Club Nintendo has introduced a PIN expiry system

[Frogman]

Club Nintendo PIN expiry date

Dear Club Nintendo member,

Nintendo Australia would like to advise you that as of July 1 Club Nintendo has introduced a PIN expiry system.

Club Nintendo PIN codes on software will automatically expire 5 years from the original title release date in Australia and New Zealand. Once a PIN code has expired you will not be able to earn Stars from these products.

The first Club Nintendo PIN code due for expiry is Mario Kart Wii, released 24 April 2008. PIN code will expire 23 April 2013.

Please remember that all Stars redeemed must be used within 36 months. Any redeemed stars not used within 36 months will become invalid.

This email was recieved today at 10:16 am
I guess its not that exciting news but its... news i guess

 

[thieves like us]

not really surprising. club nintendo japan has had an expiry date in place for a number of years on the point certificates (as far back as game boy advance titles)

 

[BlackDave]

it said 5 years. I was ok.

But then it said from the original release date >_<

harsh

 

[monkat]

it said 5 years. I was ok.

But then it said from the original release date >_<

harsh

It's not that bad when you consider that a generation only typically lasts about 5 years, but with the way things have been going, people might want to buy, say, Twilight Princess, and get screwed over on that. 5 years from release date isn't all that harsh, as long as you know that the rule exists - if you don't, you will get mad.

 

[pcmanrules]

I'm annoyed because my points are split half and half between Club Nintendo Australia and USA.

 

[Schizoanalysis]

I have far more Club Nintendo Japan points than I do Club Nintendo Australia points...

I hate being screwed out of my Club Nintnedo Japan points... but Japan has much better stuff (and released earlier too)

 

[shadow1w2]

Glad theres no expiration on the US one yet, though something tells me I might have missed something.

Kinda waiting in hopes the US club gets something good like that SNES classic control pad.
Though I doubt they ever will. :/

 

[frogmyster3]

I'm pretty sure that Europe has had this for a few years. I think that the Stars expire if not used by a certain time as well which is really harsh on those saving up.

 

[ProtoKun7]

I'm pretty sure that Europe has had this for a few years. I think that the Stars expire if not used by a certain time as well which is really harsh on those saving up.

I think these are referring to the PINs on the cards, and not the star points. The star points expire after around 2 years, I think. But yes, that is annoying. Several of mine expired as of yesterday. Wanted to put them to use somehow but the amount I had was only good for crap I'd never use.

I'd considered just getting a DSi mood lamp or something like that just to use them but I didn't even have enough for that.

I did have an old NintendoVIP account though, and a lot more stars, but I think that account was deactivated.

 

[Frogman]

sorry if i sound stupid but whats vip and platinum and stuff?? idk if we hav tht here?

 

[DjoeN]

Oeps, my bad, nevermind this!

 

[Overlord Nadrian]

sorry if i sound stupid but whats vip and platinum and stuff?? idk if we hav tht here?

It's what used to be the Nintendo Club. That was before the site got a major overhaul and before the forums were removed.

IIRC you were a Club member if you registered to the site but didn't register any games/consoles. Once you registered a game/console, you became a VIP member. Also, every day you paid a visit to the site, you got 5 stars extra. And the stars never expired. And things cost less. And you could buy a 'Nintendo VIP room' for free, to toy around with. Etc.

Too bad they changed everything, the Nintendo site used to look like GBAtemp v3, actually. And it was actually worthwile visiting it.