Club Nintendo Update! Good News!

[Aussie2B]

Man, I thought the Elite rewards were pretty lame the last couple years and didn't care much about not qualifying, but I'm really bummed that even though I actually qualified for an Elite status this year, I only made it to Gold, not Platinum, and thus can't get the OST. :( Oh well, dumb old calendar here I come.

[The 1 2 P]

Well, free is free, but recent pickings are slim.

Yes free is free. I just wish they offered more one of a kind stuff thats unique in a good way.


Well, this year's rewards are finally in.

I haven't been following along since I just recently cashed in some of my cards but do these gold/platinum rewards only come out once a year or every few months? Looking at the list of available stuff I'll either get Sakura Samurai or use my other rewards cards to try and reach platinum status so I can get the cd, provided it doesn't sell out in a day or two.

[Aussie2B]

I haven't been following along since I just recently cashed in some of my cards but do these gold/platinum rewards only come out once a year or every few months? Looking at the list of available stuff I'll either get Sakura Samurai or use my other rewards cards to try and reach platinum status so I can get the cd, provided it doesn't sell out in a day or two.

Only once a year, after the Club Nintendo year ends on June 30th.

And these are rewards based on your status in the previous year. If you didn't already hit Platinum before June 30th, you can't get the CD or any of the other Platinum-only rewards. Likewise, if you didn't hit Gold before June 30th, none of the Gold rewards are available to you either (not for free, at least). If you were to hit Gold or Platinum now, then you'd qualify for the rewards offered after June 30th, 2014.

[c0ldb33r]

I opted for the majora's mask soundtrack. I'm pretty pleased with that as a platinum reward :)

[Submissive421]

I thought I had at least gold status but nope I didn't. I'm not that disappointed that I didn't make it this year. The rewards get worse and worse each year. I buy most of their games used anyway.

[T]

I ordered the majora's mask sound track as well

[The 1 2 P]

If you were to hit Gold or Platinum now, then you'd qualify for the rewards offered after June 30th, 2014.

That was going to be my next question. So if I hit Platinum anytime from now till next July I'll be eligible for those rewards next year. I can handle that. Now I need to go download my Sakura Samurai game.

[Aussie2B]

Just to clarify, they have different Elite rewards every year, so don't expect to see the exact same posters, OST, or calendar available next year.

[The 1 2 P]

^Thats good. I hope next years rewards are as cool as the swag they give the Japanese club Nintendo members.

[The Adventurer]

I just got my email confirming I made Gold Status this year. Of the Gold Status items, is Sakura Samurai the best pick? Being exclusive as a reward and all? I mean, I've got my eye on Zelda Link's Awakening, but I can buy that in the eShop (or does the eShop only sell the original Gameboy version?)

Basically, is Sakura Samurai worth picking?



Also, does anyone know why registering my copy of MegTenIV didn't give me my coins? Is there a delay on new releases?

[Lady Jaye]

Don't worry about the lag in your points for SMTIV not being logged. It should appear within a few hours. When I registered my leftover points after July 1st, at first they didn't register, but all is fine now. If within a couple of days you still don't see your points, then contact Nintendo's consumer service.

[Aussie2B]

I've noticed a delay in processing for a lot of things with Club Nintendo. When I spend my coins, the number displayed usually doesn't drop immediately either.

[Press_Start]

Well, free is free, but recent pickings are slim.

You've missed some of the better mid-range stuff over the years by waiting/hoarding points.

Eh, I came back for the Gold Nunchuk. Majora's Mask was just a nice bonus.

I wish they put up some really cool prizes like maybe a X/Xenoblade compilation package with red WiiU pro controller similar to the one in Europe or a reproduction carts of the old games they never released in America like Devil World. Fire Emblem (NES, SNES), Earthbound (NES), Mario & Wario, Advance Wars, etc.

[kupomogli]

The rewards suck. I got Sakura Samurai though.

[The Adventurer]

The rewards suck. I got Sakura Samurai though.

Is it any good? Someone told me it was like Punch-Out!!

[kupomogli]

I watched this video. Doesn't look very good, but better than anything else I could have got since it's atleast a new game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNv7MlJDgmo

[old_skoolin_jim]

So, how's everyone feeling about this year's Platinum/Gold status awards?
I think it's interesting they put a couple of full retail-ish value games (Game & Wario, DKCR 3D) in the mix of VC and indie downloads worth anywhere from $5-10... I'll definitely be getting DKCR, as I never got a physical copy, even on the Wii. Would've been nice to see more selection of "full-on" retail games in the mix; I would've also loved to have an option to download something like Mario Kart 7, Professor Layton, Animal Crossing, or Tomodachi Life.
Still, as far as freebies are go, I'm not complaining. Just musing. :)

[Tanooki]

Not a very good selection this year unless you're into one of those games and don't already own it. Last year technically was poorer but at least the cd and posters were tangible. This is a true sign of cheaping out.

I could only see snapping up Game & Wario or DKCR on this one, kind of at a loss which as I've had both. G&W got boring fast alone and the other gets infuriating to play. :) I'll probably get DK since it'll last longer.

I have a feeling we should never expect another trophy or other really cool item out of them again.

[Leo_A]

They're okay... assuming NES Remix 1 + 2 doesn't come out at retail in North America since NES Remix is what I'll be redeeming for.

If that happens, I'll be rather annoyed wasting this on a download I'll then own in retail form since I've been planning to download Zelda II and Kid Icarus since the first Virtual Console but something more intriguing always got to my points first.

