Intellivision DSi collection held back by Nintendo policy

by JC Fletcher { May 7th 2009 at 1:25PM }

Would you like to have a downloadable collection of vintage console games on the DSi? We would too! Oh well. When the DSi was announced, Intellivision president and IP holder Keith Robinson decided to move a stalled DS version of the Intellivision Lives compilation to DSiWare.

However, Nintendo rejected the project. Apparently, according to an email Robinson received from Nintendo, WiiWare and DSiWare games cannot "run under emulation."

Because of this rule, we're missing out on the most authentic presentation of Intellivision games yet. Look at that -- even the Intellivision keypad is emulated on the touch screen, with overlays and everything. Nintendo didn't respond to IGN's inquiry about the rule, so as of yet we don't have an explanation for the refusal. It's likely that Nintendo refuses emulated projects to avoid Virtual Console-style games on WiiWare. But there's no Virtual Console on DSi, so either that rule needs to be changed or there will be a VC soon. Scratch that -- the rule needs to be changed.

Tags: dsi, dsiware, intellivision, intellivision-lives, nintendo-dsi

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kyle Nichol @ May 7th 2009 2:02PM

It makes sense to not allow emulations of games in the DSiWare and WiiWare catalog if Nintendo plans to bring Virtual Console to the DSi, and with the large amount of Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Sonic, Kirby, Wario and Donkey Kong games released for the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance, Nintendo have no reason not to open up another stream of revenue earning from their portable back catalog.

Genome4824 @ May 7th 2009 2:09PM

I WANT MY VIRTUAL CONSOLE ON DSi! I'm sick of nintendo's bullshit SERIOUSLY

I swear this is because everyone doing the homebrew shit has Nintendo afraid and now we have no DSi VC. So thanks a lot.

Kyle Nichol @ May 7th 2009 2:33PM

That would be a stupid reason to not bring Virtual Console to the DSi, just wait for E3 or one of their other shows.

KaBob799 @ May 7th 2009 2:57PM

So homebrew affects VC but DSIWare?

RockMan_Forte @ May 7th 2009 4:40PM

Fuk you. Homebrew is awesome and soon enough it'll be on DSi

BPMOmega [gamertag] @ May 7th 2009 2:28PM

No Intellivison Lives DSi compilation = Nintendo can add Intellivison "support" and sell each game at $3-$5 each.

Heavytoka @ May 7th 2009 3:48PM

I still have an Intellivision that my parents gave me

Markez @ May 7th 2009 5:05PM

Played it quite a bit as a youngan myself, recognized this game instantly. That said I can't imagine wanting to actually ever plan an Intellivision again.

Space Invaders @ May 7th 2009 4:29PM

I hope they release this Intellivision collection as a regular DS cart.

Intellivision was really fun. They NEED to have online multiplayer too, because then you could play the INTV sports games online and that would be awesome.

Oh, and as for Nintendo's "rules" about emulation - what a load of BS. Nintendo is so lame, and truthfully they always were. anyone remember how they bullied retailers back in the 80's? They are not the "nice guy" company so many ignorant kids think they are.

Covarr @ May 7th 2009 5:45PM

They've already had their Virtual Console emulators hacked to run unsanctioned games. They're probably worried that the same'll happen to the DSi. Nevermind the fact that if hackers get homebrew using the DSi-exclusive features, they'll likely port already-existing DS emulators to use the additional power.