GDC 2006: Day Two and the keynote this morning was given by Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata. The San Jose Civic Auditorium was packed to the roof - even more so than yesterday's PlayStation 3 keynote and it was standing room only at the back of the upper level. Such is the draw of the iconic Japanese game guru.

Everyone was hoping to see Nintendo's next-generation console, Revolution, running games on the big screen or perhaps learn its release date and price. Sadly, none of this information was divulged but it was not all bad.

One of the biggest announcements was that back catalogue games for the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) and from Japanese publisher, Hudson, will be made available for Revolution via their Virtual Console. Here is a transcript of this portion of Iwata-san's keynote:

"New is good, but there also is an appetite for old. For young players, classic games are brand new. For adults they are a way to feel young again.

After we announced the Virtual Console concept for Revolution last year, many people asked me if only games for Nintendo systems will be available. Today, I have their answer. I can announce that games originally developed for the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) and Hudson Games will also be available for Nintendo Revolution through Virtual Console.

Between them, these systems use a library of more than 1,000 different games. Of course, not all games will be available, but the best of them will."


Pricing was not discussed, nor specific titles; Iwata-san's statement that "the best of them will (be available)" will no doubt lead to feverish speculation amongst classic console fans of what titles should or should not be near the top of that list.

Wikipedia lists a whopping 766 titles released in North America for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive. Take a trip down memory lane with games like:
  • California Games
  • Double Dragon
  • Dig Dug
  • Golden Axe
  • Out Run
  • Paperboy, and of course
  • Sonic
The name Hudson might not be as instantly recognisable as Sega, but some of its games certainly are. Lode Runner, published by Hudson for NES / Famicon, sold some 12 million copies. They went on to develop Bomberman which has since been ported in some form or other to almost every console since. The game is guaranteed to make an appearance on Revolution.

What would be your Top 10 Mega Drive games you would want to download onto your Revolution? Share your lists with everyone in the Forums.
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