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[sfried]

Finally I can listen to that Ambassador theme over and over.

 

[Roto13]

You can't buy GBA games on the VC...

Which is why I want GBA games and not ports of SNES games with annoying voice clips and multiplayer modes we're getting for free in the next few weeks anyway.

 

[The Lamonster]

Which is why I want GBA games and not ports of SNES games with annoying voice clips and multiplayer modes we're getting for free in the next few weeks anyway.

Okay fair enough. If it came between one of my favorites, like a Castlevania game, and ALTTP I would want the GBA game over the enhanced port. But I do really like the added voice clips haha

 

[BooJoh]

Picking from this list, some of the games I'd like to see for the remaining GBA titles are:

Super Mario Bros. 3 and/or Super Mario World
Mario Golf and/or Mario Tennis
Pokémon Pinball RS
F-Zero... since Climax is not gonna happen since it's JP-only I would prefer GP legend, but Maximum Velocity is more likely if any.
one of the two Kirby games

There's a lot of other games I'd be fine with too, these are just some of my favorites I'd like to carry around with me or titles I missed out on the first time around.

 

[Lothars]

I really want the GBA version of Mario Golf, It's one of my favorite GBA games but from that list I would love to also get FFV advance though I doubt that would happen.

 

[Duane Cunningham]

Wow, what's the story behind the 2 player version? I just picked mine up off the shelf and I have the same one. I'm not sure if our local copies say that on the back, but my Dad bought it for me for Christmas last year from the USA off eBay I think, but I never noticed the 2 player part... Does it even work? I've never bothered to try, lol.

No, it's not a different version. Early NES marketing speak for "you can take turns when you die".

A tip for guys first experiencing the original Zelda - You can get the white sword (Twice as powerful as your wooden one) within 10 min of starting the game. All you need is 5 heart containers and they can easily be had by bombing some rocks around the southern shore line and the big boulder by the tektites in the mid NE section of the map.

Blowing through dungeon one will be almost criminal.

Zelda took me about a week on Christmas break 1986 to finish, the included map and just some enthusiastic chatter with my buds (AKA school yard chat) was what I needed to get through it. Some dungeon and item locations were pure evil without a nod in the general direction.

Great game, it was the one NES game that actually impressed me enough in the system to start with.

Yeah, my favorite thing to do these days is actually to hit up enough secret rupee spots right off the bat to get the following before doing level one:

Large Shield (don't pay more than 90 rupees)
Arrows
Blue Candle
White Sword
Blue Ring
Five heart containers

Hint: there are about three "secret to everybody" caves that will give you 100 rupees. One is in the furthest north, furthest east square on the entire world map, through a secret wall.

 

[Peagles]

No, it's not a different version. Early NES marketing speak for "you can take turns when you die".

Lol! I can't believe I never heard of this before... That is so cheap of them!

But then again, there are some older games that are alternating two player, like, player 1 dies, player 2 gets a go, player 2 dies, player 1 gets a go (and the scores are tracked and it will saying "Player 1 Start!" or "Player 2 Start!" before each go).

But with Metroid they were actually like, "take turns, then it's 2 player"? No scoring built in or anything?

Lol.

 

[sonikokaruto]

Argh im having trouble on zelda ii on the hidden temple, it's so god damn frustrating. Also, i hate that every thing you pick up on the map, gets saved and you get screwed over (even the fairyes)


And that long wall covered with fucking stone threoing dinosaurs, ugh!

But fuck it, im gonna finish this fucking game! I've never gotten farther than this, this time

IT'S PERSONAL!!

 

[Rodney McKay]

Man! I was totally going to start Metroid, but no saving is a deal breaker for me. No I'm not going to write down a code for my save game.

I've only done that for one game ever (Jedi Power Battles for the GBA, lol) and I will not do it again!

 

[nincompoop]

Man! I was totally going to start Metroid, but no saving is a deal breaker for me. No I'm not going to write down a code for my save game.

