In September, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) gave ratings for unannounced Wii versions of a number of classic Sega games that were assumed to be part of the company's Virtual Console downloadable game service.
Those assumptions were proven correct last week as Nintendo and Sega both confirmed the same slate of Sega titles would be among the 30 downloadable Virtual Console games available by the end of 2006. And while the games have now been officially announced, they were pulled at some point from the ESRB Web site and have yet to be reposted.
The ESRB might have done it again, as the company's Web site today lists an assortment of unconfirmed games for the Nintendo Wii, all of which bear names familiar to longtime gamers. A scan of the ESRB Web site's ratings database culled the following unannounced titles, some of which have previously been hinted at:
Punch-Out
Pro Wrestling
Kirby's Adventure
Kid Icarus
Hogan's Alley
Wild Gunman
Duck Hunt
PilotWings
All of the games received a rating of E for Everyone. It's worth noting that while these games would be plausible Virtual Console candidates, GameStop has been accepting preorders for Wii versions of Duck Hunt and PilotWings for months, both with a $49.99 price tag that would be more suited to a new installment in each series, rather than a straight retro release. A Wii game strongly reminescent of Duck Hunt was also shown in an E3 tech demo meant to feature the Wiimote's light gun-like capabilities. A Wii version of Kid Icarus has also been rumored for several months.
A Nintendo representative had not returned GameSpot's request for comment as of press time.