Are you surprised that the SNK collection was released on disk?

[Betagam7]

I picked up the SNK Arcade classics collection (part 1) new for £10 yesterday.

I have to say, given that it hopes to sell these games digitally for around £6 I'm surprised SNK released this collection on the Wii.

The one PAL NEO GEO game I had bought (Magician Lord) on VC so far ran in 50hz with borders and at a slower speed, something I assume is standard for PAL NEO GEO releases and so I wasn't going to touch another. However the collection, which features the vast majority of VC NEO GEO games released so far (plus others that havn't been) is superior in every way.

It not only runs in 60hz but allows you to map controls and use any Wii control method or controller you like. In addition it has built in xbox style achievments for each game that are used to unlock artwork, videos and an extra game.

Considering how cheap this was and that part two of the collection will more than likely encompass the remaining VC releases I'm questioning how or why SNK thinks I would ever want to buy one of its poorly optimised, storage eating VC titles again.

[Angelic Lapras King]

Well, some folk might only want 1 Neo Geo game. Which makes the VC ones handy in that instance.

[digiki]

Few people here have bought the collection though, and since this is a place where lots of retro gamers chillax, I wouldn't hold my breath on it having sold too well.

The collection is quite sweet though, the VC needs Shock Troopers!

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by Angelic Lapras King

Well, some folk might only want 1 Neo Geo game. Which makes the VC ones handy in that instance.

True but I know I'd rather pay £4 more for about 15 extra games, a full PAL conversion, mappable controls, extras and achievents to aim for. Not to mention the saving in system memory.

It's pleasantly surprising that SNK makes them available in this format though although Sega must be scratching there heads over the business strategy behind it.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

It's pleasantly surprising that SNK makes them available in this format though although Sega must be scratching there heads over the business strategy behind it.

I doubt Sega is scratching their heads. Sega does the same thing with all of their disc-based anthologies. (I suppose Sega doesn't release their collections on the Wii, but the GCN has a couple of them.)

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by Jogurt the Yogurt

I doubt Sega is scratching their heads. Sega does the same thing with all of their disc-based anthologies. (I suppose Sega doesn't release their collections on the Wii, but the GCN has a couple of them.)

Yeah that's what I mean though. Sega doesn't eat into its VC profits by releasing a cheap collection for the Wii (the GC ones coming before the VC) yet SNK doesn't see a problem with it.
Me I love it but I wouldn't like to explain it to the SNK CEO.

[digiki]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

Yeah that's what I mean though. Sega doesn't eat into its VC profits by releasing a cheap collection for the Wii (the GC ones coming before the VC) yet SNK doesn't see a problem with it.
Me I love it but I wouldn't like to explain it to the SNK CEO.

No don't, I need a good reason to buy a Wii game, and I don't want SNK Arcade Classics to never get past Volume 1

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

Yeah that's what I mean though. Sega doesn't eat into its VC profits by releasing a cheap collection for the Wii (the GC ones coming before the VC) yet SNK doesn't see a problem with it.
Me I love it but I wouldn't like to explain it to the SNK CEO.

The VC games could be a simple ploy to get people to buy the disc collection.

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by Jogurt the Yogurt

The VC games could be a simple ploy to get people to buy the disc collection.

Maybe, but the pricing suggests otherwise. I'm actually tempted to play dumb consumer and complain that my VC Magician Lord doesn't look the same as the one on my disk. Would be interesting to see the reply offered.

[Angelic Lapras King]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

True but I know I'd rather pay £4 more for about 15 extra games, a full PAL conversion, mappable controls, extras and achievents to aim for. Not to mention the saving in system memory.

It's pleasantly surprising that SNK makes them available in this format though although Sega must be scratching there heads over the business strategy behind it.

Aye, and then there are those that are too lazy to put the disc in and/or don't really want the likes of Neo Turf Masters or the rest with their one game.

Aaaaaand, ideal for trying out a game before buying the whole series on an anthology disc (KOF, Metal Slug, Samuri Shodown etc.)

[Refa]

Originally Posted by Angelic Lapras King

Aye, and then there are those that are too lazy to put the disc in and/or don't really want the likes of Neo Turf Masters or the rest with their one game.

Aaaaaand, ideal for trying out a game before buying the whole series on an anthology disc (KOF, Metal Slug, Samuri Shodown etc.)

But all of those games are great! And with prices of $15, noone needs to try out the VC versions. Just head straight towards retro compilation goodness.

