Nintendo has finally sent SPOnG the first finalised details on the launch line-up for the Wii’s Virtual Console service, with a cracking thirty-one titles from Nintendo, Sega and Hudson all to be made available by Christmas - yes, this Christmas.

In fact for Nintendo fans (and all retro-gamers) it’s like all their Christmases and birthdays have come at once. You can check out the full list of Virtual Console titles below and weep with the mere thought that you will soon be re-living so many past joys.

Accessing the games couldn’t be simpler, which is good news for all the grannies and nOObs buying into Wii! You merely access the Wii Shop Channel and select the Virtual Console games you want which are then saved on the Wii’s internal flash memory and added to the console’s Channel menu allowing them to be easily accessed at any time.

Of the initial thirty-one Virtual Console games being made available in Europe in December, Nintendo’s first party offerings include:Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario 64, while SEGA is releasing Sonic the Hedgehog, Golden Axe, Gunstar Heroes, Ecco the Dolphin.

Also included are Hudson Turbografx (PC Engine) titles including Bomberman’93 and Super Star Soldier.

In terms of cash (well, Wii Points):
NES games start at 500 Wii Points (approximately €5).
TurboGrafx-16 games at 600 Wii Points (€6)
Super NES and Sega Genesis games at 800 Wii Points (€8)
Nintendo 64 games at 1,000 Wii Points (€10).

Wii Points Cards will be available to buy at retail at around €20 for 2000 Wii Points.

The Wii launches across Europe on 8th December at €249/£179 in the UK, with first party games costing between 49 - 59 Euros/ £34 - £39.

Additional Wii-motes will set you back 39 Euros/£29, additional Nunchuks 19 Euros/ £14 and the Classic Controller will also cost 19 Euros/ £14.

Virtual Console games available in December 2006

NES

• Baseball


• Donkey Kong


• Donkey Kong Jr.


• Ice Hockey


• Mario Bros.


• Pinball


• Soccer


• Solomon's Key (Tecmo)


• Tennis


• The Legend of Zelda


• Urban Champion


• Wario's Woods

SNES
Donkey Kong Country, F-Zero, SimCity

N64
Super Mario 64

SEGA MEGA DRIVE

• Sonic the Hedgehog


• Altered Beast


• Golden Axe


• Columns


• Gunstar Heroes


• Ecco the Dolphin


• Space Harrier II


• Toe Jam & Earl


• Ristar


• Dr. Robotonik’s Mean Bean Machine

Turbografx (PC Engine)

• Bonk’s Adventure


• Super Star Soldier


• Victory Run


• Bomberman’93


• Dungeon Explorer

Impressive stuff huh? It doesn’t stop there. Nintendo has also sent us final confirmation on the Wii’s 8th December Euro launch line-up of new first and third-party titles which with no further ado is:

• Wii Sports Bundle (Including the Wii console and Wii Sports – Tennis, Golf, Boxing,Baseball and Bowling)


• The Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess


• Wii Play (including Wii Remote)


• Call of Duty® 3 (Activision)


• MarvelTM: Ultimate AllianceTM (Activision)


• Tony Hawk's Downhill JamTM(Activision)


• Madden NFL 07 (EA)


• Need For SpeedTM Carbon (EA)


• Happy FeetTM (Midway Games)


• Rampage: Total Destruction (Midway Games)


• Super Monkey BallTM: Banana Blitz (Sega)


• Gottlieb Pinball Classics (System 3)


• Super Fruit Fall (System 3)


• Disney/ Pixar Cars (THQ)


• Barnyard (THQ)


• Spongebob Squarepants: Creature from the Krusty Krab (THQ)


• Blazing AngelsTM Squadrons of WW II (Ubisoft)


• Far Cry Vengeance (Ubisoft)


• GT Pro Series (Ubisoft)


• Monster 4x4 World Circuit (Ubisoft)


• Open SeasonTM (Ubisoft)


• Rayman Raving RabbidsTM (Ubisoft)


• Red SteelTM (Ubisoft)


• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent (Ubisoft)


• Impossible Mission (System 3)


• Leaderboard Golf (System 3)


• Tennis Masters (System 3)

Move faster time! Move faster!