Excitebike, Electroplankton on Wii/DSiWare today

This week's Wii and DSi downloadable lineup brings two excellent Nintendo creations in two extremely different forms. While it's possible that the different distribution methods may work, one of the games may just continue to suffer in anonymity as a result.

You may have read a few days ago that Excitebike is returning to the Wii via Excitebike: World Rally, a game that adds a 3D visual sheen to the classic 2D gameplay of the NES original. Today is the day, and $10 is the price. It's a bit high as far as WiiWare goes, but considering how many fans have clamored for motorcycles after racing ExciteTrucks and ExciteBots, I can see many fans paying to return to the original mode of transport.

On the DSi, users will be able to play the scarcely-distributed Electroplankton. Originally only available through Nintendo's online site and through the New York-based Nintendo World Store, the game will be distributed on the DSi broken up into 10 different packs, offering up each mode at $2 a pop. While the final $20 price is a good deal for a DS cartridge, breaking up a game into 10 pieces may end up ensuring that few gamers are able to experience the entirety of an overlooked game.

You can read about Nintendo's entire DLC lineup for this week in the press release below.

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: LOAD UP ON EXCITEBIKE ACTION, MUSICAL PLANKTON AND MORE

Rev up your engines for a huge week at the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop, starting with the launch of a pulse-pounding revamp for the WiiWare service, Excitebike: World Rally. For the Nintendo DSiWare service, you'll find five new titles in the mesmerizing Electroplankton series - available at just 200 Nintendo DSi Points - apiece - plus the irresistible multiplayer mayhem of Bomberman Blitz. With two new classic Virtual Console offerings to sweeten the selection, there's truly something for everyone to download and enjoy.

WiiWare

Excitebike: World Rally

Publisher: Nintendo

Players: 1-4

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Price: 1,000 Wii Points

Description: Prepare to face daredevil jumps, crazy obstacles and other racers in the newest installment in the venerable Excitebike franchise, available exclusively on the WiiWare service. Choose from multiple camera angles as you tilt your way to smooth landings using motion-sensitive controls. Compete in races around the world in four championship circuits. Use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to invite friends to a race. Or if you're feeling brave, take on anyone else looking for a match. Feel like tackling a challenge of your own design? Use the intuitive Track Editor to choose from the available obstacles and put together your dream course, then share courses with friends to see whose creation skills reign supreme.

Frogger Returns

Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment

Players: 1-2

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Price: 500 Wii Points

Description: Frogger Returns takes the heart-pounding challenge of arcade Frogger and moves it into the next dimension. Classic top-down 2-D game play is updated with colorful 3-D graphics, a new perspective, new levels, new enemies and game-changing power-ups. A local multiplayer mode lets you race a friend.

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