WiiWare Features

What happened?

Those waiting for La-Mulana's WiiWare release were left disappointed recently when publisher Nicalis cancelled the game's western launch. Nicalis cited problems with low sales of the WiiWare platform and a protracted development period, leaving no current route overseas for the 2D platformer and developer Nigoro. We spoke to...

Changes that can support independent developers

After declaring that Beamdog will never develop for Nintendo again, company president Trent Oster was the recipient of both praise and criticism for his honesty. The tone of the original remarks on Twitter riled some, while debates about the merits and flaws of WiiWare and Nintendo’s digital strategy...

Blocks, worms and Gnomz

There's a definite creative slant to this week's Nintendo Download, with 3DS and DSi owners able to make something for themselves. Here's what's available to download from 2pm this Thursday. 3DS Download Software: Block Factory (Enjoy Gaming, £3.60/€4) — A puzzle game in which you get to make your own variations on the...

Cool heads should prevail

One news story has been dominant on Nintendo Life since it was posted, attracting a significant number of comments from the community. The news that MDK2 developers Beamdog will never develop for Nintendo again seemed to strike nerves, as strongly worded statements generally do. Writing on Twitter, studio president Trent...

Racing to answer

Tomorrow sees the European release of Rush Rush Rally Racing (R4) for WiiWare, nearly 18 months after it was first announced. We sat down with developer Senile Team's Jeroen and Roel van Mastbergen to talk racers, future releases and WiiWare. Nintendo Life: Firstly, please introduce yourself to our readers. Senile Team: Hi readers!...

Colors!, Rush Rush, paid video and more

Europe gets its first taste of paid-for 3D video this week, alongside an art application and a WiiWare racer. Here's what's under starter's orders for this week. 3DS Download Software: Colors! 3D (Collecting Smiles, 231 blocks, £5.40/€6) — An excellent addition to the 3DS suite of creative tools, find out...

WiiWare gets weirder

QubicGames' Gnomz isn't much like other fighting games. There are no punches, no blocks and no health bars — instead it has gnomes, rainbow socks and reindeer with lights on. We recently grappled with a preview version of the game and came out (mostly) mentally unscathed. Played with the Wii Remote sideways, Gnomz is a single-screen platformer/fighting game that owes as much..

Learn more about the porcelain protectors

After the revelation of Gnomz yesterday we had to sit down with QubicGames' Michał Dys to learn more about the bizarre WiiWare fighting platformer. We'll also have a preview of the game coming up tomorrow, so don't miss it. Nintendo Life: The first question has to be: why gnomes? What is it about them that makes them good but under-used game characters?..

Is continuing in Four Swords' footsteps the answer to the $0.99 download mentality?

As of last week, every DSiWare gamer can download The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition for free. This was originally a full retail title, now with added wireless connectivity, a new single-player mode and bonus levels. Compare that to Super Mario...

Concept art and inspirational materials pulled straight from the Gaijin Games archives

Gaijin Games' BIT.TRIP series hits all the right notes for retro game enthusiasts over the course of its six games: Clever and varied design, formidable challenge, pregnant storytelling and an audio/visual style that quotes the days of the Atari 2600 without the baggage of age. We've spent considerable time..

See how it's done

Over the past three weeks you may have seen feature articles from developers Nnooo, telling you all you need to know about escapeVektor: Chapter 1. With the title set for its WiiWare launch on 29th September, Nnooo now round off their preview coverage with a behind the scenes look at the development of the title. Check it out below. Behind the ScenesWe recently completed our..

Escape with all the medals

It's time for the final part of our series of features from WiiWare developers Nnooo, telling you all you need to know about escapeVektor: Chapter 1. With the title due for release on 29th September, this is your last chance to pick up vital tips to help your escape. Read on to learn about Interceptors, achievements and the soundtrack that will accompany your escape from..

We talk to the B2B software house turned game studio about its debut release

For over a decade, if you knew about Object Vision Software, it was likely because your business needed custom, or bespoke, software or consultation. Now the B2B firm has stepped into the world of video game development with the innovative WiiWare puzzler Aya and the Cubes of Light, which we awarded an impressive 7/10 in..

