Let's talk about Nintendo's first mobile game, Miitomo, as well as its Club Nintendo replacement and new account system

Actually, the headline for this post probably should read: "can someone please explain Nintendo's first mobile game, Miitomo, as well as its Club Nintendo replacement and new account system to me?"

That seemed kind of silly, though, so I opted what you see above.

Still, the fact is that even after having more than 24 hours to think about it, I still can't say I "get" the three upcoming products Nintendo announced during its investor's briefing in Tokyo yesterday.

Sure, I understand that Miitomo, the Japanese giant's first mobile effort, is some sort of Tomodachi Life-esque communication app, but what exactly does that mean?

As for the Club Nintendo replacement I mentioned earlier, that would be a little thing called "My Nintendo." Based on what I read about it yesterday, it sounds like an expanded version of Club Nintendo that rewards (with swag, discounts on future titles and even DLC) people for playing, and not just buying, the company's games.

Finally, there's something called the "Nintendo Account," which I guess is the next iteration of what's currently known as NNID?

The last one is the "product" I know the least about, so please feel free to educate me if you've got a better grasp on it. Actually, feel free to educate me on any of these upcoming efforts--all of which are set to be released in March of next year, I believe--if you think my descriptions above are a bit off.

Anyway, based on the little I know and understand of all of the above, I'm pretty excited. Or at least I'm pretty intrigued--especially in the "My Nintendo" and "Nintendo Account" creations. That's just my opinion on the matter, though; what do all of you think about it?

A few thoughts on (and a photo of) the new Club Nintendo Pikmin tote bag

You knew before now that as of a few weeks ago the North American Club Nintendo is offering a Pikmin-branded tote bag as one of its rewards, right?

Well, if you didn't, you know it now.

I picked one up as soon as I was able, of course--mostly because I'm a huge Pikmin fan, but also because I like cute-but-practical things.

Anyway, my tote arrived on my doorstep last week. Here's a photo of it in its current resting place (on the back of my office chair):

The tote's actually a bit smaller than I thought it would be, I have to say. Not that it's tiny; it's plenty big, but I wouldn't plan on using it to pick up a week's worth of groceries or anything like that. It's more suited for carrying, say, a laptop and a few notebooks, I think.

It also should be noted that the tote seems pretty sturdy. Of course, I'm not the most experienced tote owner in the world, so what do I know? Regardless, it doesn't feel flimsy--or it doesn't feel that way to me.

The question is: how will I be using it? Or will I be using it at all? The answer to both of those questions, sadly, is that I probably won't use it at all.

Who knows, though, maybe I'll use it the next time I travel--just so everyone at the airport can "oooh!" and "ahhh!" as I walk clutching this most fabulous looking tote.

Did any of you snag one of these beauties? If so, what do you think of it so far? And how are you putting it to use (if you're putting it to use at all?

Pink and blue Animal Crossing: New Leaf 3DS XL pouches for everyone! Er, I mean, everyone who lives in Japan :(

Ah, yes, it's that time again. What time, you ask? Why, it's the time when I whine about how much more awesome the Japanese Club Nintendo is than its North American or European counterparts.

Case in point, the following Animal Crossing: New Leaf pouches that (I believe) were just added to the Japanese Club Nintendo rewards catalog. 

I mean, I'm sure they'll pop up on eBay sometime soon enough, so those of us currently drooling over them can just pick up one there, but I'd prefer to use some of the Club Nintendo points I've been stockpiling for the last year or so, if at all possible.

(Via japanese3ds.com)

How badly do you want to play Donkey Kong: Original Edition?

I'm guessing most of you have heard this news elsewhere, but just in case a few of you haven't: Nintendo of America will soon make Donkey Kong: Original Edition--aka the NES port of Donkey Kong with the arcade version's "cement factory" level added back in for good measure--available to select 3DS owners.

I say "select" because the game will be given (for free) to folks who buy Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone, Crosswords Plus, Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask or Style Savvy: Trendsetters via the 3DS eShop by Jan. 6.



Is the promise of Donkey Kong: Original Edition enough of an incentive to prompt any of you to pick up digital copies of one or more of the above-mentioned 3DS titles?

For more information about this promotion, pay a visit to club2.nintendo.com/donkeykong/ at your earliest convenience.

(Via tinycartridge.com)

Oh, look, yet another reason to buy one of those PINKxWHITE 3DS LLs at some point

With the reason in question being that Nintendo of Japan just added Club Nintendo Picross to its heaping pile of awesome Club Nintendo rewards.

Club Nintendo Picross, which apparently features Nintendo-focused puzzles of up to 80-by-80 squares in size, isn't a boxed game like previous Club Nintendo-only releases Game & Watch Collection and Tingle's Balloon Fight; rather, it's a digital title that can be downloaded to your 3DS or 3DS LL should you have 80 Club Nintendo points that you're willing to hand over.



