Comparing the Virtual Console launch by region

November 2nd, 2006, 00:14 Posted By: wraggster

Now that we have the Virtual Console launch lists for the US, Europe, and Japan, it's time to compare and contrast how each region fared. To no one's surprise, Japan has every single game being released in the other regions and more, with the exception of Bomberman '93 (Japan owners get the "vastly disparate" 1994 edition).

Take note of the publishers found in the US and European regions: with the exception of Tecmo's Solomon's Keys for the NES, all games are first-party titles from Hudson, Nintendo, or Sega. International licensing troubles, perhaps?

Looking at the first-party titles, US and Europe are missing out on quite a few high-profile games: Super Mario Bros (NES), Super Mario World and Zelda: Link to the Past (SNES). In fact, the only Mario title coming to US / Europe at launch (Donkey Kong notwithstanding) is Mario Bros., otherwise known as that multiplayer minigame included in all the GBA Mario remakes.

We understand Nintendo giving the much-less-popular Fire Emblem to Japan only, but why delay Nintendo's flagship titles of the past? Does Nintendo think it's going to prove something by launching the Wii outside of Japan with as little of Mario's presence possible?

One more note: UK-based Rare's Donkey Kong Country is coming to Japan and Europe but is conspicuously absent from the US roster. With Microsoft being a US-based company and the new owners of Rare, the conspiracy theorist in us thinks there might be some funny going on. We've sent off a few questions to Nintendo and Rare and will let you know what we find out.

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