I've only done that for one game ever (Jedi Power Battles for the GBA, lol) and I will not do it again!

uhh the game automatically saves your progress when you go back to the home menu. just like on the wii virtual console

 

[sonikokaruto]

Also, when it asks "continue - end" you know what to do

 

[XeroSauce]

Man! I was totally going to start Metroid, but no saving is a deal breaker for me. No I'm not going to write down a code for my save game.

I've only done that for one game ever (Jedi Power Battles for the GBA, lol) and I will not do it again!

Games Notes is there for a reason..if only we could type.

 

[Boney]

Man! I was totally going to start Metroid, but no saving is a deal breaker for me. No I'm not going to write down a code for my save game.

I've only done that for one game ever (Jedi Power Battles for the GBA, lol) and I will not do it again!

You press start and continue, and the games suspends so you'll never have to write a password if you want.

 

[Rodney McKay]

uhh the game automatically saves your progress when you go back to the home menu. just like on the wii virtual console

Does that mean I need to keep my system on, or is there a save file somewhere for the game?

I've never purchased a game from any of Nintendo's download stores so this is my first experience with them.

 

[donny2112]

Does that mean I need to keep my system on, or is there a save file somewhere for the game?

Save file should be inside the binary for the game. You don't need to keep your system on. The final versions will let you save a separate save-state that you can load at any time, so that'll be nice.

 

[Rodney McKay]

Save file should be inside the binary for the game. You don't need to keep your system on. The final versions will let you save a separate save-state that you can load at any time, so that'll be nice.

Interesting. I think I may just wait for that, since Star Fox is coming out in a few weeks.

edit: OK I just tried it. That's not so bad. This information could have been added to the game's manual, but I guess I shouldn't expect too much.

 

[BooJoh]

Does that mean I need to keep my system on, or is there a save file somewhere for the game?

I've never purchased a game from any of Nintendo's download stores so this is my first experience with them.

Play as you normally would. When you're done playing, simply pause the game, press the Home button, and exit to the Home menu. Next time you load up Metroid from the Home menu you'll be right where you left off. It doesn't matter if you turn off your system or play other games between Metroid sessions, you'll still be at the same spot.

 

[loosus]

Will they actually have to emulate the GBA games in the traditional sense? Seems like they could almost run natively, no?

 

[BooJoh]

Will they actually have to emulate the GBA games in the traditional sense? Seems like they could almost run natively, no?

They're most likely running natively or close to it. That's probably why GBA games won't support sleep mode, StreetPass, Home menu access or any other 3DS features while they're running.

 

[loosus]

They're most likely running natively or close to it. That's probably why GBA games won't support sleep mode, StreetPass, Home menu access or any other 3DS features while they're running.

Is that just initially, or will that be like that forever? I thought I remember it saying somewhere that they'd be updated later...but I might be wrong because I haven't really kept up.

Seems like they could almost take the source code for the GBA games, do a few modifications, and have it run as an actual 3DS game.

 

[BooJoh]

Is that just initially, or will that be like that forever? I thought I remember it saying somewhere that they'd be updated later...but I might be wrong because I haven't really kept up.

Seems like they could almost take the source code for the GBA games, do a few modifications, and have it run as an actual 3DS game.

NES games will get an updated version (which Ambassadors can get for free) when they become available to purchase on the eShop, GBA games won't be updated later as there are "no plans" to release them for purchase.

I would guess it's fairly safe to assume if they do ever release the GBA games to purchase, we'll be able to upgrade free, but nobody can say for sure.

Features of the Virtual Console Game Boy Advance titles
-Manuals will be available.
-Wireless functions and peripheral devices are not supported.
-When you press the HOME Button, a simple menu is displayed, and you won’t be able to return directly to the HOME Menu.
-Neither the “Restore Point” function nor the “VC Suspend” functions are supported.
-If you’re playing a game that includes a save function, you can select Save, and your data will be saved when you’ve finished playing the Game Boy Advance game.
-During gameplay, the Nintendo 3DS system will not enter Sleep Mode even if you close it.
-SpotPass and StreetPass will not function during gameplay.
-You will be able to “Transfer to another Nintendo 3DS” with the “System Transfer” function that will be provided in future system updates.

 

[Tyeforce]

Is that just initially, or will that be like that forever? I thought I remember it saying somewhere that they'd be updated later...but I might be wrong because I haven't really kept up.

