Makes sense that the DSi gets a Virtual Console, but I’d still rather have the GBA slot…
Turns out that, much like the Wii shop, the DSi shop will have yea olde games from Gameboy to Gameboy Advance as downloadable purchases. Good times. Hang on haaaaang on a darned moment… couldn’t I actually already do this? You know, but putting the actual carts in my GBA / DS? Yes yes I know the DS / GB Micro don’t play Gameboy or Gameboy Color games (*hugs GBA SP*) but still… can’t help but think that the removal of the GBA port from the DSi was geared round to pushing GBA game download sales.
Marketing conspiracies aside much like the Wii’s Virtual Console this is actually quite a good thing. I prefer hardware backwards compatibility (hehe, imagine a Wii with NES, SNES and N64 slots, lol) but at a pinch the option to buy and download classics from now retired consoles helps keep the classics alive and helps us keep the history of gaming alive. Remakes are a great way to remind us of our roots and dust off great stories again but there’s nothing like playing an original (says me trying my hand as Resident Evil Gamecube remake shunning the Playstation version).
I said of the Wii that I’d not be buying Virtual Console games as I already owned most of them or could buy the carts for sack all on eBay… but I caved in. I expect when I get around to a DSi I’ll cave in much the same – but at least I’ll do my best not to re-buy games I already have (says me having bought Pac-Man Miyamato knows how many times now… and Mario World at least twice).
