WiiWare To Make American debut On May 12

So Wii Fit's launching in May, is it? Eh. But WiiWare, Nintendo's new downloadable games service, that's interesting. If you're also interested (and American), you've only got to wait until May 12, because (according to the Wall Street Journal) that's when the service will be launching in the US. No mention yet of specifics like which games will be available at launch, costs, etc, but those can't be too far off.
Wii Fit, Other Innovations Unveiled [Wall Street Journal, Registration Required]

2:50 AM on Wed Feb 20 2008
By Luke Plunkett
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36 comments

Comments

Irenicus-the one and only at 03:01 AM on 02/20/08
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Wall street got the scoop! :P

WiiWare will be interesting to see, I wonder if they will reveal any games for the service at GDC, all we know is about that one game right?
Archavious at 03:02 AM on 02/20/08
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How is WiiWare different from VC?
TheIrishNinja at 03:03 AM on 02/20/08
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yeah, odd source, that.
great news though, its cool to have a wii channel coming up to be excited about. after talk of the "archived nintendo power" one died down, this one was the next to catch my interest.
still uncertain how demos'll fly without more drive space, but im down to see it happen.
One Way Mule at 03:03 AM on 02/20/08
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WiiWare To Make American debut On May 12.
WiiWare To Make Australian debut On May 15.

2010
Morberis at 03:03 AM on 02/20/08
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@Archavious:

They're new games.
TheIrishNinja at 03:04 AM on 02/20/08
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@Archavious: yeah, im seeing this as nintendo's xbox live arcarde/playstation network, a place for small new titles, like that cool looking one they keep talkin bout here whose name escapes me.

@One_Way_Mule: sad but true.
Achenar at 03:09 AM on 02/20/08
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@One_Way_Mule: Ouch. That awful truth? Totally just got me in the eye, you bastard.

I'm still kinda excited, though - even if it /is/ a year before we see it in this hemisphere, it looks like it could be great. :)
dexterr at 03:11 AM on 02/20/08
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that is a very long wait. how about now.
WGSXFrank at 03:14 AM on 02/20/08
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OMG! May 12? That is my birthday!

Happy bday to me, i guess? Thanks for the gift Nintendo!
Sabre_Justice: Okay,... at 03:18 AM on 02/20/08
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I damn hope they've completely redone the graphics for Pokemon Ranch. The first video was shameful.
Irenicus-the one and only at 03:19 AM on 02/20/08
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@WGSXFrank: Whats with all the birthdays? Don't we have enough days in a year to keep the 2million Kotaku visitors being born some other time.
WGSXFrank at 03:23 AM on 02/20/08
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@Irenicus-the one and only:
I happen to like my birth date, thank you.

Though, I do wish everyone else would be born at a different time... perhaps a different month? Then I can feel even more special!
Logician at 03:42 AM on 02/20/08
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@WGSXFrank:
Yeah, happy birthday... Here're some WiiWare bills for you to pay :D

Is WiiWare the thing that will give the Wii an on-line functionality? Compared to todays non-existent on-line support i mean.
gumbadumba at 03:50 AM on 02/20/08
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way to go nintendo.. took you only 1.5 years to launch your online service!111 and another probably another year to launch the damn thing in europe, and by looking at the different VC content for each territory, i guess we wont get the same wii ware releases in every country either. now it would really be smooth if nintendo would actually handle it like sony, if i want to, i just buy the fracking US release, but i fear that wont happen...
Irenicus-the one and only at 03:53 AM on 02/20/08
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@WGSXFrank: We should have a Mortal Kombat over who gets to keep their date :P Grats btw :)
quen at 04:05 AM on 02/20/08
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@Logician: No, it's the thing that lets you download new small games designed specifically for the Wii - because by now everybody's got bored of pretending their console is a 20 year old technological relic. (It's only a 5 year old technological relic! Zing.)

And Wii already has moderate online support with a number of games offering full online multiplayer, with all that's missing being headset support (for friends-only play of course) which I expect will eventually be sorted. The reason why most Wii games don't offer online play is that the developers didn't put it in, nothing to do with the system.

Or if you're waiting for full Xbox Live style online (with the ability to shout racial slurs at strangers, also see new messages in-game etc) then um, I think you have a long wait in store, and it certainly isn't going to end in April.
none at 04:44 AM on 02/20/08
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Great idear to link to a story that requires registration to read in full.

