The Wii title ´Impossible Mission´ will not be made available as a retail version but distributed exclusively via the Wii´s Shopping Channel, Nintendo Power magazine writes in its June issue, according to Infendo.
The game is based on the 1984 Epyx classic of the same name and is developed by UK publisher System 3.
No reason is given why no retail version of ´Impossible Mission´ will appear. Most likely, the game is thought to be not long or good enough to merit it appearing on a proper disc and as a full price title.
However, the same publisher has brought the Wii game ´Super Fruit Fall´ to retail, which feels like no more than flash-based freeware. Its crappy menus and blatant lack of attention to detail, as well as any Wii controller functionality, should have been enough to convince Nintendo and System 3 to consider this as a Shop Channel download.
So why now? And why ´Impossible Mission´? I would guess that something has gone quite wrong in the development process and only the flexibility of a downloadable game (allowing both for more flexible pricing and - more importantly - patches) can save it from being canned altogether.
If my guess is correct, it is quite a shame, because ´Impossible Mission´ is a legacy title (the very first videogame featuring audio output) that I and many other gamers still cherish today.
The PS3 has had its fair share of retail games being downgraded this way, with both Warhawk and Gran Turismo HD being available only via download.
Source: Infendo
Thanks to: GoNintendo, Testicular Sound Express