[digiki]

Originally Posted by Refa

But all of those games are great! And with prices of $15, noone needs to try out the VC versions. Just head straight towards retro compilation goodness.

They aren't ALL great Art of Fighting and a few others aren't so good, but then again lots of others are really great .

[SKTTR]

what games are on that snk classic disc yer all talkin bout?

[digiki]

Metal Slug
Shock Troopers
Top Hunters
Magician Lord
Art of Fighting
Burning Fight
Sengoku
Samurai Shodown
King of Fighters '94
Baseball Stars 2
Last Resort
Super Sidekicks 3
Neo Turf Masters
Fatal Fury
World Heroes
King of the Monsters

I think that covers it.

[Refa]

Originally Posted by digiki

They aren't ALL great Art of Fighting and a few others aren't so good, but then again lots of others are really great .

I meant just KoF, Metal Slug, and SamSho.

BTW, I like all SNK collections.

The volume ones are good, Fatal Fury ones are sparse, but still pretty good (but I DAMN them because they don't have Mark Of The Wolves), and even the Art Of Fighting one is good (only because of 3; Art Of Fighting 3 has incredible animation for the Neo Geo and is a pretty darn awesome game). I've heard the World Heroes Anthology SUCKS dick, though.

And the only good version of Metal Slug Anthology is for the PS2. Because the PS2 has almost every excellent non Nintendo game.

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by digiki

They aren't ALL great Art of Fighting and a few others aren't so good, but then again lots of others are really great .

There are certainly some average games on there but the fact is you may as well count those as freebies with the great games. So while for every Metal Slug there's a King of the Monsters.
It's still possible to have fun with the latter because you didn't waste 900 points on it and it can be loaded straight up without having to re-sort your whole internal memory and fiddle about with SD cards. The latter is the main reason why I'll always buy disk games if I can. I was dissapointed when World of Goo was shifted from disk based release to Wiiware.

The game I've been most surprised with is Super Sidekicks 3. Despite its at times ludicrous interpretation of football (soccer for you U.S types) its over-excitable arcade style has had me pumping in the most virtual quarters so far and I'm nearly done getting all its medals.

The medal feature is what really rewards this purchase though. It's basically Xbox achievments under a different name. I wouldn't be surprised to see nintendo introduce this for Wii 2. There's nothing shameful about copying a really good idea, especially when you have a good track record of innovation.

[SKTTR]

1. Metal Slug - good
2. Shock Troopers - don't know
3. Top Hunters - decent
4. Magician Lord - decent
5. Art of Fighting - lame
6. Burning Fight - lame
7. Sengoku - don't know
8. Samurai Shodown - very good
9. King of Fighters '94 - good
10. Baseball Stars 2 - very good
11. Last Resort - decent
12. Super Sidekicks 3 - don't know
13. Neo Turf Masters - decent
14. Fatal Fury - lame
15. World Heroes - lame
16. King of the Monsters - lame

2 games i would buy, 2 others that could provide a little 2 player fun.
3 more i'd like to try out. and 9 games i wouldn't play at all.

I wouldn't pay more than 18€ if I find the collection.

[digiki]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

There are certainly some average games on there but the fact is you may as well count those as freebies with the great games. So while for every Metal Slug there's a King of the Monsters.
It's still possible to have fun with the latter because you didn't waste 900 points on it and it can be loaded straight up without having to re-sort your whole internal memory and fiddle about with SD cards. The latter is the main reason why I'll always buy disk games if I can. I was dissapointed when World of Goo was shifted from disk based release to Wiiware.

The game I've been most surprised with is Super Sidekicks 3. Despite its at times ludicrous interpretation of football (soccer for you U.S types) its over-excitable arcade style has had me pumping in the most virtual quarters so far and I'm nearly done getting all its medals.

The medal feature is what really rewards this purchase though. It's basically Xbox achievments under a different name. I wouldn't be surprised to see nintendo introduce this for Wii 2. There's nothing shameful about copying a really good idea, especially when you have a good track record of innovation.

I played a fair amount of Super Sidekicks too, it's the silly presentation that makes me like it.

My pick of the bunch is Shock Troopers, I even managed all the medals

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by SKTTR

1. Metal Slug - good
2. Shock Troopers - don't know
3. Top Hunters - decent
4. Magician Lord - decent
5. Art of Fighting - lame
6. Burning Fight - lame
7. Sengoku - don't know
8. Samurai Shodown - very good
9. King of Fighters '94 - good
10. Baseball Stars 2 - very good
11. Last Resort - decent
12. Super Sidekicks 3 - don't know
13. Neo Turf Masters - decent
14. Fatal Fury - lame
15. World Heroes - lame
16. King of the Monsters - lame

2 games i would buy, 2 others that could provide fun for some hours.
3 more i'd like to try out. and 8 games i wouldn't play at all.

