Virtual Console Shifts Up A Gear With One Of Nintendo's Best Racing Games Of All Time
26th January 2007 - Racing fans are in for an extra special treat today as Mario Kart 64, one of the greatest games in the hugely popular Mario Kart series, is available to download to Wii's Virtual Console *. Featuring tense racing action for up to four players, Mario Kart 64 is the ultimate trip down nostalgia lane for you and your friends for the small sum of 1000 Wii Points.
As if this great game wasn't reason enough to join the 1.4 million Wii users connected to the internet around the globe, Friday will see the launch of the first version** of the News Channel, for free, across Europe. Once downloaded the News Channel provides instant on demand news from around the world at the press of a button.
This Friday will also see the release of Soldier Blade from Turbografx (PC Engine), which will join over 40 classic titles already available for the Virtual Console. Since launch a staggering 1.5 million games have been downloaded worldwide from the service.
- ends -
For further information or images, please contact the Nintendo Press Office on 020 7307 3103
Using the Wii's Wii Shop Channel, gamers are able to download retro games to Wii's Virtual Console. Once selected these games are saved to the Wii internal flash memory and added to the console's Wii Channel Menu allowing them to be easily accessed at any time. Wii owners can download Virtual Console games using Wii Points. Wii Points can either be purchased online via the Wii Shop Channel using a credit card or users can purchase Wii Points by buying a Wii Points card in retail stores at around 20 for 2000 Wii Points. These points can then be redeemed against Virtual Console games via the Wii Shop Channel.**Later in the year a second version of the News Channel will be available for free in Europe which will contain more extensive European news.
About Wii
Nintendo's new system, Wii, features a controller designed to be used with either one hand or two -- a first in the video game industry. When picked up and pointed at the screen, the controller gives a lightning-quick element of interaction, sensing motion, depth, positioning and targeting dictated by movement of the controller itself. The Wii console is available at an estimated retail price of around 249 Euros (£179 in the UK).