Granted, it's more than possible that Club Nintendo Picross will be localized and offered to North American Club Nintendo members at some point, but I'd really like to make use of some of the Japanese Club Nintendo points I surely could obtain should I finally register all of the Japanese DS games I purchased over the last few years.

Also, I'd really like to own one of those sweet-looking PINKxWHITE 3DS LLs (sorry, I can't type that without using capital letters), so just let me believe it'll remain a Japan-only title, OK?

Goin' for the gold (nunchuck)

Did anyone else recently drop a whopping 900 Club Nintendo coins to get one of these bad boys?

Mine hasn't arrived on my doorstep yet, although a recent e-mail from Nintendo of America assures it's on its way.

Although I'm eager to rip it open and hold it in my hands (or at least stare at it longingly), I'm no longer as eager as I was when I first placed my order. That's because I just watched the rather awkward unboxing video below, which reveals that Nintendo of America cheaped out (once again) and shipped these beauties in plain, plastic bags--you know, as opposed to nice, branded boxes, like the ones that were used in Japan.



Even before I came to this disappointing discovery, though, I was a bit unsure as to why I decided to "waste" 900 Club Nintendo points on this particular prize--mainly because I don't have a gold Wii remote with which to pair it. Maybe this will spur me to pick one up along with a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword?

See also: Previous Club Nintendo-centric posts

The awesome alternate covers of the Nintendo 3DS Card Case 18

About a month ago, Nintendo of Japan added to its Club Nintendo reward stash something called the Nintendo 3DS Card Case 18.

Admittedly, the item's name isn't the most creative--although it is descriptive. (As you've probably already guessed, the Nintendo 3DS Card Case 18 is an accessory that holds up to 18 DS and/or 3DS cards.)

I don't know this for sure, but I have a feeling the case's name is lacking in creativity because its designers focused all of their attention on its awesome alternate covers.

You see, although the case's standard cover, seen in the photo above, is a bit bland, its alternate covers (each "order" comes with three of them) are anything but. For example, here's one that includes sprites from The Legend of Zelda:

Additional covers--featuring Bowser, Mario, Pikmin's Olimar and more--can be seen in this Flickr photo set.

These cases are now available via the North American Club Nintendo "shop," too, by the way. They're called "Nintendo 3DS Game Card Cases" (I guess the "18" part was too exciting for them) in this region, but the alternate covers appear to be the same.

Hey, Nintendo of America: Where's my free copy of 3D Classics Kid Icarus?

The question in the header above popped into my head while reading these hands-on impressions of the Japanese version of 3D Classics: Kid Icarus over the weekend.

I know I probably sounded less than excited when I wrote about this 3D-enabled update of one of my all-time favorite Famicom and NES games early last month (in this post), but I have enough interest in it to want to give it a try, especially if it's free.



For some strange reason, though, Nintendo has yet to extend to North American 3DS owners the same offer--folks who register at least two of about 13 3DS games with Club Nintendo by a certain date receive a free copy of 3D Classics: Kid Icarus as a reward--it recently extended to Japanese and European 3DS owners.

Here's hoping the company's North American branch throws us a bone--or maybe I should say eggplant?--soon.

(Via siliconera.com)

Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (Excitebots edition)

Did you know that for the last two years Monster Games' wacky Wii racer, Excitebots: Trick Racing, has been a US-only title? No worries if you didn't, as it'll lose that distinction shortly thanks to the fact that it's being prepped for release in Japan.

Don't go looking for it on Japanese store shelves, though; the game, now called Excite Mou-Machine, will be offered to that country's Wii owners as a Club Nintendo bonus.

The game got more than a new name before it boarded its plane to Japan. As you'll see below, it got a new look, too. For the sake of comparison, here's the North American version's box art:

And this is the art that will grace the cover of the Japanese release:

Which one do you prefer? Personally, I prefer Excite Mou-Machine's box art, although I'm sure I'm in the minority. Don't get me wrong, I quite like Excitebots' art--mainly because it does a much better job of depicting the title's gameplay--just not as much as I like the quirky, Pokémon-esque cover of its Japanese counterpart.

(Via andriasang.com)

The Great Gaymathon Review #31: Game & Watch Collection (DS)

Game: Game & Watch Collection

Genre: Action

Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo

System: Nintendo DS

Release date: 2008

It's a good thing Game & Watch Collection is "free" (to those who have earned enough Club Nintendo points). I don't say that because I think it's a crappy game; I say it because I don't think it includes enough content to be worth whatever the folks at Nintendo surely would have charged for it had it been sold in stores. As it stands, though, 800 Nintendo Points (or whatever they're called these days) is an acceptable enough price to pay for this package of three rejiggered Game & Watch titles: Donkey Kong, Green House and Oil Panic. The first one's probably the best of the bunch, but each of them are worth a few minutes of your time if you're a child of the 1980s (or earlier) and if you have a fond recollection of Nintendo's pre-NES--or pre-Famciom, if that's how you roll--era. Everyone else should stay far away, as the games included on this diminutive DS cartridge require a healthy dose of nostalgia to be fully enjoyed.

