Just to clear this up, although Nintendo published Banjo-Kazooie and others (and normally that would mean that Nintendo would have the rights to it no matter what happens to the developer), Microsoft specifically bought the rights to certain Rare games and franchises like Banjo-Kazooie so they are no longer Nintendo's (even if they were originally). There is no chance that Banjo-Kazooie or any other Microsoft-owned game will appear on virtual console, except maybe if Xbox fails and Microsoft pulls out of the console market.
Donkey Kong 64 is still Nintendo's just like Donkey Kong Country so I see no reason why we won't see that on VC but not until we've had DKC3 as well. As for Goldeneye, I'm pretty certain that Microsoft don't own any part of it. I would guess that permission would be needed from MGM first, probably it would cost Nintendo money to buy the licence again and if that's the case I think they wouldn't bother while there are plenty of other games. I doubt as well that they'd take the trouble to edit out the James Bond references, they'd have to completely re-do the soundtrack for a start, the storys, the locations, everything. |