About the Virtual Console
The 'Virtual Console' is a video game download service that is offered by Nintendo, to support its Wii games console. Think of it as iTunes but for retro video games instead of music.
The service features classic titles from past Nintendo consoles in the shape of the NES, Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64. In addition to this there are also games from formerly competing systems, such as the Sega Megadrive (Genesis) and NEC's TurboGrafx-16.
The games appear unaltered from their original console outings however in the future updates may become available to add new and exciting features such as online play.
Virtual Console Channels
Commodore 64 (1982)
The Commodore 64 (C64) is perhaps the best known 8-bit computing platform ever designed. Within a few short years after its introduction in 1982, the Commodore 64 dominated ..
Nintendo Entertainment System (1985)
The Nintendo Entertainment System (or NES, for short) is arguably one of the most popular consoles ever created. Released in Japan as the Famicom ('Family Computer'), Ninten..
Sega Master System (1985)
After testing the waters with a range of consoles, including the SG-1000 and the Sega Mark III, Sega decided to launch the Master System in order to compete with Nintendo's ..
TurboGrafx-16 (1989)
The PC Engine was a joint venture between Japanese software house Hudson and electronics giant NEC. The machine was released at the height of Nintendo's dominance and surpri..
Sega Megadrive (1989)
Sega's 8-bit Master System was a massive success in Europe, putting even the mighty NES in the shade, but in the rest of the world it was largely ignored. When Sega decided ..
Neo Geo (1990)
Based on SNK's successful arcade technology, the Neo Geo AES (Advanced Entertainment System) sent shock waves around the globe when it was first released. It effortlessly ou..
Super Nintendo (1991)
Widely regarded as possibly the best videogame console ever created, the SNES is a machine that needs little introduction. Released in the early '90s, the machine built on t..
Nintendo 64 (1996)
After the amazing NES and SNES, people expected the N64 to run away with the industry and put Sony and Sega in the shade. It didn't happen. Nintendo decided to stick with ca..
WiiWare (2008)
WiiWare is a game-creation service that will allow developers large and small to create new downloadable video game content for sale by Nintendo through the Wii Shop Channel..