WiiWare News - Latest News

Keen to show strengths of Japanese indie scene

The recent news that Nicalis had cancelled its release of La-Mulana, from Japanese developer Nigoro, was disappointing for fans of retro-styled platformers and WiiWare. We had the opportunity to interview Takumi Naramura, director of the project, who confirmed that despite the setback the company was...

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...

Go ahead, make his day

Nicalis won't publish La-Mulana on WiiWare in the West, but that doesn't mean the game is entirely, 100% stone cold dead. We asked La-Mulana director Takumi Naramura if he and the Nigoro team would continue to pursue a western release through another publisher, to which he replied: The game is completed, we welcome the offer...

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...

Lessons to be learned

There was a lot of controversy recently when Trent Oster — president of Beamdog, the company responsible for MDK2's WiiWare port — said that his company would never develop for Nintendo again: some objected to the tone of his remarks and comments about Wii as a console. In an interview with Nintendo Life, Oster outlines...

Nicalis breaks the news via Twitter

Few WiiWare games have had as public a storied development process as Nicalis' retro-inspired adventure La-Mulana. Today that story seems to have come to a whimpering end for North American and European players, as Nicalis broke the news on Twitter earlier this evening that the game would not be published in those...

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!...

Beamdog out

BioWare's MDK2 was ported to WiiWare by independent studio Beamdog, but you won't be seeing that name on any other Nintendo formats in the future, according to studio president Trent Oster. Asked on Twitter if Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition could come to Wii U, Oster's response was... less than positive: We don't do Nintendo...

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...

It was a dark and stormy night

Shanblue Interactive — the studio behind Magic Destiny: Astrological Games, of course — has lifted the lid on its upcoming WiiWare outing Vampire's Crystals with a new video. The co-op trailer below shows two players racing around, grabbing crystals and avoiding attacks from the hordes of undead. There doesn't seem...

TNT, Colors and more

A long-awaited 3DS art package, a DSiWare puzzler and a WiiWare racer make up this week's digital downloads in North America. Here's the Nintendo Download: 5th April 2012 for Europe. 3DS Download Software: Colors! 3D (Collecting Smiles, $6.99, 226 blocks) — A much-anticipated release for 3DS, this 3D art software was supposed...

Really

Update: The correct release date is 19th April, not 12th as previously stated. Senile Team's Rush Rush Rally Racing is on the way to Europe in two weeks. The indie racer — first developed for Dreamcast, fact fans — was first announced for WiiWare in August 2010, but the wait is due to be over on 19th April for 900 Nintendo Points. Up to...

Speeding thru

It's an auspicious day when Europe gets a new piece of 3DS download software, and that's exactly what's on the (SD) cards this week as Nintendo itself publishes another digital delight. Elsewhere there's an ages-old WiiWare game, a pretty poor DSiWare game and the world's most exciting demo. 3DS Download Software: SpeedThru: Potzol's...

As prophesied

Just as we told you a few weeks ago, WiiWare demos have returned to PAL this week. The Wii Shop Channel in Europe now hosts 27 free demos. Here's what's available: 3D Pixel RacingA Monsteca Corral: Monsters vs RobotsAnd Yet It Moves

Poker, Math and zombies

Just when you thought it was safe to hang up your mathematical hat, along comes Carmen Sandiego to dash it all. Elsewhere we've got some card games on DSiWare — it's been a while — and zombies. 3DS Download Software: Zombie Slayer Diox (UFO Interactive, $5.99) — The latest 3D game from Samurai Sword Destiny publisher...

Now it's going hyper

Frogger has a long gaming history, well known as an arcade in the early 1980s and appearing on legendary consoles as far back as the Atari 2600. It must have an ongoing charm, because it continues to appear in the current day with appearances such as Frogger 3D on 3DS and Frogger Returns on WiiWare and DSiWare. Konami has now...

And they're here to stay

In January Nintendo of America reinstated all previous WiiWare demos while Europe looked on enviously. Well, readers in PAL regions, your time is coming. An inside source has confirmed to us that previously removed WiiWare demos will be reinstated for users in PAL regions before the end of the month. Not only that, whereas...

Minigolf ahoy

It's a big old Nintendo Download this week, with a 3DS demo, Game Boy game, two Wii Virtual Console games and original 3DS download software hits alongside DSiWare puzzlers and a WiiWare demo. Let's get to it. 3DS Virtual Console: Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters (Game Boy, Nintendo, £2.70/€3) — Pit's second adventure comes to...

Metroid on NES

Bit of a slow week to kick March off, with an NES game on 3DS Virtual Console, a couple of demos and one piece of DSiWare all there is to talk about today. 3DS Virtual Console: Metroid (NES, Nintendo, $4.99) — Samus Aran's first adventure surely needs no introduction, but it's available to buy in the eShop from today. We'll review...

Boxes and more

The download is in and it includes gnomes, armadillos, puppies, kittens and... boxes. Who said games characters can't have personality any more? DSiWare: Box Pusher (GameOn, 500pts) — You're the box pusher. Pushing boxes is what you do, and you do it well. In fact, you're the greatest box pusher this town's ever seen. Make and share...

Rolling on

Here's the full list of games available to buy today in Europe. Nintendo 3DS Download Software: Dillon's Rolling Western (Nintendo, £9.00/€10) — Play as a Wild West armadillo who must defend a town from marauding rocks using gatling guns, towers and more. We'll have a full review soon. DSiWare: Box Pusher (GameOn, 500pts) — Push...

Metal Gear demo and Mario Land 3

A decent array of titles across the formats this week, although no, there's still no VVVVVV or Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword. What is available is listed below for your viewing pleasure. 3DS Virtual Console: Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (Game Boy, Nintendo, £3.60/€4) — Completing the Super Mario Lan