The Wii has shown that classic game emulation is something people will pay for and when done right, it can be something very successful. Even with a slow trickle of games there's something for everyone and there's so much already available.

So the DSi has now been out for a few months now and notably lacks the GBA slot featured in the DS and DSL. The extra power that the DSi has should make emulation fairly easy for some of these platforms. SNES games inparticular would be fantastic because I no longer have SNES but would love to have a system that offered portable emulation.

Platforms I'd like to see:

GB/GBC/GBA (obviously)

NES

SNES

The idea of a portable virtual console just seems brimming with possibilites, I thought we could discuss what platforms and games would lend themselves well to a handheld. Also, what do you think should be done differently than the Wii Virtual console?

One thing that would be pretty cool would be to enable online multiplayer for old games that only have local multiplayer. It has been done by 3rd party emulators for years now, and seems like something Nintendo could reasonbly implement if they wanted to. This means that two people who own certain local MP games on DSi Virtual Console would be able to play with each other through wi-fi. This would be a great DSi only feature and a selling point for sure.

Thoughts?

Keep it to portable game systems. There are plenty of them to go around. Game Gear, Lynx, Wonderswan, etc. Online multi would be nice, but it's also a bit of a pipe dream, since it's less cost-effective for Nintendo.

It will launch with Pokemon and/or Tetris.

Well, they first need to get games on the DSi Shop.

They would only put portable games. Nintendo has almost never crossed Console and Portable game lines.

Sure you have the notable reports of Mario64, all stars, etc, but, they have almost always kept their SW separate.

Example, look at pokemon. The portables are far better than the console versions and clearly different types of games.

For VC Wii will continue to contain and grow in purely console based games, while DSi will, hopefully, begin to carry only portable based games.

So, I'd expect to see GB, GBC, GBA, Gamegear, lynx, etc eventually on it.

Only portable games? I can see why they'd do it, but i see it as a missed opportunity. I'd like a handheld that lets me buy SNES games with a good selection of games. I guess that may be too much to ask for. All these portable platforms you guys have mentioned... gamegear, lynx, wonderswan, I have zero interest in.

Really, if all they're going to offer is GB/GBC/GBA as far Nintendo platforms go, I might as well buy a GB Micro. Though it seems to me you guys are most likely right. Guess I should look elsewhere if I want to play SNES games on the go.

I could see it happeneing but only with handheld consoles. Which is fine. I just want Game & Watch, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. Game Gear would be nice too.

I just want Metroid Fusion.

Game & Watch games are already coming via DSiWare. $2 a pop.

Consoles:
Game and Watch
Game Boy
Game Boy Color
Game Boy Advance

Launch-titles:
Tetris
Super Mario Land
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
Metroid 2
Castlevania: Dissonance of Harmony
Some Game and Watch