Word from GDC is that the Revolution's "Virtual Console" service will have to do without the Rare classics, including the great Goldeneye.

Reports coming out of the US from the Games Developers Conference are suggesting that Nintendo's Virtual Console service (its planned retro classics downloads for Revolution) will lack some of the big name games belonging to the now Microsoft-owned Rare.

Apparently both Microsoft and Rare staff have confirmed to that back catalogue Rare titles like Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, Jet Force Gemini and Conkers Bad Fur Day won't make it onto the retro download service. Perhaps most importantly of all the seminal Goldeneye will also be MIA, unless both Rare and new license holder EA manage to agree a deal.

This is sure to be bad new to all prospective Revolution owners looking forward to relive some retro treats. But It's not all bad news, Rare titles which are owned by Nintendo including the Donkey Kong games and Diddy Kong Racing will be making an appearance.

With any luck Nintendo, Rare and EA will get together in the near future to broker a deal that will allow Goldeneye to make it onto the download catalogue, we certainly hope so.