ArsTechnica: Wii's classic games to be priced less than US$10

Wii’s classic games to be priced less than US$10

Nintendo President Saturo Iwata spoke yesterday at a Japanese marketing event (Japanese source), revealing information about “virtual console” pricing and the Wii’s relationship with the DS. Iwata revealed that games for Nintendo’s “virtual console” that will allow Wii owners to play old titles on their consoles will be priced at ¥500 and ¥1,000, roughly US$4.50 to US$8.99. For reference, classic retro games for the Nintendo GameBoy sold for upwards of US$35 for some titles, US$19.99 for others. Uptake was understandably low, as gamers were reticent to pay that much for old content….

From the picture Iwata is painting, it’s clear that the Wii is designed to profit not only from new games sales but also by working closely with the DS, and placing an emphasis on inexpensive classic games purchased online. It’s hard to underestimate the worth of Nintendo’s back catalogue, and the addition of classic Sega and Turbografx titles adds considerable appeal for gamers who cut their teeth on Nintendo’s early consoles….