A few weeks before the Wii launch, details started to filter in about the Wii’s Virtual Console, the software that would allow you to play classic NES, SNES, TG-16, Genesis, and N-64 games on your shiny white box. In general, Nintendo stated that each of the Virtual Console games would play exactly as they did when they were released for their respective consoles. This was great news for retro gamers who hated seeing “improved” graphics ruin their classic games, but bad news for a lot of fans that wanted to see online-enabled versions of their old favorites. Nintendo’s general line was “if it wasn’t featured in the original game, it won’t be featured in the VC game”, dashing the hopes of folks looking for some online retro gaming.

Well, it sounds like Nintendo may soon give in (or will at least have the ability to!). According to Wii fan-site The Wiire:

According to the Q & A section of Wii Shop Channel on the Wii console, software developers can update already released Virtual Console games free of charge.

The section reads as follows:

The “Update” button indicates there are enhancements for the game. If you have already downloaded the game, you may select “Update” to download the enhancements free of charge. Please note, downloading the update may impact the saved game data.

What could these aforementioned “enhancements” be? Does this just mean “enhancements” in the Microsoft sense (i.e., bug fixes?), or could it genuinely mean that Nintendo is considering adding on to their old classics? I, for one, can’t wait to see some online play in some of these oldies-but-goodies