Well I got this for less than the price of 2 NeoGeo VC downloads so it might make sense to buy it if you want those two games (given that you get extras and mappable controls). Also, although you say you wouldn't play 8 of those games at all I bet you would end up doing so if they were essentially free. I wouldn't have ever played some of these games unless they were free but without the worry of having wasted money on it I find I can appreciate stuff like Fatal Fury without stressing about whether it was good value.

To fill you in on the ones you don't know

Shock Troopers - imagine a top down version of Metal Slug. That's what this game is in everything but name. Hand drawn graphics, ridiculous explosions and an interesting group mode I havn't fully explored yet. Short (with infinite continues) but fun.

Sengoku - havn't played this yet but it looks like a sci-fi side scrolling beat-em-up.

Super Sidekicks 3 - Despite getting alot wrong with its interpretation of football (ridiculous over the top fouling, only one half played etc) I've found this really addictive in an old school coin-op style and its brought back fond memories of the ISS titles on SNES.

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by digiki

I played a fair amount of Super Sidekicks too, it's the silly presentation that makes me like it.

My pick of the bunch is Shock Troopers, I even managed all the medals

Yeah, Super Sidekicks is so over the top its hilarious. I still havn't figured out what a "super psych up" does though. I just finished getting all the medals in it, took me ages to score a "chance shot".

My one criticism of this package so far is that the instructions for the games are poorly summarised in just a few sentances and are often missing key gameplay elements.

Only had the one blast through Shock Troopers yet but the multiple routes look like they should add longevity.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

I just found this for $30 CDN today, but I didn't get it. I've seen it elsewhere for $15, so it seems a bit crazy for it to suddenly be so expensive. Still, it would be nice to have something else to use my Hori with... That's one reason I'm thinking of getting Samurai Shodown Anthology on the Wii instead of the PS2 now.

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by Jogurt the Yogurt

I just found this for $30 CDN today, but I didn't get it. I've seen it elsewhere for $15, so it seems a bit crazy for it to suddenly be so expensive. Still, it would be nice to have something else to use my Hori with... That's one reason I'm thinking of getting Samurai Shodown Anthology on the Wii instead of the PS2 now.

yeah, I only paid £10 for it. (well actually it was 2 for £20 with Dewey's Adventure)
It's the first time I'd ever seen it in a shop to be honest so it might be in limited supply.
It's definately a good sign though that with this and the Sega Mega Drive collection virtual consoles and Live arcades don't appear to have spelled the end of compliation gaming.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

yeah, I only paid £10 for it. (well actually it was 2 for £20 with Dewey's Adventure)

I believe £10 is about $25 CDN, so the price I saw apparently isn't too far off.

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by Jogurt the Yogurt

I believe £10 is about $25 CDN, so the price I saw apparently isn't too far off.

Not sure but a standard new Wii release retails for about £29.99 as standard here. Although recently the price of Wii games has been falling with the recession so relatively new stuff like Day of Disaster is only £14.99 in some shops.

We've come a long way from paying £69.99 for a new copy of SNES Streetfighter 2. Back in those days finding anything under £30 was the bargain of the century!

[Refa]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

Not sure but a standard new Wii release retails for about £29.99 as standard here. Although recently the price of Wii games has been falling with the recession so relatively new stuff like Day of Disaster is only £14.99 in some shops.

We've come a long way from paying £69.99 for a new copy of SNES Streetfighter 2. Back in those days finding anything under £30 was the bargain of the century!

Funny thing is, I paid $70 for Pokemon Stadium 2 and $60 for Pokemon Stadium, but only around $20 for Ocarina Of Time.

[Rich]

@Betagam7.

I pre-ordered this from GAME but when release day came in October last year I was told that it was not going to be stocked in store and I can't find it on thier website either.

Please can you tell me which shop you picked it up from.

Thanks

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by Rich

@Betagam7.

I pre-ordered this from GAME but when release day came in October last year I was told that it was not going to be stocked in store and I can't find it on thier website either.

Please can you tell me which shop you picked it up from.

Thanks

Gamestation in Newcastle but there was only one copy seems to be getting rare though, google shopping doesn't have much.

Incidently for anyone that's completed Burning Fight is that one of the poorest endings ever or what?

