Nintendo to expand game makers club

Building on its high selling rate, Nintendo has opened the platform and the innovative controller for any game maker who wants to get a chance to build games for the Wii console. Not everybody can start making games immediately, they will need to know programming. People can start creating their games on their computers, but final work needs to happen on the console. The plan is to allow a lot more people to start making games based on their ideas, and these games will be available via the Wii shop channel so that Wii owners can buy these games. This is not a new initiative, since Microsoft's Xbox also introduced a smaller version of its game making tools called XNA for making games for the Xbox.

Home and independent game makers are getting a chance to put together titles for Nintendo's Wii console. The hi-tech firm has released a game making tool called WiiWare that gives budding game makers the data they need to use the console and its innovative controller.
The company said it expected game makers to use the Wii's motion sensitive controller to create "fresh takes on established genres". "Independent developers armed with small budgets and big ideas will be able to get their original games into the marketplace to see if we can find the next smash hit," said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America president in a statement.

This is a bright idea from Nintendo to try and do further consolidation of its leadership position. It could also benefit from an approach where some independent title catches customer fancy (you never know!) and Nintendo sales also benefit from this approach.
Of course, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and it will be good to evaluate the situation in 2008 to see how many new titles have emerged.