You'll be able to play existing (and perhaps forthcoming) Wii games on Nintendo's Wii U hardware, but if you were hoping to play more Super Mario Sunshine, there's bad news to report.

Wii U will not play GameCube games. I learned this and other details I'll share soon about Wii U during a short interview with Mark Franklin, the head of Nintendo's public relations division.

You'll be able to play existing (and perhaps forthcoming) Wii games on Nintendo's Wii U hardware, but if you were hoping to play more Super Mario Sunshine, there's bad news to report.

Wii U will not play GameCube games. I learned this and other details I'll share soon about Wii U during a short interview with Mark Franklin, the head of Nintendo's public relations division.

Shame.

awww damn

Hey. Time to learn to play Smash bros with a wii mote.

B-But..I love sunshine. Look at my username!

Can't wait to see more of that interview, as well as the second roundtable Nintendo has going on right now.

I am always hoping to play more Super Mario Sunshine, so I'll have to keep my Wii out as a glorified GameCube.  
 
@BulletStorm said:

Hey. Time to learn to play Smash bros with a wii mote.

Hey how else could they sell them to you as downloads?

I'm very interested in this thing.  I've always liked Nintendo, but the Wii was just a no sale for me.  I'm totally willing to get back into their stuff if it is something that I can enjoy.

But can I download them?

Sad trombone

Well just like all things I am assuming some of that stuff will appear as a downloadable

Wonder if we'll be seeing HD re-releases ala the HD Collections on PS3. I'd buy the shit outta Wind Waker HD.

Lame, guess when they were talking about how its designed for "you" U, they weren't talking about me.

That's weird, I hope they explain why, doesn't seem like it should be difficult for the new machine to do.

But what am I going to do with my huge collection of great GameCube games?!

...

Fine, that would be like asking the original Wii to play N64 games.

Is the gamecube tech really that difficult to fit into the WiiU? I'm disappointed. I thought that controller would be great for replaying some GC favorites.

I guess I'll be keeping my Wii then.

I guess that's a reason to keep the Wii around. That said, it probably isn't all that important as PCs should be able to do a good job of emulating the GC with a decent list of working titles (so you only really need backwards compatibility with recent previous consoles).

Fortunately my Wii is sitting right next to my Gamecube... figure I'll just stack the Wii U on top the Wii and not worry too much about it. Though, shit, it sucks when the first two eventually conk out, oh well, by then Virtual Console will have Gamecube games.

It probably was not reasonable to expect the Wii U too play Gamecube games. The wii's backwards compatibility was miles better than the PS3 or 360 ended up being.

So do I buy a Wii U and keep my Gamecube or keep my Wii around? Gamecube, right? I've a nostalgic silver lunchbox just waiting to be freed from its box again.

I don't understand how this is even possible, given that the Wii and Gamecube are practically identical.

EDIT: ah yes, downloads. It all makes sense now.

We have homework.  Next year should be enough time to finish Eternal Darkness, Symphonia, and perhaps Crystal Chronicles, then forget the machine ever existed.

...why? I Wasn't going to get the wiiuiiuiiu anyway, but that's just weird.

That's because Ol' sneaky uncle Nintendo is gonna sell your fanboy ass GC games on his ol Virtual Console. 

Sony has made too much money off of HD Collections on PS3, and Nintendo their selves make too much re-releasing old games again, so what did anyone really expect here?
 
All those preorders of OOT3D and sales of Mario Tennis with Wii controls can take a nice chunk of the blame on this.

SHIT! Now how will I play MGS The Twin Snakes!!!!!!  oh wait... I still have my Gamecube :P

You can't keep chips of old consoles in it forever. Good choice imo.

Looking forward to downloading them from the eShop.

But what am I going to do with my huge collection of great GameCube games?!

...

SOo,my Wii will become a Gamecube and my Wii-u will become a Wii and a Wii-U. 

Damnit!

Dam they aren't supporting a platform from 10 years ago anymore on the current platform. Shocked i am. You'd think they were like a business or something.

That's really sad. I find it hard to believe it isn't possible.

@DestroJr said:

Fortunately my Wii is sitting right next to my Gamecube... figure I'll just stack the Wii U on top the Wii and not worry too much about it. Though, shit, it sucks when the first two eventually conk out, oh well, by then Virtual Console will have Gamecube games.

We're heading down a dark path...

This is a travesty.

Well I'll probably still have both my Gamecube and my Wii around so I'm not too concerned.

@MooseyMcMan said:

I am always hoping to play more Super Mario Sunshine, so I'll have to keep my Wii out as a glorified GameCube.

@BulletStorm said:

Hey. Time to learn to play Smash bros with a wii mote.

OH SHIT! My interest in new Smash Bros just dropped significantly. Been playing those games with Cube controllers since '01...Man...

You know, you don't need to use a Wii Remote to play Smash Bros. :P

Fine, that would be like asking the original Wii to play N64 games.

@MooseyMcMan said:

I am always hoping to play more Super Mario Sunshine, so I'll have to keep my Wii out as a glorified GameCube.

@BulletStorm said:

Hey. Time to learn to play Smash bros with a wii mote.

OH SHIT! My interest in new Smash Bros just dropped significantly. Been playing those games with Cube controllers since '01...Man...

You know, you don't need to use a Wii Remote to play Smash Bros. :P

Disappointing, but not surprising.

Bring on the Virtual Console GameCube Emulation.

Well, time to buy a used Gamecube.

NNOOOOOOO!!!! But my only copy of Timesplitters 2 is on Gamecube.

Darn. So if I decide to buy this I'll have to hold onto my wii so I can still play Wind Waker and Baten Kaitos.

Kinda figured this after they said backward compatible with Wii and excluded the GameCube...man now I can't get rid of my Wii.

If you really need to play Gamecube games, just buy a used Gamecube. I would imagine they are pretty cheap.

Hey. Time to learn to play Smash bros with a wii mote.

@BulletStorm said:

Hey. Time to learn to play Smash bros with a wii mote.

Classic controller man, classic controller