Treasure president Masato Maegawa has confirmed that his company is looking at producing games for downloadable content services such as WiiWare and XBLA.
Speaking to 1up.com, Maegawa commented that he really liked the job fellow Japanese developer IntiCreates did with Mega Man 9. This might suggest that Treasure is looking at doing similar things with its own IP – which should get all serious video game fans very excited indeed. New Gunstar Heroes, anyone?
However, before you get carried away with the idea of Treasure throwing its weight behind WiiWare, it’s worth noting that Maegawa also stated that the company’s focus would remain on traditional ‘disc based’ releases, and the upcoming Sin & Punishment 2 will NOT be a WiiWare release - something that had been rumoured recently. Boo.
Maegawa also gave his thoughts on the Virtual Console service, details of which you can find over at our sister site Virtual Console Reviews.
Source: 1up.com

User Comments
1. Objection_Blaster
09 Oct 2008, 12:26 BST
Very exciting news! I hope that they put out another great effort, which they likely will, but don't expect anything this year. As a side note, I didn't need to first-post for any reason...I'm just evil
2. lucario13
09 Oct 2008, 12:57 BST
Hope they do make gunstar heroes 2, Maybe a few other treasure sequels, they make great gmaes.
3. Bass X0
09 Oct 2008, 13:16 BST
i'd kinda like to see some of their 32-bit games ported to WiiWare if possible.
4. Kevin
09 Oct 2008, 13:53 BST
I'd love to see a Gunstar Heroes 2!
5. zoipi
09 Oct 2008, 13:57 BST
yeah! Treasure is one of my favourites developers in the world. I's nearly always a seal of quality.
6. Ian Daemon
09 Oct 2008, 14:01 BST
Yeah Treasure, how about Super Duper Gunstar Heroes. for WiiWare. THAT I'd buy.
7. That Guy from Faxanadu
09 Oct 2008, 14:08 BST
"Super Duper Gunstar Heroes", yeah, hands down
I hope Mega Man 9 can be inspiration for many developers, I fully support a back to basics trend!
8. BlueRider
09 Oct 2008, 15:07 BST
That will be cool to have a new Gunstar Heroes game if it actually come out would it look classic or have next gen graphic well not really next gen graphic but close to it
9. timp29
09 Oct 2008, 15:07 BST
I just bought the GC Ikaruga. No doubt they'll go and release it on WiiWare - just like on the xbox or whatever - and make my shiny GC disc worthless
10. Outrunner
09 Oct 2008, 17:10 BST
Oh man! First Sin and Punishment 2 and now this? AWESOME!!!!!!
Imagines playing online Guardian Heroes
11. Finalkingdom13
09 Oct 2008, 17:11 BST
OMG Treasure please give us a new gunstar =]
12. Outrunner
09 Oct 2008, 17:12 BST
I don't care what IP they resurrect. They're all brilliant!!
13. ZueriHB
09 Oct 2008, 17:42 BST
A port of Mischief Makers would also be great.
14. Corbie
09 Oct 2008, 18:18 BST
I think Treasure should make an all-new shooter for WiiWare. Or maybe a Bangai-o sequel. No, stick to the new shooter. How about a cute 'em up?
15. SilentJ
09 Oct 2008, 18:19 BST
As much as I hate to spend the extra money, I'm glad Sin & Punishment 2 is going to be disc-based. I'd rather have a nice full-length game. A wiiware game would probably be too short.
16. Finalkingdom13
09 Oct 2008, 18:21 BST
Itd be cool if Treasure came with a compilation disc =D
17. morphballer
09 Oct 2008, 18:28 BST
Whatdoyamean boo?! As long as it from Treasure and its on a Nintendo system, I don't care how they decide to release it.
18. Djungelurban
09 Oct 2008, 18:53 BST
I'm suggesting a collaboration with Cave. How does Radiant Donpachi sound?
19. ILoveWii
09 Oct 2008, 19:17 BST
I'm happy that Sin and Punishment 2 isn't Wiiware.
It'd be too short.
