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Club Nintendo back up, accepting NA members [update]
After years of chanting "Let us in, let us in!," the doors to Club Nintendo have finally been opened to those living in North America. The service, which was announced this summer, takes the place of NOA's previous My Nintendo site. Nice to join you, Japan and Europe.Already have your Nintendo gear and games registered on My Nintendo? Not to worry. Logging into the Club Nintendo site automagically converts your old account and – most importantly – makes sure Club Nintendo knows about all the stuff you've bought. So you can, y'know, start saving up for exclusive merchandise and other rewards, including the (now official) US version of Game & Watch Collection.There's just one problem – after seeing the site with our very own eyes (!) it ... disappeared, and was replaced with placeholder art assuring us that Club Nintendo was "Coming Soon!" Lucky for us then that one NeoGAF user thought to grab a screenshot (seen above). Don't worry, you take the night off. We've got our clicking finger on the Reload button and we'll let you know when everything's back up. Now go have a drink, you look tired.[Update: It seems – seems – that Club Nintendo is now live for good and all. Yep, it's up.][Thanks, Fernando]
Club Nintendo almost launches -- real prizes confirmed! [update]
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Club_Nintendo_almost_launches_real_prizes_confirmed'; Nintendo opened the North American Club Nintendo site ... for a minute. It was long enough for us to see some Rewards! The prizes are all totally great stuff that Club Nintendo in Japan offered, including the Mario hat DS game stand, hanafuda cards, DS game cases, and, yes, Game & Watch Collection. We saw this briefly, we went to begin migrating our My Nintendo accounts over, and then ... back to "coming soon." But we totally saw it. NeoGAFfer Coilshot saw it and had the good sense to screencap the rewards page, as you can see above. Here's some good news you can read now: Nintendo's Club Nintendo FAQ confirms the Gold and Platinum programs and the associated special prizes.While we wait, why not enjoy our European/Japanese Club Nintendo retrospective and associated gallery?Update: It's live. Jump in here. Gallery: Club Nintendo Awesomeness [Thanks to Justin Wilson and Wii Fanboy's Wesley Fenlon]
Club Nintendo launches -- real prizes confirmed! [update]
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Club_Nintendo_almost_launches_real_prizes_confirmed'; [Update: it's up! Huzzah!]Nintendo opened the North American Club Nintendo site ... for a minute. It was long enough for us to see some Rewards! The prizes are all totally great stuff that Club Nintendo in Japan offered, including the Mario hat DS game stand, hanafuda cards, DS game cases, and, yes, Game & Watch Collection. We saw this briefly, we went to begin migrating our My Nintendo accounts over, and then ... back to "coming soon." But we totally saw it. NeoGAFfer Coilshot saw it and had the good sense to screencap the rewards page, as you can see above. Here's some good news you can read now: Nintendo's Club Nintendo FAQ confirms the Gold and Platinum programs and the associated special prizes.While we wait, why not enjoy our European/Japanese Club Nintendo retrospective and associated gallery?%Gallery-33547%[Thanks to Justin Wilson and Wii Fanboy's Wesley Fenlon]
Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack on European Stars Catalogue somehow
We're assuming that this is a clerical error of some sort -- perhaps a new intern keeps uploading the wrong images and product descriptions for Wii Fit wallpapers. For the second week in a row, actual items have been added to the European Stars Catalogue, and they are cool.For 3,850 and 4,850 points, respectively, European gamers have the chance to buy the Gold and Platinum Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack discs previously exclusive to the Japanese Club Nintendo. The Gold edition features 28 tracks, and the two-disc Platinum set contains a staggering 81 tracks. It's been roughly one year since the items' release in Japan, but considering that nobody expected to see them available anywhere else ever, we have a hard time calling this "late." If you somehow have a ridiculous stock of Stars, go now! These items probably won't last the day.[Thanks, RICANJO!]
Game & Watch Collection could be US-bound
The best thing about Japan's Club Nintendo? The occasional very cool branded merchandise, but, mostly, the exclusive games. Now there's a glimmer of hope that one of the most popular of these may be offered as a loyalty prize by the new North American chapter of the Club.We're talking about the Game & Watch Collection, which has only been available in Japan ... or for those willing to pay for it on eBay and various online retailers to the tune of $40 and up. But now the game has been rated by the ESRB (it got an "E" rating, not surprisingly) leading to the inevitable conclusion / wishful thinking that it will be available in the States for some amount of Club Nintendo points.The collection brings together re-creations of three classic Nintendo Game & Watch LCD games: Donkey Kong, Oil Panic, and Green House. Watch them in action after the break. [Via DS Fanboy]
Game & Watch collection coming to the US?