Seems like they could almost take the source code for the GBA games, do a few modifications, and have it run as an actual 3DS game.

Nintendo has said that they have no plans to make the GBA games available to everyone in the future, so they probably won't bother updating them if that's true. But that's the big if—although Nintendo says they have no plans to, does that mean they aren't going to eventually? Who knows.

EDIT: Beaten!

 

[thechristoph]

Really hoping ALTTP is included in the GBA games. The GBA version is the best version of that game.

I remember being disappointed in it because they didn't use the Four Swords sprite in the main game. Pink haired Link just doesn't cut it, duder.

 

[oatmeal]

I remember being disappointed in it because they didn't use the Four Swords sprite in the main game. Pink haired Link just doesn't cut it, duder.

ALTTP is the best looking 2D Zelda game.

 

[GameE]

I wonder when we will get the gba games, thats the real treat for me

 

[loosus]

I would be more for A Link to the Past if they could (a) use the additional real-estate of the 3DS screen and (b) somehow slightly update the sound to be more like the SNES version. GBA games had such crap sound.

 

[XeroSauce]

I wonder when we will get the gba games, thats the real treat for me

I literally can't wait to have those GBA games on my home screen. My finger is itching to buy some eShop games even though I know I should wait.

 

[oatmeal]

I literally can't wait to have those GBA games on my home screen. My finger is itching to buy some eShop games even though I know I should wait.

I know, I'm really excited to either zoom way out so it's organized, or scrolling forever sideways to hit all of my games.

Spoiler

FOLDERS PLEASE

 

[Muskweeto]

The GBA games can't go into sleep mode or be suspended?
That sucks.
Oh well, won't stop me from playing the hell out of them.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

The GBA games can't go into sleep mode or be suspended?
That sucks.
Oh well, won't stop me from playing the hell out of them.

most have built in save-modes, and most (I think everything worth playing) have built-in sleep modes

 

[Roto13]

I know, I'm really excited to either zoom way out so it's organized, or scrolling forever sideways to hit all of my games.

Spoiler

FOLDERS PLEASE

I love my wall-o-games the same way I love looking at my game cases perfectly organized on my shelves. I have 50 PSN games on my PS3 and I don't put them in folders.

 

[Fuzzy]

I love my wall-o-games the same way I love looking at my game cases perfectly organized on my shelves. I have 50 PSN games on my PS3 and I don't put them in folders.

I couldn't stand that. I've got 6 folders on my PS3 and I'll probably make more.

 

[Peagles]

I love my wall-o-games the same way I love looking at my game cases perfectly organized on my shelves. I have 50 PSN games on my PS3 and I don't put them in folders.

It is pretty satisfying seeing them all in a row there like that, but on my 3DS I feel like I'll need folders, if only in a few years time.

 

[Azure Dream]

You know, some of those GBA limitations are pretty rough considering we're talking about hardware two generations old. They must be running on a base hardware level with very little control over it.

 

[jgkspsx]

Really hoping ALTTP is included in the GBA games. The GBA version is the best version of that game.

Plus, that would allow you to have six Zelda games on the same 3DS. LoZ, Link's Adventure, Link's Awakening, LttP, Four Swords DSi, and Ocarina. Which is kinda cool for completism. Hopefully they will release the Oracle games for VC. Heck, if we also got Minish Cap... Lots of Zelda.

Too bad Metroid's 25th has been forgotten

 

[BooJoh]

You know, some of those GBA limitations are pretty rough considering we're talking about hardware two generations old. They must be running on a base hardware level with very little control over it.

I'm guessing it's more about effort than ability. If they can make them run near-natively with little effort, why go the extra mile to get them running on top of the OS for simple freebies?

 

[Muskweeto]

I'm guessing it's more about effort than ability. If they can make them run near-natively with little effort, why go the extra mile to get them running on top of the OS for simple freebies?

Exactly, I bet if they make GBA games available for purchase, they'll update it.

 

[M3d10n]

You know, some of those GBA limitations are pretty rough considering we're talking about hardware two generations old. They must be running on a base hardware level with very little control over it.

