Gamertell

With the recent releases of Punch Out and Ninja Gaiden on the Wii Virtual Console (see this week’s update for more information), I was spurred to pick up a Wii points card in order to download some nostalgia.  With old-school gaming on my mind, I opted to bypass the major chains and walk into a store specializing in games from all eras.  Browsing through a selection ranging from 2600 to 32X to PS1, I squealed with glee at the gaming goodness before me.  Reality soon crashed faster than the video game industry did in 1983, however.  My euphoria was crushed when I saw the highway robbery they called a sticker price. 

$90 for an NES? 

Probably worth it but not for someone with my budget.

I picked up the card and returned home.  I logged into the shop channel and my smile returned as I browsed the selection of titles from the Golden Age of Video Games.  I quickly ran out of points by adding classics such as Tecmo Bowl, Punch Out, Super Castlevania and more.  For a lot less than eBay, I was able to play such classics with little difference from the originals.  In fact, the only noticeable changes I have seen so far is the lack of real players in Tecmo Bowl and the difference in controller design forcing me to rethink moves long hardwired into my brain.

With the Neo Geo rumored to be added to the Virtual Console soon, I’m left with one question: Why did nobody ever think of this before?

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