Remember that awesome Game & Watch collection the Japanese Club Nintendo folks got? Well, it might be making its way to the States, as a listing for the game has popped up on the ESRB site. Of course, we're incredibly excited.Aside from Exclamation Warriors and Tingle's Balloon Fight, the Game & Watch collection is our most wanted Club Nintendo goodie. So, we hope this happens sooner rather than later.%Gallery-25216%[Via Siliconera]
Golden Zelda statue gallops back to European Club Nintendo
Although we regard this golden statue of Link and Epona as tacky, we're clearly in a minority. Despite being the most expensive item ever in the European Club Nintendo shop (15,000 Star Points, thank you), it sold out in the blink of a Goron's eye.How rare is this, exactly? Our guess: pretty damn rare. We've never seen one on eBay. But now it's back in stock, chintzier than ever, and ready for some lucky collectors to swipe. It's still 15,000 Star Points, and we suspect this latest batch will go quickly, so long as somebody out there has resisted splurging their Star Points on Wii Points.How about you, North Americans? Would something like this catch your eye when Club Nintendo launches in your neck of the woods later this year? Gallery: Club Nintendo Awesomeness [Via N-Europe]
More Club Nintendo goodies announced for Japan
While it prepares to wheel out Club Nintendo in North America later this year, Nintendo has decided to torture us one last time with stuff we can't have.Every year in Japan, Platinum and Gold members in the Japanese program get a free gift. This year, Platinum members have three to choose from, including the snazzy golden Wii Wheel you see above. This takes us back to GoldenEye's multiplayer, and us petulantly refusing to play unless we could steer Oddjob with the only gold-colored N64 controller in the house. Also up for grabs is a Super Mario Cap, which Nintendo reports is too big for girls and schoolkids (but not adult male bloggers), and a Club Nintendo Calendar 2009, which will be the only option for Gold members. That's better than our only option, which is to own nothing.All very lovely then, and all very out of our reach ... but for how long? Go past the break for a look at the cap and calendar.
DS Daily: Your Club Nintendo
The last time we talked about what we might want from Club Nintendo, we restricted our discussion mainly to soundtracks. Today, we want to open it up, and not just to those of us in North America dreaming of what's to come -- no, we've got questions for everyone. If you are in North America, what past goodies are you hoping for most? Anything from our retrospective? If you're already enjoying the fruits of Club Nintendo, what do you like best about it? What other items are you hoping for, or would you like to see?
First Club Nintendo North America details unexpectedly awesome [update]
Last month, Nintendo revealed that Club Nintendo, Japan and Europe's ace consumer rewards program, would launch in North America. Weeks of silence followed, but now Cammie Dunaway has started talking up the service. Here are five crucial facts she divulged to MTV Multiplayer: Club Nintendo in North America is still on schedule to launch before the end of 2008. It will be more like the Japanese program than the European, in that there will be more physical products than digital. As is the case in Europe, you gain points (known as gold coins in North America) by purchasing a product and entering a code on the Club Nintendo site, and can reap further points by completing surveys on the product you bought. In Europe, it's worth mentioning that these are hardly time-consuming: just five or six questions with tickboxes. Unlike in Europe, you can gain points for indicating an interest in purchasing before buying. Noice! Some items from the Japanese service will make it to North America (Yay! And also: please include this). If you'll excuse us, we're now going to randomly hit our keyboard in a fit of wild, unabated excitement. YAKJFDAIWOQBHKJGFEDRYUVBEIUQ[Update: A clarification: the service will be coming to North America as a whole! Apologies for the geographical confusion!] Want to see Club Nintendo's greatest gifts to Japan and Europe? OF COURSE YOU DO. So go here.
DS Daily: Record Club Nintendo
The Japanese Club Nintendo store was updated this week with a soundtrack CD for Kirby Super Star Ultra. Now, we're almost certain (because we're pessimists) that we won't get neat items like that on our own Club Nintendo page, and instead we'll be "treated" to the opportunity to exchange points for wallpapers that would have just been free before. But if we do get stuff like this, will you be interested? If so, would you be interested in Nintendo game soundtracks for collecting-related reasons or listening-related? Do any DS games stand out as soundtrack-worthy? It totally counts if you already have the soundtrack. And would charging points instead of money affect your thought process?%Gallery-8402%
Japan's Club Nintendo features music from a Super Star
Kirby Super Star Ultra, specifically, or Hoshi no Kirby Ultra Super Deluxe as it's known in Japan. We used to look at these Japanese Club Nintendo gifts with jealousy and despair, but now that Nintendo of America is planning some kind of Club Nintendo, we see them with ... jealousy and despair combined with the expectation of disappointment.The Kirby Ultra Super Deluxe Sound Track contains 33 tracks from Super Star Ultra, along with newly arranged stage and boss medleys and an arrangement of the credit sequence music. It'll cost Club Nintendo members who register Super Star Ultra 250 points, and 400 points for non-Kirby-owning members. %Gallery-8402%[Via Famitsu]
Wii Warm Up: Your favorite reveal
There was a ton of stuff to come from Nintendo's big news day last week. What we're wondering is what your favorite item was? Were you stoked about a certain game more than any others? Are you thrilled to hear about Club Nintendo coming to the States? Was the Nintendo DSi your favorite thing from the show? Nintendo's storage solution? What was your favorite thing to come out of Nintendo's fall media summit?
