Club Nintendo Have Dropped the Ball in North America

If you have a Nintendo device, you probably know a little about Club Nintendo. For diehard fans it has been an excellent way to grab exclusive items available absolutely nowhere else. This year they've decided to go with something simpler - and have damaged the service in the process.

[Neonridr]

While I am not upset that we are getting free games, I do agree with the author in that there is nothing special about reaching Gold or Platinum status this year. Anyone off the street could pay and have the same things that we "earned" by being loyal members. The posters, CDs, statues, etc were a nice little way of being exclusive. Here's hoping they get enough grief from all of us that they go back to the way it was next year.

That being said, I got Dr. Luigi and I am looking forward to playing it.

[colonel179]

I have a Wii U and most of the games offered are for 3DS! I only reached Gold this time, and it's even worse!

I've always loved Club Nintendo, but I agree this year sucked.

[guitarded77]

Wait... what free games are we getting? Did I miss something? I know we can get games with our points earned from purchasing Nintendo stuffs, but that's not "free".

[Neonridr]

@guitarded77 - let me guess, but PS+ games are free right?

You are buying a game anyways, but with Nintendo you are getting points that can be redeemed to get free games. Technically the games are free, unless you are purchasing games solely for the purpose of attaining enough coins to then redeem for a free game.

[guitarded77]

@Neonrider - I didn't say that. I was asking if I was missing something with "free" games. I hate missing out on freebies. It's guys like you that always have to turn it into some fanboy thing. I'm guessing you're answering my question though. They are the earned rewards that we get from purchasing Nintendo products. I get the same thing by using my Sony CC account. I make all PSN purchases (and some other purchases) with it and earn rewards with it to get earned games, PSN cards, PS+. I don't call them free, because I have to spend money... just like airline miles. There is a difference. I've gotten several games through Club Nintendo, but I'm sitting on 600 coins until they offer something I want, or don't already have.

[randomass171]

I agree that it's disappointing, but since all the stuff doesn't even cost club coins, I'm not all that upset. I got my free game (Game & Wario yay!) so I'm good. :)

[GamingSinceThe80s]

I was thinking of getting G&W as my free game.How is it?

[randomass171]

Haven't played it yet. I'm too busy rockin' Shovel Knight and Resonance of Fate on PS3! :D

[ZoidsRaven]

My only problem with Club Nintendo is when I tried to get that 3DS case that costs a lot of those points and they didn't fukan send it to the right address...... TWICE.. Other than that, I think they're ok. 7_7

[Dudebro90]

Its a free program...FREE!

How people complain about getting free games is beyond stupid.

[matgrowcott]

I think the problem is specifically that they're getting free games that they could buy anyway, and in fact, given that it's an incentive program based around buying a huge amount of Nintendo products, that they probably already have. Which is fair enough really. If you're involved in an incentives program and then the incentive turns out to have not been worth it, you're going to have a problem.

[GamingSinceThe80s]

I understand why they went all digital because they are losing millions of dollars a year these days,because they aren't making that Wii money anymore and sending out all that free stuff has to be very expensive.Maybe next year they could do something like the ambassador program and give us a game that is not yet on the V.C.

[Chrischi1988]

It is still free, they dont have to offer anything, this is just their way to say thanks. Nobody has the right to complain, it is not like you paid for it, if you bought games solely for some points at club nintendo, you must be retarted...

It is a gift from nintendo, no strings attached, I dont get, how people always complain, like furious animals, about stuff, they get for free. Nobody has to take it, you know?

[matgrowcott]

@Gaming

I think you've got it. That would probably make a lot of disappointed fans much happier.

@Chrischi

You have an odd definition of free. To me, free means that they're literally giving it out to anybody that wants it. In Nintendo's case, you're getting a tiny amount of cashback for every purchase, and in return you potentially buy more product and occasionally fill in valuable surveys.

You're right, they don't have to do it, but you can bet your bottom dollar that they're not doing it for the good of their fan PR. They're doing it because it benefits them somehow.