And I wouldn't mind Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D which I haven't been able to justify buying another version of since I own the Wii original.

[JSoup]

Isn't amazing, but Wario Land II and Mario Land 2? Worth a download if you've never played them.

[Tanooki]

Exactly there's some nice games, but this just isn't amazing. It's like last year they were moving towards being uncool with just 2 tangible items and a bunch of downloads you can get with points anyways. Now it's just all downloads and it clearly saves them a lot not having to produce stuff, but also comes off as them being pretty cheap and snotty towards their most generous buyers who can get platinum and gold levels.

[mailman187666]

this is the first year they aren't offering physical items. This shows me that they aren't doing so hot, as far as money goes. Downloads don't cost them anything, but then again, they do have some great games up for grabs.

[Leo_A]

I knew it had no chance, but I was hoping they'd finally roll out the Super Nintendo inspired controller for the Wii.

Seems a shame that NOA passed on that one.

[megasdkirby]

Im very disappointed. I was hoping at least a calendar for my gold account and something somewhat neat on my platinum account. Not downloadable games, specially since I dont even have a Wii U.

Ugh, what a waste for me.

[Tanooki]

I wonder if there was more intent on this than just cheaping out on this year. I wonder if they're trying to get people to buy but just not enough they have to put out real money of their pocket on rewards. Doing this they don't have to create molds or statues or print up calendars and other creative time put in by workers. This, they just select existing old games that have been out for months or decades and just flip a switch to get you the stuff for free. No loss at all to their pockets and it demotivates people from trying to cash out more stuff too.

[megasdkirby]

I wonder if there was more intent on this than just cheaping out on this year. I wonder if they're trying to get people to buy but just not enough they have to put out real money of their pocket on rewards. Doing this they don't have to create molds or statues or print up calendars and other creative time put in by workers. This, they just select existing old games that have been out for months or decades and just flip a switch to get you the stuff for free. No loss at all to their pockets and it demotivates people from trying to cash out more stuff too.

Right now, the available redeemable physical items at Club Nintendo are sparse, and with little to no indication of being restocked. If more items become unavailable and either are not restocked or new items offered in their place, then for me its a clear indicative that they are trying to reduce cost and start to only offer digital stuff.

Which is a shame and doesnt really entice me to gather any more codes. :(

[Richter Belmount]

Buying all nintendo games just to qualify to download nintendo games you already own

[PreZZ]

Buying all nintendo games just to qualify to download nintendo games you already own

This. LOL. I never registered my nintendo products before so I had a lot of points, 1600 points this year and I get a free download of mostly 15$ titles. SO FUCKING LAME i wont even bother to register them anymore, not worth the time to fill crappy surveys.

[JSoup]

Could always sell the codes. I them up all the time on eBay. I've even seen them included in Steam trades.

[Kiddo]

Am I the only one who DOESN'T own most of these? I'd be more than willing to accept some codes if anyone wants to offer me a deal.

[Nz17]

I was definitely upset. I wanted a palpable reward for my collectables' shelf after registering about $600 worth of Nintendo games in the last year and filling out countless surveys.

And what made it even worse is, this is the first year I'd gotten platinum status. The first two years of North American Club Nintendo, I didn't think I could ever get to Elite Status since there were so few products which qualified for the program. But as the selection expanded, I figured I should give it a try. The first year I didn't get to gold; the second year, I got gold and picked the paper calendar; the third year, I got gold and chose the Smash Bros. (N64) download because I didn't want to wait until December to get my reward and the only thing I qualified for tangible prize-wise was that year's paper calendar. Well this year, thanks to a lot of 3DS games, some DSi titles, a few Wii games, and some games given as gifts to me, I was able to make the coveted platinum status. And what's this year's offering? A bunch of Wii U titles (does no good for those of us without a Wii U like myself), DKCR3D (already have it), early NES games through Virtual Console (have most of them through the 3DS Ambassador program or from their original NES release), a few GB games (have half of them), and 3DSWare titles developed by third parties for Nintendo that weren't good enough for a brick-and-mortar retail release that cost ten to eleven bucks to buy... all of which can be bought directly by anyone without the rigamarole of dealing with Club Nintendo and its registrations and surveys. And none of the downloads are even in any way marked as special - no exclusives, timed exclusives, not even anything with its menu icon changed to indicate it was gotten from the Club as a reward only for the dedicated fans. And most of those games that I don't have for the 3DS are ones I'm not even interested in getting.

So I'm pretty disappointed. But what are you going to do? Therefore I picked "Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move" and redeemed that. Funny though: I have three of the games from this series (#1, #3, & #5) but I didn't buy any of them. #1 was a 3DS Ambassador program game, #3 was a Christmas gift, and of course #5 was via Club Nintendo as a reward.

I'm not a fan of the "Mario vs. Donkey Kong" series, but this 3DS one plays like "Pipe Mania"/"Pipe Dream" (or "EmPipe," for those that played that classic Windows 3.1 freeware game). I'm quite the fan of this style of game play, and though I don't like the presentation in Minis on the Move, the game play does provide a unique spin on the Pipe Mania formula that isn't just a cookie cutter copy. Plus it has a lot of content to it, and the option of playing user-generated levels which can be uploaded & downloaded from online. So Mario vs. Donkey Kong 5 is not too bad a package.