A brief history of Club Nintendo Awesomeness
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/A_look_back_at_Club_Nintendo_s_greatest_gifts'; By now, you've no doubt heard: Nintendo is rolling out Club Nintendo in the U.S. by the end of 2008. Wahey! Yeah, we know that Japan (generally speaking) gets the most excellent items when compared to elsewhere, but listen here, bub: it's free stuff. We're not about to complain, and nor should you (if you want to feel sorry for somebody, Australia's Club Nintendo scheme has gone AWOL, and check out South Africa's piss-poor Stars Catalogue).Anyway, as these are happy times for North Americans, we thought we'd reflect on some of the bestest Club Nintendo gifts and trinkets from both Japan and Europe to date -- some of which could end up in the U.S.! Hit the gray button to start DS Fanboy's whirlwind Club Nintendo Tour of Wonders! NEXT >> #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; }
It's-a Mario World: In the fall conference
As you all well know, Nintendo's fall media summit dropped some serious megatons this week. In the wake of a fairly exciting press conference, the Internet is predictably bustling with skeptics reaching for a reason to be angry with Nintendo's business model. But to be fair, Tuesday's presentation sort of displaces the disappointment of E3. So how should we interpret this onrushing flood of Nintendo news? If you have any idea what this feature is about, you know where we're headed."But wait," we hear you ask, "is it healthy to filter all of our life experiences through a Mario-centric worldview?" And the answer, fair reader, is yes. Perfectly healthy. So let's begin: Aside from the obvious Mario & Luigi 3, how does our Super Bro factor in to Nintendo's recent news? Direct your attention to this week's gallery in which we process all of this hubbub in terms we know best. It's-a Mario World is a weekly feature in which the ubiquity of Nintendo's flagship character is celebrated: We'll incessantly ruminate about mustache wax, debate the curious whereabouts of the princess and covet the luminous power stars strewn about the galaxy. Check back here every Friday to find out what strange and wonderful thing has got us tipping our caps.
Club Nintendo coming to North America 'by the end of the year'
"Oh, and one more thing ..." Okay, so Nintendo's Cammie Dunaway didn't quite pull a Steve Jobs but she did save some of the biggest news for last. Japan's (and Europe's ... and Australia's) envy-inspiring Club Nintendo service – a "loyalty program" which rewards your Nintendo purchase with points to be redeemed for cool swag – will be making its way to North America "by the end of the year." Is this a move to placate the dissatisfied "core" gamer, still bitter from Nintendo's mainstream E3 pitch? Or a plan decades in the making which just so happens to coincide with said dissatisfaction? We may never know, but we're anxious to see what sort of goodies Nintendo offers its too-long taken for granted fanboys and girls.
North America gets Club Nintendo!
You read that correctly, folks! Those of us in North America are finally getting Club Nintendo, as it's been revealed during the fall press conference that Nintendo will be bringing the service to us. "We know that there have been lots of people in the US that have been lusting after these products for a long time," said Cammie.Debuting at the end of this year, the service will allow customers to gather points and trade them in for Nintendo goodies. Let's just hope we get sweet stuff, like the Game & Watch collection and not just a bunch of junk.
Shield your eyes: Premium DS Lite spotted in the wild
Remember those Club Nintendo "Premium" DS Lites that were revealed back in June? Well, Nintendo has now sent out the limited edition systems to the 3,000 lucky winners, and Japanese blogger Hatimaki decided to torture us by smugly photographing his Premium Silver model, which just so happens to be unbelievably, blindingly shiny. But pfft, like we care! Seriously: just imagining the finger prints on that makes us feel totally okay about not owni -- gaaah, who are we kidding?If you're feeling flush enough, a selection of these have already appeared on eBay, priced around the $500 mark. It's an investment ... probably.%Gallery-26441%[Via Kotaku]
Rumor: Nintendo selling songs in exchange for Stars?
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Nintendo_offering_downloadable_songs_in_exchange_for_Stars'; This update just appeared in Nintendo of Europe's RSS feed, yet mysteriously leads to a dead 404 link when clicked. As such, we can only really draw information from the title and brief description (at the time of writing, there is nothing on Google about this story), which suggest Nintendo will soon be selling music -- specifically music from artists signed to EMI -- in return for Club Nintendo Stars!So what's happened here, exactly? Well, we suspect Nintendo has accidentally released a story, and then swiftly pulled it again. Either way, downloadable pop music isn't really something we'd have expected from the Wii, and raises new questions about Nintendo's storage strategy (unless these are playable on your PC). Keep your eyes here for updates as we learn more!
Australian Club Nintendo still not functional
History shows that Nintendo of Australia like to do things at their own pace. Timely launches just ain't their style, y'know? We're not just talking games, either. Back in April, there was much Aussie hollering when Nintendo announced Club Nintendo would be heading down under, bringing with it all the Nintendo mugs, free Bowser wallpapers, SNES pads, and Wii Points that had so far been enjoyed by Japanese and European gamers. Except, it's still not up and running. Though games are shipping with Club Nintendo codes, Australia's Club Nintendo site has yet to go live, four and a half months after it was announced.None of which will comfort U.S.-based Nintendo fans, who are simply waiting for a local version of Club Nintendo to be announced. If the sloth-like actions of Nintendo Australia are any indication, they may be in for a wait.
