It offered an upgrade program on Wii U that would let you play Virtual Console games directly through the Wii U interface, instead of the "Wii Mode." You would have to upgrade already-purchased games for $1 or $1.50, but that's certainly much more generous than repurchasing them entirely. Nintendo has taken tentative steps in this direction. You've bought it, you own it, and you'll be able to play it on your new systems too. No more purchasing classics like Super Mario World or The Legend of Zelda several times. Even if limited only to Virtual Console games, imagine if your library were shared across devices. Just as cross-buy has helped bolster Vita, a similar effort could be a boon to Wii U. Whatever the reason, that decision is hurting the appeal of its platforms. Nintendo's own shaky relationships with publishers may make the company reluctant to put itself in a similar position. In cases when it does happen, Sony must be brokering the terms in some way. Publishers seem chastened, even apologetic, in response to fans wishing for the functionality. Gamers expect it, and feel put out when a publisher charges separately across PlayStation platforms. After two years of precedent, though, cross-buy seems entirely ordinary. The initiative is arguably one of the few things keeping Vita afloat as it flounders for new content. Sometimes it even extends to more than two platforms, as games are available across PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Vita. One purchase gains you a game across multiple parts of the PlayStation eco-system. When it was introduced in 2012, Sony's cross-buy system seemed revolutionary. With so much ground gained in the last few years, why hasn't it caught up with an initiative that Sony has been running for almost two years? Mario Kart 8 had some forward-thinking ideas about sharing videos. The Nintendo Network ditched the separate stables for console and handheld and lets players use one account, with shared currency, across both platforms. Nintendo has made some strides in its online services lately. But twice that amount just to have it across both of Nintendo's platforms? No thanks. It's a classic of the NES era, and I was happy to pay $4.99 to experience it again. Last week in a fit of nostalgia spurred on by Shovel Knight, I picked up Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse as well.
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