How do you access the virtual console, for instance games that were available on wii, but not in eshop.    I'm fairly certain the first sonic game was available to download in the original Wii but I don't see it in the Wii U eshop.  

Go to "Wii Mode" on your Wii U and they'll be there.

This...and you'll need your sensor bar set up and a wiimote paired to your WiiU if you haven't already.  The Wii menu cannot be accessed through the gamepad.  If you already owned the games on a previous wii they can be transferred as well.  The process takes quite a bit of time.

Thanks got it, So I just do it via the Wii section.  

Yup, its a shame that its such a convoluted process right now. I wish Nintendo would have paid a little bit more attention to the Virtual Console and worked to bring everything that was on the Wii VC over to the Wii U VC.

There's extra work going into the WiiU versions of Virtual Console games.

The WiiU VC is actually a bit disappointing. And rather expensive.

True, but the rate of releases so far has been pretty slow, even considering the extra work that goes into making a VC game for the Wii U. After 2 years you'd think a good portion of Wii VC games would have already been ported over.

I think its because they already have a Wii mode with almost everything you need there. All the extra effort for little gain wouldn't help much when they should be dedicating all their manpower to games, which they have done well.

I actually made a thread about that hehe.