A rash of reports appeared this weekend after “Bionic Commando Rearmed” producer Ben Judd said “Bionic Commando” can’t come to Wii’s Virtual Console service.
The confusion escalated when Capcom VP of strategic planning and business development Christian Svensson followed up complaints by pointing people to Nintendo. “This is NOT, repeat NOT, a Capcom issue,” he said.
That’s true, but not the whole story. There is no reason “Bionic Commando” can’t appear on Virtual Console, Capcom head of public relations Chris Kramer told MTV Multiplayer last night, but it is true that it’s entirely up to Nintendo.
Capcom does not control what appears on Virtual Console, Nintendo does, explained Kramer. Capcom licensed the rights to their games to Nintendo. Effectively, Nintendo has complete control over Capcom’s library’s appearance on Virtual Console. Whenever a Capcom game appears on Virtual Console, Nintendo’s made that decision independent of Capcom.
Kramer said they aren’t the only publisher who has this agreement with Nintendo.
In essence, there’s no reason “Bionic Commando” can’t show up Virtual Console, but Kramer has no idea when — or if — that might happen. Whereas Capcom is developing and publishing “Bionic Commando Rearmed,” they only take a cut of the profits on Virtual Console releases. Nintendo handles the scheduling and technical work involved.
At least now I know who to get upset at for not having access to “Mega Man 2.”
April 29th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Well, is Svensson and Kramer are soooo upset, maybe they should tell their boys to get started on that Wii version of Bionic Commando. When Capcom stops screwing Nintendo over, Nintendo will stop screwing Capcom over. And this is not about “what is best for gamers”. Gamers aren’t entitled to squat. You want Bionic Commando? Find a used copy or buy the remarkable remake. Meanwhile, Capcom can stop pretending that the Wii doesn’t have the largest market share and fastest rate of adoption of all the home consoles this generation.
April 29th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I am somehow unsurprised that Nintendo does not want to re-release a game featuring the bloody death of a futuristic robo-Hitler.
Why the Mega Man series hasn’t been appearing, however, is a mystery.
As for Capcom’s ignoring of the Wii, given the general quality of their games over the last few years, I struggle to be upset. The glory days of Capcom are long, long past.
April 29th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Capcom hasn’t been ignoring the Wii. They don’t have it as their main priority, but every title publsihed by them has been a quality title which is something not even Nintendo can claim.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
gametaku: TRUTH. Capcom is probably the only third party publisher that has released a quality title for the Wii. It’s ridiculous that Wii owners are subjected to such sub-standard games. True that it has the fastest adoption rate among consoles, but considering most of the people who buy the console don’t buy a game (i.e., play it for Wii Sports and THAT’S IT), I don’t see a lot of people who own a Wii making a big stink about not getting the new Bionic Commando. Most of these Wii folk are simple people who will pop in their Wii Play and never be happier. I still continue to wait for a flood of quality games rather than it’s current drought.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Too bad. I hope they reconsider. I would love to see it out on the Wii. I have a PS3 as well, so at least it will make it way home in some fashion.
I think it is still pretty lame that there is not equal cooperation. I played the original on my NES back in the day. I can’t wait to see if the remix has some exploding head action.