Nintendo of America today announced the long-awaited launch of the WiiWare download service which allows Wii owners to download new titles via the Wii Shop Channel in much the same way as they can already do with Virtual Console games.

"WiiWare is to the video game industry what independent films are to Hollywood," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing.

"WiiWare lets developers experiment with new ideas and experiences. Combined with our collection of classic Virtual Console games, Wii provides one-stop shopping for the greatest games of the past - and the future."

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (Square Enix, 1 player, 1,500 Wii Points)

LostWinds (Frontier Development, 1-2 players, 1,000 Wii Points)

Defend your Castle (XGen Studios, 1-4 players, 500 Wii Points)

Pop (Nnooo, 1-4 players, 700 Wii Points)

V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack (High Voltage Software Inc., 1-4 players, 700 Wii Points)

TV Show King (Gameloft, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points)