MARCH 25, 2008 • WiiWare launches in Japan with nine titles priced between ¥500 and ¥1,500. The service features original games designed for digital download. The U.S. roll-out is scheduled for May.

Impact: WiiWare is Nintendo’s version of Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Store.  However, unlike the existing Wii Virtual Console service, the focus is on buying and downloading new content that can take advantage of the Wii’s features.  In contrast, Virtual Console has featured a library of older content.  There will also be a focus on user-generated content which taps into the whole YouTube/MySpace attraction.  It should be noted that Nintendo games have a history of featuring downloadable content like features.  This includes Pokemon Trading Cards and the e-Reader Cards that were available for the Game Boy Advance.  It is clear that Nintendo has not been as far behind the consumer technology curve as some had assumed.