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Welcome to Wii U's BC for Wii: It's a console within a console! :(

EvilMario

Will QA for food.
I don't care about playing Wii software with this sort of BC, but it's an ugly solution for people that heavily invested in VC and WiiWare games. I'm glad I didn't buy into VC games heavily, as I feared it would be impossible to transfer them, or something really bad like this. Odds of Wii VC purchases being left behind after the Wii U generation.. extremely high. I hope they offer a solution later on, even if it means sending in your unit, to put your Wii Shop purchases directly on to your Wii U instead of rebuying them all.
 

Kai Dracon

Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
so WiiU is one part Wii.

A Wii duct taped to an underclocked Xbox 360.

Anyway, I don't see how this is going to matter to the average Wii owner / mainstream. You put in a Wii game, click the Wii menu option, you play Wii games. Everybody's controllers and peripherals still work native on Wii U.

Really, the only missed opportunity here is porting the VC to Wii U and allowing off-screen play, which is something that may still happen with updates.
 
I mean, it's not like there's not going to be a Wii U Virtual Console that has all the requisite features like GamePad support, right?
 
This is going to cost Nintendo huge.

They are basically saying "F U" to the 90 million Wii owners with this.

Unbelievable
I don't know about that one. I honestly only think a few people really care about it. It's nice to have, but it's not like a phone where you need your old numbers to work with the new device. Most people didn't buy a Wii so they could play GameCube games, and I think this will be the case here as well.
I think.
 

cloudyy

Member
I'm starting to wonder if the wiiu to wii transfer isn't just a 1:1 image copy of the wii's data and not a per save/app transfer like on the 3ds. Would actually make sense, wii-mode is like a virtualization app of the whole wii OS.
 
This
Why isn't it possible to create a Wii u "shortcut channel" for Wii vc and wiiware? Just like forwarders in dolphin. The console would still enter Wii mode, but at least you could access everything from the same interface.
Similarly, adding optional mlaa to the rendered image and sending it to the game pad should be feasible. This sounds more like a measure to prevent piracy than an actual hardware limitation..
The worst part is effectively having two different online stores for different content.. That's just really short sighted

This is Nintendo we're talking about. It's tradition to have backwards compatibility completely separated from the parent system.

And, Nintendo saves a lot of money by not having to worry about developing and integrating BC features into the Wii U.
 
Wii U has HDMI - is it even possible to send 480i over digital? Wouldn't it have to be upscaled in the console to 720 or 1080p depending on what the console was set to output over HDMI?

HDMI can carry 480i.

It can also carry y/pb/pr (aka component signal) which I'd guess would be sent from the Wii U in backwards compatibility mode.
 

Jucksalbe

Banned
What about future VC games for WiiU (there will be a Virtual Console for WiiU, won't there?)? Will they work differently (as in natively on the WiiU interface)? And can I then "upgrade" my old VC games like with the NES ambassador games on 3DS?
 
I guess that's it for the Virtual Console then. Unless they expect people to buy the same VC games a third time.

We already knew that it would basically turn into a Wii, but I didn't expect it to literally become a Wii. I expected BC the way the 3DS does it.
 

Rich!

Member
By the way, why is there a ":(" in the topic? Having access to the Wii OS is pretty cool i think.

There's a chance that with the Wii OS still being intact that the Homebrew Channel may be able to be installed...without enabling Wii U piracy of any kind.

Now THAT is awesome.
 
What about future VC games for WiiU (there will be a Virtual Console for WiiU, won't there?)? Will they work differently (as in natively on the WiiU interface)? And can I then "upgrade" my old VC games like with the NES ambassador games on 3DS?

There almost certainly be VC games for WiiU. However, you will be paying again as the different stores are different.
 

Diablos54

Member
I guess that's it for the Virtual Console then. Unless they expect people to buy the same VC games a third time.

We already knew that it would basically turn into a Wii, but I didn't expect it to literally become a Wii. I expected BC the way the 3DS does it.
This is the way 3DS does BC, the Wii U becomes a Wii, just like the 3DS becomes a DS.
 
Really only disappointed by VC not being natively emulated on Wii U (for GamePad support, mainly). Someone mentioned it would be difficult since each game would have to be individually supported, but I hope they get around to doing that over the coming months.

I mean really.. it seems so pointless not to emulate it through Wii-U..surely it will have it's own VC anyway.. makes no sense to me.
 

