Spartacus3765

I'm gonna put it out there and assume the people in here mocking those who are upset are people who haven't had received platinum in the past. lol

List of platinum rewards:
2009 - Mario Hat
2010 - Super Mario Characters Figurine
2011 - Mario and Friends badge set
2012 - Platinum Mario Playing Cards OR Limited Edition Platinum Poster Set
2013 - Three-Poster Set OR The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Original Soundtrack
2014 - this

@Unca_Lz and @ACK
I think most people's complaints stems from what's been offered in the past compared to this year. At least that's my disappointment anyways. We usually have an expectation of something slightly cool, but these rewards are pretty lame in comparison. Not the end of the world by any means, but it's just surprising.

@Imagamerboi
Yeah, ok. Everybody has their price I guess. lol

@AVahne
At this rate, you may be right. Poor offerings (seemingly getting worse and worse) ---> negative response ---> pull the plug. And it's not to say that what Nintendo's plan from the beginning wasn't great with this program, but it's only obvious that it's slowing down. Just look at the offerings - they used to have upwards of 10 physical rewards, now there's only 5. Looks like I missed my opportunity to get the hanafuda cards...

Free things are great, but if we stack the elite rewards against each other over the years, this one is a huge failure in comparison. If they want people to have the incentive to register software (buy software) in order to get cool exclusive rewards for loyalty, then they seriously dropped the ball here.
I wasn't able to achieve platinum last year sadly - really wish it was this year that that had happened. Cuz my choices are Earthbound or NES Remix...DKCR would have been the obvious choice, if I didn't just get it a few months ago. >__>

@Dpishere
I think Target will, too.

"Hey, let's play catch in the living room with a bowling ball while I have a backpack glued to my forehead!"

Aunoma: "No!! My body's not ready!!"

@MAN1AC
Ok, so I guess what I'm remembering is that it was just more catering to the casual market or something along with getting moderate review ratings. Rock Band was the only music game that drove my interest of that genre in that era.

I dunno, I'm noticing that Nintendo seems to be spreading themselves too thin in these last few years - not giving focus to games where there's the higher demands/interests. I understand the need to evolve and adjust to what the market reacts to in terms of console/software sales, along with staying unpredictable, but my goodness. They seem to be moving more towards being gimmicky than innovative lately. And I'm not talking about the Gamepad in any regard - I think that thing is awesome. But the NFC/toys thing, the vitality sensor, and whatever the heck this is -I'm not sure these will hold my interest, or others IMO. It's like they keep tossing up peripheral ideas, and seeing if they stick, instead of working on the killer software to, oh I don't know, utilize the dying Wii U and it's Gamepad?

How successful was Wii Music? I thought it was a big flop? With that assumption in mind, why is Nintendo going in this direction again? Seems like a wasted allocation of their time.

But, it could be good, I guess. I'm not holding my breath, though.

@JaxonH
What he said. lol

I think a lot of people aren't understanding something here: the gamepad is tethered to Wii U. Nintendo would (and really should) update their interface so that you don't have to use the gamepad to sign in when you turn the system on. Until they do that, the gamepad HAS to come with the system.

@nesvc
Just get the pro controller. Problem solved.

This thing has amazing potential. It's unfortunately under utilized at the moment. It'd be nice if they gave the interface a bit of an update, though. Folders, for example I think would be a very welcome addition - like they did with the 3DS.

@Rafie
Yeah I dunno. Someone commented on here earlier saying the package is going for $80 at the store, which is a $20 mark-up for what seems to be for only 2 things: a special outer box, and a plastic trophy. Sure, it'll be "rare" but NOA has exhausted my patience with things like this.

I happen to know a couple of people in NY who in theory could buy it for me and ship it, but I'm starting to wonder if it's worth all the hassle, especially at that price. If I could get it around town or on Amazon, sure. It just baffles me, cuz Nintendo puts out extraordinary software, but they're marketing team/distributors give them a bad name when they do idiotic things like this. A good reason why a lot of my friends have moved on from this company to other ways of gaming - and sometimes, I don't blame them.

@LittleIrves
If they held the same "limited amount" by only selling it in one store in London, then yeah, I wouldn't be upset that they'd be legitimately holding to the limited edition part about it. Albeit, I think it would still be messed up to cater to a specific location. But this is simply a region being stubborn about something a lot of people want, when another region (EU) won't have any problem getting.

I may just try to import it - which I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO.

@LittleIrves
Then why are they allowing everyone in EU to order the limited edition on Amazon? Contradiction much.

I wonder how many angry phone calls their store is getting today. lol

@Fingledor
Same here. Unbelievable - If this truly will be the only way to get this, people are of course going to buy it in that area, and re-sell it for much more; something I won't be able to afford, among many others I'm sure.

@Psyclone
Cuz the limited edition is not available through those outlets. Only this...