Is it possible to post it in full? I'd rather not subscribe to anything to read it.
Bernard McGraw at 04:45 AM on 02/20/08
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Hey Nintendo, remember Europe? It's crazy, we use the same calendar and everything. ¬_¬
Fyren at 05:03 AM on 02/20/08
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I never understood why our PAL folks have taken so long for localization.

Maybe Nintendo and other big companies should just upheavel the whole IR department.

I would imagine sales to be much higher for world-wide release?.

Or, perhaps, its a code of conduct to test the waters on other major countries then go-ahead with Europe?.

Someone want to enlighten me?
TalKeaton: Game Design... at 06:17 AM on 02/20/08
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@Fyren: Five languages, it's mandatory on quite a few European games, plus sometimes the strict German regulations on games can hamper things.
creid - is not New to... at 06:23 AM on 02/20/08
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"Other Innovations Unveiled"

LOL @ WSJ considering downloadable games "innovation."
TRT-X at 06:27 AM on 02/20/08
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@Logician:
I'm sorry...what were you saying? I was too busy racing my friends in Mario Kart and getting together some people for Pokemon battles. It's harder nowadays with a lot of Japanese gamers logged in to Smash Bros.

I'll keep an eye on the WiiWare stuff. Hopefully they start doing a demo system since these will be new games vs. older ones. Though I'm not a fan of relying on YouTube when it comes to VC games (or RB songs packs for that matter)
Sandbox_Emperor at 06:31 AM on 02/20/08
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so...has there been any storage solution yet?
Parabolee at 06:49 AM on 02/20/08
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The storage problem should be simple to fix, why the hell can't Nintendo get something as simple as using the SD card slot for storage of games/channels on the SD card!?!?!

What is so hard about that! Silly me presumed it would be that way when I bought my Wii and a 2GB card that now is used only to store my Excite Truck soundtrack!
Entegy at 06:54 AM on 02/20/08
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So, we can expect WiiWare out July or August then?
sadkermit - soon to be... at 06:59 AM on 02/20/08
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@Parabolee: OMG, when was the last time you tried even transferring a VC titel to the SD card? I just did Ocarina of Tine and I SWEAR it took like 20 minutes. No kidding.

I agree, storage is going to be an issue real fast. I understand what they say about just delete and download again...but I paid money for those games and I want to keep them, what if something happens to my internet connection?

Screw the SD storage, way too slow. How about unlocking the USB so we can use other forms, beit CF or even...a USB drive that's off the shelf? *gasp*

I hope they throw the Crossbow Training on Wii Ware, I'm not buying it until I know it's not popping up on Wii Ware Channel.

Othwerwise, I'm excited.
hevensxj at 07:10 AM on 02/20/08
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@Parabolee: i would have agreed but i started thinking... remember the thing called R4? im sure if they let us play off our SD cards or Flashdrives someone would more likely make an R4 for wii.. and i dont think nintendo is very into piracy.
supercrap at 08:30 AM on 02/20/08
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Please Nintendo, give me enough reasons to buy a Wii this time, I really want to. A price drop would help too.
MasterBalls at 08:44 AM on 02/20/08
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Something good from Nintendo coming out in America in May? Ah we'll obv get it in August ¬¬
Diamondblade at 09:15 AM on 02/20/08
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YES!!!, Shortly after we will get Rock Band! WOO!!!
SAGA at 10:07 AM on 02/20/08
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Anyone know if may 12 is confirmed for canada too?
Mrobinson587 at 10:39 AM on 02/20/08
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woo Thats my 21'st birthday. So now now I have something to do on my birthday instead of going out and getting my first drink. AWESOME! :)
zanzibarlegend at 10:39 AM on 02/20/08
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all i know is i want WWF No Mercy on wii ware. i read about it a while back and am anticipating playing my favorite wrestling game of all time.
Kuroh at 01:35 PM on 02/20/08
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@One_Way_Mule: thats really funny but its soo true. I hope Australians get it easy this time around.
KM91 at 04:44 PM on 02/20/08
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I thought it was supposed to be in March.
slappyMCslappy at 07:45 AM on 02/21/08
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come on, don't say the reason they haven't done more with the sd card storage is because of piracy. I'm sure someone has already found a way to pirate games or will soon enough.