Mario3 D

Nintendo of Europe has today announced a promotion to encourage new 3DS owners to register their systems, buy a game and — by extension — perhaps get a taste for Wii U-exclusive Super Mario 3D World. It's been announced that those that register a new 3DS or 3DS XL — and one of 15 games — on Club Nintendo between 27th November and 13th January 2014 will be eligible for a free download copy of 2011's Super Mario 3D Land.

Naturally there are various terms and conditions, reproduced below.

To participate in the promotion, you have to be a resident of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, South Africa, Australia, or Russia.

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You must have registered two products: (i) a Nintendo 3DS or Nintendo 3DS XL system (European version; Nintendo 2DS excluded) and (ii) one out of fifteen eligible games in Club Nintendo at www.club-nintendo.com between 27th November 2013, 15:01 (UK time) and 13th January 2014, 22:59 (UK time). The eligible games are:

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Bros.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (launching November 22nd)
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
Fire Emblem: Awakening
Luigi’s Mansion 2
LEGO CITY® Undercover: The Chase Begins
Sonic Lost World (Nintendo 3DS version)
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Nintendo 3DS version)
Pokémon X
Pokémon Y
Bravely Default (launching December 6th)
New Super Mario Bros. 2
Mario Kart 7
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy

For the registration of a downloadable version of an eligible game, the respective Nintendo eShop account of the Nintendo 3DS system must have been linked with a Club Nintendo account prior to the download of the game from Nintendo eShop. Please allow 24 hours between linking your Club Nintendo account and downloading games via Nintendo eShop. The registration survey must be completed before 13th January 2014, 22:59 (UK time) to complete the registration process of an eligible game downloaded from Nintendo eShop.

After you have registered both products, you will be given an opportunity to request a free download code for the game SUPER MARIO 3D LAND. The request of a download code must be completed by 13th February 2014, 22:59 (UK time). The download code will be sent to you per email to the email address registered in your Club Nintendo account.

The download code can be used to download the game SUPER MARIO 3D LAND from Nintendo eShop to any Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL or Nintendo 2DS system. The download code expires on 13th March 2014, 22:59 (UK time).

This is undoubtedly an excellent promotion for those that pick up a system from 27th November for the Holiday season, though the fact this is for new registrations only is a blow to existing 3DS gamers, especially as previous promotions had included earlier adopters. There's also the fact that 2DS hardware is excluded, catering this offer to pricier models and perhaps reflecting the role of stereoscopic 3D in Super Mario 3D Land.

Caveats aside, this could be a tempting extra for those ready to take the plunge with a 3DS this Holiday season, especially with various good value bundles available. There's no equivalent offer announced for North America at the time of writing.

Are any of you planning to take up this offer?