News Article

US VC Releases - 9th June - NES Import Duo

Posted Mon, 09 Jun 2008 by Marcel Van Duyn

Dig Dug - Surprisingly, this version was never released outside Japan.

Dig Dug - Surprisingly, this version was never released outside Japan.

If you've been pining for some more imports in the US, you're in luck today - There's two of them. You might think one of them was in fact released outside Japan, but the contrary is true - It, surprisingly, never was.

That game is Dig Dug, the arcade game from Namco where you control "Dig Dug" (Later officially named Taizo Hori), a digger tunneling his way through the earth in order to eliminate the monsters lurking underneath its soil. He can do this by either dropping rocks on them or by inflating them until they pop. Dig Dug is 600 points because of import costs.

The other import is Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa. If you've managed to sample some of Konami's Parodius series you might know the titular character Upa - He appears in a few of them as playable character. Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa is a fun little platformer and well worth a look. It was originally released on the Famicom Disk System, then ported to the regular Famicom a few years later - This is the disk version. It costs 600 points.

In the WiiWare section of the Wii Shop, you will be able to download My Pokemon Ranch later today. Visit WiiWare World for more info.

Tags: Virtual Console, US releases, NES, Imports.

User Comments

Bass X0

1. Bass X0 United Kingdom 09 Jun 2008, 13:39 BST

Unexpected. Its cool that VC is becoming home to some obscure Japanese games like BMUP. I really expected Megnetica Twist today too. Probably next week, huh? I wonder when Samurai Shodown and Burning Fight will come to the U.S. too...

MVP

2. MVP Spain 09 Jun 2008, 13:39 BST

I do not know this two games, but the second one looks good, I hope it come to the European VC soon!!

slangman

3. slangman United Kingdom 09 Jun 2008, 13:54 BST

Nice suprise. Finally you americans are getting proper games that you were lacking for ages.

Tannman42

4. Tannman42 United Kingdom 09 Jun 2008, 13:56 BST

A very good week for the VC in the USA.

BB Sting

5. BB Sting United States 09 Jun 2008, 14:40 BST

Hmm, well I've never heard of these games before, but they do look kinda interesting.They probably won't get downloaded by as many people as Mother would though. Mother is the only import that has the potential to be downloaded en masse.

Bass X0

6. Bass X0 United Kingdom 09 Jun 2008, 14:45 BST

No Mother, but you do get a Baby!

Mike

7. Mike United States 09 Jun 2008, 14:53 BST

I'll pass. I'd rather have Kirby's Dreamland 3.

North99

8. North99 Canada 09 Jun 2008, 15:13 BST

I like these tacky little surprises this week. Sure, it isn't Earthbound, but they'll win some of my money this week for these ones. No complaints ..

AlexSays

9. AlexSays United States 09 Jun 2008, 15:33 BST

good week,
but i don't have any Wii points anyway.
at least is looks like US VC releases are slowly getting better,
but hopefully a good VC doesn't lead to a lackluster WiiWare.

Jogurt the Yogurt

10. Jogurt the Yogurt Canada 09 Jun 2008, 15:35 BST

Interesting week. I don't mind it one bit! I like how babies expect EarthBound and SMRPG every week now that they've been announced.

AlexSays

11. AlexSays United States 09 Jun 2008, 15:42 BST

@ Jogurt the Yogurt-
well actually you're the first person on this news article to bring up SMRPG or Earthbound :p
besides north99 but he's not complaining.

Atlantis1982

12. Atlantis1982 United States 09 Jun 2008, 15:53 BST

Wait, Dig-Dug was never released on the NES in the States? o.O I thought it was.

Starwolf_UK

13. Starwolf_UK United Kingdom 09 Jun 2008, 16:00 BST

People may have played Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa without realising it. Pirated copies did make it over to America where it was renamed Mario Baby (I know this is said in the comments for Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa).

Shame it'll be a few months until Europe get this (since are imports on en-masse and we just had the import month :( )

Mother is the only import that has the potential to be downloaded en masse.
Moreso than Super Mario Bros: The lost levels (or in the case of Europe the lost Wii Shop title) and Sin and Punishment? I forgot, Mother fans will gift an average of 8.65 copies each inflating the sales figure hugely (and I would gladly accept :P if I didn't have a PAL Wii...)

