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Nintendo extends Ultra Hand to Japanese Club Nintendo members

by JC Fletcher { Nov 9th 2009 at 1:45PM }

We're enjoying our DS game cases , and our other DS game cases, and all, but we can't help but be a bit jealous at the latest gift available for Japanese Club Nintendo users. Wii de Ultra Hand is an exclusive Wii game based on the classic extendable grabbing toy -- specifically, Nintendo's own version, designed by Gunpei Yokoi and released in 1967.

The game uses the Wiimote and Nunchuk to simulate the handles of the Ultra Hand, and tasks players with picking up meat from grills and depositing it on plates. It's available today for just 50 Club Nintendo points, one third the cost of a Wiimote stand.

[Via GAME Watch]

2009 Club Nintendo rewards have arrived!

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 4th 2009 at 3:45PM }

Several Joysitq staffers were pleased to discover that the 2009 Club Nintendo rewards have begun to arrive today. For those that need a reminder of what the gifts are, Platinum members got to choose between a real life Mario hat or a download of Doc Louis's Punch-Out!!, a special version of Punch-Out!! featuring Little Mac's trainer, Doc Louis. Meanwhile, Gold members were limited to one gift, a 2010 Nintendo calendar. Check out the gallery below for images of all the different gifts.

Gallery: 2009 Club Nintendo Rewards

Club Nintendo members to get 'exclusive artwork' this month

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 2nd 2009 at 2:00PM }

Some Nintendo fans are disappointed in America's Club Nintendo initiative. In spite of giving away free swag the company is completely not required to do, many found this year's Elite bonuses (a hat and calendar) a bit lackluster. Perhaps a new bonus, "exclusive" to Club Nintendo members will cheer the naysayers.

Nintendo's Denise Kaigler teased IGN readers with this cryptic message: "Keep your eyes on the Club Nintendo Web site in September. That's when we will offer members some exclusive Nintendo artwork." To make the offer even more enticing, she emphasizes how super-secret it is. "For the reason I mentioned earlier, I can't say any more than that right now – it's a secret to everybody."

Perhaps Club Nintendo members will be able to get a super-exclusive sneak peak at the next Zelda game? Probably not -- but your theories are certainly welcome!

Downloadable Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games get physical Club Nintendo items

by JC Fletcher { Jul 31st 2009 at 4:40PM }

A few lucky Japanese WiiWare shoppers who pick up the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games next week will get limited-edition gifts from Club Nintendo. Fifty people who buy at least two of the three WiiWare roguelikes will get this pop-up book thing, which is, honestly, not that exciting of a pop-up. It's basically a paper dome. Two hundred people who purchase just one of the games will randomly be drawn to win a Wiimote/DS strap featuring artwork from the game they purchased.

Meanwhile, Nintendo of America has indicated no plans to release the games, and it won't indicate any such plans until they magically appear on the Wii Shop. Don't expect any promotions like this, or, really, any promotion at all.

Club Nintendo Japan updates with flying Kirby and more

by JC Fletcher { Jul 23rd 2009 at 5:15PM }

Nintendo of Japan just updated its Club Nintendo rewards shop with a bunch of new exclusive items that will no doubt have you crying into your canvas Wiimote storage box. The most eye-catching new item is the 350-Coin Kirby flying disc, which looks just like a flat Kirby made out of nylon.

Other new items include Zelda posters, a Mario & Luigi 3 soundtrack (which is discounted for those who purchased the game), pencil cases, and a very cute set of Animal Crossing magnet clips. We can't help but think that no matter how sad we are over our inability to obtain the Kirby frisbee, we're going to weep openly when Japan's Platinum and Gold rewards are unveiled.

[Via andriasang]

Nintendo reveals American Club Nintendo bonuses [update]

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 14th 2009 at 8:05AM }

Nintendo loyalists that have been diligently registering their games can now pick up a reward through the Club Nintendo loyalty program. Those who have earned 300 or more Coins (equivalent to 6 Wii game purchases) are granted Gold status, while those who have earned 600 or more Coins are granted Platinum status. These members are now entitled to an exclusive members-only bonus.

