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Holiday Buyer's Guide: Nintendo Points for WiiWare, DSiWare & Virtual Console
Chances are, someone you know has or will receive a Wii or DSi this holiday season -- many people you know, if the November sales are any indication. Or perhaps you know someone who has owned one of these systems for a while but hasn't messed around with its downloadable games yet. In either case, 2010 has been a great year to introduce someone to WiiWare or DSiWare, with lots of interesting games and apps released just this year. Somehow, Virtual Console's been decent too, despite the fact that releases have slowed down to a trickle. To begin, click one of the links below to jump to a category or simply head on past the break to peruse the guide form top to bottom. Wii: Retro-esque Gamer | Authentic Retro Gamer Art Aficionado | The Independent | Person Who Would Enjoy Muscle March DSi: All DSi Band | Busy Gamer | The Eccentric | Longterm Portable Gamer
Target offering discounted Wii, Xbox Live and PSN point cards
If you've been waiting for a marginal discount before bulk-buying the fake currency required to download content off your consoles' online marketplaces, Target's got you covered. Until this Saturday, you can stop by your local bullseye-branded retailer and grab a $20 Wii Point Card, Microsoft Point Card, or PlayStation Network card for just $17. Sure, it's not the biggest markdown in the history of shopping, but seeing as how we purchase online e-funds two to three times a day, even the smallest discounts are greatly appreciated. [Thanks, Mike]
Ask Joystiq Nintendo: Border of Madness edition
This week, we have another question about Nintendo Points, which, we realize as we do these Ask Joystiq Nintendo columns, are kind of weird. The points cards come in different values in different regions, and sometimes even have different costs across platforms! Weird.Also, the usual sadness, this time about N64 games on VC and Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness. If you'd like us to give you reasons why your favorite game isn't being localized, send an email to asknintendo AT joystiq DOT com.
Ask Joystiq Nintendo: Exchange Rate Edition
Just one question this week on Ask Joystiq Nintendo, and we, uh, don't really definitively answer it. But it's a weird enough topic that we felt it was worthwhile to talk about it and tell you what we know. If you'd like us to feebly attempt to answer a question, send an email to asknintendo AT joystiq DOT com!
Ask Joystiq Nintendo: Smurftastic Edition
Welcome to another Smurfy week of Smurf Joystiq Nintendo! This week, a reader smurfed a question about a classic Smurf game, and I think I smurfed it appropriately, though the answer may not be as smurfy as Smurf fans may have smurfed.Do you want to smurf us a question about the Wii, DS, or anysmurf else related to Nintendo? Smurf us an email at asknintendo AT joystiq DOT com!
Target reveals free 1,000 DSi Points with DSi purchase
All DSi systems in Japan come with 1,000 free points with which to explore the DSi Shop. Nintendo hasn't said anything about such an offer in North America, but it seems that Target has broken the news ahead of time. The store's product listing (for either the black or blue model) includes the following text within its fine print: "Free downloadable games from Nintendo DSi Shop included with the purchase of a Nintendo DSi system. Upon initial access to Nintendo DSi Shop, 1,000 Nintendo DSi Points will be credited to your account, which you can then use to download your free Nintendo DSi-exclusive games and applications." The listing directs people to dsioffer.nintendo.com for more information, confirming that this is a Nintendo offer and not just a Target promotion. Unfortunately, that site is not yet active. In other DSi Points news, the image (via Amazon) shows what the new cards are going to look like. So what DSiWare are you going to buy with your free points? Oh, right, Nintendo hasn't announced any. Pop Plus Solo?%Gallery-33263%[Via NeoGAF]
Toys R Us having big games sale starting Sunday
Toys R Us is having one huge sale, starting this Sunday. How huge of a sale? Buy two, get one huge. On top of the prospect at getting a free game, there's also some deals specific to Wii owners.On Sunday and Monday, Toys R Us will offer 30% off Wii accessories. Now, this doesn't extend to Nunchuks and Wiimotes, but it works for other accessories and ... Wii Points cards! 30% off some Wii Points means you can nab a stellar WiiWare title or two, like, say, Mega Man 9. Or any one of the other games already available. Or even a Virtual Console game![Via Joystiq]
Nintendo Points won't make the leap between Wii and DSi
While it's not exactly a huge surprise given that Nintendo doesn't have an overarching account system for the Wii and DS, plenty of folks will no doubt still be disappointed to learn that the company's new Nintendo Points won't be transferable between the two consoles. Instead, when you buy a points card (available in 1000, 3000 and 5000 points versions), you'll have to pick a console and spend all the points in that one place. Not exactly an ideal option, to be sure, but it seems like it's one that we'll be stuck with -- unless Nintendo has some plans to make some major changes to the way the Wii and DSi do business.[Via gamesindustry.biz]
Nintendo points don't transfer between Wii, DSi
The new Nintendo Points cards will force you to pick a platform when it's redeemed. Siliconera reports that the House of Mario currency will not go into one main Nintendo piggy bank for the user, but will need to be redeemed for either DSWare or WiiWare titles.Another way of putting it is that consumers won't be able to transfer points between the Wii and DSi after activating the cards. It's a shame really, we certainly expected a more 21st-century solution (i.e. an all-purpose Nintendo account) from the company which brought us the brilliant 16-digit friend code system.[Via WiiFanboy]%Gallery-33459%
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; }
Nintendo Points non-transferable between Wii, DSi
To allow for the fact that the DSi will feature an online store, Wii Points were recently renamed to Nintendo Points.Despite this rebranding exercise, Nintendo has revealed that you won't be able to transfer points between its new handheld and the Wii. In other words, if you buy a Nintendo Points card and use it to purchase (say) DSWare, you'll have to spend any remaining Points from the card on DSi downloads (and vice versa). This also means you won't be able to transfer any 'spare change' Points from the Wii to your DSi, meaning you're stuck with the 100 Points that have been on your Wii account since about March 2007. THERE'S ALWAYS A SPARE 100 POINTS ON OUR WII. They sit there, silently mocking us.Anyway, the above slide, dug up by Siliconera from Nintendo's Media Summit presentation, highlights the point emphatically enough: you won't be able to transfer Nintendo Points. Gallery: Nintendo DSi
Wii Points officially being renamed to 'Nintendo Points'
With the new DSi just being announced, it'll allow people to download titles direct to their handheld, kind of like Apple's little doodad, the iPhone. So, in order to share the Point system between the Wii and the handheld, Nintendo will go ahead and rename "Wii Points" to "Nintendo Points," said Satoru Iwata at the Japanese fall press conference.Will you be able to transfer Points purchased through your Wii to your DSi? We would assume so. We'll update you all as soon as more information is provided.
