Here we are beginning another week and receiving another group of VC titles. This week is special though, for not only are we receiving three new titles we are receiving the first VC title with new features put in and the truly awesome ability to send VC titles as gifts. Truly, this is a great week not just for gamers but for all of man kind.

First and foremost on the list this week is Pokemon Snap (Nintendo 64, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points), a game totally devoted to taking pictures of Pokemon. Wait! Don’t leave. It actually is really good and with the new feature allowing you to send pictures of your recently photographed Pokemon to your friends it gets even better. I know I’ve been dying since the game came out to show off that wicked shot of Charizard I took. Now all I have to do is duplicate it exactly. Even if you aren’t into showing off your Pokemon this is great news because it means Nintendo is actually thinking about not just spitting out ports, but updating their classic games.

Let us not forget that there are two other games coming out this week. Ghosts’n Goblins (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Animated Violence, 500 Wii Points) comes to you from way back when you could still find side scrolling games in an arcades. Nintendo describes the game as “unique and unforgettable.” Both words are perfectly apt descriptions as the game is unique in that you probably can’t beat it and unforgettable because you will never forget the day you threw your NES controller into a wall because the game was so hard.

Finally the VC serves up a big pile of baseball fun with BASEBALL STARS 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 900 Wii Points). The obvious sequel to BASEBALL STARS “delivers everything you’d expect in a classic game of baseball.” So you sit around watching two guys playing while you scratch your privates until one of those two guys hits a ball with a stick? Sorry, baseball never appealed to me unless I was at the stadium with friends drinking copious amounts of over priced beer. I’m sure the arcade antics of the game totally make up for the fact that “split-screen views and close-up shots worthy of any highlight film” are the two highlights the press release chooses to comment on.

All games were live as of 9 a.m., PST, and the gift giving feature will be up later today. Hit the jump for the full press release and information on how you can give a VC title as a holiday gift.

WII-KLY UPDATE: PHOTO FEATURE, GIFTING ABILITIES AND THREE CLASSIC GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

Dec. 10, 2007

Get ready to celebrate the arrival of a bunch of fun new features on the Wii™ Shop Channel. This week marks the debut of the first Pokémon® game for the Virtual Console: Pokémon Snap™, which originally was a hit on Nintendo® 64. This Pokémon photographic adventure comes with a special Wii bonus: It now includes a special feature that allows players to post pictures they take in the game to their Wii Message Board and send them to friends with whom they’ve traded Friends Codes.

And let’s not ignore the other sure-to-please titles: Ghosts’n Goblins and BASEBALL STARS 2. These three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. But wait – there’s more!

Later in the day on Monday, Nintendo will make your holiday shopping just a little bit easier. If some people on your gift list have visions of classic video games dancing in their heads, you’re in luck. Starting this week, Wii Shop Channel patrons can use a new Gifting feature to send games to other Wii owners with whom they’ve traded Friend Codes. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to give your fellow Nintendo buffs the gift of a classic game—no wrapping paper required. And don’t worry about duplication. If your friend already has the game you’re trying to give, you’ll get a simple message and be bumped back into the catalog to continue shopping.

Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. 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 retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

Pokémon Snap (Nintendo 64, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): As one of the most unique games in a renowned series, Pokémon Snap was the first truly 3-D Pokémon game and introduced the phenomenon to the Nintendo 64. Travel to Pokémon Island and meet Professor Oak to begin a safari, taking the best possible photographs of 63 different Pokémon as they exist in the wild, undisturbed by humans. This is not as easy as it sounds—the island has many types of climates and environments to explore, along with secret activities and hidden passages to discover. Plus, some of the Pokémon can be a little shy and won’t pose for the camera unless you tease them with special items. After you’re done, submit one picture of each Pokémon to Professor Oak, and he’ll judge it based on size, pose, technique and number of Pokémon captured.

Ghosts’n Goblins (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Animated Violence, 500 Wii Points): Ghosts’n Goblins was a popular arcade game before it made the leap to the NES in 1986. Like later games in the series, Ghosts’n Goblins presents quite a challenge to players brave enough to take on the role of Arthur and delve into the realm of demons and monsters to rescue the kidnapped princess. Choose your weapons wisely and take advantage of their strengths to deal with the situation at hand. Pass through the six gates that stand between you and Astaroth, and teach him a lesson in chivalry he’ll never forget. Demonstrating a high level of technical prowess for a game of its era, Ghosts’n Goblins presents a unique and unforgettable universe. The stage for adventure is set. Are you up to the test?

BASEBALL STARS 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 900 Wii Points): Lace up your cleats and step onto the diamond with the pros of BASEBALL STARS 2. You’ll find everything you’d expect in a classic game of baseball, but with an arcade feel and intense action that distinguish it from the pack. Pick one of six unique teams from cities around the world, then get ready for nine innings of excitement, whether you’re taking on the computer in a 15-game tournament or squaring off against a friend. There are two modes of game play, so even the most inexperienced player can compete at the major-league level (with a little computer-aided fielding). Watch as the game develops through split-screen views and close-up shots worthy of any highlight film, and see if you can catch the numerous over-the-top animations of the large and detailed player models. Think you have what it takes to win the pennant?

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

What are you gifting or getting?