After creating one of the largest (and still growing) buffets of original classic console games available to date, Nintendo scratched their collective chin and wondered, “How can I serve those retro gamers even better?”, and for the first time they peaked over their shoulder at what Xbox Live and PlayStation Networks were doing. “They’ve got Classic Coin-Op Arcade games available? Well I can do that, but up the stakes!”
Nintendo has just announced the Wii Virtual Arcade, as part of their Virtual Console system. They will now be adding classic arcade game to their insanely huge library of downloadable retro-offerings. If their launch titles are any indication of what Virtual Arcade has in store for us, this is going to be one awesome service.
Here are the first fantastic four titles they are kick starting with…- Mappy – Original Publisher: Epoch, Original Release Date: 1983
- StarForce (aka Star Force) – Original Publisher: Tecmo, Original Release Date: 1984
- Gaplus (aka Galaga 3) –Original Publisher: Midway/Namco, Original Release Date: 1984
- Tower of Druga – Original Publisher: Namco, Original Release Date: 1984
Every single one of these Virtual Arcade launch titles are direct ports of classic coin-op arcade games that have not seen a re-release in North America since they first premiered in the video arcades of the ‘80s. I can see my Wii console now just swallowing up my Wii Points, just like those old coin-ops did with the quarters I fed to them back in the day.
Arcade Flyer © NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc,
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