SuperMichael64

14. SuperMichael64 United States 09 Jun 2008, 16:02 BST

Now this more like it! Though I have no idea if these games are good or not :D

DJ_Philanegro

15. DJ_Philanegro United States 09 Jun 2008, 16:05 BST

What? No Earthbound? Lame. Naw, I'm kidding. (Although I wouldn't mind getting Earthbound...)

Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa (which I had to copy/paste) looks like a lot of fun. It kinda figures since it was made by Konami, after all. And with My Pokemon Ranch on the WW side of things, you can't go wrong. Good day for VCs for a bad night for me - I'd say that's a fair deal. =)

jackaroo

16. jackaroo Spain 09 Jun 2008, 16:11 BST

I love dig dug. Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa looks great.

MrPoo6321

17. MrPoo6321 United States 09 Jun 2008, 16:29 BST

I already have Dig-Dug on Namco Museum for the GBA. That's wierd that Nintendo chose to release the version of the game that never came to the U.S. I used to play Dig-Dug on an arcade machine in the game room at this christian basketball hall when I was a kid.

Bass X0

18. Bass X0 United Kingdom 09 Jun 2008, 16:38 BST

Well what other versions of Dig Dug could they have released on Virtual Console? As far as I can see on supported consoles, only Namco Museum 64 on N64 has it.

NintendoBrad

19. NintendoBrad United States 09 Jun 2008, 16:42 BST

Meh, I'll pass. (FYI, a Dig Dug game WAS released on the NES. It was called Dig Dug 2: Trouble in Paradise.)

Any idea why these games aren't appearing on my Shop Channel? It's acting like it hasn't updated yet.

AlexSays

20. AlexSays United States 09 Jun 2008, 16:48 BST

@ NintendoBrad- games don't update until 12 pm eastern time. so another 12 minutes. :)

Jogurt the Yogurt

21. Jogurt the Yogurt Canada 09 Jun 2008, 16:56 BST

zSMz, who's talking about just this article? :P Lurz. Anyway, quality imports = solid week.

Kevin

22. Kevin United States 09 Jun 2008, 17:24 BST

So it was true. Awesome, I'll be getting VC both games.

WitchFinder

23. WitchFinder United States 09 Jun 2008, 17:44 BST

Hmm. At least the import spigot has been turned. Now I want to see the following games in the US ASAP:
Cho Aniki
Star Parodier
Gley Lancer

Rexy

24. Rexy United Kingdom 09 Jun 2008, 17:45 BST

My uncle has one of those plug-in-system controllers with a lot of Namco games on it, and Dig Dug was among them - fun if you just want something to goof off and do for about 10-15 minutes while taking time off from doing stuff. Never knew the NES version never got released outside Japan, so yeah ^^;

Sharecrow

25. Sharecrow United States 09 Jun 2008, 17:47 BST

I am glad to see more imports. I don't think I'll download either of these, but I am still glad to see them made available.

I didn't realize Dig Dug wasn't released in the US either. Learn something new every day....

Angelic Lapras King

26. Angelic Lapras King United Kingdom 09 Jun 2008, 18:05 BST

Nice surprice

NintendoBrad

27. NintendoBrad United States 09 Jun 2008, 18:20 BST

If there was going to be an Import week, I'd rather Rondo of Blood be released, since these weeks only come every few months...

dualj

28. dualj United States 09 Jun 2008, 18:22 BST

Digdug is awesome! my opinion about rpgs mario and earthbound, personally I would rather have earthbound than super mario rpg but that is only because I have a cart of mario rpg (and the game can be beaten in 8 hrs or less).

lockelocke

29. lockelocke United States 09 Jun 2008, 18:41 BST

Great update, a little spice in the world of usually predictable and less than exciting VC releases.

Kevin

30. Kevin United States 09 Jun 2008, 18:46 BST

On a side note, will we ever be able to experience the commodore 64?

ColorblindMonk

31. ColorblindMonk United States 09 Jun 2008, 19:05 BST

Dig Dug = Duke Nukem if he lived underground

Pokemon Ranch = Mii Channel. Boring, but creative.

