Nintendo Reveals JP WiiWare Price Ranges

The Japanese launch titles for Nintendo's upcoming WiiWare service will cost a range of 500 to 1500 Wii Points ($5-15), the company revealed on the service's official site.

Though these prices are designated for the Japanese WiiWare releases, it is likely they will retain the same Wii Point price across all territories, much like Nintendo's Virtual Console offerings.

Similar to Nintendo's online Virtual Console storefront, which provides downloads of retro releases, WiiWare will allow Wii owners to purchase and download new, original games via the Wii Shop Channel.

WiiWare is scheduled for a North American launch on May 12, and will include Mastiff's Major League Eating: The Game among its eventual titles. A version of Tetris was also announced by developer Hudson Soft for the platform.

When the Wii-based download service hits Japan on March 25, Nintendo's classic puzzler revamp Dr. Mario & Bacteria Extermination will run 1000 Wii Points ($10), while Hudson Soft's Star Soldier R is set to cost 800 Wii Points ($8).

The cheapest offerings are Arc System Works' Okiraku Ping Pong Wii and G-Mode's Tenshi no Solitaire, both priced at 500 Wii Points ($5). Square Enix's Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King clocks in at 1500 Wii Points ($15), the most expensive game among the launch titles.