Virtual Console queries answered

After confusion arose yesterday from news that some Virtual Console games "can only be played with a Classic controller", according to Wii's instruction manual, Nintendo has explained the situation, as it currently stands, to GamesRadar.

GameCube pads will be the only way to control GameCube games, which can be played as normal with your existing game discs. You must also use GameCube memory cards, and cannot save to Wii's internal memory or SD memory card.

GameCube pads can also be used to play any NES, SNES and N64 titles downloaded from Wii's Virtual Console, although N64 games will not feature rumble capability.

The Wii-mote can be used as a controller for all NES and PC Engine/Turbografx games on Virtual Console. Finally - and obviously - all games on Nintendo's Virtual Console will be playable with Nintendo's Classic controller.

A sliver of good news is that multiplayer games can be mix-and-match. A NES game could be played by one person with a Wii-mote, one with a GameCube pad and a third gamer using a Classic controller, for instance; or a SNES game with two people using the Classic controller and two more using GameCube pads.

November 14, 2006