Nintendo Launches News Info, DS Demo Wii Channel In U.S.

Nintendo of America has launched its latest Wii channel, known as the Nintendo Channel, in the U.S., featuring video previews and news, information on Wii and DS titles, and downloadable demos for a number of DS games currently on the market. First released in Japan in November of 2007, the channel has launched with a wide variety of promotional videos, including Wii and DS game trailers and video interviews with personalities like Shigeru Miyamoto, explaining the design behind the company's forthcoming Wii Fit. Also included is a comprehensive catalog of Wii and DS games both first- and third-party with information, streaming video where available, and a link which re-directs users to the Internet Channel, where they can choose from a number of online retailers including Amazon, Wal-Mart and Best Buy to purchase the game. The channel also lets users rate and rank titles they have played -- provided they have put more than an hour into the game -- and turns the Wii into a DS demo download station, serving a number of third- and first- party demos including Cooking Mama 2, Crosswords DS, Ninja Gaiden and Brain Age 2. Originally slated for release alongside Nintendo's forthcoming WiiWare digital download service on May 12th, the channel is now available for free download on North American Wiis.