Nintendo to Roll Out WiiWare
Cheap Games like Dr. Mario Will Be Available for Download on Wii
Don't have $50 to drop on a brand new Wii game? In 2008, small scale video games in franchises like Final Fantasy and Pokemon will be available for download for $5-15.
Video games are an expensive hobby. With video games regularly retailing for $50 on Nintendo's Wii console and for $60 on Sony's PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360, working out a budget for video games can be difficult. Starting this March in Japan and this May in North America, however, Nintendo will be offering cheaper, smaller-scare software titles via its new online channel, WiiWare.
How Can Games Be Downloaded?
Those who own a Nintendo Wii are probably already familiar with the Wii Shop Channel. Currently, a broad selection of NES, SNES, N64 and even SEGA Genesis titles can be downloaded for $5-10.
Soon, however, video gamers will also be able to download brand new, smaller-scale titles created by Nintendo or third-party developers via the Wii Shop Channel's WiiWare section. Purchasing these titles, which will retail for $5-15, will work just like purchasing the older titles -- one can either buy them using a credit card, or by purchasing a Wii Points Card at the store and using the card online. (With the Wii Points Card, 100 points = $1, so that 1000 points = $10, and so on.) One will also, of course, need a wireless broadband connection to connect to the internet.
What Kinds of Games Can Be Downloaded?
On the March 25th rollout in Japan, a variety of games will be available for download:
- Nintendo's Dr. Mario & Bacteria Extermination (1000 Wii Points)
- Nintendo's Everyone's Pokemon Ranch (1000 Wii Points)
- Square-Enix's Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (1500 Wii Points)
- Genki's LONPOS (1000 Wii Points)
- Namco's Mojipittan (1000 Wii Points)
- Arc System Works' Okiraku Ping Pong Wii (500 Wii Points)
- Konami's Saku Saku Animal Panic (1000 Wii Points)
- Hudson's Star Soldier R (800 Wii Points).
- G-Mode's Tenshi no Solitaire (500 Wii Points).
On the May 12th rollout in North America, the follow games have been confirmed for release:
- XGen Studio's Defend Your Castle (500 Wii Points)
- Square-Enix's Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (1500 Wii Points)
- Frontier Developments' Lost Winds (unknown price)
- Mastiff's Major League Eating: The Game (unknown price)
- Digital Builders' Protothea (unknown price)
Several other titles are also due out in 2008, such as Bomberman and Tetris. Also, many of the titles listed for the Japan release date but not the United States release date will eventually make their way to the United States in 2008.
What's the Point?
WiiWare, as already mentioned, will allow video gamers to purchase titles for much cheaper than they would be able to at the store. However, Nintendo also envisions WiiWare as an opportunity for small developers to show off their stuff, since they otherwise may not be able to find a publisher for their games or may not have a large budget to create an expensive game.
On the flip side, gamers should realize that since many of the games are coming from inexperienced developers, many games may be less than high quality. Thus, when the WiiWare channel rolls out this March in Japan and this May in United States, gamers are highly encouraged to research titles before they buy them.
Xbox 360 owners may also be interested in a similar alternative, the Xbox Live Community Games service.
