Hz or care about these unreleased games so why bother with the expense?

  • Blerk #14 5 years ago

    To keep the distribution costs at a minimum. The VC is like a cheap warehouse that sits in everybodys livingroom. To print manuals/cartridges/disks/boxes and then ship them doesn't make sense.

    That would make sense if people didn't already pay way, way, way over the odds for Squenix's NES/SNES remakes on modern platforms. Yes, it costs money to manufacture and print stuff, but they already make a fortune out of those releases - especially in Japan. Why charge less than a fiver for a NES conversion when you can flog it for £30?

  • #15 5 years ago

    Nintendo can suck the cooooooock of my goat, after paying out £5 for SMW which doesn't work.

    Seriously Nintendo, go SUCK.

    /brings goat out
    Edited by 1 at 19/02/07 @ 10:11

  • dudefella #16 5 years ago

    Guys Sin and Punishment isn't actually that great.

  • Tonka #17 5 years ago

    @Blerk: Because of the tail. It won't sell out. They don't need to update graphics or code or anything like that. From my understanding all they have to do is pay a fee to Nintendo. Download a ROM from some german hacker group, flick a switch and off they go. For the entire generation and probably the next. Slowly making money forever and ever.

    It's 2.0

  • Matsuo #18 5 years ago

    Finally! We can get our hopes up again. Hopefully this time we won't be disappointed -_-

  • Tomnd #19 5 years ago

    i haven't bought smw, what about it doesn't work?

  • Tonka #20 5 years ago

    VC is borked when it comes to playin it over component.
    For more info

  • MadMirko #21 5 years ago

    Excellent!

    I'd like Langrisser and Chrono Trigger, then.

    Oh, and VC works fine with component if your cable is connected to a non-crap TV (like my Sony Bravia). ;)

    /runs
    Edited by 1 at 19/02/07 @ 11:35

  • peterfll #22 5 years ago

    Wouldn't it be a better idea to give Euro gamers a proper 50hz \ 60hz choice and fix the component display bugs as a priority?

    Still, this is hardly confirmation Nintendo are actually intending to do any of this is it?

  • kenty #23 5 years ago

    haven't bought smw, what about it doesn't work?

    SMW has reduced borders which is good, but unfortunately it still runs 17% slower than the US version which for me is a dealbreaker.
    The other problem is for some (lots of?) people PAL VC games are completely broken when using a component cable.

  • Daikon #24 5 years ago

    Nintendo Wii's European Virtual Console could play host to games that were never released here, Nintendo has confirmed.

    Can you say TurboGrafx-16?

  • McGeeza #25 5 years ago

    "VC is borked when it comes to playin it over component."

    A bit misleading. Borked when using component with certain TVs. I know that doesn't make you feel any better but...

  • Der_tolle_Emil #26 5 years ago

    Still I have not seen any electronics device bar the Wii that my TV does not like via component - so I blame the Wii.

  • Tonka #27 5 years ago

    A bit misleading. Borked when using component with certain TVs. I know that doesn't make you feel any better but...

    Explain to me how a service that requires a certain TV is not broken. Yes, I grabed the shitty end of the stick so I'm partial but still. I can't understand why people rush in to defend the broken state of the VC. Especially when

    All Nintendo have to do is give us the choice of 50 or 60Hz

  • McGeeza #28 5 years ago

    Whoa there fella. I'm not defending it at all. You said VC doesn't work over component and luckily I don't have a problem on my TV.

    I can imagine how annoying it must be though and I certainly wouldn't bother swapping cables just to play VC games. Nintendo have made about £30 out of me so far on the VC that they wouldn't have done if I had a TV that was affected.

    So basically, it's in there interest to sort this out because they are losing out on a lot of potential revenue (which is what it comes down to in the end, unfortunately).


  • #29 5 years ago

    VC is broken, my TV plays every other game just fine, and that is a LOT of games.

    Nintendo, have you finished with my goat?

  • rodpad #30 5 years ago

    Goldeneye you cocks. And somehow make online multiplayer work. I don't care how. Just do it you cunts.

  • spongebob #31 5 years ago

    Good news, everyone!

  • Lov3 #32 5 years ago

    "Maybe Europe can be a real territory and have all the games now. Well, maybe."

    Erm, thanks? But seriously, you need to be doing this for every console in every generation. Europeans aren't 3rd class gamers you know, we already pay more for your shit than other countries. This is the primary reason why I bought a 360, and i'm not going back to another manufacturer until they have proper release dates or proper region free, or both.

  • Tonka #33 5 years ago

    Proper region free like the DS would be made in heaven. I can't see why Nintendo didn't opt for it. They managed to do a worldwide launch and then they just ignore it. WTF?

  • BadBoyBonner #34 5 years ago

    I am gutted that VC stuff over component doesn't work.

    Was a nightmare setting it up - had to get the GF to swap the leads on the console while I selected the different mode from composite to component. Anyone know who to switch Wave race an mario on cube from composite to progressive without being able to see anything? Holding the keys down seems to do nothing.

  • Mr_Brown #35 5 years ago

    Awesome news, hopefully means games like Chrono Trigger and early Dragon quest/warrior games finally see the light of day over here...one can only hope anyway!

  • smelly #36 5 years ago

    "And while you're at it, give us the option of chosing either the 50 Hz or 60 Hz version when we purchase our games. "


    Well looking at the article it looks like they're unprepared to change the games as it means putting them through bbfc again (which is expensive). So chances of that happening = 0.

    You might get ntsc games.. but to have them alter the game.. aint gonna happen.. not in a blue moon

  • smelly #37 5 years ago

    > Europeans aren't 3rd class gamers you know

    Oh brother... Here we go again.. Another retard who thinks just because he sees a game released first in the us before uk, that all of a sudden uk gamers are treated like scum.

    It works both fricking ways! US gamers get some games later than the uk. Case in point with the wii.. Both wario ware and wii play were released months after the uk release.

    And as for the price.. Nah fuggit.. I wont waste my breath exaplining it AGAIN..

  • spongebob #38 5 years ago

    Awesome news, hopefully means games like Chrono Trigger and early Dragon quest/warrior games finally see the light of day over here...one can only hope anyway!

    Buy a PSP and you'd be already there :)

  • Hughes. #39 5 years ago

    When I first saw this headline I assumed it was going to be about enabling 60hz. It's still good news for VC, but not as good as it could have been.

  • Ryze #40 5 years ago

    I'm basically not gonna buy the thing until they fix this and until the devs (UBISOFT) settle down and stop releasing unfinished games.

    I'll wait...

  • smelly #41 5 years ago

    >stop releasing unfinished games.

    No-one would force you to buy said rubbish games would they?

    That's like saying "i'm not gonna buy a ps2 because there are too many rubbish games on it".

    (ignoring the good stuff)