But like others, I see this as the beginning of the end of physical prizes from North American Club Nintendo. I believe they will distribute what they have left on offer and will not re-order or re-produce any additional merchandise - not what they already offer and definitely not new things. But I think this "cost savings" measure will return to bite Nintendo on the nose. Many people have been made disgruntled and will stop registering games and filling out their surveys, surveys which in aggregate provides useful information. And those who will continue to go through these steps will probably scale back on purchasing Nintendo-owned downloads - after all, why "waste" their money buying games they know will eventually be on offer as a redeemable reward on Club Nintendo for their virtual coins instead of real-world currency? Sure people will probably buy the "big games" in the same quantities, but the cheap download-only games might see a dip in sales as a result of all this.

[Tanooki]

I know I'm scaling back my buys. That said I am about to contradict that as I'm aware of a sale today where it's worth getting some first party games but still, I wouldn't buy them otherwise until the price was much better.

[JSoup]

That said I am about to contradict that as I'm aware of a sale today where it's worth getting some first party games but still, I wouldn't buy them otherwise until the price was much better.

This. Just got back from Best Buy with a couple things.

[Niku-Sama]

My beef is where'd all the physical rewards go? I have almost a thousand points and nothing cool to spend it on

[Daria]

I've been pissed with Club Nintendo since my points started expiring. I don't even bother registering my games anymore. At least now I know I'm not really missing out on anything good.

[Nz17]

So now we get to see what Japan gets. I'll give you a hint: it's better than ours!


Check out the latest swag that is coming to Japanese Nintendo fans!

Club Nintendo Picross Plus and a special Japanese Mario-themed calendar are going to be awarded to Platinum Club Nintendo members in Japan.

Club Nintendo Picross Plus features over 100 new puzzles based on characters from such franchises as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing. The game will be a 164 block download and available only to Platinum Club Nintendo members.

The 2015 Club Nintendo original calendar features Mario characters wearing seasonal garb related to traditional Japanese holidays. The calendar will be distributed to both Gold and Platinum Club Nintendo members.

Neither award has a release date at this time, though typically Club Nintendo Japan items get to members before the end of the calendar year.

Source: http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/38594/

As the article isn't particularly clear on this, I'll elaborate: all Elite members (Gold + Platinum) get the neat cardboard-looking paper calendar, plus Platinum members also get the exclusive Picross game.

Now I'm not a mega Picross fan, but while others' opinions will vary, I think that Japan once again gets the better rewards. They are collectable, they are limited, they have exclusive art, they are Club Nintendo branded, and the Platinum folks get two rewards instead of one... and there's no chance any of the Elite members had a copy of this exclusive Picross game from any earlier acquisition.

[Niku-Sama]

so are we expecting any thing note worthy on the US side of things?

[Mayhem]

Now I'm not a mega Picross fan, but while others' opinions will vary, I think that Japan once again gets the better rewards. They are collectable, they are limited, they have exclusive art, they are Club Nintendo branded, and the Platinum folks get two rewards instead of one... and there's no chance any of the Elite members had a copy of this exclusive Picross game from any earlier acquisition.
They're going out with a bang then... I've been told the Gold and Platinum rewards in Japan are now being stopped from next year onwards.

[Tanooki]

That's a decent reward since it's unique even if it's a download but to make up for it being vapor you get the calendar too. Once again NOA puts the screws to us. I haven't bothered registering anything with them for much of this year over it.

[Nz17]

Important Information on Club Nintendo Program Discontinuation

Dear Club Nintendo Members,

Thank you for your continued loyalty to Nintendo.

We launched Club Nintendo 6 years ago in North America, and we’re grateful for all of the feedback that our members have provided on your experiences with our products.

In order to focus on planning for a new customer loyalty program for our fans, we’ve decided to wind-down the Club Nintendo program. We are deeply thankful to our members for being a part of Club Nintendo for all of these years.

We will share details about our new program at a later date. For now, please see the schedule below for information on the discontinuation timeframe for Club Nintendo.

All Coins will be deleted when Club Nintendo accounts are closed on July 1, 2015. As a result, to give our members the best opportunity to use their Coins, we will add dozens of downloadable games and a limited quantity of exclusive reward items to the rewards catalog in February. In addition, as a small token of appreciation for your loyalty, all Club Nintendo members will receive a free download code for Flipnote Studio 3D in February 2015. Please visit here for information on the software and how to get the download code.

Club Nintendo program discontinuation schedule
1/20/2015 Products released after this date are not eligible for registration with Club Nintendo
3/31/2015 Last day to earn Coins, register products with Club Nintendo, and sign up for new Club Nintendo membership
6/30/2015 Last day to redeem Coins or access your account on the Club Nintendo website. Club Nintendo program shuts down at 11:59pm PT on 6/30/2015.

Source: http://club2.nintendo.com/program-notice/

That's right, Club Nintendo is being cancelled WORLD-WIDE.

More information:
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/39448/club-nintendo-to-be-discontinued (North America/English)
http://club2.nintendo.com/program-notice/index-fr.html (North America/French)
http://www.nintendo.co.uk/News/2015/January/x-949921.html (United Kingdom/English)
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/support/information/2015/0120.html (Japan/Japanese)

To summarize, the bad news is that Club Nintendo will be dead soon. The good news is: a new loyalty program will replace Club Nintendo this year, Flipnote Studio 3D is not dead, Flipnote Studio 3D is launching in February for free, (curiously) there will still be special rewards for Gold and Platinum Elite Status members of Club Nintendo this year, and dozens of digital and physical rewards will be added to the Club Nintendo catalog as a final hurrah in February.

