The lights are on
Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Country 3 are getting pulled from Europe's Virtual Console store on the Nintendo Wii on November 25. You can still buy the games until then, and they will remain on your console, but after November 25, you won't be able to download them if you live in Europe.
Rare is the developer behind these two games. Rare is now owned by Microsoft, but Nintendo claims full ownership over the games and the characters, which is why this is somewhat puzzling. Why are just the second and third games in the series getting pulled form the store, and why just in Europe?
[via CVG]
Email the author Kyle Hilliard, or follow on Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and Game Informer.
Very curious. Quick, Europe! Buy them now!
Well, that's odd.
I dont understand why they are doing this at all.
Stupid is this methinks.
Well, that sucks.
its kinda odd isn't it?
i'm not saying that it's aliens, but it's aliens.
Theres gotta be something to this. This has me puzzled that for sure
Each Nintendo branch is responsible for their own licensing of the games that appear on Virtual Console. Which is why the US and EU Virtual Consoles are complete, utter garbage compared to the Japanese one. Nintendo of Europe must've... set up a licensing deal with... themselves(?) that ran out now.
Yeah, that's pretty stupid.
But, like the article points out, Nintendo FULLY OWNS all things Donkey Kong. Even if other developers make the games. I'm sure this is temporary and both games will return to the store soon enough. It would be pretty stupid for the VC to lose something like DKC2 and DKC3 now, with the Wii U on the horizon. I'm certain there will be new Wii players who, after shooting through the launch lineup of games, will hop online and download some classics to play in the early parts of 2013. Best fix this quick, NOE!
Hmmm...puzzling indeed.
@Kyle
The source actually states that it isn't actually just the 2nd and 3rd game it is in fact all 3 of the original games.
"Nintendo has confirmed with a message sent via the Wii system that Donkey Kong Country, DKC 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and DKC 3: Dixie Kong Double Trouble will become "unavailable for purchase" on November 25 "
yeah that doesn't make any sense to me :/ maybe theres money in it or possibly the rights are worded funny and they don't own it fully in europe or something ( altho thats doubtful)
This doesn't really make any sense to me. Perhaps they just want more people in Europe to experience the games by making this scare...
What?
I think this is the first I've heard of anything getting pulled from the virtual console.
Well I'm in the USA so I am good if I want it