Some updates to the recently launched Japanese WiiWare site reveal that Nintendo hasn’t been lying about their estimated prices for WiiWare games – the first crop will cost between 500 and 1000 points, with only Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles – My Life as King breaking the 1000 Wii Point mark;  that will cost Japanese players 1500 points. That’s around ~$5, ~$10 or ~$15 per game (in USD, or AUD). Lets hope these attractive prices also apply to WiiWare when it launches in other parts of the world.

Scanning the list of release titles in Japan, I don’t see the WiiWare game I’m looking forward to the most – Pop (by Nnooo). Not to worry; the release titles outside of Japan are very likely to be different.

See the Gamasutra coverage for more details.

One new release this week in the Australian Virtual Console shop: Kirby 64, The Crystal Shards (from Nintendo 64).

Kirby 64, The Crystal Shards (N64)

I’ve noticed two interesting views on story in videogames recently:
Firstly, there Kevin Levine, in his GDC talk:

“The first big secret is, the bad news is for storytellers is that nobody cares about your stupid story… no matter how detailed or lovingly you craft it.” — Kevin Levine, creative director on BioShock.

Then there is Cory Barlog’s blog post from a few months back:

I mean, the freaking princess is abducted…again. I have to go after her captor, Bowser, again. [...] Oh wait…the game sells millions even with the vapid story. As it has been pointed out to me every time I say it, the game is not about the story. It is about the platforming and crazy new mechanics and worlds. — Cory Barlog, director on God of War and God of War 2

The Wired GameLife blog highlighted Cory’s comments, and before you know it, the Nintendo gaming press was plastered with the headlines “God of War Director calls Super Mario Galaxy’s story ‘vapid’”. Despite the minor fanboy-furor generated, Cory’s post indicates he still appreciated the level design, art and graphics and sound, and realizes that the game is not supposed to be about story … he just didn’t get hooked.

It’s pretty clear that many games benefit, and are even driven by, a rich, engaging storyline … but when it comes to the classic Mario platformers … nobody cares about the stupid story !!

Hot on the heels of Hori’s Wii Fighting Stick comes this sweet looking arcade stick from SNK-Playmore and Sega Logistics. Hey, SNK knows fight games, so this has gotta be good right ? It is supposed to work with both Virtual Console and regular Wii games. Let’s hope it works nicely with the real “King of Fight Games”, Street Fighter II.

Via wiitech.info and Wii Fanboy.

This weeks releases to the Australian Virtual Console shop: Psychosis from Turbografx-16 and Super Turrican from the Super Nintendo.

Super Turrican (SNES)

Which came first … Metroid, Megaman, Contra or Turrican ? Someone’s been heavily inspired by someone else. The variety of weapons, powerups and special abilities in Super Turrican looks kinda nice.

While researching Turrican, I found this great Turrican-inspired “remake” .. Hurrican. Yeh,  I know, I know .. this is a Wii blog, and I’m plugging a freeware PC game (runs on Windows, and Linux under Wine). But seriously, check it out if you like platform shooters … it’s really slick.

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