This week’s Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco is turning out to be a hotbed for release date information on upcoming Nintendo developments. As well as confirming Wii Fit for a May 19 launch in North America, the firm has also stated that the Wii’s original download service, WiiWare, will arrive stateside on May 12.

Nintendo’s upcoming WiiWare changes the way both developers create and consumers access video games. Through WiiWare, Nintendo hopes to offer developers a virtual laboratory that serves as a breeding ground for new games, which encourages great ideas that creators always wanted to develop. The combination of low development barriers and unique game experiences found only on Wii should enable developers to try new ideas with lower risk in a quicker, more creative and affordable way.

Meanwhile Wii owners can download a multitude of cool new games from different genres, including some that are unprecedented, which can be purchased from home at a dynamic price range. WiiWare also empowers consumers to determine with their Wii Points which games have the right stuff to become the next big thing.

Nearly twenty original titles are already confirmed to be in development for WiiWare, including the likes of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Young King and the Promised Land, Eternity’s Child and Pokemon Farm. Like the Virtual Console service, gamers will pay for downloadable titles with Wii Points.

We are excited to participate in the Game Developers Conference this year to share with developers and consumers alike our upcoming unique services and products,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “We are hopeful that they will appreciate our offerings of WiiWare, Wii Fit and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which represent a trio that will continue to attract new players to the world of video games.”

There’s no announcement on when WiiWare will arrive in Europe, but we’re keeping our ear firmly to the ground. When we find out, you’ll be the first to know.