Speaking with Wired, Nintendo of America has revealed that it will launch the Nintendo Channel alongside WiiWare next month. Already available in Japan, the Nintendo Channel will allow gamers who have played WiiWare games for at least an hour to review the game. These reviews will then be public, which is an interesting alternative to playable demos, of which Nintendo has absolutely no plans to provide to gamers.
Additionally, the Nintendo Channel will offer a list of upcoming Nintendo DS and Wii games, which can be sorted in a number of ways based on the user's preference (release date, genre, etc.). Most exciting, Nintendo DS demos will finally be coming home -- players will be able to beam game demos to their handhelds, which will remain there until the unit is turned off. No more fighting at the local GameStop with pre-teens over the DS download stations.
When the service launched in Japan last year, other features like streaming web videos were also available, so it looks like Nintendo are planning to offer quite a bit of content. But is it too little, too late? Or do you prefer Nintendo's approach to the services Sony and Microsoft are offering?
Contest:
8:45 AM on 04.24.2008
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Oh wait, I forgot, Nintendo has just stopped releasing anything over here.
apparently Europe gets it on May 30th. According tojoystiqthat is
Well... Nintendo has announced that we'll get Nintendo Channel 30th of May, Wii ware 20th of May and Super Smash Bros Brawl the 27th of June (yaaay...).
Neverteless, I've chipped my Wii and am playing a downloaded copy of US Brawl, so I couldnt care less.
:-)
Odd..perhaps they just don't release stuff it your part of Europe? I've been happily playing Mario Kart Wii for the last 3 weeks and will have Wii Fit tomorrow..both before the US. :P
I usually buy based on reviews and research instead of demos, and just curse when I buy something I don't really play (like SSBB! hah!)...but it sucks for people who are big on demos. At least it's a start with the DS.
Suppose I don't have one of those.
Also watch there be a ridiculously low limit for review text.
Such a retarded way of dealing with things...reviews? I can do that online. I mean seriously. I wanna try before I buy. same with wii videos...or isnt that what GameTrailers.com makes their living off of.
@Mxy
Oh yeah, i had forgotten about that, I want the Nintendo Power also!
Good times.
I'm weird, I guess. Hooray for new channels!