[Leo_A]

Going to have to dig through my Wii games soon. Should have enough unused codes for at least one final free Virtual Console download (And enough to get me to Gold... hopefully there's a last round of Gold/Platinum rewards to ring out Club Nintendo).

This month's round is disappointing though. Several, perhaps all 4 Wii/Wii U selections, have been past choices just in the last 3 or 4 rounds. Not sure about 3DS but wouldn't be surprised if the situation was the same.

Would like to get Excitebike World Rally for free. Can't ever seem to justify $10 for it.

[Tanooki]

Darn shirt I was interested in is gone. :\ My past shirts from them have lasted a LONG time. I still have the Zelda Four Swords Gamecube freebie shirt and wear it regularly. The stuff up there for a long time has been very lame but hopefully they'll do something nice on the way out just to clear out the coinage. I'm curious to see what the replacement is.

I'm also curious to find out what they'll do with the New3DS and the code sheets I imagine are in the box on those in other regions, and in ours it would have been excluded so will there be something for the next one or will new buyers get hosed while those waiting a few months into the new club planned get the credit.

[thegamezmaster]

I've been pissed with Club Nintendo since my points started expiring. I don't even bother registering my games anymore. At least now I know I'm not really missing out on anything good.

Agreed. What a waste. Plus Nintendo's good at beating a dead horse.

[Nz17]

Darn shirt I was interested in is gone.

I wanted that NES Remix 2 shirt too (and the Yoshi's New Island one), but unfortunately all the shirts introduced after the 8-bit pixel Mario shirt were very "expensive" coin-wise. Unfortunately, that means the only Club Nintendo shirt I own is the one with the NES Mario sprites. It's a nice shirt, but still, I wish I could have gotten more. (And the size I ordered the shirt in is a bit snug, so I wish I would have ordered a larger one.)

I know it is not the same, but this NES Remix 2 shirt auction on eBay is currently sitting at $15.50 with three days left to go: http://www.ebay.com/itm/111577347736


The stuff up there for a long time has been very lame but hopefully they'll do something nice on the way out just to clear out the coinage.

I know, those Nintendogs and Mario/Luigi/Yoshi greeting cards have been sitting there a L-O-N-G time. But what do they expect? They are very costly in coins (300), and you only get 12 cards (3 designs * 4 copies) with envelopes. Most collectors and massive game buyers are going to want to keep things complete or sealed and aren't the type to go, "Time to send out cards for the holidays! Goodbye cards which took over a year to have enough coins to redeem. Find your way to my relatives!" Most people would prefer to save up just a bit more and get posters, patches, or a shirt. Ah man, but writing that does remind of the "lame" rewards on offer like... shoelaces and Wii straps! LOL


I'm also curious to find out what they'll do with the New3DS and the code sheets I imagine are in the box on those in other regions, and in ours it would have been excluded so will there be something for the next one or will new buyers get hosed while those waiting a few months into the new club planned get the credit.

My guess: the New 3DS XL boxes and all game boxes for Nintendo platforms for the next several months will be without registration/loyalty program codes, and that your last guess is the correct one... the early buyers will get hosed, and the late buyers will get the lower prices and coins/stars/credits/points or whatever they will call the new tokens.

[ProjectCamaro]

This figures, I signed up for Club Nintendo literally ten days ago. I do have about 400 coins so they better have some good items coming up in February.

[Tanooki]

NZ17 good eye on ebay there, not a bad price either. They seem to sell actively for around $20 plus shipping on ebay new/XL sized which isn't too bad. I may just do that. I agree the coin price sucked, but the way I looked at it was ever since the Luigi statue they have been putting more and more garbage up there and less quality stuff with high coin values. The shirt while 'expensive' was the only real option left there, as you said the puppy and 'smb crew' cards suck. Like I said I'm not sorry to see that club go, we always got the worst of it between Japan, Europe/AUS, and the US and it bugged me so it's kind of like good riddance to bad rubbish. :D I just hope for whatever they're planning through close they have some nice items for the coins stored up, and whatever the parting shot will be since they 1/2'd the coin requirement for elite status.

[Nz17]

they 1/2'd the coin requirement for elite status.

Are you sure about that? Looking at the Club Nintendo Web site, it still appears that it takes 300 coins per year to get to Gold status and 600 to get to Platinum.

[Tanooki]

I read that on some gaming news site, maybe they were wrong? They claimed with the shorter period the requirement was sliced to be fair, but I could see Nintendo not doing that to save a bit too. I'm currently gold, need like 110pts.

Either way I don't see getting to platinum without buying or heisting a few codes as there's nothing they made I want anymore at this rate other than NES Remix 3DS before the cut off date.

I still would love to get a Smash Bros WiiU code, I want that music disc. :\ I still have my Gamecube smash CD.


Edit: forgot I still have smash bros 3ds sealed, that's like what another 40+10 points? Guess I need 60. The question is HOW? NES Remix 3DS is another what 40+10? It would blow to be 10 short, is there a list of eshop games as some of those are worth 10.

Edit #2: Nevermind, found it on their own site --> https://club.nintendo.com/eligible-products.do

[Az]

What's the consensus on these "dozens" of games they're planning on adding as one last hurrah in February? I have a feeling they're going to be the usual suspects; Wrecking Crew, Clu Clu Land, Ice Climber, Baseball, and other first wave NES/GB releases that aren't worth their outlandish $5 asking price to start with.

