Today's update to the Wii's online Shop Channel includes one Virtual Console game and a single original WiiWare title, Nintendo has announced.

WiiWare

• SPOGS Racing (D2C Games) / 1000 Wii Points ($10)

Virtual Console

• King of the Monsters (SNK, Neo-Geo) / 900 Wii Points ($9)

Per the usual Wii Shop Channel release schedule, both games are now available on the Wii's digital storefront. More details on both games are viewable below... Read more

Nintendo unveiled today's two additions to the Wii's online Shop Channel, which includes one Virtual Console game and a single original WiiWare downloadable game.

WiiWare

• Magnetica Twist (Mitchell Corporation) / 1000 Wii Points ($10)

Virtual Console

• Fatal Fury 2 (SNK, Neo-Geo) / 900 Wii Points ($9)

As with all Wii Shop Channel releases, the games are available via the Wii's digital storefront as of 12 PM EDT, 9 AM PDT today.

More details on both games are viewable below... Read more

Nintendo has revealed today's three additions to the Wii's online Shop Channel, detailing one new original title and two downloadable Virtual Console classics.

WiiWare

• Gyrostarr (High Voltage Software) / 700 Wii Points ($7)

Virtual Console

• Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Sega, Sega Master System) / 500 Wii Points ($5)
• Burning Fight (SNK, Neo-Geo) / 900 Wii Points ($9)

Per Nintendo's usual release schedule, the games are available via the Wii Shop Channel as of 12 PM EDT, 9 AM PDT today.

Read on for more details... Read more

Nintendo is aware of consumer dissatisfaction with the Wii's data storage limitations and is actively working on a solution, Nintendo Europe marketing director Laurent Fischer said.

"We definitely detect that [consumers] are serious and we know there is an issue in this, so it's something that we're working on," Fischer told GamesIndustry. "Definitely there's no plan to issue hardware, an external hard drive, but we know that we have an issue."

The Wii is currently limited to 512MB of internal flash memory. Though expandable via SD Cards, the system can only execute downloaded code if it is stored within that internal 512MB block.

With the Virtual Console and the debut of Nintendo's downloadable gaming platform WiiWare last month, some have already exhausted the Wii's available... Read more

Nintendo has announced this week's additions to its downloadable gaming platforms, revealing two original WiiWare titles and a lone Virtual Console release.

WiiWare

• Block Breaker Deluxe (Gameloft) / 800 Wii Points ($8)
• Cocoto Fishing Master (Neko Entertainment) / 700 Wii Points ($7)

Virtual Console

• Samurai Shodown (SNK, Neo-Geo) / 900 Wii Points ($9)

As always, the games are available via the Wii Shop channel as of 12 PM EDT, 9 AM PDT today.

Read on for more details... Read more

Nintendo Europe's Laurent Fischer has apologized for his statement publicized earlier this week, in which the marketing director said that the only Wii owners that encounter problems with the console's 512MB of internal storage are "geeks and otaku."

"I have huge respect for those who, like me, share a common passion for Nintendo and want to make it clear that I would never use and I didn't use this terminology in such a context or way to cause offense," he told videogaming247.

He added, "I regret that this misunderstanding has created such offense and disappointment within the community."

Fischer's comments sparked outrage in Nintendo's consumer community, which has been long awaiting a solution to the Wii's limited 512MB of internal storage... Read more

The only Wii owners that encounter problems with the console's 512MB of internal storage are "geeks and otaku," going by Nintendo Europe marketing director Laurent Fischer.

The comment, as relayed by Edge, was meant to downplay criticism that the Wii's paltry internal storage could hamper the company's downloadable efforts.

Nintendo only recently launched WiiWare, its initiative to provide original downloadable games in addition to downloadable classics. Thus far, over 220 Virtual Console and 15 WiiWare titles have been released in North America, with more arriving every week.

Some of the newer WiiWare efforts, such as Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King and LostWinds, weigh in around the 32MB mark... Read more

Nintendo has revealed today's three additions to the Wii's online Shop Channel, detailing one new original title and two downloadable classics.

The first Pokemon effort on WiiWare, Nintendo's My Pokemon Ranch sports "relaxing ranch life" that allows users to observe the interactions of Pokemon and Miis. Priced at 1000 Wii Points ($10), the game can be linked up with Pokemon Diamond and Pearl (DS) to populate the farm with up to 1,000 pocket monsters.

