It’s that time again. It’s November around the world, and we all know what that means for Japanese Nintendo fans: Annual Platinum member gifts! What are the Platinum gifts, you ask? The platinum gift system is part of Nintendo of Japan’s online service, Club Nintendo (which I’ve talked about ad nauseum at several different times). Players enter in points gathered from purchased Nintendo games on the Club Nintendo website, and receive points to use on goods in the Club Nintendo catalogue.
Every year, depending on how many points you accumulate over the year, each member is assigned a rank (Silver, Gold, or Platinum). Members that qualify for Platinum status (400 points, between October of the previous year, and September of the year in question) are eligible to pick a single gift from the list of available items. Last year, members had the choice of either custom Mii battery flaps for their Wii controllers, or Tingle’s Balloon Fight for the DS.
This year is far better, offering two fantastic choices, and one head-scratcher.
For those unable to read Japanese, here is a helpful translation:
Choice 1: A Wii Classic controller in the shape and design of a Super Famicom controller. This controller does not work on some VC games, including Nintendo 64. This item will ship in April 2008.
Choice 2: The Super Mario Galaxy Platinum Edition Official Soundtrack. This soundtrack is the Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack sold in the Club Nintendo store, but with an extra disc of arranged music. This item will ship in January, 2008.
[below this there is a link to the Gold Edition soundtrack available in the store for purchase.]
Choice 3: A set of two Nintendo themed Desk Calendars. These calendars are upright desk calendars featuring Super Mario Bros. related characters. This calendar set will ship in December, 2007.
While the first two choices seem like great addition to any Nintendo fan’s collection, I cannot imagine anyone opting for the desk calendars. It seems like such a terrible choice, especially when available next to the Super Famicom replica controller.
If you don’t know if you are applicable for Platinum status this year, check your e-mail. If you have not received an e-mail, log into your Club Nintendo account, and check for the following:
If the right side of your personal page has this writing, it means you qualify for a platinum gift this year. Congratulations! For those who missed out on Platinum status this year, be sure to keep adding points starting now. All those points will count towards a possible Platinum standing next year.
If anyone is curious, I ended up choosing the Super Famicom replica controller. I play a lot of SNES games on VC, so it’s a perfect fit for me. I can’t wait.