After sony and Microsoft released similar services for their consoles, it was time for Nintendo to join in

Nintendo plans to offer a video service for its gaming console after teaming up with Dentsu, the leading advertising company in Japan. The gaming giant reported that the new service would be available starting early 2009 in Japan and that it would be offered in other countries, as well.

On Thursday, a Dentsu representative stated that the new service would concentrate on cartoons and “other” entertainment content. While most of video services offer existing TV shows, Nintendo and Dentsu promise that they will only provide content created specifically for this service.

Users will be able to access some of the content for a fee, but the video distribution service will provide free content as well, although it will contain advertisements.

It is interesting, though, that Nintendo is already in partnership with Fujisoft, a company that will offer a similar video-streaming platform for Wii. Fujisoft’s video service will use, Ulexit, the company’s video player.

The media player will be available for download through one of the Wii Channels and provides video content for fees ranging from $1 to $4, or the equivalent in Wii points. The service is called “Minna-no Theater Wii” (Everyone’s Theater for Wii) and will be available starting January 27. However, analysts say that Nintendo will concentrate more on its agreement with Dentsu.

Many users and analysts expected the release of a video service for Wii for a long time. Both Sony and Microsoft have already developed very sophisticated platforms that not only connect users in order to play their favorite games, but turn their TV into a home theater by bringing video content through a few clicks.

Moreover, it was believed that Nintendo hesitated to launch a video-streaming platform because the hardware of the gaming console was just not up to it. Wii neither has a hard-drive nor is able to render high definition content, as it is limited to 480p (DVD quality). However, it seems that most users are quite happy with DVD-quality content and, furthermore, there is no need for a hard drive, as videos will be directly streamed from a server

Nintendo’s gaming rig has always attracted customers through its revolutionary controller. The WiiMote not only attracted average people, but also a consistent fraction of the intensive gamers. There are also other devices and accessories that kept Nintendo on pace, like the WiiFit and the games developed for it. Nintendo proved that gaming entertainment it’s not about the latest hardware and high-definition games, but it’s the way people can have fun in a simple and intuitive way.