As for today's enemy-inflating Virtual Console titles, Namco's classic NES title Dig Dug and Konami's formerly Japan-only NES effort Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa hit today. Unlike Dig Dug, in which players pop enemies like balloons, Bokutte Upa has players inflating enemies to ride and bounce from.

Both Dig Dug and Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa will sell for 600 Wii Points ($6). All three games will be available for download from the Wii Shop Channel beginning at 12 AM EDT, 9 AM PDT.

Nintendo has detailed today's additions to the Wii's online Shop Channel, revealing two original WiiWare titles as well as the re-release of an old-school ninja game.

On the WiiWare side of things, Two Tribes' chicken centric-puzzler Toki Tori and Ubisoft's top-down space shooter Protothea mark today's original WiiWare releases. Both are priced at 1000 Wii Points ($10).

As for Wii Virtual Console, this week's addition is Ninja Combat. Originally developed by ADK and released on the Neo-Geo in 1990, the title lets up to two players partake in some side scrolling ninja warfare for the price of 900 Wii Points ($9).

Per usual, the titles will be downlodable beginning today at 12 PM EDT, 9 AM PDT.

Nintendo has revealed today's additions to the Wii's online Shop Channel, detailing a prescription-strength dose of family fun through this week's four downloadable games.

Of the four, two are original WiiWare titles, while the other two consist of retro releases:

WiiWare

• Dr Mario Online Rx (Nintendo) / 1000 Wii Points ($10)
• Family Table Tennis (Arc System Works, Akysys Games) / 500 Wii Points ($5)

Virtual Console

• City Connection (Jaleco, NES) / 500 Wii Points ($5)
• Metal Slug (SNK, Neo-Geo) / 900 Wii Points ($9)

All titles will be downlodable beginning today at 12 PM EDT, 9 AM PDT.

Read on for more details and screenshots.... Read more

Following up on last week's WiiWare launch, Nintendo will today add two new original games and one retro release to the Wii's online Shop Channel.

A puzzle-action offering, Konami's Critter Round-Up has one-to-four players trying to herd barnyard animals and keep fences sturdy, all at the cost of 1000 Wii Points ($10).

The latest entry in the top-down Star shooting series, Hudson Soft's Star Soldier R lets players test their skills in 2 or 5 minute increments, or through the Quick Shot mode. It will sell for 800 Wii Points ($8).

Namco's old-time NES bomb-dropping shooter Skykid rounds out this week's Shop Channel offerings. It'll set you back 500 Wii Points ($5) to see the fallout of the 8-bit rivalry between Red Baron and Blue Max.

All titles will be available for purchase and download through the Wii Shop Channel beginning today at 12 PM EDT, 9 AM PDT.

It may have confused some of you to see a select number of gamers fall into paralytic fits of glee over an ESRB rating for Earthbound on the Virtual Console, marking the quirky SNES RPG's first appearance in North America after almost 13 years.

Those uninitiated to the game might've wondered what the fuss was all about. "Balderdash," you exclaimed to nobody in particular. "What's the big deal about an ESRB rating? Who cares if it comes out on the Virtual Console?"

At face value, EarthBound's appearance on the Virtual Console might seem an insignificant feat. But for the fan community that has fought tooth and nail for the series in an unwelcoming territory, the rating is a nod from Nintendo that ...Read more

Following up on last week's sole Virtual Console addition, Nintendo has revealed two games that will today be added to the Wii's online Shop Channel, with the beloved Puzzle League series finally making its VC debut.

Developed by NST and Intelligent Systems, the Nintendo 64 edition of Pokemon Puzzle League contains all the addictive block-swapping, chain-dropping gameplay of Tetris Attack with a sugary coating of Pokemon flavor.

It'll cost 1000 Wii Points ($10) if you're in the mood to match up blocks of the same color, unleash massive combos, and damage, if not destroy, some social relationships.

Originally released on the NES, Renegade marks the latest side-scrolling beat 'em up from River City Ransom and Double Dragon developer Technos Japan to hit Virtual Console. To destroy gang culture and its many kung-fu females, get ready to cough up 500 Wii Points ($5).

Both titles support 2-person multiplayer and will be available for purchase and download through the Wii Shop Channel beginning today at 12 PM EDT, 9 AM PDT.

A new listing on the Entertainment Software Rating Board's website indicates that Nintendo's cult classic SNES RPG EarthBound is heading for the Wii's Virtual Console.

Originally released in North America in 1995, EarthBound was met with critical acclaim but limited commercial success. EarthBound is the second in a series known in Japan as Mother, originating as a Japan-only release on the NES in 1989.