[Axonometri]

I will complain when Nintendo release a game like Paper Mario for Wii U as a reward option and after having selected it, you come to find it can only be downloaded on the Wii part of the console. And more to complain, after having downloaded it for the Wii booting section of the Wii U, you come to find that it can only be played with a controller that Nintendo no longer manufactures!

These are surely valid complaints for a free download reward program. It's lazy. They should have brought the game into Wii U virtual console where everyone could use it.

[Dudebro90]

It clearly states on the image of the game on the reward websites if its for wii u, or if its for wii u through the Wii channel.

Its not their fault you dont understand it.

[elhebbo16]

Jesus you're so entitled. If nintendo doesn't think its the right time to release Paper Mario then they shouldn't release it. There's still plenty of other great games coming our way.

[randomass171]

lol I feel you Dudebro. People often complain about free stuff on PS+ too. I'll just never understand it.

[zugdar]

Free is free however...

Japanese fans get more options, better items and more promos. Europe has triple the selection than the US and frankly, from a business standpoint, the US is Nintendo's bread and butter.

I was bummed by the offerings this year because getting exclusive items is way better than a game I don't have time to play IMO.

[atticus14]

while I somewhat agree that maybe it should be seen more as a bonus then anything, the program in itself encourages people to buy their products new for the sole reason of collecting coins to redeem for stuff.

Now this will vary from person to person but I would say lots of people who would typically buy used, pony up the extra cash to buy new for the sole reason of getting those rewards, but if the rewards are not good, most will go back to buying used or renting.

So those games are about as free, as the "free" games on PS+ (which cost a 50 annual Subscription).

People seem to be eating up the word "free" all the times these days when its just a manipulation of a word attached to a service that definitely costs money.

[tortri]

You usually get Nintendo specific physical items you can't get anywhere else. For example for 650 nintendo japan points you can get a stuffed yoshi. Back when it was awesome I had platinum and got a Mario hat that I can wear and I still have it! Now it's digital games that anyone can buy....to me this says nintendo got cheap and don't care for its members staying loyal.

This makes me not to try to be a gold or platinum member next year.

[bobsmith]

I got nes remix 15 dollar value and with the coins I got getting plat got super mario world, mario party 2, mario kart 64 over 40 dollars free and got pikmin 3 free with kart 8 thats over 100 dollars. club nintendos awesome.

[-Foxtrot]

The US Nintendo Club had much more better stuff then the rest of us.

[randomass171]

Sorry to hear that. :( What was offered to club members in your area?

[zugdar]

Not sure. Besides some limited items Jp and Eu have a much larger selection.

[-Foxtrot]

Honestly we got the odd statue here and there the ones which cost 5000 stars but it's usually little trinkets like pencils, cases, posters etc

I just felt the US ones had a much wider option to choose from

Shame Nintendo never let us buy them with real money aswell. Those Mario Kart trophies were amazing yet my collection is incomplete. I'm telling you Nintendo could make a killing of these sort of things. Who wouldn't want replica, full scale trophies from Mario Kart in their room.

[Chrischi1988]

But they dont want you to be able to buy them for money, because this way the stuff stays unique and special. Ok, same thing doesnt go for digital games, which you can buy everywhere :)

[Fullmetalevolust]

I am unable to redeem any of the codes although I have platinum elite status...is this happening to anybody else?
Id love to have donkey kong 3d and Earthbound!

[ZeekQuattro]

I had to enter my code a few times before it finally worked.

[Fullmetalevolust]

thanks for replying, but I mean I try to get the codes to appear from the nintendo club website and it takes forever to load, and then it says my coins are safe with Wario...lol
Maybe the website isn't working properly.

[Zjet]

Sorry but what are you complaining about.....US gets majority of content first and actually gets content. New Zealand and Australia literally have 7 items in the stars catalogue....and it has been the same for years now. We can get a hat. A pencil cae and other useless crap no digital downloads at all. Our eshop is so far behind we are lucky to get some of the third party titles it took 5 months for Jett Rocket 2 to get here after launch

[TomahawkX]

well besides the free platinum game this year, I've also received 2 exclusive 3DS game storage cases, Super Mario World (VC) , Super Metroid (VC), Kirby's Adventure (VC), and I still have 300 coins left. So yea, I'm a happy camper.