Here's a recap for those who haven't been keeping score. In 2009, Nintendo finally started allowing for developers to release free demos of their WiiWare games. Only five games were allowed to have demos at first, but it was a start. Then a few months later, Nintendo took down all five demos. No one knows why.
Then they came back with demos again in late 2010, this time allowing more developers to take advantage of the demo process. However, the demos were all still available for a limited time only, and one by one, they have all slowly disappeared from the Wii shop.
That takes us to today, a day that without warning or explanation, all 50 of the previously released WiiWare demos came back. What? Why? Thank You? Okay then! Great! Was it the phenomenal sales of Monster Hunter 3G in Japan, a 3DS game that was supported by a free demo prior to release in Japan, that caused Nintendo to suddenly have change of heart about demos in general? Is this all a huge mistake, to be "fixed" by Nintendo at any moment?
Regardless of why this thing has happened, I'd jump on this right now and download the demos for the Bit.Trip series, Lilt Line, World of Goo, And Yet It Moves, Jett Rocket, Cave Story, Fluidity, Final Fantasy, LIT, and all the other games that I like. The only thing it will cost you is a little bit of time, and a little bit of hate. Hate is something that's impossible to feel while listening to the greatest virtual shop music on the planet.
Jonathan Holmes is the most lovable Associate Editor on Destructoid. Catch him on videos, original editorials, and on back episodes of the Destructoid Show and MTV's Road Rules. Jonathan is a retro gamer's gamer.
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Mega Man 2, Resident Evil, Katamari Damacy, Bit.Trip, Metal Slug 3
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They're similar, but I prefer the DSi Shop music. The new eShop music is pretty good, too! Speaking of great background music that only Nintendo is crazy enough to take the time to make, the Internet Settings background music for the 3DS is fantastic. I listen to it sometimes when I want to chill.
I love that WiiWare song, it's like a parody of elevator music, yet it's awesome. Every time I went to the Wii Shopping Channel I would put the controller down and dance for a little bit.
I used this opportunity to finally download the Jett Rocket demo, but it was too short for me to determine whether I'd like it. Anyone here buy the full game?
@ Magnalon- What matters is if you think they have a clue as to how to make a good videogame. If so, then you should give them your money in exchange for good videogames. If not, then not.
Wait, Nintendo re-released all 50 WiiWare demos? As in all of them simultaneously? And they have no plans of taking them down? Way to go, guys!
Man, Nintendo's been making some good decisions lately. Maybe they'll give the 3DS a messaging system that isn't tedious in the next firmware update...except that would be giving them way too much credit. :P
Always loved the Wii Shop menu music, a perfect strike between elevator music and catchy.
Now the only other menu music that Nintendo ever made that I absolutely love is the Pokemon online menu screen. I sometimes just sit there and listen to it even if I'm not battling anyone.
Nintendo has been good with demos with the Gamecube and DS, but inexplicably has been very uncaring with them with the Wii. Remember those demo discs you saw at Gamecube kiosks? Why have Wii display units only ever had full games in instead of demo compilations?
@Jon
I buy their first party games for sure - I'm practically two times Platinum every year on Club Nintendo.
But their complete lack of online infrastructure doesn't just screw them over. It screws over developers like Team Meat, Valve, and many other people who want to work with them, but basically can't, because of archaic policies and a terrible online system. In turn, that means less money for me to spend on potential games like Super Meat Boy Wii, etc.
I'm a little more concerned about where the demo feature for the 3DS' eShop is then 50 Wii demos that suddenly went poof one stormy night a few years back.
@ Magnalon- So what you meant was, you wont give 3rd parties your money on Nintendo consoles because you don't like the 3rd party games on Nintendo consoles. That's a very different thing than what you said at first!
As for Team Meat, they are all for working on Nintendo consoles. WiiWare was a perfect fit for them... until they made their game too big for the service, which was just as much their doing as Nintendo's. They're planning on making games for the 3DS and the Wii U though, so we'll see if those plans pull through.
As for Valve, I thought the reason they didn't support the Wii is because it would take too much in the way of resources to downport their PS/360 games to the hardware. They didn't support the PS3 for the same reason. Either way, I don't thin infrastructure has much to do with it.
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Contest:
11:00 PM on 01.12.2012 | 
come on Nintendo, you should definitely catch up with the whole digital distribution :P
not sure if image fail
or at loss for words
anyways, its good they did this, now start with price cuts nintendo NAO
I used this opportunity to finally download the Jett Rocket demo, but it was too short for me to determine whether I'd like it. Anyone here buy the full game?
That's why reading the entire article is useful...
I'm still undecided where the eShop lies in all this. It sounds great but not as catchy, IMO.
Right?
Man, Nintendo's been making some good decisions lately. Maybe they'll give the 3DS a messaging system that isn't tedious in the next firmware update...except that would be giving them way too much credit. :P
Now the only other menu music that Nintendo ever made that I absolutely love is the Pokemon online menu screen. I sometimes just sit there and listen to it even if I'm not battling anyone.
I buy their first party games for sure - I'm practically two times Platinum every year on Club Nintendo.
But their complete lack of online infrastructure doesn't just screw them over. It screws over developers like Team Meat, Valve, and many other people who want to work with them, but basically can't, because of archaic policies and a terrible online system. In turn, that means less money for me to spend on potential games like Super Meat Boy Wii, etc.
As for Team Meat, they are all for working on Nintendo consoles. WiiWare was a perfect fit for them... until they made their game too big for the service, which was just as much their doing as Nintendo's. They're planning on making games for the 3DS and the Wii U though, so we'll see if those plans pull through.
As for Valve, I thought the reason they didn't support the Wii is because it would take too much in the way of resources to downport their PS/360 games to the hardware. They didn't support the PS3 for the same reason. Either way, I don't thin infrastructure has much to do with it.