Platinum members have the choice of two prizes:

Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! -- this downloadable WiiWare game is available exclusively to Club Nintendo Platinum members. In this special download, you'll be able to fight one-on-one against your coach, Doc Louis. Update: Screenshots now added.
Mario Hat -- a "true-to-life" replica of Mario's signature headpiece. Nintendo notes that the hat "may be big for small children."

Gold members will receive a special 2010 calendar. See more images after the break.

Gallery: Doc Louis' Punch-Out!!

Continued →

Game & Watch & DSiWare

by David Hinkle { Jul 10th 2009 at 6:15PM }

If you've been having a tough time accruing enough coins in Club Nintendo to get your very own copy of Game & Watch Collection for DS, know that Nintendo is planning to parcel out nine different Game & Watch classics to DSiWare in Japan. Kotaku reports that Nintendo will be offering each individual game for a very reasonable 200 DSi Points over the summer, meaning you can have your own piece of gaming history on the go for a measly $2.

There's no word on these escaping Japan, but considering that a majority of the content offered on DSiWare there has made its way over here, it's likely only a matter of time.

Gallery: Game & Watch: A Retrospective

PSA: Register your games for Club Nintendo elite status today

by JC Fletcher { Jun 30th 2009 at 4:15PM }

This is, necessarily, your final reminder: today is the last day of the "year" for Club Nintendo Gold or Platinum status in North America, which means that today is the last day for you to enter points toward whatever the exclusive free gift is going to be. We don't dare hope for the kind of awesomeness seen in Japan's Platinum rewards, but we want free things.

If you aren't yet at 300 coins (for Gold) or 600 coins (for Platinum), and you've got more games to register, get to it right now! If you've been thinking of picking up Punch-Out!! or something this week, you should probably do it today! Conversely, if you're at 600 now and you have more stuff to register, wait until tomorrow so it counts toward next year's total!

If you're not sure about the eligibility of an older (pre-Club Nintendo) game and don't want to waste time registering it, consult the list of eligible games in the "Product Registration" area of the Club Nintendo FAQ.

Exclusive blue Wiimote, Nunchuk and MotionPlus for lucky Wii Sports Resort visitors

by JC Fletcher { Jun 15th 2009 at 12:15PM }

It seems that the door is beginning to creak open for alternate-color Wii systems and accessories. First, Nintendo finally announces a Wii in a new color scheme (black), and now, less than two weeks later, the company has announced another color for the Wiimote and Nunchuk -- and the first new color for the MotionPlus. However, this is going to be a little harder to come by.

From June 25 to August 31, Nintendo will give away exclusive light blue Wiimotes, MotionPlus attachments and Nunchuks (and a matching jacket, of course) to five thousand Japanese Club Nintendo members who register copies of Wii Sports Resort. Not that Nintendo needed to offer any kind of incentive to sell Wii Sports Resort.

[Via GoNintendo]

UK Club Nintendo adds extra incentive to Icarian purchase

by JC Fletcher { Jun 10th 2009 at 3:00PM }

Club Nintendo in the UK is offering members something beyond the usual trade-for-points bonuses. The first hundred registered Club Nintendo members to purchase a copy of Icarian: Kindred Spirits on WiiWare will receive a copy of the game's soundtrack. The lucky hundred will receive (hopefully a link to) the soundtrack file via email shortly after downloading the game.

We appreciate seeing Nintendo promote its downloadable games for once, but here's a word of advice to the company who "reads the blogs," according to its E3 keynote. One of the best ways to advertise your WiiWare and Virtual Console games is to actually tell people in advance when they'll be available.

