Google has released a customised version of its RSS feed reader specifically for the Nintendo Wii; the software can be accessed via the console’s Opera Internet Browser, reports CVG.

Appropriately named Google Reader, it allows its users to read breaking news from thousands of websites across the Internet - including your favourite source for Nintendo-related information (that’s this here website, Nintendic, if you hadn’t already guessed!)

As you might expect, the reader is displayed has been optimised for browsing the Internet on Nintendo’s latest console. The text size has been significantly enlarged, while a series of simple button presses initiate some of the program’s most useful commands.

More useful functionality or a little bit useless?

Google says the program can “take advantage of the buttons on your Wiimote, letting you navigate easily from the comfort of your couch.” For example, the 1 button shows your subscriptions, while the 2 button shows links. When displaying subscriptions, tapping, one of the four inputs on the directional pad allows you to browse them at your leisure, select those that interest you and click through to them with ease.

The search engine giant isn’t the first to jump on the Wii-optimised website bandwagon, (following in the footsteps of hundreds of sites created by members of the public that include links to Flash-based games and videos for example). However, the fact that one of the web’s biggest players has invested time into the invention is proof that it feels that the Wii Opera Browser is more than just a gimmick, and may even pave the way for other significant web-based companies to follow with something similar.