Correct. The 3DS CPU isn't that much faster than the PSP's and being dual core doesn't help much in regards to emulators.

Considering the 3DS has all hardware necessary to run GBA code natively with perfect compatibility (except the cartridge slot), it's much more cost effective to do it that way than mess around with emulators.

Like I said before, these GBA games are likely running in a modified version of the DS BC and is subject to the same limitations.

- In DS/DSi mode there is no home menu because the OS seems to remove itself from memory. At most it loads a minimal OS with restricted HW access to provide the "back to home" menu, do the image scaling and a few other BC-related tasks behind the scenes. For GBA games, this will also involve loading the entire GBA ROM into a separate area in memory and redirect all ROM read requests to that RAM.

- In DS/DSi mode the 3DS sleeps because DS and DSi games are already programmed to do it when the lid is closed. GBA games don't have the lid input: each game (and not all of them) have their own sleep mechanism.

I thought Nintendo could use the simplified home menu to sleep the games (since it seems to interrupt the games), but I did some tests and found out that when you press the Home button in DS and DSi games the 3DS simply sends the "lid closed" command to the game, making the game sleep as it would in a DS unit. So it wouldn't be able to sleep GBA games.

Exactly, I bet if they make GBA games available for purchase, they'll update it.

This "update" would mean a total rewrite of the way these games run, including writing a complete GBA emulator optimized enough to run on the 3DS.

There are 350+ games in the eShop that cannot run in parallel with the OS: DSi Ware games. The GBA games will function exactly like them.

 

[Peagles]

This "update" would mean a total rewrite of the way these games run, including writing a complete GBA emulator optimized enough to run on the 3DS.

Perhaps that's why there aren't any plans to release them to everyone in the future?

 

[Azure Dream]

Perhaps that's why there aren't any plans to release them to everyone in the future?

If they were working on it in the first place, then they plan to sell them later on, they just tipped their hat about them sooner than planned as a way of shocking and surprising people. Otherwise they would've just provided more games they were already working on.

 

[345triangle]

I own the superior 2 player version.

that is astonishingly bad writing. was nintendo of america staffed entirely by 10 year olds in the 80s?

 

[Piercedveil]

I attempted Metroid and the Zeldas again. I can't do it lol.

 

[BocoDragon]

that is astonishingly bad writing. was nintendo of america staffed entirely by 10 year olds in the 80s?

Different time, bro. Videogames were pretty much "toys" back then.

 

[Boney]

Different time, bro. Videogames were pretty much "toys" back then.

rad toys

 

[BooJoh]

If they were working on it in the first place, then they plan to sell them later on, they just tipped their hat about them sooner than planned as a way of shocking and surprising people. Otherwise they would've just provided more games they were already working on.

Not necessarily. Remember, for every person who downloaded those 10 Ambassador games, that's roughly $50 in potential lost revenue because none of those people will need to buy any of those 10 games. In the case of the GBA games, there's $0 potential lost revenue if they never release them on the eShop. So simply giving us 20 games planned for release, they'd be doubling the potential lost revenue.

 

[M3d10n]

Perhaps that's why there aren't any plans to release them to everyone in the future?

I don't think that's the case.

It's obvious Nintendo had a team researching on the technical viability of releasing GBA games on the 3DS long before the price cut debacle. When they decided to offer something exclusive for early adopters, someone came with the idea of giving away the GBA prototypes they have been working on. However, it seems that for some reason the staff still isn't sure about releasing these games in the wild, for whatever reason.

My theory is that these GBA games bend the 3DS security protocols somewhat and Nintendo won't give them the approval unless they are 100% they cannot be used to hack into the system.

 

[BocoDragon]

rad toys

Hell yes.

And you could say "rad" back then too!

 

[Peagles]

rad toys

Ahh, I remember when rad was a word... *nostalgia*

 

[jamesinclair]

Ignoring tonights megatons....

How the fuck do you play golf? I hit the ball and it goes like one foot.

 

[nincompoop]

Ignoring tonights megatons....

How the fuck do you play golf? I hit the ball and it goes like one foot.

You're swinging too late and whiffing.