WiiWare gets Japanese launch date

By Ellie Gibson Published 11 March, 2008

First batch of titles named and priced.

Nintendo has finally announced launch date and pricing details for the WiiWare game download service in Japan.

As reported by IGN, WiiWare will launch on March 25th with nine games.

Prices start at 500 Wii Points (GBP 3.50 / EUR 5) for Okiraku Ping Pong and Tenshi no Solitaire. Hudson's Star Soldier R will cost 800 Points (GBP 5.60 / EUR 8).

Most WiiWare titles come in at 1000 Points (GBP 7 / EUR 10). That includes Saku Saku Animal Panic, a puzzle game from Konami that sees you using the remote to build fences around animals. A selection of mini-games is promised along with competitive and co-operative play for up to four people.

Then there's Lonpos, billed as a "mind puzzle". It's also played with the remote and offers four-person multiplayer. Developer Genki is promising nine download packs, each containing 25 puzzles, but it's not clear what the pricing structure for these will be.

The other 1000-Point titles are Kotoba no Puzzle Mojipittan Wii, Dr Mario & Saikin Bokumetsu and Pokemon Ranch.

The most expensive title on offer is Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, coming in at 1500 Points (GBP 10.50 / EUR 15).

Expect more on the Japanese launch as 25th March draws nearer, and if we get word of a European release date rest assured we won't keep it to ourselves.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (8) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • LazyDan #1 4 years ago

    "and if we get word of a European release date rest assured we won't keep it to ourselves."

    'If' being the key word.

  • jambii267 #2 4 years ago

    I'm excited for Wiiware, but i won't be able to buy any games until Nintendo sort out a frggin hard drive.

  • Les #3 4 years ago

    "but i won't be able to buy any games until Nintendo sort out a frggin hard drive"

    Apparently Nintendo will allow you to 'perpetually' download bought games. So if the flash is getting stuffed, you delete something and download it later when needed again. As long as WiiWare titles aren't too big (which I don't expect they will) and so will download in a few minutes, this is the ideal solution IMO.

  • Mr_Bogus #4 4 years ago

    Star Soldier R looks cool.

  • jonsaan #5 4 years ago

    You can get Star Soldier on the psp. It's great.

  • Heitzu #6 4 years ago

    Those are not really bad prices, I was expecting 1500 minimum for all titles no matter how big the gameplay would be.

    Though as with VC games Japan's prices won't necessarly correspond with ours.

  • neilka #7 4 years ago

    "A selection of mini-games is promised"

    FINALLY

  • saku #8 4 years ago

    Saku Saku Animal Panic - that sounds like a fun game
    (though I'm pretty sure it won't see the light here, so I'll just have to cause some animal panic myself :) )
    Edited by 1 at 11/03/08 @ 14:01