UPDATE (1/23/2013): Well, it looks like Virtual Console titles are coming to the eShop soon! Now, what about WiiWare, Nintendo?
Since the Wii U launched in November 2012, customers have been jumping on the digital-download bandwagon. Following the decision to offer many “full-price” games on the eShop for Nintendo 3DS, this time around, Nintendo has decided to make the vast majority of its console retail releases also available via the eShop. In addition, they have their own digital-only games available.
In my opinion, this is a great move. However, two things that are obviously missing are WiiWare and Virtual Console. On the surface, one might think this is just something Nintendo is not able to do, and we just have to deal with it. That sounds okay, except they have moved DSiWare over to the eShop on the Nintendo 3DS, so why not do the same for the eShop on the Wii U? Sure, you can still access WiiWare and Virtual Console games via the Wii Shop on the Wii channel, but who wants to go through all that trouble just to play a game? In fact, I assume it only hurts the digital market for those games.
I really enjoy playing my digitally downloaded Wii games, but I find myself not playing them lately, because the process to do so is so clunky and inconvenient. Nintendo, please move WiiWare and Virtual Console games to the eShop on Wii U!
What do you think? Should Nintendo offer all digital Wii games on the eShop for Wii U? Should the Wii be offered as a Wii U channel, as it is now? Should they do something else? Chime in via the comments below or in our forums.