Unlike Nintendo of America, Nintendo Europe are giving PAL customers a little time to prepare for WiiWare's launch, by announcing their first lineup of games for the service a week in advance (European launch is May 20, 2008).

Europeans will be getting eight games instead of six, and while they won't be getting Defend Your Castle or VIP Blackjack, they will be getting Dr Mario, Germ Buster, Pirates: The Key of Dreams, Toki Tori and Star Soldier R.

Full press release follows..

13th May 2008 – The opportunity to create the next groundbreaking video game for Wii has well and truly arrived for developers as WiiWare hits Europe, launching on 20 May 2008. Developers, no matter how big or small, will be able to create exciting new downloadable games to be sold through the Wii Shop Channel. Changing the way developers create Wii games and players access them, WiiWare will make it possible for smaller, creative titles to take centre stage. Developers will be able to see their big ideas step into reality, without risk or the need for a big budget.

With WiiWare games, the possibilities are endless - only limited by the imaginations of the developers. Expect to see a raft of new, fresh and original games head to Wii from an entire range of genres. Utilising the Wii’s unique control methods from the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to potentially the Wii Balance Board and Wii Wheel, developers have the freedom to create the game of their dreams in an affordable way, with low entry barriers and flexible criteria in front of them. Such is the opportunity that, already developers who have never created or published games for Nintendo are working on a host of potential ideas.

Laurent Fischer, Managing Director of Marketing & PR of Nintendo of Europe comments, ‘We are excited by the positive response we have received from third-party developers to the announcement of WiiWare. We hope that this opportunity and the inspiration to produce original and exciting games will allow developers of all sizes to bring new concepts, genres and game play experiences to Wii. Opening this creative door will also provide Wii users access to a huge choice of games that they can easily download and enjoy.’

Easy to access and simple to use, WiiWare games will be available to download from the Wii Shop Channel at a cost starting at 500 Wii Points. To date, a vast array of exciting and creative new projects are already in the pipeline, ensuring fresh concepts and content will frequently become available for all to enjoy. Players themselves will also become central to the creative process as their download choices and genre selection will become instrumental in helping developers determine future projects.

From 20th May onwards, a whole host of brand new creative games from developers across Europe and the rest of the globe become available, including:

• Dr. Mario & Germ Buster (Nintendo) - 1000 Wii Points (GBP 7 / EUR 10 approx)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (Square Enix) - 1500 Wii Points (GBP 10.50 / EUR 15)
• LostWinds (Frontier) - 1000 Wii Points (GBP 7 / EUR 10 approx)
• Pirates: The Key of Dreams (Oxygen)
• Pop (Nnooo) - 700 Wii Points (GBP 5 / EUR 7 approx)
• Star Soldier R (Hudson) - 800 Wii Points (GBP 7 / EUR 10 approx)
• Toki Tori (Two Tribes)
• TV Show King (Gameloft) - 1000 Wii Points (GBP 7 / EUR 10 approx)

With so much creative freedom on offer to developers there is sure to be something for everyone on WiiWare. Keep checking www.nintendo.co.uk for all the latest WiiWare news and releases.

We'll post more details as they become available.
Thanks to www.eurogamer.net for the heads-up.