Nintendo just recently announced that the Wii U will not support play of Wii Virtual Console or Wii Ware games on the GamePad tablet controller’s screen. I think this is very disappointing (for me at least) as I was very much looking forward to playing some old NES favourites on the Gamepad.

Nintendo has however said in effect that this feature might be availble in futre. My problem is that I don't understand why Nintendo couldn't let us have Gamepad screen functionality for Vitual Console games right from the start. Is this a possible hardware issue, or a software one? Or is Nintendo just being ol silly Nintendo? Why does the console apparently have to go into 'Wii-mode' just to play Wii games?

It's just a software issue--there's really no reason they couldn't allow it. That said, I could certainly see it being patched in later. I would think it's just not their priority right at the moment.

Don't quote me on this but: Just like how the Wii went into "Gamecube Mode" and virtually none of the Wii's features were accessible, I think the Wii U goes into "Wii Mode" where it pretty much mimics a Wii with absolutely nothing added. The price you pay for flawless backwards compatibility but I hear it can potentially be fixed with a patch OR a Wii U compatible version of the Virtual Console.

Unfortunately, knowing Nintendo, you'll likely have to pay for your content a second time.

Yepp flawless backwards compadibility indeed.

Also, apparently you cna transfer your VC titles from your Wii to WiiU.

Will need an internet connection to do it though.

What they also said in their direct video was that the VC games will be accessible by all user accounts on the console.

back to topic, I hope they too release an update to play my VC games on the gamepad.

Because the Virtual Console games that are available right from the start are the ones optimized for Wii.  And they had no interest/time yet to "port" them over to the WiiU (the VC games will run in Wii mode as far as I know)   Nintendo announced they want to "fix" that  so you will be able to play VC games on your gamepad in the future   but thats not a day1 feature.


And you will also not be able to play Wii games on the gamepad since its also running in Wii mode.  Its just using the hardware the Wii had to save energy etc. This is because every little change can make the whole process of playing the old stuff  unstable   thats also why in Gamecube mode no USB device was working with Wii or why you couldn't restart your system by pressing HOME etc on your wiimote   (The wii's gamecube hardware simply has no bluetooth)

Yeah, that's what I was talking about.  I saw it mentioned that there would possibly be a version of the VC that allowed for play on the Wii U gamepad.  I just hope they let us update our existing games (if this happens) instead of making us by enhanced Wii U versions of games we bought on the Wii VC.  They have allowed 3DS games to be updated free of charge so who knows?  But Nintendo has historically managed to get big bucks out of there older titles.  If you knew how many times I've purchased different versions of Nes/Snes 2D Mario games, you'd slap me.

forgive my ignorance for not knowing this, but can all Virtual Console games play on either 3DS or Wii, or are they Wii specific VC games and 3DS specific VC games?

skirts - there are hard to animate.

So far, if you buy a game on the Wii, it only plays on the Wii and the same goes for 3DS.  Wii has games from the Nes, Snes, N64, Turbografx-16, Genesis, Neo Geo, and a few other formats I can't think of.  3DS has titles from the GBA (ambassadors only), Gameboy, Nes, and Game Gear.  If, for example, you buy Super Mario Bros. 1 for the 3DS, you'd have to buy it again for the Wii. 

I REALLY hope SNES titles and more GBA games come to the 3DS.  The small screen is a perfect fit for that style of gaming.

Thanks - i hope that happens as well. Let's also hope the Wii U and 3DS are both uber successful so that VC games on the Gamepad and 3DS become more and more available.