Here’s a recap for those who haven’t been keeping score. In 2009, Nintendo finally started allowing for developers to release free demos of their WiiWare games. Only five games were allowed to have demos at first, but it was a start. Then a few months later, Nintendo took down all five demos. No one knows why.
Then they came back with demos again in late 2010, this time allowing more developers to take advantage of the demo process. However, the demos were all still available for a limited time only, and one by one, they have all slowly disappeared from the Wii shop.
That takes us to today, a day that without warning or explanation, all 50 of the previously released WiiWare demos came back. What? Why? Thank You? Okay then! Great! Was it the phenomenal sales of Monster Hunter 3G in Japan, a 3DS game that was supported by a free demo prior to release in Japan, that caused Nintendo to suddenly have change of heart about demos in general? Is this all a huge mistake, to be “fixed” by Nintendo at any moment?
Regardless of why this thing has happened, I’d jump on this right now and download the demos for the Bit.Trip series, Lilt Line, World of Goo, And Yet It Moves, Jett Rocket, Cave Story, Fluidity, Final Fantasy, LIT, and all the other games that I like. The only thing it will cost you is a little bit of time, and a little bit of hate. Hate is something that’s impossible to feel while listening to the greatest virtual shop music on the planet.
Published: Jan 12, 2012 11:00 pm