It's a world of laughter, it's a world of tears... mostly tears when you realize why these can't come to Virtual Console.
Game title: Various Capcom/Disney Games
System: Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES
Developer: Capcom
Why they're so cool: If you were a child of the '80s and '90s, there's a good chance Disney ruled your life. In theaters you had epic masterpieces like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. On TV you had the Disney Afternoon, which featured great shows such as Ducktales and Chip N' Dale Rescue Rangers. And on the NES, Capcom provided a nearly endless supply of wonderful Disney-based games for us to further indulge in our childhood whimsy.
The Capcom/Disney collaboration shows that licensed games can work great regardless of system and license. The Disney Afternoon got its share of video game adaptations, like Ducktales (which has been regarded as one of the best Disney games of all time), Darkwing Duck, and Rescue Rangers. The Disney animated classics got The Little Mermaid for the NES and Disney's Aladdin for the Super NES. Even Mickey Mouse got to star in many a Capcom game, including Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse.
These games made good use of the license they were based on. The gameplay was easy to get into, the music was really fun (often utilizing classic Disney themes to make it that more authentic) and it was just a delight to play. Who wouldn't want to experience these wonderful games again on the Virtual Console?
So why aren't they out yet? This is where things get VERY complicated... There is a perfectly good reason why there aren't that many classic licensed games on the Virtual Console, and that is that it would be a licensing mess. Technically, Disney still owns the right to the license the games are based on. So they can just release the games under the Disney Interactive name, right? Well, Capcom developed these games, so they would want a piece of the Disney pie. So the two of them would have to discuss how to work it out, the pricing, who gets top billing, and in the end, the game would likely appear at a higher than usual price for a rather small section of gamers that want them out of nostalgic value.
That, in a way, explains why the only licensed game on Virtual Console is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle game for the NES. Licensing is a very tricky concept in the video game industry, and even trickier when you want to re-release games on a current platform service. Add to that the fact that both companies are notorious for their corporate decisions, and you reach the depressing conclusion that there's no way this is going to happen this generation unless the two parties learn to share and evenly distribute their efforts.
But a certain Disney Princess once said that if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true, so maybe there is a very small chance that we could see these wonderful Capcom/Disney games on the next generation of gaming. That's why they are my picks for my most wanted Virtual Console games.
