Nintendo recently reported $33 million in revenue from its Virtual Console, a network through which players - for a small price - can download games of years past and play them on their Wii.

Though that figure may be nothing to flaunt in some circles, it is rather impressive considering all the content that generated it is between 5 and 20 years old. In many cases the Wii owner downloading a Virtual Console game will also own its cartridge version for its original system.

The Virtual Console's success is all the more startling with respect to the rise in popularity of emulators: Free (and illegal) computer programs with which one can play virtually any game on any past system.

However, Nintendo's game network nullifies both old systems and emulators with economy and quality, respectively.

Having classic games on your Wii menu alongside current titles is a much simpler arrangement than stacking the system atop an NES or any other old console that may or may not still work. The web of wires behind your TV set is also simplified by doing away with that extra hardware, but none of the software.

But you've already packed away your old systems because all your games are a click away on your computer desktop? Then take the Pepsi challenge for picture, sound and play quality. The Virtual Console easily leaves emulators in the dust in this regard. A 14-inch computer monitor does not compare to your living room TV with a sophisticated sound system. Gathering around a desk for a multiplayer racing game isn't as accommodating a setup as the multiple couches of a living room.

The only con of Virtual Console titles, of course, is the source of Nintendo's revenue: The price you pay to download each game. NES titles such as “Super Mario Brothers” and “Punch-Out!” are at the fingertips of Wii owners for a $5 price tag. Nintendo 64 games like “Mario Kart 64” and “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” double that download cost.

Though meager compared to the mark-up on new games, Virtual Console titles may seem steep for old games, even if they come in a shiny new package. Even more aggravating is the absence of a subscriber service or package deal for repeat buyers.

So, when plans of the Virtual Console service - and its costs - were announced, two significant questions arose: Why would Nintendo bother selling people games they already bought? And how many people would actually buy those games a second time?

The answer to both questions, apparently, is that a lot of people will pay for them again.

The question the Wii owners must answer is whether their desire to play a crisp version of classic games - without unpacking their old systems - is worth $5 to $10. And apparently, it is to many.

Staff writer David Wilcox reviews video games for The Citizen. He can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net