Gaming Signal: Original downloadable content on the Wii

Original downloadable content on the Wii

Today, Nintendo has announced WiiWare which will enable developers to create new downloadable content for the platform. The first of these titles will be available in early 2008, and it is with this step that we see perhaps a competitor to Xbox Live Marketplace. Today, the Wii Shopping Channel enables access to older titles for play on the Wii's virtual console, but this announcement is all about bringing new original content to the platform. Gamasutra had this quote from Reggie Fils-Aime of Nintendo America which I think demonstrates that they are finally seeing the value of arcade/lite/smaller titles from both financial and entertainment standpoint.

"Independent developers armed with small budgets and big ideas will be able to get their original games into the marketplace to see if we can find the next smash hit... WiiWare brings new levels of creativity and value to the ever-growing population of Wii owners."

Combine this news with things like GameTap, XBox Marketplace and Playstation Store and you have downloadable content up to your armpits, and I think we can agree that is a good thing.