[Via Nintendo Life]

PSA: Club Nintendo status reset coming June 30

by Xav de Matos { May 26th 2009 at 7:45PM }

Attention Club Nintendo members: on June 30 your membership status will be reset. According to an email being distributed by Nintendo, via Aeropause, users attempting to claw their way to Gold elite and Platinum member status for Nintendo's buyer program will have their efforts reset at the end of next month.

Here's the skinny: Coins (points obtained by registering games/hardware, taking surveys and buying WiiWare and DSiWare titles) are only valid toward a user's Club Nintendo status within the year they are purchased. The Club Nintendo year runs from July 1 until June 30. Users will not lose any coins they've collected (although they can expire), but will have their membership status reset when the year is over.

In order to achieve Gold or Platinum status again, users must collect the necessary amount of coins within the year. Gold membership status begins at 300 coins, Platinum begins at 600 -- as a reference point, the DSi nets users 150 coins. Club Nintendo Gold and Platinum members are awarded special bonuses by Nintendo, in the form of a unique gift at the end of the calendar year. Like Aeropause, we recommend you hold off on any activity that may net you coins ... for the sake of your Club Nintendo street cred.

Ask Joystiq Nintendo: Mario hat stand edition

by JC Fletcher { Apr 23rd 2009 at 4:40PM }

This week, a reader question about Club Nintendo reminded me of the rewards currently available, including the marginally useful, but so pretty Mario Nintendo DS Game Rack. I want one of these, but what would I do with it? Choose eight games to display? I might just get one and use it as a display piece with nothing in it. It can display itself.

If you have a question about Mario hat-shaped things or anything else Nintendo related, send it to us by email at asknintendo AT joystiq DOT com.

Continued →

Club Nintendo Platinum members getting early look at DSi

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 16th 2009 at 8:30PM }

Are you a Club Nintendo Platinum member? The most dedicated Nintendo fans have registered their numerous Nintendo games and have earned VIP status. These faithful are getting rewarded yet again in an "exclusive" event meant specifically for Club Nintendo members. Platinum members that live near a event locations will gain entry to a special DSi event where fans can preview the upcoming system weeks ahead of its US release.

The DSi isn't a revolutionary upgrade from the previous DS Lite, but we're glad to see Nintendo rewarding its fans in new and unique ways. We hope this event is but the first of a long line of events planned for Club Nintendo elite.

Not invited to the Club Nintendo event? Don't worry -- we've got you covered. Check out our unboxing of a Japanese system for a hands-on rundown of features, and have a look at the awesome DSiWare downloads that have come to Japan. Then torture yourself with the limited-edition FFCC: Echoes of Time DSi that probably won't make it here!

Seeing stars: Club Nintendo launches in Australia

by JC Fletcher { Mar 11th 2009 at 5:30PM }

Club Nintendo has finally launched in Australia, offering a sort of hybrid version of the older European Stars Catalogue and the US/Japan Club Nintendo models. Like the new US Club, the Australian site offers exclusive goods in exchange for points earned by purchasing games; however, the store uses the same "Stars Catalogue" nomenclature used for Europe's mostly-virtual offerings.

The new Catalogue currently has but five items available, but that list of five includes the Game & Watch Collection (as found on the OFLC!) and one sort-of-awesome item we don't have in the US: these Mario face towels. They just cost 1300 Stars, 250 of which you can get for signing up!
[Via IGN]

Game & Watch Collection coming to Australia: Club Nintendo imminent?

by JC Fletcher { Mar 2nd 2009 at 11:00AM }

A rating for the DS Game & Watch Collection has popped up on the Australian OFLC ratings board, along with a bunch of other stuff, including Boom Blox Bash Party (under the bafflingly different title Boom Blox Smash Party). The collection, featuring Oil Panic, Donkey Kong, and Green House, has been used as a Club Nintendo reward in Japan and North America. News about Australia's Club Nintendo rewards program was expected last week, so this confluence of events suggests that this is to be handed out as a reward for Aussie gamers soon.

That is, whenever Nintendo of Australia gets around to setting up the Club Nintendo program.