Help your friends get their Wiis online and reap the rewards!

If you were wondering why the Wii Shop Channel was down for maintenance last night, it was because Nintendo was prepping their Connection Ambassador Promotion. Announced last month, the initiative is aimed at getting more Wii owners online.

The update to the Shop Channel means that you'll have to update your system to enter, but after doing so, you can take advantage of the scheme. By a one non-online friend to connect, you will both receieve 500 Points. Help out 10 people, you will recieve Master Gold status, after which you can download every first-party NES title for free. Help 20 people to get online, and you'll achieve Master Platinum status, where you'll be able to download EVERY NES, SNES and N64 title in the library for free. If you've already downloaded one of the titles you could claim with a Master status, you can gift that game to a friend free of charge.

Registering helpers and helpees is relatively simple. Both parties need to enter the unique Wii code of the other's console on the Shop Channel to prove the assistance. The newly-connected user must input the ambassador's Wii code within thirty days of first connecting to the Shop Channel.

Full terms and conditions of the initiative can be found on the Wii Shop Channel, or on Nintendo's official website here.