[Leo_A]

I imagine it's a safe bet that their choices will all be past selections.

Hoping a past WiiWare selection or two appears. Didn't start redeeming my codes until fairly recently, so I've missed out on a few good deals like Fluidity and Excitebike: World Rally.

I wouldn't mind seeing Zelda II or Donkey Kong 3 appear for the Wii U, but surprisingly, neither has been offered before so I doubt that will change.

[Tanooki]

You know they're cheap and that probably will be mostly it.

Every single virtual console game to have ever come up as the game of the month, if not the entire bloody library within some limits for coinage value will be it. Then for the platinum/gold awards look to last years picks and perhaps seeing that stuff is dated and perhaps already owned they'll throw a few more from this last year on there they put out or a partner they published for if they're cool with it (as NOA would compensate them anyway.)

If it ends up being just that I have no idea what the hell I'd click on as the only 3DS game I didn't already own or want digital was Donkey Kong Returns. If I had to pick one because I wouldn't just sell the voucher or give it away would probably be something like Fire Emblem so I'd be more tempted to use it as it would be IN system.

[Nz17]

We will have to wait until April for the announcement of the final Elite rewards. But for now, the mega list of the final "coin" rewards has been announced! These items are available now (https://club.nintendo.com/rewards.do).

Physical Rewards
All physical rewards will be available for redemption until the end of June 30th, 2015.
===
Mario & Luigi Greeting Cards - 300 coins
Nintendogs Greeting Cards - 300 coins
Nintendo 3DS Game Card Case: 2015 Edition - 400 coins
2015 Desktop Calendar - 400 coins
Animal Crossing Mini Playing Cards - 600 coins
3DS XL Pouch: The Legend of Zelda - 600 coins
Super Smash Bros. 3-Poster Set v2 - 700 coins
Retro Mario T-Shirt - 700 coins
Limited Edition 2013 Platinum Poster Set - 700 coins
Super Smash Bros. 3-Poster Set - 700 coins
Fierce Deity Link Jigsaw Puzzle - 800 coins
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D Messenger Bag - 800 coins

Game Offers
All games codes will be available for redemption and download until the end of June 30th, 2015.
===
For Wii U only
---
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 - 200 coins
Super Punch-Out!! - 200 coins
Golden Sun - 200 coins
F-Zero - 200 coins
F-Zero: Maximum Velocity - 200 coins
Ice Climber - 200 coins
Volleyball - 200 coins
Tennis - 200 coins
Pinball - 200 coins
NES Open Tournament Golf - 200 coins
Ice Hockey - 200 coins
Golf - 200 coins
Clu Clu Land - 200 coins
Baseball - 200 coins
Wario's Woods - 200 coins
Urban Champion - 200 coins
Dr. Mario - 200 coins
Donkey Kong 3 - 200 coins
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels - 200 coins
Super Mario Bros. 3 - 200 coins
Super Mario Bros - 200 coins
Yoshi - 200 coins
Balloon Fight - 200 coins
Kid Icarus - 200 coins
Zelda II: the Adventure of Link - 200 coins
Metroid - 200 coins
Pilotwings - 200 coins
Wrecking Crew - 200 coins
Mario Bros. - 200 coins
Super Mario Bros 2 - 200 coins
Excitebike - 200 coins
Donkey Kong Jr. - 200 coins
Super Metroid - 200 coins
Super Mario World - 200 coins
Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream - 200 coins
Earthbound - 250 coins
Dr. Luigi - 300 coins
NES Remix - 300 coins
The Wonderful 101 - 600 coins
Wii Fit U - 600 coins
Game & Wario - 600 coins
Wii Party U - 850 coins

For Wii + Wii U
---
Grill-Off with Ultra Hand! - 80 coins
Clu Clu Land - 200 coins
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels - 200 coins
Zodas Revenge: StarTropics II - 200 coins
NES Play Action Football - 200 coins
Art Style: CUBELLO - 200 coins
Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! - 250 coins
Mario Golf - 250 coins
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - 250 coins
Star Fox 64 - 250 coins
F-Zero X - 250 coins
Super Mario 64 - 250 coins
Super Metroid - 250 coins
Paper Mario - 250 coins
Mario Kart 64 - 250 coins
1080° Snowboarding - 250 coins
ThruSpace - 250 coins
Super Punch-Out!! - 250 coins
Pilotwings - 250 coins
Super Smash Bros. - 250 coins
Mario Tennis - 250 coins
Eco Shooter: Plant 530 - 250 coins
Snowpack Park - 250 coins
Excitebike: World Rally - 250 coins
Mario Party 2 - 250 coins
Super Mario Kart - 250 coins
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask - 250 coins
Fluidity - 250 coins

