SNES Classic coming September 29th

[noiseredux]

I still don't really get why they went the plug-n-play route for these things instead of just making a NES Classic and SNES Classic Collection for Wii-U and Switch. I can't help but think that compiling these games as a software release for $60 would have been cheaper/easier than producing new hardware.

[PartridgeSenpai]

I still don't really get why they went the plug-n-play route for these things instead of just making a NES Classic and SNES Classic Collection for Wii-U and Switch. I can't help but think that compiling these games as a software release for $60 would have been cheaper/easier than producing new hardware.

Perhaps because selling a physical collection that could be resold in such a fashion would damage their Virtual Console business? I genuinely don't know, but that's my best guess to crack their Nintendo-logic ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[noiseredux]

but that's kind of like saying "selling Splatoon 2 physically is taking away eShop sales of Splatoon 2." And I mean at the same time, where IS this virtual console anyway? We're still waiting for it to hit the Switch. You could say that they're waiting until these Classic plug-n-plays aren't directly competing... except Nintendo made those things so limited that many people can't even find one.

I think you hinted at the real answer: Nintendo Logic. Which means that they just make really fucking weird business decisions.

[marurun]

I think Nintendo has de-prioritized the Switch Virtual Console in favor of getting new content out the door and finishing stuff like their on-line setup. I think they will indeed have it eventually, but they're probably having to code all new emulators and re-negotiate deals with certain companies to ensure content. I imagine with all that complexity they just have bigger fish to fry right now, and these physical releases are to hold us over until they finally manage to get around to finishing dealing with the VC on Switch. They want to have this content out there for the die-hards to keep them thinking about Nintendo, but they don't want to have so many of them out there that nobody buys on the VC when it finally drops. They're trying to walk a fine line, here, and it'll only work if the VC is better than it was on WiiU. The original Wii VC was just fine, but the WiiU one was less good, which it shouldn't have been. The Switch emulation quality will need to be as good or better than the original Wii.

[noiseredux]

so you don't think that the time/effort they put into re-licensing the titles for limited edition hardware could have been used to re-license those titles for Switch hardware instead?

[BogusMeatFactory]

so you don't think that the time/effort they put into re-licensing the titles for limited edition hardware could have been used to re-license those titles for Switch hardware instead?

They are doing it to reinvigorate a long dead market of people who played video games as a kid and don't any more. There is a swathe of people that grew out of it and Nintendo is trying to bring them back in by using nostalgia. If it was a software package on switch, it wouldn't bring people over to switch, it would only attract current switch owners.

[noiseredux]

^that's a fair point. And I suppose that could be the intention... except I doubt any of those people that you're describing were able to actually get one.

[marurun]

so you don't think that the time/effort they put into re-licensing the titles for limited edition hardware could have been used to re-license those titles for Switch hardware instead?

You'll notice a much smaller swath of companies are reflected on those Classic Mini releases. Also, because there's a physical release with limited numbers, licensing is a one-time deal. When you do something like a VC it will be a lot messier. Some 3rd parties may be interested in an open-ended relationship where their stuff can remain on the VC indefinitely except if certain things happen, whereas other companies may want their stuff on the VC for certain limited time periods that then have to get re-upped every so often. And I'm sure Nintendo has already opened those necessary dialogues. I don't have any inside contacts at Nintendo so I'm just speculating, but after having VC titles on Nintendo platforms for years and years, Nintendo probably realizes they have an opportunity to actually focus on the Switch itself for a while. These physical Classic Mini releases buy them some additional time to either delay or put more time and attention into the VC. And the fact that the Classic Minis have stirred up so much attention might actually increase demand for certain games when the VC goes live. Anyone who didn't manage to get a Classic Mini and was thinking about playing a particular game may now be more motivated than ever to dash out and buy it when the VC finally exists on Switch.

After the WiiU there's a lot of opportunities to screw up the Switch VC, especially since they're doing netplay for some titles. I'd rather Nintendo take the time to get their VC releases just right.

[MrPopo]

^that's a fair point. And I suppose that could be the intention... except I doubt any of those people that you're describing were able to actually get one.

Because the people on this forum want to rebuy the games they already have in their collection for the umpteenth time

[noiseredux]

^that's a fair point. And I suppose that could be the intention... except I doubt any of those people that you're describing were able to actually get one.

Because the people on this forum want to rebuy the games they already have in their collection for the umpteenth time

yes, exactly. So even if their intentions were as Bogus pointed out, the limited production meant that it failed their goal. The target market Bogus describes are going to buy this thing as an impulse purchase. They're at Target and "OMG! I remember Castlevania! I want to play this again!" But instead the limited run will be scooped up by "us" and those filthy casuals may never know these things even exist having never seen one in the wild.

I'm just saying that Nintendo does some weird shit as a company.