[muesli]

Two reasons I can think of:

*A big part of the strategy behind the VC is to encourage impulse buys, it's the reasons there are still AAA Nintendo titles that haven't been released - they stagger the releases so that people who have Wii Points lying around will get impatient and spend them on something, anything else. When you're in a store making a deliberate decision to buy you might pass on a collection, but the whole "why not?" motivation is largely what drives digital distribution.

*SNK are horrible, horrible businessmen

[Refa]

Originally Posted by muesli

*SNK are horrible, horrible businessmen

Obviously; why else would some stores not sell SNK games because they're too "low budget"?

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by muesli

Two reasons I can think of:

*A big part of the strategy behind the VC is to encourage impulse buys, it's the reasons there are still AAA Nintendo titles that haven't been released - they stagger the releases so that people who have Wii Points lying around will get impatient and spend them on something, anything else. When you're in a store making a deliberate decision to buy you might pass on a collection, but the whole "why not?" motivation is largely what drives digital distribution.

But surely then, knowing they can get the collection for just a few $/£s more than a single VC release, most people will pass on making such an impulse buy and get a game from a different VC system or a Wiiware title instead.
By making all these collections (This one, its sequel, Metal Slug and the forthcoming Samuraui Shodown collection) available on Wii I can't see how SNK thinks anyone with half a brain is going to continue buying individual NEO GEO titles on an impulse.

It would be very interesting to see there sales figures for the VC.

[Earl_Wiggles]

I'm amazed SNK still exist, whoring their old games out on every platform seems like the only way to keep in the black and at 900 points a pop I can't imagine they have many downloads.

[Refa]

Originally Posted by Earl_Wiggles

I'm amazed SNK still exist, whoring their old games out on every platform seems like the only way to keep in the black and at 900 points a pop I can't imagine they have many downloads.

Metal Slug games on the VC are a good buy, because the collection has some pretty crappy controls and a few discrepancies.

[digiki]

Originally Posted by Refa

Metal Slug games on the VC are a good buy, because the collection has some pretty crappy controls and a few discrepancies.

And the collection is still $50 new here. So if they were all available on the VC the savings wouldn't be that big.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

I think folks underestimate the power of convenience. I guarantee that there are a lot of people who would sooner download one or more of these games from the VC than go out and track down a disc copy.

[Earl_Wiggles]

Originally Posted by Refa

Metal Slug games on the VC are a good buy, because the collection has some pretty crappy controls and a few discrepancies.

Thats a good point actually, they really screwed up on that one. I wish the Xbox version of MS3 would be put on WiiWare with all the extra modes, that game was excellent.

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by Refa

Metal Slug games on the VC are a good buy, because the collection has some pretty crappy controls and a few discrepancies.

Are you talking about the Metal Slug Collection? It's important to clarify that the SNK collection's Metal Slug has fully mappable controls and uses any control setup the Wii has to offer including classic controller support as do all the games on this collection. Also if you are a PAL gamer its important to note that the VC NEO GEO Games run with borders and 17.5% slower wheras the games on the SNK collection are perfect 60hz.

Originally Posted by Earl_Wiggles

Thats a good point actually, they really screwed up on that one. I wish the Xbox version of MS3 would be put on WiiWare with all the extra modes, that game was excellent.

Well to be fair there are some extras like the medal system challenges and unlockable music and artwork on Metal Slug 1 for the SNK collection.
Maybe if Metal Slug 3 appears on a future SNK collection these will be unlockable.

[Refa]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

Are you talking about the Metal Slug Collection? It's important to clarify that the SNK collection's Metal Slug has fully mappable controls and uses any control setup the Wii has to offer including classic controller support as do all the games on this collection. Also if you are a PAL gamer its important to note that the VC NEO GEO Games run with borders and 17.5% slower wheras the games on the SNK collection are perfect 60hz.

What? I'm talking about Metal Slug Anthology here. SNKs collection is pretty awesome, although the PS2 version is like $10, while the Wii version is double that.

[Betagam7]

Just beat Sengoku and I have to say it was one of the weirdest beatem ups I've played. Very very odd but a whole lot better than burning fight!

[Refa]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

Just beat Sengoku and I have to say it was one of the weirdest beatem ups I've played. Very very odd but a whole lot better than burning fight!

Seems pretty kewl. I'll try it out first when I get the compilation.

[brooks83]

I'm hoping we will see a Volume 2. I was pretty pleased with Volume 1. I also got the King of Fighters Collection, but I have yet to try that out. I have a huge backlog of games to go through first