20. Corbie
09 Oct 2008, 19:31 BST
Wow would I love to see a collaboration between Treasure and Cave, arguably the two greatest shooter developers ever. That would be like the shooter equivalent of Chrono Trigger.
21. Stratos
09 Oct 2008, 20:29 BST
@ Corbie
Chrono Trigger Finger, the Ultimate Shooter
22. Naturestee
09 Oct 2008, 21:04 BST
I'd love to see Treasure do absolutely anything for WiiWare. Please Treasure, take all my monies!
23. BlackFira
09 Oct 2008, 21:05 BST
i love sin and punishment and im looking greatly forward for the second one it is going to be fun
24. shadows262
09 Oct 2008, 21:06 BST
i kinda wanna see from nintendo super mario world 3 or a sidescrolling metroid
25. Ian Daemon
09 Oct 2008, 21:16 BST
Sin & Punishment 2 is going to be good. This time I can play Treasure games when they're originally released! (I was FMV-obsessed back in the day. Now that FMV is dead and routinely lambasted, I’m all Nintendo.)
(I still think Super Duper Gunstar Heroes would be good though...)
26. MegaRockman 1990
09 Oct 2008, 21:38 BST
I liked the first gunstar heroes game on vc so much and i would gladly pay for 2nd title of this series. if this comes it will be a 1day download
27. SupermarketZombies
09 Oct 2008, 22:02 BST
I'm definitely looking forward to Sin & Punishment 2
Any new Treasure game in fact...
EDIT: And any old Treasure game except for McDonald's Treasureland Adventure.
28. PHANTOM93
09 Oct 2008, 23:30 BST
Now if only SEGA hopped onto the Wiiware band wagon, then we'd be pretty close to a full house of retro awesomeness!
)
(Dammit SEGA, listen to the people and make the Sonic the Hedgehog 4 that we've always wanted
29. Killraven
10 Oct 2008, 00:22 BST
Just release mischef makers. that was a great game.
30. TopHatPangolin
10 Oct 2008, 05:54 BST
"...the upcoming Sin & Punishment 2 will NOT be a WiiWare release - something that had been rumoured recently."
If it's not on WiiWare, I hope it lasts a bit more than a few hours. >=
Anyway, yeah: Treasure! Whoo!
31. KDR_11k
10 Oct 2008, 14:44 BST
Do people here not know that there already is a Gunstar Heroes 2 or do they just choose to ignore that out of some sort of dislike for the game? Goes by the name Gunstar Super Heroes and is on the GBA. I guess the mention of a Bangai-O sequel was a jab at that (Bangai-O Spirits, DS)?
32. Metal Slime
10 Oct 2008, 23:51 BST
Im in for anything those guys decide to put out. Seems with four players and the wii's graphics and all that, we could do with some Rakugaki Showtime!
33. whalleywhat
11 Oct 2008, 18:36 BST
I'm glad S&P2 isn't WiiWare. It would have to be tiny.
34. Starwolf_UK
11 Oct 2008, 20:10 BST
Imagines playing online Guardian Heroes
I was thinking last night Treasure+WiiWare should equal Guardian Heroes. As long as its not Advance Guardian Heros (the slowdown is one tihng but the ruined gameplay is another).
Dammit SEGA, listen to the people and make the Sonic the Hedgehog 4 that we've always wanted
SEGA are in the mess they are in mianly due to listening to fans. It was a web servey (I kid you not) that resulted in Shadow the hedgehog...
35. PHANTOM93
11 Oct 2008, 21:54 BST
^ I wasn't entirely serious when I made that statement. (hence the
at the end of it) Besides, it would be awesome if Sonic went retro.
36. Ricardo91
12 Oct 2008, 01:18 BST
Alright! I can't wait to see what these guys come up with! I imagine they'll make a port or sequel to Ikaruga, and (hopefully) a new GH, among other things.
@Kevin, Lucario13. There was a Gunstar Heroes 2. It was called Gunstar Super Heroes.
37. whalleywhat
12 Oct 2008, 23:32 BST
I'd like a sequel to Astro Boy for the GBA. Fantastic game.