Eusis

Member
Wii U has HDMI - is it even possible to send 480i over digital? Wouldn't it have to be upscaled in the console to 720 or 1080p depending on what the console was set to output over HDMI?
Absolutely, HDMI adapters for the Wii would let it display, the worst I saw was a monitor crying about an unsupported resolution despite displaying the game. If it could've shut up it'd definitely be playable, though I guess you could TRY to ignore the warning and play anyway.

The most I've hoped for would be that the IQ of the outputted image would be better on the Wii U. Not a magical "now it's 1080p!" trick, but similar to sound being better on DSi versus DS: the internals for outputting sound improve, even if the hardware processing the sound is more or less the same. Hell, I wouldn't have hope there if it weren't for people pointing out how much nicer GC digital component looked versus Wii's component.
 
I guess that's it for the Virtual Console then. Unless they expect people to buy the same VC games a third time.

When VC games get re-released for the Wii U architecture, Nintendo will probably offer a heavy discount for those who got it on the Wii...or they will release it for free to previous buyers.

That's what they should do, at least, if they don't want a massive media backlash against them.
 

axisofweevils

Holy crap! Today's real megaton is that more than two people can have the same first name.
The only thing that surprises me is that Wiiware will be in a different shop to WiiUWare.

I liked the way the 3DS shop had DSiware.

Having said that, I've heard nothing but praise from third parties regarding the Wii U Shop so....
 
This is the way 3DS does BC, it becomes a Wii, just like the 3DS becomes a DS.

I meant that you would be able to access all your Wiiware and VC titles directly through the Wii U, and to be able to download Wiiware and VC titles from the new eShop. This seems to literally become a Wii, meaning that you'll have to first enter Wii mode to access your Wii games, and then if you want to buy something new you'll have to enter the WiiShop and not the eShop.
 

freddy

Banned
There's a chance that with the Wii OS still being intact that the Homebrew Channel may be able to be installed...without enabling Wii U piracy of any kind.

Now THAT is awesome.

I always found that line in Homebrew tutorial funny where it said I hope you don't use this option for piracy but here's how to enable playback of pirated games if you want to. Something like that anyway.
 

Drago

Member
This is the way 3DS does BC, the Wii U becomes a Wii, just like the 3DS becomes a DS.
3DS at least has all the DSiWare stuff on one menu, and you don't need to enter a 'DS mode' to play DS games/DSiWare, and the 3DS eShop allows you to buy DSiWare...

I really hope there is an update at least to use the gamepad with VC eventually... I'm glad the BC is there but it's pretty cumbersome, especially when compared to 3DS
 

Rich!

Member
I always found that line in Homebrew tutorial funny where it said I hope you don't use this option for piracy but here's how to enable playback of pirated games if you want to. Something like that anyway.

Ever tried selecting that option though? It fucks you over.
 
Yeah. Fuck Nintendo. I want broken software emulation of a few selected titles like on the 360 instead of PROPER HARDWARE BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY.
No upscaling, by which I mean the signal leaving the box is 480p = I can't play Wii games on my WiiU, because my TV's upscaler makes them look legitimately offensive. Essentially, it means that for me WiiU does not have backwards compatibility. YMMV. On the other other hand, I have Dolphin and an old CRT (for the games that don't emulate well), so I can't complain too much.

Will wait for confirmation though, I haven't seen anything definitive about the display resolution yet. Just various rephrasings of "the WiiU doesn't have upscaling like dolphin!"
 
I meant that you would be able to access all your Wiiware and VC titles directly through the Wii U, and to be able to download Wiiware and VC titles from the new eShop. This seems to literally become a Wii, meaning that you'll have to first enter Wii mode to access your Wii games, and then if you want to buy something new you'll have to enter the WiiShop and not the eShop.

Can't do that. The executables that come from WiiShop are Wii executables. Making each WiiWare and VC title boot to Wii mode requires wrapping the executable around a Wii emulator. It'd result in duplicate effort and make for slower progress.
 

EvilMario

Will QA for food.
I can't wait for the bitching when the next MS or more likely Sony system has no or really trashy BC.

Will be amusing if they don't allow your PSN purchases to come over. I don't really care about console BC at this point for anything outside of my digital content.
 
Can't do that. The executables that come from WiiShop are Wii executables. Making each WiiWare and VC title boot to Wii mode requires wrapping the executable around a Wii emulator. It'd result in duplicate effort and make for slower progress.

