So, most of us are knee-deep in Retro Game Challenge at this point--and if you're not, I think it's time to seriously step back and reexamine your life. That being said, had RCG simply been a showcase of eight retro-style games, it would merely be great; the games within are solid genre homages worth playing in their own right. But the framing device and window-dressing of the whole package amps it up way past awesome. And what I've come to appreciate most about RGC's games are the "achievements" established by Arino himself throughout, since they've given me more of an incentive than normal to play the majority of relatively-simple games featured in RGC. Without some sort of achievements or leaderboards, games where I'm getting a high score for the sake of getting a high score usually leave me completely unmotivated and a bit sleepy, which is why I think the goals enforced upon the player in RCG could easily be added to older (or retro-style) games to give them new life.
I realize, of course, that this isn't the most original of ideas. Sega's lousy XBox Live ports of Sega Genesis games had their own achievements, but no one really gave a damn about them except for the obvious mental cases who can still play through Ecco the Dolphin without having a nervous breakdown. And Mega Man 9 had quite a slew of achievements, though most of them were seemingly impossible to get, even for the hardest of hardcore Mega Man nerds. Now, the Virtual Console seems like nothing more than something Nintendo is now obligated to support, but how amazing would it be if Nintendo tried to create a community around their retro game releases by including extras like leaderboards, achievements, and perhaps the ability to play through games co-op online? Granted, these are features that should have been present from day one, but I can't think of a better way to get people to care about the Virtual Console again.
Aside from advertising or promoting it in any way.
Oh, and throwing a few worthwhile games up there from time to time may help. Just a suggestion.
Related Links:
The 61FPS Review: Retro Game Challenge
Trailer Review: Retro Game Master
Pole’s Big Adventure: Sega Rides the Retro Train, Takes Advantage of You