Got excited...read "currently does not take online orders"....got mad.

Still holding out on my pre-order here in the US in hopes for something popping up cough limited edition with spike shell trophy cough. The Best Buy thing ($10 gas card) seems to be the best option so far...which is kinda lame IMO.

@SilentS
Oh, yeah I see it now. The shoulder buttons are a lil different, too.
Still, I wanna be able to play it on the gamepad! gosh darnit! lol

Very strange that you see them playing with Wii U pro controllers to play (making it a Wii U eshop game), yet no word of the game releasing in NA. Seriously don't fully understand this company sometimes.

EDIT: my mistake. It's not the Wii U pro controller.

@JasonH
Or unless you're in my case where I've got the other 3, so Wii Party U it is! lol

Yeah...far too many babies. Not sure what that's all about. The only baby Nintendo characters that should exist should be from Yoshi's Island. And @yorumi, you better not be right about that whole DLC for common characters thing. That is a very dark path if Nintendo is choosing to do so.

The only DLC characters I'll accept are ones that are truly new to the scene. And like you just said - should probably come with tracks or something.

For the time being, though, I'm going to give Nintendo the benefit of the doubt and throw it out there that there's still unlockable characters in this game they're not going to tell us about. I mean, really, to me that was a good amount of the fun with these games - i.e. beat Star Cup on 150cc and unlock a new racer.

@Dizzard
I reeeeeally hope this is just the starting available racers. I personally think there's a good chance they're leaving 8-10 more racers unlockable. Think about it, the Mario Kart series has had unlockable characters dating back to Double Dash. I do have to agree, of all the characters, Pink Gold Peach is like the weirdest direction of a new racer I've ever seen.

This is cool, if you don't have a Wii U yet - if you don't have one yet, other than the slightly high price point (but you do get 2 games in the deal - don't forget that), this is the way to go. Really, really want the limited edition, Europe is getting which includes the Spike Shell trophy thing.

@Chauntelle
Only playable on Wii U

I'd be completely shocked if this was the final roster, guys. They've had unlockable characters in every past iteration dating back to Double Dash!! I'm predicting another 8-10 still somewhere in the game.
Although he wasn't in the past portable games, Diddy Kong seems to be the one glaring and obvious missing character from this one...

Well that direct was cool to wake up to. Still a little bummed to not see anything new on the gamepad/split-screen possibility. I'm guessing, if it's in the game, I'm pretty sure they would have talked about it here.

Does anybody know if they confirmed the special edition of MK8 for North America yet? I've yet to preorder.

Well darn, if I didn't have work...

@Morph
My thoughts exactly. I swear, if they "focused" on this title and ended up pulling the plug on the Yarn Yoshi, someone needs to be fired. Nintendo clearly needed to step in on this one in a big way.

@bouncer0304
Have you played a demo of this somewhere? I'm jealous. lol

@man1ac
I've heard that the multiplayer can be played non-simultaneous, which I think means you take a shot, wait for the other player to take their shot after they've seen that it's their turn. That's my take on it anyways.

Wow, people are being a little harsh I think. If you ask me, this box art beats the hell out of a bunch of other titles out there. It's clear that NIntendo pours a lot of charm into things like these - in other words, no, I don't find this to be generic whatsoever. It's stylish, clean, and doesn't go overboard with putting every character in the game on the box.

Although I might be a little bias towards this title as it does sort of excite me. Toadstool Tour was the last golf title featuring Nintendo characters and I thought it was awesome, and cuz I've done a fair amount of golfing in my lifetime.

@Melkac
Mario's front foot is holding the golfer stance. The back foot always pivots while the front should stay planted even after the swing.

That was fantastic. It also bums me out that I had missed the opportunity way back when when Nintendo had released the DKC titles on VC only later on to pull them off. Now I can only try and find their physical carts and find an SNES (or I guess emulate them - meh).

I just ordered DKC Returns yesterday, though, so hopefully I'll have that same youthful feeling when I boot it up as well.

I have to say, Dave, your life sounds very familiar to my own. And I recently embraced the same values after "settling down" with my wife. I think there's a big difference between people thinking you have to "grow up" some day vs. keeping something close to your heart that doesn't just mean childhood, but as you had said, is something you are passionate about.

@unrandomsam & @LichiRichi
I was just about to say, I can't tell any notable difference between the 2. lol
I'll have to check that out later. But didn't the 3DS version have extra content of sorts?

On a sort of separate note, I'm wanting to check out Retro's Donkey Kong Country Returns on either Wii or 3DS. Anyone have a preference as to which version they liked more? I'm sorta leaning towards the 3DS version and wanted to play it before eventually jumping into Tropical Freeze.

@vamkar
lol now if only 5+7 actually equaled 13...
Aside from that, your logic is totally sound (and also made me laugh)!