Learn more about Vektor

Last week we brought you the first in a series of three features from WiiWare developers Nnooo, introducing escapeVektor: Chapter 1. In this latest instalment, Nnooo tell us about another enemy type, as well as details on the secrets and achievements to be uncovered in the title. Anti-Hunter tactics, exits to hidden areas and the key to Vektor’s memory.escapeVektor™:..

Can you help Vektor escape?

We're happy to bring you the first in a series of three features from WiiWare developers Nnooo, introducing escapeVektor: Chapter 1. The developer's latest title following the excellent Pop, escapeVektor: Chapter 1 promises a retro arcade experience. Read on to learn more. Avoiding Patrols, Electric Fences & Cannons! escapeVektor™: Chapter 1 is a retro styled..

We take the new horizontal shmup head-on

We love when something a little out of the ordinary pops up on WiiWare, and one such game is Kyotokei, an original horizontal shoot-em-up that recently launched in North America and garnered an impressive 7/10 in our Kyotokei review. Our own Corbie Dillard and Zach Kaplan sat down with Giovanni Simotti, CTO of developer/publisher Microforum, to discuss the..

We talk about the newest iteration of the up-and-coming developer's popular IP

After conquering the iOS, DSiWare and even PlayStation Move platforms, Firemint's addictive air traffic control-based Flight Control is landing today on WiiWare in Europe and North America. We sat down with Writer and Media Liaison Logan Booker to talk about the high-flying title. Nintendo Life: Flight Control has very..

Where can Wii go from here?

Let's not beat around the bush here: WiiWare hasn't been a runaway success. Many Wii owners are unaware the service exists, what it offers and why they would want to use it, and those console owners who are familiar with the Wii Shop Channel are just as conscious of its myriad problems: poor content, dull presentation and navigation that makes simple browsing a chore..

Wrapping it up

Over the past months we've brought you exclusive articles from Finnish developer RedLynx, detailing the world, characters, power-ups and vehicles on offer in the WiiWare game. Now we have the most important and final part in the series, explaining exactly how you can play MotoHeroz when it launches

It'll make your head spin

There may not be the huge numbers of incoming WiiWare titles we've seen in the past, but we'll take quality over quantity any day. One of the more interesting titles coming to WiiWare is Object Vision's Aya and the Cubes of Light, a puzzle platformer that's quite unlike anything on the service so far. As you might expect, Aya's levels are cubic in nature, suspended in..

Taking Shin'en's latest for a spin

Plenty of Nintendo fan ire has been drawn by the lack of an F-Zero game for the Wii, and with Wipeout exclusive to Sony consoles there's a huge gap in the market for sleek-looking futuristic racers. WiiWare developer Shin'en Multimedia is hoping to fill that with its upcoming WiiWare title FAST – Racing League, due to reach Europe on 27th May. On the surface,..

Get behind the wheel

Continuing our exclusive look at upcoming WiiWare physics-racer MotoHeroz from Trials HD developer RedLynx, we have a look at the cars you'll be racing around in when the game launches on WiiWare this summer. Be sure to read our previous articles: The World of MotoHeroz, The Characters of MotoHeroz and The Power-Ups of MotoHeroz.

Sounds like a blast

MotoHeroz is a WiiWare game being created by Trials HD developer RedLynx, of Helsinki, Finland. We've teamed up with the Finnish developer to bring you a series of exclusive articles, starting with The World of MotoHeroz and The Characters of MotoHeroz. The Power-Ups of MotoHerozWhat's a fun arcade racing game without power-ups? That's like a car without wheels. Of

Meet the racers

In anticipation of MotoHeroz's June 2011 release on WiiWare, we've teamed up with Trials HD developer RedLynx to bring you a series of exclusive articles. Last week we brought you The World of MotoHeroz, and now it's time to meet its inhabitants. The Characters of MotoHerozThere are four characters in the story of MotoHeroz, and all four are competing in the Great World Race of..