Japanese videogame giant Nintendo has made good on its promise to extend the reach of its burgeoning online content component by finally launching its much-talked about and long-awaited WiiWare download service.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King available through Nintendo\'s new WiiWare service. Image: Square Enix.
While set to deliver a wide range of fresh content for ever-faithful Wii owners, the WiiWare service is notable for enabling smaller, more independent game developers to garner exposure for their low-budget software alongside the industry’s more heavyweight studios. Nintendo vice president Cammie Dunaway recently compounded that notion by commenting that WiiWare “…is to the videogame industry what independent films are to Hollywood.”
Of course, WiiWare’s new gaming portfolio isn’t the only source of exciting online software for the Nintendo masses, with Wii fans also able to download more than 200 emulations of classic games from the popular Virtual Console. However, the arrival of WiiWare marks a significant step up by Nintendo insofar as it creates an outlet for new and original content rather than just ‘past masters’.
Opening for business this week in the US territory, the WiiWare service will offer six games at launch -- all at varying price points. Starting from a mere $5 USD (500 Wii Points), gamers will be able to enjoy the likes of arcade titles “Lost Winds” and “Pop” along with trivia game “TV Show King,” and strategy title “Defend Your Castle.”
The launch’s biggest and most recognisable title arrives in the form of Square Enix’s “Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King,” which is available for $15 USD (1,500 Wii Points).
In terms of future scope for its new online service, Nintendo said prior to launch that around 100 WiiWare projects are currently in development across a wide range of studios. Also, WiiWare content updates will deliver new titles on a weekly basis, utilising the same regular release system that has seen such a diverse catalogue of games building on the Virtual Console.
This week’s US launch of WiiWare follows hot on the heels of the service’s initial April rollout in Japan. Nintendo has said that European gamers will be receiving WiiWare access on May 20 -- along with a launch selection of eight titles.
View blog reactions
There are currently no comments for this article. Be the first to comment! (no registration required)
Advertising
There are currently no comments for this article. Be the first to comment! (no registration required)