[casual_games] WiiWare/Wii Software

[Joe Pantuso]

Officially announced today.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=26163

Nintendo announces Wii Software

To be known as WiiWare in the US

Nintendo is inviting developers large and small to produce new downloadable
games to be sold through the Wii Shop Channel.

The initiative, called "Wii Software" here and "WiiWare" in the US, was
announced at a private developers' conference this week and confirmed to
press in Europe this afternoon.

"Wii Software provides developers with big ideas - rather than big budgets -
an easy and very accessible way to create new games and bring them to the
marketplace," European marketing director Laurent Fischer explained.

The service would also offer "great additional value for Wii owners who will
be able to download fresh new games", Fischer added.

The first Wii Software titles will launch in early 2008. Users will pay for
games using Wii Points.

Nintendo has always said it intended for the Wii Shop to host original
downloadable games, but until now the company has only offered budget-priced
downloads from the back catalogues of NES, SNES and N64 consoles - as well
as SEGA's Megadrive and Hudson's TurboGrafx-16 - through its "Virtual
Console" initiative.

Bringing new-game downloads online in 2008 will put the platform holder
belatedly into line with Sony and Microsoft, whose PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles
already support the option.

Nintendo, however, will be hoping that the Wii's unique motion-sensing
control options will inspire developers to produce more interesting software
than can be found on either of its competitors' platforms.
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