Nintendo: Make Your Own Wii Games

Nintendo has announced WiiWare, a platform for developers small and large to create their own Wii games that can be downloaded to the company's enormously popular console. Home brew are an increasing trend; Microsoft has offered a similar tool called XNA Game Studio Express for its Xbox.

Developers can use WiiWare to develop low-cost titles that take advantage of the Wii's unique remote and nunchuk controllers. Because few people enjoy working for free, created games can be sold via the Wii Shop Channel. "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 Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. WiiWare-built games are expected to begin arriving early next year.