EarthBound is one of the most requested titles for the Wii's Virtual Console, but Nintendo of America has remained historically mum on the game's fate in North America. As of this writing, the company has issued no official announcement concerning EarthBound's Virtual Console release.

While ESRB listings have confirmed the existence of a number of later officially announced titles, it is yet unclear when EarthBound will be available on the downloadable gaming service.

Representatives from Capcom have revealed that the swinging NES shooter Bionic Commando will not be released through the Wii's online Virtual Console service, owing the exclusion to unspecified problems with Nintendo.

"[The original Bionic Commando on Virtual Console] couldn't happen," Capcom producer Ben Judd recently told IGN.

"This is NOT, repeat NOT, a Capcom issue," Capcom business development VP Christian Svensson later clarified on that company's official forum. "Please remember, Nintendo calls the shots on what goes up on VC, not third parties."

An enhanced and digitally distributed remake of the first Bionic Commando, titled Bionic Commando Rearmed and developed by GRIN, is due to be released... Read more

The NES beat-em-up Double Dragon is the only addition to the Wii Virtual Console shopping channel this week, Nintendo has announced.

Developed by Technos Japan Corporation and released for the NES in 1988, Double Dragon is set in a post-apocalyptic version of New York City which brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee fight through to dismantle the Black Warriors street gang.

The game will be available for 500 Wii Points ($5) when the Virtual Console channel updates at 11AM Central/12PM Eastern.

Following the recent revelation that publisher Interplay would be reviving its classic properties, the long-dormant company has announced that four of its older titles will be released on the Wii's Virtual Console service.

The eccentric platformers Earthworm Jim, Earthworm Jim 2, Boogerman, and the clay-based fighting game Clayfighter are all expected to arrive as Wii Shop Channel downloads later this year.

In its announcement, Interplay confirmed that the Virtual Console releases will be the Sega Genesis versions. No price point was named, though most Sega Genesis games sell at 800 Wii Points ($8).

Get ready to seem some barf! Nintendo has revealed that the classic NES beat 'em up River City Ransom and the old-school Genesis RPG Phantasy Star III will today be added to the Wii's Virtual Console lineup.

Developed by the now-defunct Technos, River City Ransom was actually the third game in the studio's beloved Kunio-kun series, which saw North American releases in the form of Renegade and Super Dodge Ball, among others. Now re-released by publisher Akysys Games, River City Ransom is priced at 500 Wii Points ($5).

With a storyline that spans several generations, Sega's Phantasy Star III Generations of Doom takes players on a whirlwind tour of both new and classic Phantasy Star locations. Considered by many to be the weakest entry in the four-title Genesis RPG series, Phantasy Star III will sell for 800 Wii Points ($8).

Both titles will be available for purchase and download through the Wii's online Wii Shop Channel beginning today at 12 PM EDT, 9 AM PDT

Update: Aksys Games has retracted its confirmation of River City Ransom's appearance on the Virtual Console, citing internal miscommunication at the company.

Original Story: Publisher Aksys has confirmed to Shacknews that it will be bringing the classic NES brawler River City Ransom to Nintendo's Virtual Console next week.

One of the most beloved side-scrolling brawlers in memory, River City Ransom was originally developed by Japanese studio Technos and released in North America in 1990. Ransom was the third game in Technos' Kunio-kun series, which saw North American releases in the form of Renegade and Super Dodge Ball, among others.

A price point was not officially disclosed, but the title will likely cost 500 Wii Points ($5), similar to other NES offerings on Nintendo's Virtual Console. In accordance with the usual VC release schedule, River City Ransom will be available next Monday at 12 PM EDT, 9 AM PDT.

This week's additions to the Wii's online Virtual Console storefront are Fantasy Zone and Mega Turrican, Nintendo of America has announced.

A colorful sidescrolling spaceship shooter featuring what Nintendo claims are "fantastical levels," Fantasy Zone was developed by Sega and is the origin of the Opa-Opa references within multiple Sega title. It marks the second Sega Master System title on Virtual Console and will sell for 500 Wii Points ($5).

Developed before the recently re-released Super Turrican, Factor 5's Mega Turrican for the Sega Genesis features the series' traditional 2D alien-slaughtering gameplay. Run, jump and kill those extraterrestrials with anything you want, be it a gun or a plasma rope, for the price of 800 Wii Points ($8).

Both titles will be available for purchase and download through the Wii's online Wii Shop Channel beginning today at 12 PM EDT, 9 AM PDT.