Source: videogamesblogger.com

Today Nintendo adds new/classic games to the popular Wii Shop Channel. The games go live at 9AM Pacific time. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at stores like Amazon (see Card above).

We’ve included videos of each of today’s games for nostalgia’s sake or so you can see if it’s to your tastes.

This week’s new WiiWare games are:

Strong Bad Episode 3: Baddest of the Bands (Telltale Games, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Alcohol Reference, Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,000 Wii Points = $10): Rock and roll! Hurting for cash, Strong Bad sets out to dominate the “Battle Royale of the Bands.” Can he rule the stage and win the big prize? Or will he be drowned out by the competition? Find out in this high-voltage episode.

Art Style: Rotohex (Nintendo, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points = $6): Use colored triangular panels to create a vibrant mosaic of stained glass in Art Style: ROTOHEX. As triangles fall from the top of the screen, rotate them to group six panels of the same color and create a matching hexagon, or HEX. Once the HEX has been formed, it will disappear, allowing the existing panels to shift and more panels to fill the playing field. A clear-cut goal and two different styles of intuitive controls allow you to focus solely on the game play-which is vital, as the playing field will be full of panels before you know it. With multiple modes (unlock more as you progress further in SOLO mode), special item panels at your disposal, and the ability to play cooperatively or competitively with a friend, there will always be another HEX to create.

This week’s new Virtual Console game is:

Earthworm Jim (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points = $8): Jim was an ordinary earthworm who did very earthworm-like things, such as flee from crows and eat dirt. One day, during an outer space fight, a suit drops to Earth and falls around Jim. It mutates him into a large and intelligent (at least by earthworm standards) superhero. Play as Jim in this Sega Genesis classic. When Jim learns of the evil plans of Psy-Crow and Queen Slug-for-a-Butt, he decides to rescue Princess What’s-Her-Name. Run, gun, swing on hooks by your head and launch cows at the interesting characters you meet along the way, such as Major Mucus, Chuck and Fifi, Evil the Cat, and Bob the Killer Goldfish.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Today Nintendo of Europe and Australia added new classic games to the popular Wii Shop Channel. The games went live at midnight CET. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at stores like Amazon UK (Card).

We’ve included videos of the games so you can see if it’s for you. This week’s new games are:

Earthworm Jim (Sega Mega Drive, Action/Platformer, 1 player, 800 Wii Points = €8 / £6 / AU$12): Jim was just an ordinary earthworm who did regular earthworm-like things such as flee from crows and eat dirt. One day, during a grand space battle overhead, a super suit drops to Earth and lands around Jim - and transforms him into a large and intelligent (at least by earthworm standards) superhero! Then, when Jim learns of the evil plans of Psy-Crow and Queen Slug-for-a-Butt, he jumps into action and resolves to rescue the beautiful Princess What’s-Her-Name! — Play as Jim in this zany, madcap Sega Mega Drive adventure! Run, gun, swing on hooks by your (worm) head and launch cows at the quirky villains you meet along the way, such as Major Mucus, Chuck and Fill, Evil the Cat and Bob the Killer Goldfish. Groovy!

(Supports Wii Component AV cable Interlace Mode.)

Shining Force II: Ancient Sealing (Sega Mega Drive, RPG, 1 player, 800 Wii Points = €8 / £6 / AU$12): It’s a dark and stormy night in the kingdom of Granseal, when a thief steals two jewels from the Tower of the Ancients, which sets in motion strange events that lead to the resurrection of Zeon, the Devil King! Granseal’s king falls sick, the princess is kidnapped and a door to Arc Valley, the Devil King’s home, is opened. The young swordsman Bowie, realising the grave danger Granseal faces, must lead the Shining Force to find the Holy Sword and the stolen jewels and protect Granseal against the invading armies of the evil Zeon.

(Supports Wii Component AV cable Interlace Mode.)

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Interplay has announced that they’ll bring four of their 1990s Sega Genesis releases to the Wii Virtual Console sometime between soon and later in 2008. The four games are: Earthworm Jim and Earthworm Jim 2 on tap, as well as Clayfighter and Boogerman.

1UP reports that the announcement for these downloadable games follows rumblings in recent months that the once-prominent publisher is planning to revive several of its key properties, including fan-favorites Descent and MDK. It doesn’t sound that unreasonable considering they just announced Earthworm Jim 4.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Interplay announced today that they’ve signed a partnership arrangement with Earthworm Jim creator Douglas TenNapel to relaunch the videogame icon. Mr. TenNapel will serve as a creative consultant on Earthworm Jim 4, and will simultaneously develop an animated series and feature film to expand the well known brand.

TenNapel created the original Earthworm Jim character, which Interplay developed into a video game with Shiny Studios for the Sega Genesis console in 1994. The game became an immediate hit, and later spawned sequels on various computer and video game platforms, including Earthworm Jim 2, Earthworm Jim 3D, and Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy.

The iconic character became a virtual hero whose popularity took him far beyond video games into TV and toys. An animated Earthworm Jim television series, produced by TenNapel, aired for two seasons from 1995 to 1996, on The Kids WB! with Dan Castellaneta (of Homer Simpsons fame) providing the voice for the title character. I don’t know if you can remember the original Earthworm Jim animated TV show, but it was suitably wacky and funny. Let Youtube take you back to 1995.