For 3DS only
---
3D Classics: TwinBee - 150 coins
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins - 150 coins
Super Mario Land - 150 coins
Kersploosh! - 150 coins
Baseball - 150 coins
Kid Icarus of Myths and Monsters - 150 coins
Metroid II: Return of Samus - 150 coins
Tennis - 150 coins
Golf - 150 coins
Donkey Kong - 150 coins
Mario's Picross - 150 coins
Radar Mission - 150 coins
3D Classics: Xevious - 200 coins
Ketzal's Cooridors - 200 coins
Sparkle Snapshots 3D - 200 coins
Looksley's Line Up - 200 coins
Wario Land 2 - 200 coins
Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream - 200 coins
Mario Golf - 200 coins
Donkey Kong 3 - 200 coins
Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters - 200 coins
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening - 200 coins
Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword - 200 coins
A Kappa's Trail - 200 coins
Tokyo Crash Mobs - 200 coins
Brain Age Express: Math - 200 coins
Donkey Kong Jr. - 200 coins
Metroid - 200 coins
The Legend of Zelda - 200 coins
3D Classics: Kid Icarus - 200 coins
3D Classics Excitebike - 200 coins
Brain Age Express: Sudoku - 200 coins
3D Classics: Urban Champion - 200 coins
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! - 200 coins
Chibi-Robo!: Photo Finder - 250 coins
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move - 250 coins
Dillon's Rolling Western - 250 coins
HarmoKnight - 300 coins
Dillon's Rolling Western: The Last Ranger - 300 coins
Fluidity: Spin Cycle - 300 coins
Crosswords Plus - 600 coins
Brain Age: Concentration Training - 600 coins
Super Mario 3D Land - 600 coins
New Super Mario Bros. 2 - 600 coins
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D - 600 coins
Star Fox 64 3D - 700 coins
Paper Mario: Sticker Star - 700 coins
Kid Icarus: Uprising - 700 coins

That is quite the extensive list. If only the choice of rewards for Club Nintendo would have always been so plentiful.

[mailman187666]

I tried logging in to club nintendo, and it said it was having difficulty signing me in due to high traffic. I came back an hour later, and the site is down do to maintenance. Hopefully it comes back up tonight, I'm looking forward to using my coins.

[Dashopepper]

I was able to get the Zelda puzzle yesterday morning what there wasn't much traffic. As of now it's all backed up but hopefully I'll be able to get the Animal Crossing's cards and use my remaining points virtual console games.

[Jive3D]

12345

[Tanooki]

Wonderful 101 on a base level was a fun game for people but there was a fairly notable amount of people who complained online about the touch controls screwing up playing the game. I have no idea if it's a legit issue as much as butterfingers. I remember it being about the finger patterns to draw/do when setting up large/chained attacks would get fouled up. I'd look that up then decide. Ultimately though you'll get more out of a fitness game than 101 anyways since you'll put far more hours on it.

[Cornelius]

I did a bit of reading about Wii Fit U when I got it and a couple of the meters. From my experience and what I read, the meters are great devices and you can review the data which is pretty interesting, potentially useful. Minimal graphics upgrade. Some added workout stuff and more customizable.

And what I read is that the big drawback of the U software is that there is even more interruption by the talky board thing than before. So for identical 30 minute workouts, the U version can take several minutes longer because the thing won't shut up. My wife did the workouts more on Wii fit +, and hasn't used U much yet, so we don't have personal experience. I just use the tracking stuff.

So as for Wii Fit U, I'd say it depends on how you use it.

Looking in the future, I doubt the physical version of either will be expensive in the long run, but 101 is holding higher than I would have thought. And the old fit software is dirt cheap, so I'd expect that's where the U version will go eventually.

[CRTGAMER]

Please help me on this... Wii Fit U or Wonderful 101?

My Wii is still plugged into my TV alongside my Wii U and so I still play Wii Fit + often. With that in mind, is Wii Fit U good enough to upgrade to? My being a Wii Fit fan = yes I should get Wii Fit U, but my still having my Wii setup so I can play the Wii version anytime is what makes me wonder if it's worth getting the Wii U version.

And on the other side of this - is Wonderful 101 that good?

Maybe best to buy physical prizes or download games that do not have a disc option? Wait until the disc versions drop in price as the used market opens up. That will save issues of the DL game locked to just one console and taking up the limited console memory space.

Oh and hold off on ALL DL purchases until after the Platinum and Gold announcements. You might just get one of the games as the prize.

[megasdkirby]

These last few days have been hell trying to cash in my points, thanks to the site being hammered by users. But I was finally able to score the following:

-The Legend of Zelda™: Majora’s Mask 3D Messenger Bag
-Fierce Deity Link Jigsaw Puzzle
-Animal Crossing Mini Playing Cards
-2016 Desktop Calendar

Still have a little over 600 coins...debating on getting:

-3DS XL Pouch: The Legend of Zelda

or wait to see if I can score another 200 coins somehow and get another Messenger Bag.

Touch decision...

[Cornelius]

These last few days have been hell trying to cash in my points, thanks to the site being hammered by users. But I was finally able to score the following:

-The Legend of Zelda™: Majora’s Mask 3D Messenger Bag
-Fierce Deity Link Jigsaw Puzzle
-Animal Crossing Mini Playing Cards
-2016 Desktop Calendar

Still have a little over 600 coins...debating on getting:

-3DS XL Pouch: The Legend of Zelda

or wait to see if I can score another 200 coins somehow and get another Messenger Bag.

Touch decision...

Get the zelda pouch, you've already got a messenger bag! I went with the pouch because I know I can actually use it.

I'm at about 400 coins and debating if I should open some games I haven't gotten around to playing. I've got Pokemon White 2, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire, plus a Link between worlds because I'd misplaced my copy and was no longer certain I owned it (oops). Can still return Link. Plus I have a Mario 3DS XL I could open. Decisions decisions.