See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts

The Great Gaymathon Review #18: Tingle's Balloon Fight (DS)

Game: Tingle's Balloon Fight

Genre: Action

Developer: Vanpool

Publisher: Nintendo

System: Nintendo DS

Release date: 2007

I don't know what caused the powers that be at Nintendo of Japan to green-light a Tingle-focused remake--featuring spruced-up, 16-bit-esque graphics--of the Famicom/NES classic Balloon Fight, but I certainly hope whatever it was happens again. Sure, the content of this Japanese Club Nintendo release--which consists of the same "Balloon Fight" and "Balloon Trip" modes as its 8-bit predecessor, along with a gallery of concept art--is as thin as the DS cart on which it's delivered, but it provides players with more than enough enjoyment to make it worth picking up if they're Balloon Fight or Tingle fans. (It's currently going for as little as $29 on eBay, by the way.) The only negative associated with this Vanpool-developed game, other than its lack of depth: Spreading the action over the DS' two screens seems to sap it of a bit of the drama and excitement that's all too present in Yoshio Sakamoto's original effort.

See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts

Tingle's Ice Climber

In early 2007, Nintendo of Japan released a Club Nintendo-exclusive game called Tingle's Balloon Fight. It's basically a re-skinned version of one of the company's classic Famicom/NES titles--starring that odd Legend of Zelda character, Tingle, rather than the nameless, titular "Balloon Fighters" of the original, of course.

I played a bit of Tingle's Balloon Fight while on vacation last week. The experience took my mind to some crazy places. Case in point: The following doodle--of Tingle in Ice Climber drag.

Two similar drawings can be seen in my deviantart gallery and in my Flickr photostream.

Wouldn't it be cool if Nintendo released a bunch of these re-imaginings? Along with a Tingle's Ice Climber, they could make a Tingle's Wrecking Crew, for instance, or even a Super Tingle Bros. Hmm, I think I now know the subject of my next few doodles.

I'm begging you, Nintendo, don't bring these to North America

Nintendo of Japan recently decided to add a few new morsels of game-related goodness to its Club Nintendo goodie bag.

Along with a set of New Super Mario Bros. Wii-branded remote straps, the Japanese giant will soon offer gamers what appears to be an Animal Crossing grocery bag.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I'd "buy" that grocery bag without a second thought if it ever appeared on the North American Club Nintendo site--despite the fact that I know I'd never use it.

(Via andriasang.com)

Those lucky bastards

Here's what Japanese Club Nintendo members will be receiving for achieving Platinum status this year:

Actually, the photo above was posted on NeoGAF this morning, so obviously some Platinum members have gotten their grubby little mitts on this prize already.

Anyway, as much as I'd love for Nintendo to offer Game & Watch re-issues to North American Club Nintendo members, I'd prefer it if they localized and released Exclamation Warriors (aka Zekkyō Senshi Sakeburein) or Tingle's Balloon Fight.

(Via NeoGAF)

It saddens me that Nintendo seemingly spent more money to promote this title than it did to promote Rhythm Heaven

"This title" being the Club Nintendo-only WiiWare offering, Grill-Off with Ultra Hand. Anyway, here's what Nintendo's promotional dollars paid for in this instance:



I'm glad that a portion of the ad is used to show people how to join Club Nintendo, but it kind of begs the question: Why hasn't the company made similar ads that show people how to use the Wii Shop Channel? After all, a lot of people still don't realize you can use said channel to purchase and download a slew of classic titles.

Buy: Rhythm Heaven

See also: 'Rhythm Heaven: My favorite DS game of 2009'

(Via gonintendo.com)

Well, I opened it ...

"It" being the sealed copy of Game & Watch Collection I mentioned last week.

I spent a few minutes playing each of the games included on this Club Nintendo-exclusive title yesterday, and although I enjoyed them (Donkey Kong especially) I doubt the cartridge will spend much time in my DS.

Oh, well, at least it was free.

See also: 'To open or not to open, that is the question ...'

To open or not to open, that is the question ...

I received my first Club Nintendo "reward" yesterday: the DS Game & Watch Collection. Here's a glamor-ish shot of it:

I haven't opened it yet because I haven't decided if I want to play it or save it and sell it (unopened) later. What would you guys/gals do?