Project Bang

Engine Software, developer based in the Netherlands, today announced that it has started its first development project for the Nintendo WiiWare service. The debut title, for now dubbed â€œProject Bang!â€, will be a casual game type with very addictive gameplay using the unique Wii Remote controller functionality, and will support a two-player battle mode. (Sound like it could perhaps be a Tetris or Bejeweled style of game.)

Nintendoâ€™s WiiWare service is a new downloadable game content service that is scheduled to be launched in March 2008. Players will be able to purchase and download WiiWare games directly from the Wii Shop Channel in exchange for Wii Points. â€œWiiWare brings new levels of creativity and value to the ever-growing population of Wii owners.â€, as stated by Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime. You can currently download the Wii Opera Browser via Wiiware, along with the “Check Mii Out” Channel, an update to the photo channel, MP3 streaming from MP3tunes, and a few other odds and ends.

Ruud van de Moosdyk, VP of Development at Engine Software: â€œWe are very excited about our first game for the WiiWare service. When we acquired our official Wii license last year we already had several concepts written up that would be ideal for WiiWare, and Project Bang! is the first to actually go into production. We wanted to get rolling on this exciting new platform early on, and I am quite happy we are now on schedule to do just that. â€œ

In the near future Engine Software will be releasing more information (including the final name), and screenshots of Project Bang!, as well as more news regarding future plans for the platform. Project Bang! is scheduled to be completed early on in the serviceâ€™s operational status, but no exact date can be given at this time.

I am all for being able to download original games via WiiWare. I love casual games (time-wasters) such as bejewled. What could possibly be the most exciting part of this is that Nintendo has opened their doors to Indie game developers. And if you play any online games, you realize that several Indie games are spectacular (and free.)