Due for release on May 20th in the UK, Nintendo's WiiWare channel has launched in the US yesterday with six new titles available for download.

The channel offers Wii owners with an Internet connection the chance to download new, creative games from a wide range of developers, from large publishers as well as from indie shops.

The six games are:

“Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King”, a fantasy city-building simulator in which the player creates a kingdom from the ground up

Priced: $15.

“Pop” which involves the player popping bubbles to score points against a time limit. Players click on bubbles that float up the screen using the Wii Remote, gaining bonus points if popping successions of bubbles, and adding more time to the clock.

Priced: $7.

“Defend Your Castle” , the Macromedia Flash-based browser game created by indie game developer XGen Studios in which you need to dispatch all enemy units before they reach your castle.

Priced: $5.

“Lost Winds” , a platform adventure game from Frontier Developments.

Priced :$10.

“V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack", erm, a blackjack game.

Priced: $7.

“TV Show King” ,where up four players, represented by Miis, compete against each other in a three round trivia contest.

Price: $10.

The UK and European line-up of launch titles has yet to be announced.