So today the Nintendo e-Shop was named (or at least I believe that's what they're calling it) which is essentially the Virtual Console for the 3DS. They made a small reference to Super Mario Land which I fully expect to see on the service but it got me thinking about the future of it.

First off; What are we all expecting at launch? Obviously the service, since it's launching simultaneously with the device, is going to need content on it right away. Can we expect to see Link's Awakening? Super Mario Land? Tetris? Wario Land? For the Gameboy alone, just look at this long list of games for the choosing. What can we expect to see? Will it have a strong start but then taper off into the abyss like the Virtual Console on Wii generally is these days?

Personally I expect a few titles, but God knows which ones. I'm sure there will be at least a classic gem or two immediately on it. As for new content though, who knows what they're coming up with right now. And also, weren't they talking about remaking some games with v3D (visual 3D) support? This whole thing is just a big ? mark and I can't wait till the answers pour in.

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On a final funny side note, big whoop that the PS3 and Xbox360 are playing games commonly at 60 frames a second... according to wikipedia the original Gameboy did just about that too, lol. Who knew.

It's baaaaaaaacck.

Good topic. Super Mario Land, for sure. Possibly 3D Xevious, which I might just buy. Also, some 3DSWare. Possibly Bit.Trip Runner 2? (X-Scape 3D?) I'm looking forward to transferring my DSiWare. Have they revealed how they're handling that? The DRM stuff?

@anandxxx

I dunno about Gaijin Games on the e-store, I thought Alex Neuse's comments pointed at a retail release of some sort (and people naturally assumed it was a BIT.TRIP compilation).

But I do expect some WayForward and Q-Games presence.

I don't think they have said anything about the transfer, no. My DSiware will stay on my XL, at any rate.

I don't think WayForward or Q will make launch, though. I thought Gaijin was going to make a downloadable game, but I'm sure that you are more up on their activities than me. They can certainly make downloadable games in a timely fashion, though.

I also expect some Team Meat goodness. But not at launch.

Hmm, not sure. I wonder if some DSiWare games will be moved forward to 3D by some developers? I would think Gaijin Games will be doing something (since they have a dev kit), and Nintendo will likely have a title or two.

I'm hoping the Wario Land games get put up there. I never finished Wario Land II and I've never even played Wario Land 3.

Although, those probably won't be at launch.

Hm. Alleyway, maybe?

Oh, there's so much I would love to see (Kirby, Metroid II, DK 94, among others).

I expect a strong start much like when Wii's VC launched, then a gradual tapering off.
But I hope Nintendo proves me wrong and keeps the library growing on a frequent basis.

I expect Super Mario Land will be the first Nintendo title available.

Pandareus said:

@anandxxx

I dunno about Gaijin Games on the e-store, I thought Alex Neuse's comments pointed at a retail release of some sort (and people naturally assumed it was a BIT.TRIP compilation).

But I do expect some WayForward and Q-Games presence.

I don't think they have said anything about the transfer, no. My DSiware will stay on my XL, at any rate.

I will temporarily sell my Wii if I have to to cover the cost of the 3DS; I will never part with my XL.

@Simbabbad

This. I only played it for ten minutes in a KB Toys when I was younger. I'd love to experience it as it should have been played.

@Deerock69@Pandareus
You guys are assuming that you'll have to erase them from your XL to have them on your 3DS. If Nintendo is finally adopting a more iStore kind of policy, maybe they'll just extend the licenses to your 3DS.

GOD, I hope they don't give us a tiny fridge (relative to the contents) again.

@Simbabbad
That's probably my most-wanted, too. That, Mario Clash, Teleroboxer... the works.

@GameDadGrant
Holy shit, dude! Wario Land 3 is amaaaaazing!

@anandxxx

We already know the 3DS has 2 GBs of on-board memory, plus SDHC support, no? Tiny fridges no more.

And yeah, I'm assuming we'd have to delete the stuff off the old hardware, if simply because it looks like Nintendo is adopting more of an iStore policy from 3DS onward, and the infrastructure required isn't there in the DSi. But that's just the assumption of someone who doesn't actually know anything about DSi hardware or infrastructure.

It will probably be handled the same way as the VC. Classics doled out at a snail's pace followed by drought, with eventual holdouts. I do hope I am wrong though.

@Pandareus
Hmm... Having to physically transfer the games seems like it would require a lot more work than connecting your existing purchases to Club Nintendo so that Nintendo can just enable the licenses on your 3DS profile. I remain optimistic.

Oh, and I forgot how much memory there was. You can expand with any size SD, right? Or is it that the memory is ONLY on SD, and the system comes with a 2GB one? I was thinking that increased software size could still make the fridge fill up, but 32GB is plenty.

VB Wario Land, Tetris, and Mario Land are all I require, ever.

@anandxxx

As I posted, it's 2GB of onboard memory. Add to that the the SD card slot.

Hey guys, heads up: the e-Shop won't be ready at launch. Ouch.

@ludist210

That. Is. Bullshit. Dammit Nintendo. Not even DSiWare available at launch? This all seems fishy. I wonder why.

@Pandareus Does that mean it comes with 4GB? because I'm pretty sure it comes with a 2GB SD card in the box. I didn't think it had internal memory...

@rebonack

The system itself would need at least a little bit for processing things I'd assume, or just temporary hold places, but the card in the box is a 2gig card so I think it's just a little over 2GB total.

Also, Ludist, I changed the thread title to reflect your unfortunate news.

@ludist210
Ah. That stinks. Truthfully though for me it may be a good thing since I will want to get two physical 3DS games at launch and I really don't even know if I can afford it all right now.

It's a poor choice on Nintendo's side though because, if they had the shop readily available on the menu screen it could get more casuals to attach their 3DSeseseses to the Internet.

Now it seems like it'll be a feature that many people won't even know exists (when it ultimately does).

@ludist210
... the hell?

It does seem like the Menu is better on the 3DS. More Wii-like. I think the shop will be featured prominently. On the other hand, who the hell knows.