The most plausible title will probably be another fantastic Metroid installment. But the dreamer in me wants it so badly to be Star Fox.

@Melkac
What's a good controller for Project 64? I got one way back when the program first came out and it totally sucked. The controller - not the program.

@JaredJ
You know, for the silence revolving around the actual N64 Wii U VC, maybe that's what's going on behind scenes and Nintendo is wanting to surprise us later? That's the optimist in me thinking that, anyways.

@Stardust4ever
Safe to say, I would hope everybody knows that the Wii eshop offerings are available which includes N64 titles. However, I'm sure what his gripe is (mine included) is the lack of Wii U VC N64 titles - meaning playable on the gamepad and have the functionality of other Wii U VC.

@hypersonicexe
I'm for the most part with you on all that. I want to also add that to me, it's a frustrating lack of communication between the consumers/fans and this company. And I'm talking marketing, advertising, announcements, anything to do with their products - what they are, why we don't hear about this or that, everything.

I know they like to unveil things dramatically to keep the shock & awe, but sometimes we're kept so much in the dark, it's hard to even care. For example, it was I think about a year ago when they announced the Wii U's virtual console capabilities coming to the eshop stating that GBA and N64 will be available platforms. My excitement has turned to a disbelief that we'll actually receive said platforms. And why? We haven't heard a darn thing about it! Same goes for the reasoning behind the NA not getting Super Mario Bros. 3 and A Link to the Past. What's the reason behind this? If it's not good, then still tell us. Instead, we're left with no reason and how I've taken it is that they aren't willing to care to support the service. Maybe it's a wrong view, but since we don't have any COMMUNICATION on it, no one can tell me otherwise.

It's very admirable to see Iwata and Miyamoto do this for this company, but I still think we're missing a huge piece of what's happening. Based on the recent financial backlash and fan outcries, if tomorrow's releases don't include something of substance for NA (Super Mario Bros. 3, A Link to the Past, etc.) virtual console wise or anything for that matter - I won't be pleased at all. And here's the thing, I'm not a huge fan of either of those games in particular (ok maybe A Link to the Past a little) but we'll actually finally see something that resembles "listening" to their fans.

Yeah, I'm a bit curious of the multiplayer aspect of the game myself, aside from the lack of online of course. Seems silly to not have any multiplayer for a game like this...

This upset me back in October 2012 or whenever it was when they first announced their "reasoning" for local only and now for it to come up again with this lame excuse just re-lit the fire in me again. Ok, like @Bass_X0 said, it's completely hypocritical to offer online for those games and sit back and say "we wanted to offer the NES experience for 3D World". And yes, I get it, it's a different class in it's own as a Mario platforming title. But if the times aren't an indicator to push the envelope a bit, I don't know what the hell is.

You're a struggling developer, Nintendo - there's certainly no hiding it now. Take a risk, try new things, see what happens. What do they do? Nintendo just goes by the book of what they know. And when I constantly see things pointing in the direction of the company of not listening to their fans, more and more I'm seeing it as a big middle finger to us all as to say "no, you'll enjoy what we put out, and be happy about it." I love Nintendo, but the messages they send out sometimes really makes me wonder where their priorities are.

As to agree with others here, just be honest with us, if it took too much resource or money, or simply wasn't working, I'd be fine with hearing that. Not this crap of "you'll play it this way, so deal with it".

To end the rant, I've been thinking lately, I sorta feel bad for the game developers themselves, because they're doing a phenomenal job. It's the PR, advertising and heads of the company saying, "don't include online there, don't allow for voice chat, only advertise this much", etc. and they seem to be the ones pissing us all off, and thus dragging the developers down with them. Anybody else kinda have that sense?

This is...odd...but as a player in North America, and all my friends who I'd play this with live here, this isn't that big a deal to me. However, I can see how this can frustrate you all over there in EU.

@jpfan1989
It's just too bad things like this have to be petitioned for. What is going on at Nintendo? No marketing for their newest home console, severe lack of online infrastructure for their own games (always use the "local multiplayer is superior" copout), and a virtual console service that is, quite frankly, an embarrassment to this poor machine. It's like they don't seem to care anymore - aside from the brilliant software they tend to pop out every once in a while anyways.

@Radbot42

I could not agree with you more. @0:41 - "Move to the side....forward...and all around in a three dimensional world." Is that supposed excite people? This isn't 1997.

This is a HUGE problem I think more than the games themselves as far as I'm concerned with Nintendo. Their advertising is atrocious. How in the world are they shocked with low sales when they have things like this? Honestly, it's embarrassing seeing how incapable they are at promoting their own product! This game looks SPECTACULAR. Why in the world is it only known to the public if you look on online gaming publications? This should be put on commercials right now to get people thinking about the Wii U and the games it has for the holidays. I just don't get it.