Help writing FAQs page for VC-Reviews

[Dazza]

Guys, we're updating a few things on VC-Reviews and wanted to add a FAQs page to the site so readers could easily get answers to the questions that plague them. Here's what we have so far.......

Q: When is 'X' coming out for the Virtual Console?

A: This is the question we get asked more often than any other. To put it bluntly, if it's not included in the Coming Soon list, we have no idea. The Coming Soon list is updated the moment we hear any news or rumours regarding future Virtual Console releases. We also note where the new has come from - for example, if a game is rated by the ESRB then it's a good indication that it's going to come to the Virtual Console at some point. If it's not on the list then it's anyone's guess, to be brutally honest!

Q: Can I request that a game is made available for download?

A: No! We have no official connection with Nintendo so we sadly can't ask them to make a game available. It's also worth remembering that not every single NES/SNES/N64 (delete as applicable) game will come to the Virtual Console. Some games from that time period are subject to licencing litigation. Games that have direct links with movies or sporting personalities are unlikely to appear as new licencing deals would have to be struck. It's all a bit complicated, isn't it?

Q: Can you put a list of the Japanese Virtual Console games online?

A: At the moment we only cover North American and European VC releases. We'd love to give the same coverage to Japanese games, but we really don't have the time to do so. Plus, the percentage of readers that own Japanese Wii consoles is absolutely tiny, and many of the games released on the Japanese service are obscure and unlikely to appeal to Western gamers. So, for the time being at least, we will not be covering the Japanese Virtual Console service.

Can anyone add to this? Anything to do with PAL 50Hz/Component issues, connecting Wii to internet, internal memory limitations/SD cards, transferring VC games to a replacement Wii console, save states, etc

Any good ideas will go into the new VC-Reviews FAQs

[-Regii]

Q: You gave the game 'X' a really good rating, but it sucks as hell / a really bad rating, but it's awesome. Don't you have sense of taste?

A: Hold on there. This is just our opinion, and you don't have to stick to it. If you remember a game back from back then and know that you like it, just feel free to download it, and if you know a really bad game that got a rating that in your opinion is to high, than just let it rot on the downloading platform. You should also check out the reader ratings, because they cover both opinions most of the time and can help you decide what to download and what not.


~hth ^^

[alexknibb]

Originally Posted by Dazza

Can anyone add to this? Anything to do with PAL 50Hz/Component issues, connecting Wii to internet, internal memory limitations/SD cards, transferring VC games to a replacement Wii console, save states, etc

The questions I think that would be nice to cover (as much as possible) are:

1. When is "X" console coming to the VC? - There's a lot of discussion about this on the boards and a lot of (semi) answers, i.e. around the Saturn being very difficult to emulate, etc...

2. Can you still play games when they're copied to an SD card? - The answer to this is probably simple.

I'll probably think of more later, so I'll remember to repost.

EDIT - sorry, I'm just posting questions, really. I'll leave it to the professionals to post the answers.

[Goatlemon]

Q. Can VC games be played online like XBLA?
A. No.

Q. Do I need a Classic Controller to play VC games?
A. For games that require more than just the Wiimote you'll need at least a GCN controller, but you're probably better off with a Classic Controller.

Q. When is GoldenEye being released?
A.

Q. When will games be released for WiiWare/Wii Software?
A. Sometime in 2008.

Q. Who was the model for Zero Suit Samus?
A. Your mother.

Q.
A.

Q. What is the square root of 7,535,025?
A. 2,745.

Q. That Goatlemon from the forums is a sexy, handsome and suave devil.
A. Yes, but that's not a question.

Q. Can you gift VC games to people from another country?
A. No, you can only gift games to people in your country.

Hope that help.

[Dazza]

Some good suggestions so far. Especially the classic controller FAQ and gift giving FAQ

Liking it, keep em rolling in!

[alexknibb]

In addition to the Classic Controller question (which I think is a pretty good one) - it might be worth doing a quick run-down of what consoles can use which controller, and which are recommended. For example, if someone didn't have a GC or Classic controller, they can still play TG16 and NES games. It's probably also worth mentioning that the SNES games aren't particularly suited to the GC controller - I'm looking at you, the DKC series...

Also, does anyone feel a simple "What is the Virtual Console" question might be worth it? If someone sees the VC page on their shop channel and has never heard of it, it might be worth just doing a quick 2 sentence run-down of what it actually is. I know us board regulars are experts in the subject - - but what if the Queen has a go on Prince William's Wii and thinks "One is curious as to what such a phenomenon as a Console of Virtuosity is", then a google search might bring Her Majesty here, for example...

Oh, another FAQ could be How do you play 5 players on TG16 games? - I see that one a lot.

[Dazza]

More good suggestions for consideration for the master list. Good thinking!

Originally Posted by alexknibb

Oh, another FAQ could be How do you play 5 players on TG16 games? - I see that one a lot.

Ooh thats a good one... give me the answers thou, I forget!

[wii-c-kid]

Q. I've got a HD television and connect my Wii to it using a component cable I bought - now some VC games won't work. What can I do?

A. Some of the older VC releases are not compatible with some HD televisions because the television does not support the display method used to show the image on screen. Apart from a handful of titles, most games are now fully compatible. It's worth checking to see if there is a downloadable update for the game from the Wii Shop channel as often an update will resolve the issue. Your only other alternative is to use the standard composite cable - or purchase an RGB Scart cable if you want a better quality image - to play the games you miss so much.

I am not sure is there is a known list of problematic games. Perhaps it would be worth adding these as a pointer for what to avoid if someone prefers to use a component cable.

Q. When I come back to my N64 game, why can't I start where I left the game like I can with games from other VC consoles?

A. Unless Nintendo plan to change this feature, N64 games do not support state saving so you can't return to the exact point where you left a game. Always remember to save your progress using the in-game save method when playing N64 games on the VC otherwise the next time you switch on you'll have to do it all again.

Q. I already own one/two/three/four/an entire village's worth of Gamecube controllers, do I really need a classic controller to play VC games?A. Although you can play all current VC games with a Gamecube controller, some of them have been reprogrammed with the classic controller layout specifically in mind. In these cases you might find the button layout of the Gamecube controller less natural to play the games with. In the end it's really up to you, if you find some games have awkward button layouts it might be worth investing. And no, we don't suggest trying to play VC games with Bongo controllers.

I'm not sure how you guys feel, but it might be worth saying that the majority of SNES games work better with the classic controller. But that's just my personal opinion.

[Dazza]

Originally Posted by wii-c-kid

Q. I've got a HD television and connect my Wii to it using a component cable I bought - now some VC games won't work. What can I do?

This is specifically a PAL issue isn't it?

We'll probably point people to the forums for advice on specific games I think.

[wii-c-kid]

Originally Posted by Dazza

This is specifically a PAL issue isn't it?

We'll probably point people to the forums for advice on specific games I think.

Sorry, yes it is a PAL specific issue. Forgot to put that in.