- Two NES consoles, and one Famiclone
- Two Super NES consoles
- Two Gameboys
- Two Gameboy Pockets
- One Gameboy Color
- Three Gameboy Advance SPs
- One Nintendo 64
- One Nintendo DS (Phat)
- One Nintendo DSi
- Two Nintendo Gamecubes
- Two Nintendo Wiis
I’ve had probably hundreds of cartridges and discs for each of these systems, some purchased new and others picked up at yard sales and resale shops. A few years ago, Nintendo brought over the concept of gaining points for games you bought for their systems, which could be redeemed for special members-only prizes. Enter Club Nintendo.
The concept had been around for quite a while in Japan, but only recently adapted for the US. I have to admit, I was quite excited when it was first announced. I expected to be able to finally receive such interesting bonuses as the Super Famicom Classic Controller for the Wii (article here) or other things I saw being touted on Japanese fan sites.
What we received was, well, less than impressive. At first launch you could get a few desktop wallpapers, a Game & Watch Collection for the DS, and a calendar. I built up my points regardless, hoping that one day I could cash them in for something truly unique and interesting.
I reached “Gold” status in Club Nintendo last year and was told that because of this Nintendo was going to send me a free 2011 calendar with images from various Nintendo games. When I think of a calendar, my mind immediately goes to wall calendars. They’re the ones you see most often in book stores, and big shiny graphics work well for them. What I received was this (I’ve included a ballpoint pen for size reference):
Now, since I didn’t actually ask for the desk calendar, I wasn’t terribly upset, but I admit I was a wee bit disappointed at the diminutive size of the thing. You can’t even write anything on it, so aside from being decorative it has no useful purpose as a calendar.
I managed to work up 800 points on my Club Nintendo account from purchasing several hundred dollars in games over the year, and I decided it was time to cash in. I was particularly interested in a deck of Hanafuda cards. For those of you unaware, Nintendo’s original business was the manufacture and sale of these traditional Japanese playing cards.
They still sell them today, though only in Japan. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to own a small piece of Nintendo’s history. I had no idea just how small until they came in the mail.
That’s a quarter. If the deck weren’t quite so deep I could palm the thing. I felt like I’d once again fallen victim to the Nintendo Rewards Shrink Ray. However, I did some research, and apparently those dimensions (1.25in x 2.5in) are correct for a traditional deck. Other decks you can buy online are similarly sized and cost upwards of $20-30USD for cards that aren’t plain cardboard.
The cards came in a “box within a box” with an old-style Nintendo seal and explanations on which Nintendo characters translated to each of the traditional Hanafuda designs.
Once opened, I was intrigued by the feel of the cards. Unlike western playing cards, these were quite thick and stiff. They feel like the outside cover of a hardback book (albeit slightly thinner) and they make a satisfying clack when you place them on a table.
The cards also come with a small instruction booklet on how to play the most popular 2-player Hanafuda game: Koi-Koi. The forty-ninth card in the deck has a serial number, which I assume is for collectors. The whole deck can be stored in a sturdy plastic container that snaps securely shut. This is a good thing, because the material used on the cards makes them quite slippery and easy to drop.
I’m actually not disappointed by the cards as a reward. They’re something you can’t easily get in the US, and they’re surprisingly well-made compared to some of the decks I’ve seen online. I was initially put off by the size of them, but if that’s what Hanafuda cards look like, that’s fine with me. I went back to the Nintendo Rewards site after receiving them and realized that the dimensions are listed; I just read “playing cards” and thought they’d be equivalent to western decks. My mistake.
If any of you out there are considering picking these up with your hard-earned points, consider the descriptions I’ve given and whether you think it’s worth the price. I don’t disparage Nintendo from offering rewards to their loyal customers, just be warned: those rewards may be smaller than they appear.
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