[The 1 2 P]

It was nice that they finally gave us some variety but the vast majority of 3DS offerings were already featured several times as part of their monthly offerings. The Legend of Zelda for Nes and Metroid II for GB should have been replaced with Super Mario Bros. 2 or 3 or any of a large number of games that haven't been featured month to month. I already have most of the 3DS games they are offering digitally but it's really something they should have had awhile ago since some people prefer digital to carts. I'm also disappointed about what they did with Tetris for GB. They stopped selling that at the end of December apparently due to a licensing issue with Ubisoft's new version of Tetris. But they knew this was going to happen for atleast a few months so why not make Tetris one of the free offerings in November or December.

It always seemed like the US version of Club Nintendo was nothing more than an afterthought and I'd been sitting on more than 1000 points for quite some time because they kept offering the same shit over and over again, atleast on the 3DS. I did find enough games to use most of my points but I'm glad they are getting rid of this version of Club Nintendo because it really does suck. The Japanese have always been their top priority. Hopefully that changes with whatever new version they come out with next.

[Leo_A]

Anyone notice the price disparity in some of the offerings across multiple platforms? Especially odd where the Wii version of the same game is 50 coins more than the Wii U version.

[Nz17]

And now for the final hurrah: the Platinum and Gold "Elite Status" rewards for 2014-2015.

Platinum - 3DS Options
Animal Crossing New Leaf
Mario Golf World Tour
Mario Kart 7
Mario Party Island Tour
New Super Mario Bros 2
Yoshi's New Island
Ultimate NES Remix

Gold - 3DS Options
Pushmo
Crashmo
Freakyforms: Your Creations Alive
Super Mario Bros 3
Super Mario Bros Deluxe
Legend of Zelda Oracle of Seasons
Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
The Mysterious Murasame Castle

Platinum - Wii U Options
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
NES Remix 2
Punch-Out (Wii)
Pushmo World
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

Gold - Wii U Options
Advance Wars
Legend of Zelda
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Metroid Fusion
Super Mario Bros The Lost Levels
Super Mario Kart
WarioWare Mega Microgame$
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island

The rewards will be redeemable until April 30, 2015. That means you have until the end of this month to get the last of what's on offer. Well, you have a few more months to redeem club coins for the things available in exchange for coins, and a few months after that to use the download codes... but you know what I mean.

I'm going to be getting "The Mysterious Murasame Castle."

[Tanooki]

I'm going between being safe having SMB3 on the go or Murasame Castle which is definitely unique.

Still need to cash out the coins now we see the false rumor was baseless of other options so that'll end up being Punchout as the rest weren't much good.

[Leo_A]

Super Mario Bros. 3 on the 3DS? No thanks, not without button mapping options.

I went with Yoshi's Island for the Wii U. While I didn't platinum this year, I would've went for this one regardless just like last year when I did reach that status yet skipped the premium offerings like NES Remix (I took Kid Icarus last time, since Earthbound doesn't do anything for me and NES Remix had just had a retail release announced).

[FieryReign]

Why is this site always experiencing heavy traffic with maintenance problems? It's fucking ridiculous that a huge corporation such as Nintendo can't maintain its servers. It would be nice to redeem my goddamn gift, but they seem to be playing with me. Thanks Nintendo, for offering a game that I can't redeem....

[Tanooki]

Ditto, it's pissing me off.

The one time I got in and said I got a prize, when I went to click it, it zerod out my coins and said I couldn't get it, then said it was down again. I don't think they get it, then again perhaps they do. I think they know they have no clue how to run a full fledged Nintendo Network that handles registration, prizes, potential trophies, carried over data, full blown accounts, none of it and that's why they bought a piece of DENA and have them doing something big for them now. DENA knows their shit, big companies trust them with some of their most coveted franchises, the latest being SquareEnix with that raging popular FF Record Keeper on Android/iOS being scooped up and played by millions.

Nintendo is out of their element and outclassed so they've clearly given up and have shoveled their networking needs off to a competent party, and it couldn't be sooner. I shouldn't have to stress over not getting 2 f'n NES games on a download thing for the elite and the left over coins. Hell I already own the real games technically (PO vs MTPO being the technicality) but it would be nice to have those on my New3DS on the go.

[Leo_A]

I can't say as I really blame them for not having infrastructure in place to smoothly support the busiest times for the service, that probably account for less than 1% of the total time. That's a lot of investment that would just be idle the vast majority of the time.

I don't understand though why even in the middle of the night, it's busy. I managed to get my award, but it still loaded odd and timed out a few times. Most North Americans are asleep and if the servers are even shared, Europeans are largely at work or school.

I thought by doing it at 4AM, it would be hassle free.

[Jorpho]

The rewards will be redeemable until April 30, 2015. That means you have until the end of this month to get the last of what's on offer.Where do you see that? I saw May 15.

I worked out that I have two Platinum rewards at my disposal. I'm trying to decide if I should just get Yoshi's New Island and Animal Crossing (neither of which particularly appeal to me), or if I should trade away one of them, considering Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze is just worth so much more.

I'm also trying to decide what to do with my remaining 1100 points (having managed to log in long enough today to get a pouch). The poster set is still listed, but for some daft reason it's sold out when you click on it! I'm not particularly interested in the card case or messenger bag, but options are limited.

[Gameguy]

I've never had enough points to redeem for anything, you need to buy a lot of Nintendo developed games to get those codes. I'm surprised so many people here could redeem them for anything.