Rapadash6

32. Rapadash6 United States 09 Jun 2008, 20:19 BST

Surprisingly good considering Pokemon Ranch was released today as well. I thought for sure Nintendo would use it as an excuse to give us some throw away VC titles but these are actually decent. Color me shocked, but also a soon to be owner of Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa.

Objection_Blaster

33. Objection_Blaster United States 09 Jun 2008, 20:31 BST

Decent VC! And btw Ninty, you're getting closer with the whole "import" thing! ;)

Jupiter Adept

34. Jupiter Adept Canada 09 Jun 2008, 20:32 BST

I'd get Bio Miracle, but I only have 500 points! :_

Csheroe

35. Csheroe United States 09 Jun 2008, 20:38 BST

great week dig dug and bio for me.
Not enough room for pokemon ranch ='(

ChocoDK

36. ChocoDK Canada 09 Jun 2008, 20:50 BST

@Objection_Blaster: I know how you feel. When I wanted Harvest Moon I was 100 points short and got a Wii Points card. Now I have 1900 points sitting on my Wii.

On Topic: Good week for imports and nice to see a solid week. Interesting to see Pokemon Ranch was released even though it was expected to come out soon.

Zeroagean

37. Zeroagean United States 09 Jun 2008, 21:49 BST

Lol this has nothing to do with the games that come out but i would like to get smash bros for the N64 to download that would be the best ever

Phantom5800

38. Phantom5800 United States 09 Jun 2008, 22:23 BST

Dig Dug is import? Really? I didn't know that :S

Madmanonfire

39. Madmanonfire Canada 10 Jun 2008, 00:40 BST

Interesting. According to some news I read, Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa was released for Japan last week. Now, a week later, it has been released for US. It may be possible that, when Japan gets SMRPG, the US may get SMRPG in the following week. This is just wishful thinking, but you never know. It could happen.

Csheroe

40. Csheroe United States 10 Jun 2008, 01:42 BST

@ Madmanonfire
good thinking, I hope that happens!

Rexy

41. Rexy United Kingdom 10 Jun 2008, 02:01 BST

Don't count on it. Just because close releases happen once doesn't mean that it'll happen then. I mean, why did I have to wait a few months after you guys received Puyo Puyo 2 so I can finally look into it myself?

BB Sting

42. BB Sting United States 10 Jun 2008, 04:17 BST

Okay, these games are cool and all, but Nintendo needs to finally release this game http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Fox_2 ..... c'mon Nintendo!

WarioFan63

43. WarioFan63 United States 10 Jun 2008, 07:29 BST

I think close releases are likely for Nintendo titles. Especially the popular ones.

will

44. will United States 10 Jun 2008, 14:22 BST

OMG!!! Two crappy games this week is better then none i guess...
game shout- 1) Metal gear, 2) G13 Mafat conspiracy... I am American and I want american'ish games. (cough, cough, Gunsmoke!)

Rexy

45. Rexy United Kingdom 10 Jun 2008, 17:07 BST

You what? What's crappy about Dig Dug? And from what I heard, Bio Miracle seems to be a fun imported platformer. They may not be your cup of tea, true, but by no means they should be referred to as "crappy" just because you feel like it.

RevolverLink

46. RevolverLink United States 10 Jun 2008, 20:31 BST

Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa actually sounds like a pretty fun game. I'll have to download it when I get the chance.

Nintendude

47. Nintendude United States 10 Jun 2008, 23:32 BST

sweet i love dig dug

Sharecrow

48. Sharecrow United States 11 Jun 2008, 02:04 BST

@will - Mafat Conspiracy would be a great release. I wonder if we'll ever see it....I guess most would think it is obscure, so maybe unless there are licensing issues :) I played and beat G13 Top Secret Episode and would love to spend some time going through Mafat Conspiracy.

Gonz

49. Gonz United States 12 Jun 2008, 16:27 BST

I'd normally be bummed, but it is an import set, so I'll just sit here, smile, and nod.

Import support by Nintendo gives me hope that they're going to wow up with some more genuinely good JP-only SNES and TG16 games in the future.

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