Wii can but dream of Saturn NiGHTS

After installing and setting up my wireless network at home. I took the Wii online and, two automatic software updates later, was happily perusing the Virtual Console!

Virtual Console, as I've mentioned in the past, is a cornucopia of classic console thrills. And Nintendo has announced that alongside NES, Super NES, N64, Sega Mega Drive (Genesis) and TurboGrafx-16, that NEO-GEO and MSX are to arrive in a spring update.

At present this NEO-GEO and MSX update appears to be destined for Japan-only. However, I'd be very surprised if both platforms don't appear for the rest of us! It's not as though King of Fighters and Metal Gear failed to capture Western gamers imaginations! Incidentally, there has been some very interesting online speculation concerning Sega's Dreamcast titles appearing on the Wii's Virtual Console! Data storage aside, there's no reason to conclude that the likes of Crazy Taxi, Shenmue and Phantasy Star Online won't appear sometime in the future. Come to think of it, the much-maligned Sega Saturn might benefit from Virtual Console. Daytona USA, NiGHTS into Dreams and Panzer Dragoon would be terrific additions.

Unlike Apple Inc's current policy regarding downloaded songs on iTunes. Nintendo allows users to download a game, which may have been deleted, again at no additional cost. This also applies to any software updates (patches). For example if and when Nintendo includes Rumble Pak emulation for its N64 titles. However, the game is restricted to one Wii! In the event that the Wii malfunctions and has to be replaced, Nintendo will provide support. Big N should be lauded for that!

My Wii Console Code is 4054 9122 2571 1110

I'm off to play Mario Kart 64 and R-Type...

Goodies

On my Birthday I went with friends to Pizza Hut (a personal favourite) and dined on BBQ Chicken Wings, Garlic Bread, Potato Wedges, Chicken Feast Pan Pizza, New York Style Baked Cheesecake and Pepsi. We usually opt for commercial cousin KFC.

A fabulous day was rounded-off with a Neo-Geo 2.5D fighting fix.



SNK's Advanced Entertainment System (AES, 1990), promoted by its hugely successful arcade incarnation Multi-Video System (MVS, 1989), failed to set the home gaming arena ablaze. This was due to the forbiddingly expensive hardware (£100+ cartridges) and the Nintendo/Sega duopoly. However, Neo-Geo plays attractive host to Fatal Fury, Metal Slug and The King of Fighters franchises. Memory card interoperability allowed gamers to save progress between AES and MVS, a feature that has never been duplicated. Neo-Geo is the longest officially supported games platform eclipsing Nintendo's original Game Boy.

This March Nintendo DS and Sony PSP are expected to launch in Europe.