On Monday 12th May the WiiWare service is launching in the USA. Will the world ever be the same again? WiiWare is a game-creation service that will allow developers large and small to create new downloadable
video game content for sale by Nintendo through the Wii Shop Channel of the Nintendo Wii.
WiiWare paves the way for smaller, more creative games to make their
way to the public at lower prices, without any inventory risk to
developers in much the same way as Microsoft's longstanding XBLA service. WiiWare is debuting in America with the following games:
FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King (Square
Enix, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild
Suggestive Themes, 1,500 Wii Points): FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES:
My Life as a King takes a legendary franchise and launches it into the
realm of simulation gaming. Players are challenged to rebuild a
kingdom, leading its young king on a path of discovery through an
adventure bristling with mystery and intrigue.
LostWinds (Frontier
Development, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence,
1,000 Wii Points): A fresh, enchanting platform adventure that puts the
power of the wind in the palm of your hand – from raging tornados to
the gentlest breeze. You’ll wield your Wii Remote™ controller to power
Toku’s jumps and glides, suspend and smash enemies, meet friends and
solve puzzles using LostWinds’ novel, intuitive and playful control
system.
Defend your Castle (XGen
Studios, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone – Cartoon Violence, 500 Wii
Points): Defend your Castle takes place on a grassy plain surrounded by
invaders. You are the commander of your castle, and it is your duty to
fling the invading enemies sky-high, watching them plummet to their
demise. As you progress, add powerful spells and upgrades to your
arsenal for repelling the attacks. How long can you hold them off?
Pop (Nnooo,
1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 700 Wii Points): Pop bubbles to
score points and stop the timer from running out. Pop can be enjoyed by
anyone – casual gamers can simply play to pop bubbles and keep the game
moving, whereas advanced players will need to pick their shots rapidly
and accurately and generate combos to maximize their score.
V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack (High
Voltage Software®, Inc., 1-4 players, Rated T for Teen – Simulated
Gambling, 700 Wii Points): V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack re-creates the
casino experience, with fully animated players and a realistic Las
Vegas dealer. Single players can increase their bankrolls, while
multiple players can engage in a head-to-head mini-blackjack tournament.
TV Show King (Gameloft,
1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): TV Show King
transforms your living room into a real TV quiz show studio where
you’ll face the challenge of answering more than 3,000 questions across
six different categories. Compete against family and friends and use
your Wii Re