Amongst a number of mistakes and oversights that Nintendo only has to blame on itself, one of the main reasons that its consoles languished in last place behind its competitors in the past two generations was a lack of continued, comprehensive support from third party developers. However, with the arrival of the Nintendo Wii (despite a reserved first year from many quarters), things are looking very much on the up. Whether core or casual gaming is your bag, what we know of upcoming third party releases for Wii in 2008 is looking very promising indeed. With this in mind, Nintendic has chosen a selection of ten non-Nintendo-developed exclusive-to Wii games to look out for as the year unfolds.

Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer (Konami)

It’s out this Friday in Europe, so we’re squeezing it in here just because it really deserves a mention. When a version Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 for Nintendo’s latest home console didn’t appear alongside other formats on its announcement last June, there was a little concern that the Wii might be overlooked. However, confirmation soon followed that Konami was overhauling the game’s controls especially for the machine, and by the sounds of it, they’ve managed to pull off the greatest single shake-up in the soccer simulation genre for a decade. Players now have greater control of their whole team instead of just individual players, with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck providing an experience more in-depth than on any other format.

Boom Blox (Electronic Arts)

In conjunction with Electronic Arts, Boom Blox is Steven Spielberg’s baby on Wii, and seemingly proof thus far that the famous director looks to be just as adept in the world of videogames as he is behind the camera on a film set. The physics-based puzzler (in which the objective is to knock a structure made of blocks so they they all fall flat) looks to make precise use of the Wii Remote’s motion sensitive controls. Described as Jenga meets Tetris Blast, it makes the Wii version of the former game look like a broken WiiWare title. Even more exciting, Boom Blox is said to support headtracking, the repositioning of the virtual in-game camera in relation to player’s position in the room. It’s mind blowing stuff, and shows fantastic potential for future projects.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (Square Enix)

Square Enix has remained extremely tight-lipped over the sequel to the GameCube adventure that started the Crystal Chronicles, since first announcing it way back in 2006. Rumoured to take place long after the setting of the original, Crystal Bearers is intended to be a more single-player experience compared to the co-op orientated original, an “exhilarating tale of a great hero set against sweeping blue skies.” Given that it has supported the Nintendo DS so strongly, it’s also fantastic to see Square Enix showing the Wii some love too, especially in a genre that both the GameCube and Nintendo 64 were somewhat starved of. Despite knowing very little about FFCC: TCB, we think we’re entitled to feeling excited given its developer’s track record with RPGs to date.

de Blob (Blue Tongue)

This Blue Tongue-developed title is just the sort of thing that Nintendo should be encouraging software houses to the Nintendo Wii. Original, quirky, colourful and by the looks of it, a whole lot of fun. de Blob is an action-puzzler that follows the alien race’s attempts to liberate the city of Chroma from the evil clutches of the I.N.K.T. Corporation. Rather than relying on deadly violence and a huge amount of weaponry, de Blob tasks players with the challenge of bouncing about the urban environment, splashing buildings with explosions of colour and lifting Chroma from its oppressed state. Early impressions of the title have been particularly positive, but given its relative anonymity amongst the general Wii populous just now, perhaps de Blob will turn out to be something of a sleeper hit.

Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends (505 Games)

The first Cooking Mama title on the Nintendo Wii, subtitled Cook Off, was given something of a lukewarm reception by critics when it arrived freshly baked from the oven in 2007 (unresponsive motion controls were players’ biggest gripe), so hopefully 505 Games has spent a bit more time at Chef School in preparation for the release of Dinner With Friends on Nintendo’s latest home console. Perhaps the most casual of casual games on our list, and something core players are likely to completely avoid, there’s no denying that Cooking Mama is tasty news for millions of Wii owners, particularly given the huge success of the franchise so far.

Deca Sports (Hudson Soft)

There are a number of sports-based compilations planned to be released for the Nintendo Wii in 2008, but of all of the efforts seen from third parties so far, Deca Sports is looking the most promising. Taking a huge leaf from Wii Sports, the Hudson Soft-developed title includes a variety of recreational activities, each desiring unique use of the Wii Remote and Nunchuck’s motion controllers. A total of 10 sports are included in all, comprising of distractions ranging from basketball and soccer to curling and kart racing. Until Nintendo announces a Wii Sports 2, Deca Sports looks like being the next best thing available.

Major Minor’s Majestic March (NanaOn-Sha)

Parappa the Rapper designer all but invented the rhythm-based music genre now very much established within the videogames industry, so you can imagine our delight when it was announced he was working on Major Minor’s Majestic March exclusively for the Nintendo Wii. In something likely to mimic the experience also being touted by Nintendo with Wii Music, NanaOn-Sha’s project sees players aiming to create the most impressive musical parade of all time by keeping tempo in 25 different songs and conducting up to 15 different instruments with the Wii Remote used as a baton. Little more information has been released, but the concept seems perfect for the Nintendo Wii and we can’t wait to see how the title turns out come its release this Holiday season.

We Ski

With the impending arrival of Wii Fit and the Wii Balance Board, it’s clear that gamers will want to make use of the device beyond striking yoga poses and buffing themselves up with press ups. Enter Namco Bandai, whose We Ski (previously known as Family Ski) will be the first third party game to make full use of the unique accessory. Players will shift their weight from side to side to direct their onscreen character, while lunging with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck at their sides will provide a handy pair of virtual ski poles to help them pick up speed. Word on the street is that We Ski is looking pretty slick, and with a variety of game modes and WiiConnect24 compatibility for sharing in-game snaps, it’s shaping up to be an enjoyable (if tiring) experience.

Deadly Creatures (Rainbow Studios)

Proof that the Nintendo Wii is beginning to attract serious attention from developers and publishers keen to target the console’s millions of core gamers is Rainbow Studios and THQ’s Deadly Creatures, a title that will shrink players down to the size of scorpions and tarantulas to engage in brutal combat against other insects and arachnids. Wii Remote and Nunchuck motion controls will feature heavily, complemented by what is being described as a dark and compelling storyline. Rainbow Studios has insisted that it is aiming to “raise the bar” for all third party Wii titles with Deadly Creatures, offering gameplay that isn’t available on any other console. The 3D adventure is still very much shrouded in mystery, but the unique perspective and promise of immersive combo-based battling is more than enough to arouse our interest.

WiiWare (Various)

Okay, maybe this last entry is a little bit of a cheeky one, but Nintendo’s WiiWare service would be nothing if it wasn’t for the growing number of third party developers throwing their weight behind it - from the big guns of the industry such as Square Enix, Hudson Soft and Namco, right down to small, independent software houses such as BPlus, Nnoo and Autonomous Productions. The fact now that announcements of brand new WiiWare titles are coming thick and fast is testament to the work Nintendo has ploughed into encouraging companies to the service, and that effort can only be good news for gamers. With titles such Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A King, Eternity’s Child and LostWinds (and many more) on the way in 2008, WiiWare looks like being a hotbed for great third party offerings on Nintendo’s latest home console.

Remember, the above list excludes games which (other than PES, which is far and away different from its counterparts) not multi-format titles or ports. Which Nintendo Wii third party releases are you most looking forward to in 2008, and do you think Nintendo is doing enough to attract outside talent to its latest machine? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.