Let's say you ran Nintendo. What ideas/programs/incentives would you utilize to increase VC + WiiWare sales? For example, I really liked the demo program, but it was too limited (only the five games) and discontinued. Other ideas, suggestions? What would get you to download more content?

Free VC downloads included in major Nintendo games

IE - buy Super Mario Galaxy 2? Well get SMB for free
Zelda? The Legend of Zelda for free
Other M? Metroid for free

- More demos are needed.
- Make people aware of the games. "Connect your Wii" commercials showing off WiiWare games?
- Temporary discounts?
- Free Wii points when buying Nintendo's retail games.

Pretty much this.

More demos would be appreciated the most.

Yep all that's been said aswell as demo's for retail games that can be downloaded from the wiishop channel. Also more content to get people interested like possible new characters for brawl and kart available as dlc. Getting some 3rd parties doing games with online on the wii or making online games themselves would help aswell, If the wii suddenly started getting more online support wiiware and vc sales would rise as more people connect to the internet.

New payment method for the very large number of people who either a) don't have credit cards or b) don't like to use them online.

That payment method being, dial this number; enter this 4 digit code; we'll charge from your phone bill or available credit.

I wasn't under the impression WiiWare/Virtual Console games were struggling. In fact, I was under the impression they were selling very well and making their companies way more money than they predicted.

But if you asked me, I would alter the format of how they are presented. 2 small images and a brief description of the game does not give people a good idea of what the game is. Definitely not enough to buy it. They should give people a small gameplay demo and links to the developers homepage. And in the case of virtual console games, links to games that are similar to the game you are looking at, such as if you are looking at Contra III, link it to Metal Slug and Alter Beast. This would increase sales not just for that one game, but for multiple titles.

I would also improve the search features and video functions in the Nintendo Channel.

As for Demos, it sounds good in principle, but for many games on WiiWare and Virtual Console, people would download the demo and then never buy the full game. Demos work best for full games like a Resident Evil or Final Fantasy where you can play a couple hours and then want more. Not where you will play 2 levels of a Kirby game...and that's 1/4 the game.

The phone billing is a very interesting idea. That's one I hadn't thought of.

I didn't say VC/WiiWare was struggling, however based on a couple of surveys it appears that a good percentage of people who own Wii's don't even have them connected to the internet, but much using them to download games and content from the services. The idea of the thread is how would you encourage people who already use the services to download more and perhaps how to get those that aren't connected to the internet to do so?

Also, with how text-heavy the world is today, you could text the game's code to a specific number (TEXT 32423 to Ninty) for the download.

As for getting the game's out there, Nintendo needs more visibility. Any new game should come with a Wiiware notice of some kind.

To be radical, I would think they need to redo most of the Wii Menu to something more like Xbox Live. I only say that because when you are connected to XBL, all the daily updates are in your face. Nintendo could have a separate menu (a la SD Card menu) that serves to promote everything going on in WiiWare/Virtual Console at the moment, similar to the Nintendo Channel.

The hardest part is getting people to even download the Nintendo Channel first of all, and second, actually finding use of it. In order to get this to work, Ninty just needs to advertise the revamped service with probably one somewhat BIG title to encourage the update. I'd say free...Super Mario Bros.  and Dr. Mario WW to spur people on.

Dr. Mario throws a pill towards the TV screen "Get your retro/Wiiware checked; Gwt your Wii fix" *Enter witty line*