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Mario Kart due next week

On US VC. Wii Play dated too.

Mario Kart 64 will be next week's addition to the American Virtual Console for Wii, bringing the total of currently available US titles to a massive 42.

That of course includes The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, which launched on the US version of Virtual Console this past Monday.

The US will also see the release of Wii Play (already out here), which comes bundled with an additional Wiimote, on 14th February.

What's more, the Wii "News Channel" is set to launch on 27th January with global coverage provided by the Associated Press.

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said that hardware production was continuing "full bore".

"Every week we're delivering more incredible content to further expand the experience," he added, quietly elbowing NES Tennis, Soccer and Pinball into a bucket of fire.

However, glancing down the rest of the announced Q1 schedule for full Wii releases, there's a suggestion that Nintendo doth protest too much.

Following Wii Play, March also sees the release of Disney's Meet the Robinsons (27th), Bust-A-Move Bash, Prince of Persia Rival Swords, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Bionicle Heroes and Blazing Angels. Were you waiting for those?

Elsewhere in the rest of Q1, EA gets its business in business with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07, SSX Blur, The Godfather Blackhand Edition and Medal of Honor Vanguard, while SEGA promises Sonic and the Secret Rings.

They're not exactly Mario though. And there's no word there on Metroid Prime: Corruption, or even Mario Party.

Still, expect the list to grow. And expect more triumphant releases when it does.