Farewell, GameCube, the Wii U Doesn't Play You

Speaking to Kotaku earlier today, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime revealed that while the Wii U will still be compatible with Wii software, its predecessor's backward compatibility with the GameCube will not be making an appearance.

[LoaMcLoa]

You can't play PS1 games on PS3. Can't really say I'm surprised by this decision.

[tunaks1]

im pretty sure the fat ones can...

[EYEamNUMBER1]

your thinking of PS2 games

[solidjun5]

No, all of them can. They can't all play PS2 games though.

[GfxPipeline]

Every PS3 model can play PS1 games. PS1 emulation is completely software.

[ChronoJoe]

I thought any PS3 could play PS1 games?

[LoaMcLoa]

What? For reals?

Shoo, my mistake..

Ok, another example them x) Gamecube can't play N64 games

[WesMcLaren]

yea...they all can

[ChickeyCantor]

Downloadables games for sure.

[jerethdagryphon]

um yes you can all ps3sx have ps1 capability even from disc played acecombat 2 last night

[mrv321]

All PS3 play PS1 games.

[L6RD7BLU3]

Yes you can all ps3's play ps1, just not ps2 but who cares.

[Ducky]

... but the PS2 has/had arguably the best software lineups of all time.
=/

[TheCampfireSong]

Huh? All ps3's are capable of playing ps1 titles.

[L6RD7BLU3]

yes, try it

[stragomccloud]

All of them can. No dice on the PS2 games, though.

[cpt_kaos]

You either don't own a PS3 or do not have any PS1 games as 160 gig slim sitting here playing V-Rally.

Anyone who puts in a PS1 game for the first time on Fat or Slim models will be asked to create a PS1 internal memory card then it's all go from there.

[jacksonmichael]

I don't really mind in terms of Gamecube games... what bothers me is that I have controller adapters for almost all of the systems on the Virtual Console. If new VC games come out for Wii U but not for Wii and Wii U doesn't support my adapters (all of which use Gamecube slots), I will be filled with more rage than a Sony fanboy on any given day.

[-Alpha]

Can't you just use the Wii U controller?

[jacksonmichael]

Good question. No. That's the point. For example, I have an N64 controller (in my town, that controller is seen as the best so far) and I refuse to play N64 games with anything else. I tried with the Classic Controller... it just didn't feel right.

It's not that I don't like the new controller, though.

[GodsHand]

Don't worry about it, in 10 years you can sell that stuff for a profit, or start your own little video game museum.

[chrisgay]

If it won't upscale anyway, I don't give a shit- I'll stick to Dolphin. They missed a great opportunity to please a lot of people- the Wii U could have launched with hundreds of top games in HD that many hardcore gamers will have missed, on Wii and Gamecube.

[tigertron]

Backwards compatibility would have been one of the Wii U's key selling points for me. Shame Nintendo...

[Shok]

It is backwards compatible.....just not 2 gens back. You really can't blame a company for not supporting something from 10 years ago. Heck, I never blamed Sony for not supporting the PS2 (with the Slim models), cause to me, it's not such a big deal with home consoles. If I want to play a PS2 game I'll just bust out my PS2.

[tigertron]

Playing it upscaled would have been nice, through an HDMI cable.

[WesMcLaren]

Not a big deal, gamecubes cost less than gamecube controllers these days. just go pick one up for 10 bucks

[VampiricDragon]

the wii was bc with the gamecube

its good enough that the wii u just does wii

at least we have BC

[Samus HD]

agree - not a loose
ps3 can't even play ps2 games

[Cajun Chicken]

But...the Wii can? Seriously, not quite sure how this is a loss, really.

[stragomccloud]

I'm really disappointed by this. Honestly, had they released a second skew with Gamecube backwards compatibility and more internal space for 100 more, I'd totally buy that!!! Right now it's looking like it's going to get even more crowded in my gaming area. Wii, Wii U, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360..... too many!!!! I want to retire the PS2 and the Wii, but Nintendo and Sony won't let me!!! At least the Xbox 360 had limited backwards compatibility that lets me play the Xbox games that I actually liked!

At least it's backwards compatible with Wii... although no upscaling is big missed opportunity!!!!!