[Leo_A]

They add up fairly quick. Just one retail release with 80 or so points could get you around halfway to downloading something for free (Prices largely ranged from 150-250 points).

Just a 3DS or Wii U and a single 1st party game should've gotten you enough to download something for free, with quite possibly some change. And then that free download could be registered to give you a start on earning something new.

Then, things like Virtual Console upgrades and promotions like the Deluxe Digital program and Mario Kart 8's free bonus game download (Which counted for full Club Nintendo credit, as if you actually bought the game), helped things along as well.

I'm still kicking myself for waiting so long to join. Never did until the Wii U, and by then, it was too late to fill our surveys for downloads of Virtual Console downloads on the Wii (Over 30 VC downloads, don't want to know how much credit that would've amounted to). And several of my retail games had expired codes, like Spirit Tracks, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and Metroid Prime Trilogy (Oddly enough, despite waiting so long, Metroid Prime 3, Super Mario Galaxy, and Phantom Hourglass all worked fine despite being bought at or near launch).

[FieryReign]

I've never had enough points to redeem for anything, you need to buy a lot of Nintendo developed games to get those codes. I'm surprised so many people here could redeem them for anything.

They don't need to be Nintendo developed games but I don't understand why ALL new physical copies don't have codes inside them.

Finally got in and got my free Mario Golf. But wait, the entire game is not actually free, I need to pay almost 40 bucks to unlock the whole thing.

[Nz17]

Where do you see that? I saw May 15.

What I wrote I copied from Nintendo World Report. But you can verify that info at Nintendo's Web site (http://club2.nintendo.com/program-notice/).


2015 Elite Status

In order to reach Elite Status, you must earn 300 Coins (for Gold Status) or 600 Coins (for Platinum Status) between July 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015. Members who reach Elite Status will be able to choose a downloadable game from a wide selection of Nintendo 3DS and Wii U titles. Your free Elite Status gift will be available between April 1 and April 30, 2015. A list of the Elite Status 2015 gifts will be posted here once announced.

And as far as the expiration date for the download codes themselves:


Will the download code ever expire?

Yes, all download codes redeemed from Club Nintendo will expire on July 31, 2015, so please be sure to download your game from the Nintendo eShop before that date.


I've never had enough points to redeem for anything, you need to buy a lot of Nintendo developed games to get those codes. I'm surprised so many people here could redeem them for anything.

That kind-of sort-of used to be the case. Club Nintendo "coin" redemption cards used to only be found in games published by Nintendo. But toward the end of the DS's life, Nintendo opened up the program to other software publishers. Those companies had to pay to be a part of the Club program, but if they did, they would get access to the collected surveys' data for their games. So you started to see Wii and DS games with the Club cards which were published by Nintendo and other companies as well. Eventually this extended to the 3DS and Wii U, and also expanded to cover digital downloads with time. However, as being part of the Club cost participating companies money, many publishers chose not to join in. That's why even after the program was opened up, you still didn't see Club cards with games from all publishers.

Gameguy, I used to feel like you do. As I never saw myself purchasing enough Nintendo-published games to ever get anything worthwhile, I didn't register any Club Nintendo cards for coins. But once the program was being used by enough publishers to finally seem worthwhile, I started registering the codes. It took quite some time, but I did finally get somewhere with it! I got a small bunch of physical rewards out of the program over the years - I even got Platinum and Gold elite statuses a few times! - and a lot of games I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. Without Club Nintendo, there would have been many games otherwise left on my to-buy-later list instead of downloaded onto my consoles. All-in-all, it worked out pretty well. Not as well as Europe and Japan with their Club Nintendo programs, but then again, they pay twice as much for their games, so I somewhat understand why things were the way they were. It still doesn't explain why we didn't just get those same rewards offered at double the coin cost, though.

Of course, all that is ending. We are already not seeing Club Nintendo cards packed in with recently published 3DS and Wii U games. Even if you find some Club cards, you can't redeem them anymore.

It makes you wonder what the follow-up Nintendo loyalty program will be like. My guess is that it will all be integrated with your Nintendo Network ID and the eShops, so you don't have to manually enter codes anymore. That will be a relief! It was always such a pain entering those 16-character download codes with the 3DS's touch screen. I believe the rewards in the new program will all be digital game downloads. It will save Nintendo a ton of money not having to manufacture and ship physical rewards. It will be sad to lose those delicious tangible goods, but so goes the general direction of the industry. Hopefully though, we will no longer have to fill out any of those surveys! It wouldn't be so bad if they were more interesting, but 98% of the time, it was always the same set of boring questions.

[Jorpho]

What I wrote I copied from Nintendo World Report. But you can verify that info at Nintendo's Web site (http://club2.nintendo.com/program-notice/).
2015 Elite Status

In order to reach Elite Status, you must earn 300 Coins (for Gold Status) or 600 Coins (for Platinum Status) between July 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015. Members who reach Elite Status will be able to choose a downloadable game from a wide selection of Nintendo 3DS and Wii U titles. Your free Elite Status gift will be available between April 1 and April 30, 2015. A list of the Elite Status 2015 gifts will be posted here once announced.I think that's supposed to mean "will be available starting between April 1 and April 30, 2015". Because it definitely says May 15, to be clear.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/35903326/elite.jpg

The posters have become available again! Decision time!

EDIT: No they're not! Nintendo taunts me!

[Leo_A]

What's up with the creepy looking mutated kangaroo?