They could still make it so that everything is in the eShop, but to play the games you'd have to enter Wii mode. That would at least be better than to have two different stores on one console.
 

SapientWolf

Trucker Sexologist
No upscaling = I can't play Wii games on my WiiU, because my TV's upscaler makes them look legitimately offensive. Essentially, it means that for me WiiU does not have backwards compatibility. YMMV. On the other other hand, I have Dolphin and an old CRT (for the games that don't emulate well), so I can't complain too much.

Will wait for confirmation though, I haven't seen anything definitive about the display resolution yet. Just various rephrasings of "the WiiU doesn't have upscaling like dolphin!"
Upscaling was never in the cards for Wii U BC.
 
They haven't rewritten the VC emulators for Wii U most likely.

Probably..when they put the games back on the Wii-U VC hopefully they'll offer a free update or something for the ones who purchased it on Wii (kinda like how 3DS Ambassadors have to update their games when they're released on the 3DS VC)
 

Eusis

Member
I can't wait for the bitching when the next MS or more likely Sony system has no or really trashy BC.
It'll be infinitely worse thanks to DD. This IS better than the Wii U going "yeah well who gives a shit" to the Wii DD, though I do hope they eventually update it so that oure VC stuff can be native on the Wii U, and future Nintendo platforms. I'm guessing it's a matter of not being forward thinking enough though, given the games seem to be bundled with an emulator versus running on an emulator that's on the system, if THAT were the case I'm sure it'd be relatively simple.
 

freddy

Banned
Ever tried selecting that option though? It fucks you over.

Nah, I passed on it. I'll gladly hack into any game I've bought and download an.exe to disable shit I don't need but not a fan of piracy, so no need for extra headaches. Mostly I wanted to backup my games to try on that Dolphin thing.
 
So they aren't gonna change wii store?


like if i want to buy vc games on my wii u, i need to buy some wii points first and not wii u points?

There is no such thing as Wii U points. Nintendo don't use points anymore, but yeah, you'll still have to use it for the Wii stuff; which is really awkward.
 
Probably..when they put the games back on the Wii-U VC hopefully they'll offer a free update or something for the ones who purchased it on Wii (kinda like how 3DS Ambassadors have to update their games when they're released on the 3DS VC)

I bet they sandboxed off the wii sections because the wii was hacked so badly, meaning that what you describe will never happen.
 

EvilMario

Will QA for food.
Can't do that. The executables that come from WiiShop are Wii executables. Making each WiiWare and VC title boot to Wii mode requires wrapping the executable around a Wii emulator. It'd result in duplicate effort and make for slower progress.

I understand technically why they're doing what they're doing, but I wish they offered a better solution for my VC games. If they start offering VC games later on that act as Wii U-executables, I'd want those instead of having to use Wii-mode. I'd pay to send it in so they could transfer my licenses at that point, but I'm not repurchasing dozens of titles.
 

Eusis

Member
That's just speculation on your part, you know.
I dunno, SEEMS clearcut in the topic. I suppose we can hope that we can purchase the games on the Wii U shop, then be told to open the Wii channel in order to download the games. Ridiculous, roundabout, but if it lets me pay in exact amounts then screw it, I'll deal with it.
 

Man God

Non-Canon Member
Will be amusing if they don't allow your PSN purchases to come over. I don't really care about console BC at this point for anything outside of my digital content.

There's too many rumors about the architecture of the PS4 being radically different from the PS3 for any easy solution to BC.

MS had to work incredibly hard to do the same thing when they switched to the 360 and it's OXBOX emulation ranges from playable with odd bugs and slowdown to downright terrible and they had to work it out for every single game they decided to support. Do you think Sony is going to do that with all their PSN games? I doubt it.
 

DDayton

(more a nerd than a geek)
I bet they sandboxed off the wii sections because the wii was hacked so badly, meaning that what you describe will never happen.

Perhaps, although it's worth noting that even with hacking, Nintendo has a record of what was actually purchased. They could easily allow for Wii U native versions of VC titles if you'd purchased the Wii version.
 

Rich!

Member
Nah, I passed on it. I'll gladly hack into any game I've bought and download an.exe to disable shit I don't need but not a fan of piracy so no need for it.

No, no. What I mean is that iirc, if you select the piracy option, it kicks you out and blocks you.

If you select the other option like you did, you can still pirate games. Its just a way for the homebrew channel guys to say fuck you to pirates.
 
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