the game rag :: blogs

I'm on a mission to download all of the Virtual Console games on my Wii. Right now I have about 15 and my slots are filling up fast. I bought a 2 gig memory card and I'm assuming I can just move them over to it. I hope that's true. I don't want to have to re-download a game every time I want to play it.

I'm in really in love with that aspect of the Wii. It's cheap, it's nostalgic and it's addictive. In fact, it's the only thing I've been using my Wii for. I always said I would get the Wii even if it was only a virtual console. I still say it - I walk around the office saying it to myself. I've forgotten how to say other things.

Plus, for 50 bucks I can get one game that I'll never get around to playing or I can buy 5-10 games I can play in short bursts (that savestate feature is the most genius move on Nintendo's part). I am having a blast reliving my childhood (a blast? What am I? 45?)

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I wish the rest of my childhood obsessions would translate the way VC titles do. Every time I think about my childhood in the 80s I get that sinking feeling in my chest (the good one, not the 'oh crap' one). There was so much from the 80s that I loved - the movies, music, cartoons, sitcoms, cocaine... It's probably that childhood thing where you love what you grew up with. I've gone back to some of it and it definitely doesn't hold up now (except the crack).

For instance, M.A.S.K. I rented a VHS of it from Blockbuster one day and it's just awful. I can't believe I was ever into it - I guess it had that transformer vibe that I craved as a child (I always loved things changing into other things).

Sitcoms didn't make it either - there were some that were clever but mostly just family crap that taught good morals (and you know my stance on families teaching each other morals). I can't imagine liking Saved By the Bell if I had first watched it this year - even though, right now, I can give you the plot to each episode (I'm a bit hazy on the College years but I don't count post high school - there are no bells to be saved by at university).

So far, though, I've been pleased with the offerings. Sure, Baseball and Soccer aren't prized possessions but I don't mind owning them. I didn't expect much. But, the games that I did expect something from still deliver today. Kid Icarus, Toe Jam & Earl, The Legend of Zelda - still genius today.

And when I play these games, I really get that sinking feeling that I love.

For the first time, I'm proud to own a Nintendo console. Not that I haven't been vocal about my love in the past - it's just that I don't have to act like some pompous art kid whenever I talk about video games anymore. Nostalgia translates to everyone and just the mention of being able to play all of these old games elicits smiles from my friends.

The guy at Nintendo that thought of the VC must be a big VH-1* fan. He saw the potential in the throwback and now they are capitalizing on it.

*I can't wait for "I Love the 00-07s" show next year!