Original Downloads Come To Wii

Nintendo are to follow Sony and Microsoft by offering original games for download on the Wii. Called ‘Wii Software’ in Europe and ‘WiiWare’ in the US and, according to a statement form Laurent Fischer, Nintendo’s European marketing director, “provides developers with big ideas - rather than big budgets - an easy and very accessible way to vreate new games and bring them to the marketplace.”

The games will be available through the Wii Shop channel and will be purchased with Wii Points, much as the virtual console games are now, and will launch in early 2008. Nintendo are latecomers to this party, Microsoft and Sony have supported the development of original games for download from the get go, but it is hoped that more innovative and interesting games will come to the Wii because of its motion sensing control system. As the retailer, and effectively publisher, Nintendo will be in control of setting prices, but will rely on the developers to obtain an age rating for their titles, ‘Adult Only’ titles will not be allowed.
(From Level Up.)