Wii downloaders this week have a new trio of choices this week. Hudson Entertainment's Alien Crush Returns has become available for WiiWare, as has Big Blue Bubble's Home Sweet Home. On the retro side of things, the classic Space Harrier has been made available via the Sega Master System library.

The first Alien Crush pinball game may have been on the 90's-era TurboGrafx, but Hudson has revived the classic with Alien Crush Returns on WiiWare. Hudson seeks to take the downloadable title beyond pinball with "grotesque, eye-stunning playfields" as well as "unique Action Ball gimmicks that redefine the fun and excitement of pinball." Players can even nudge the virtual pinball machine with their Wii Remotes. The game boasts several online components like high-score competitions, downloadable levels, and even four-player head-to-head play. Alien Crush Returns is available on the Wii Shop Channel for 800 Wii points.

If gross-out space pinball action isn't appealing, then Big Blue Bubble Inc. has something more down-to-earth: interior decorating. Home Sweet Home gives players a blank room and sets them loose to create wow their clients using furniture, patterns, and colors. Featuring "simple controls, a fun graphical style and an easy-to-use interface," players can get creative with their décor for 1000 Wii Points via the Wii Shop Channel.

Those looking for something more old school have the option of downloading Space Harriers on the Virtual Console. This Sega arcade classic, created by development house AM2, has been made available in its Sega Master System form. Players have eighteen levels through "The Land of Dragons" in which to fight bosses and restore peace. Space Harriers costs 500 Wii Points to download.

WII-KLY UPDATE: TWO WIIWARE GAMES AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

Nov. 3, 2008

Sometimes you feel like a pinball, bouncing from one thing to the other. Do you spend time blasting things in outer space or just spend a quiet afternoon at home, redecorating? Fortunately this week's Wii-kly Update doesn't force you to make those tough choices.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time 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:

WiiWare

ALIEN CRUSH RETURNS™ (Hudson Entertainment, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone – Animated Blood, Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): ALIEN CRUSH RETURNS is the ultimate incarnation of the popular TurboGrafx pinball classic, Alien Crush. Boasting innovative game and control features, this is one Wii experience that you don't want to miss. With all the ball-blazing simplicity and flipper action thrills of standard pinball, ALIEN CRUSH RETURNS has all the visual and digital elements that you've come to expect in a video game, including grotesque, eye-stunning playfields as well as unique Action Ball gimmicks that redefine the fun and excitement of pinball. You can even nudge the machine with your Wii Remote controller. What's more, you can connect via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection to enjoy a variety of features such as four-player head-to-head action, high score competitions and Extra Stage downloads.

Home Sweet Home (Big Blue Bubble Inc., 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Picture this scene... You move into your new home, and every room is perfect. Every room, except one. Here is the blank canvas for your vision, but you lack the know-how. Who do you call? The Home Sweet Home team! Home Sweet Home will give you the chance to unleash your hidden talents as an interior designer. You choose the furniture, patterns and colors to create a masterpiece that will blow your client away. With simple controls, a fun graphical style and an easy-to-use interface, Home Sweet Home allows you to nurture your creative side. Remember, a house is not a home until it is a Home Sweet Home.

Virtual Console

Space Harrier™ (Sega Master System, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): Space Harrier was originally released in the arcade in the 1980s, developed by AM2, which also developed OutRun and Afterburner. Space Harrier is widely recognizable by many arcade fans due to its distinctive, colorful art design and its fast-paced action. The SEGA Master System version is considered a solid port of the arcade game, containing 18 levels of intense fun. As the "Space Harrier," you must fight your way through "The Land of Dragons" and defeat the bosses at the end of each level to restore peace to the land. Are you prepared? Get ready!