Topic: Enticing Pre-Order Bonuses for the Upcoming Pokémon Titles

[Penguin_Of_Thyme]

Pre-Order Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver and you shall receive a figurine of a legendary pocket monster.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20798

 Nintendo recently announced that they will be offering special pre-order bonuses for Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.      

   

Kaiyodo, a Japanese company well-known for making anime figurines, will be crafting the pre-order rewards. Those who pre-order Pokémon HeartGold will receive a figure of the Legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh. On the other hand, consumers who pre-order Pokémon SoulSilver will get a Lugia figurine.      

   

Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing, believes that Pokemon fans will greatly appreciate the pre-order bonuses. "These unique figures are our way of thanking Pokémon fans of all ages for the enthusiasm and support they have shown for the series," said Dunaway.      

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions will hit store shelves on March 14 for the suggested retail price of $39.99.    

  ?  NINTENDO OFFERS PRE-SALE REWARDS FOR NEW POKÉMON GAMES    

Pre-Order New Pokémon HeartGold Version or Pokémon SoulSilver Version Games Starting Feb. 1 to Receive Pokémon Figure ?    

?REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 19, 2010 - For Pokémon™ fans, good things come to those who don't wait. The new Pokémon™ HeartGold Version and Pokémon™ SoulSilver Version games for the portable Nintendo DS™ and Nintendo DSi™ systems will launch across North America on March 14, but consumers will have the chance to receive a reward for pre-ordering the games beginning Feb. 1. Those who take advantage of this pre-sale opportunity can receive a Legendary Pokémon figure crafted by Kaiyodo, an internationally renowned figure-making company, while supplies last at major retailers, giving fans of the blockbuster series yet another way to enjoy its vast and imaginative cast of Pokémon characters.    

Consumers who pre-order Pokémon HeartGold Version will receive a figure of Ho-Oh™, a Legendary Pokémon that circles the skies of the Johto region on rainbow-colored wings. Those who pre-order Pokémon SoulSilver Version will get a figure of Lugia™, a Legendary Pokémon that dwells deep in the seas and has the power to create massive storms. Ho-Oh and Lugia are featured on the packages of the Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Version games, and these premiums will be offered at participating retailers nationwide while supplies last.    

"These unique figures are our way of thanking Pokémon fans of all ages for the enthusiasm and support they have shown for the series," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions include new features and enhancements that players will instantly appreciate, and we think these terrific figures will help to get fans even more excited about what is in store for them on March 14."    

Created exclusively for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions return players to the scenic Johto region first introduced in the popular Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver Version games for the portable Game Boy™ system a decade ago. Both games have been fully updated with enhanced graphics and sound, plus new touch-screen features. The games are also bundled with the new Pokéwalker™ accessory, a portable device that players can use to take their favorite Pokémon from the Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Version games wherever they go, catch wild Pokémon and even find hidden items.    

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions each carry a suggested retail price of $39.99. For more information about Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version, visit www.pokemon.com. ?

[Stratos]

This makes it a bit easier to swallow the $40 cost but I still think it is ridiculous to charge Square Tax premium on decade old remakes.

[Halbred]

Dang, those are some nice figures. The Square tax is for the pedometer things that come with the game. I'm just gonna say it--I really hope the review copy comes with these bad boys.

[Stratos]

Oh yeah, I forgot about the pedometer. I may pre-order both and give one to my sister as we like to play through them together and trade.

You think Amazon will be supporting the pre-order bonus?

[Mop it up]

Is this why I've seen needlessly huge boxes for this game on display?

[Ian Sane]

"Pedometer" sounds like something child Pokemon fans would use to detect sexual predators when doing online trading.

I think charging extra for that is a kind of lame.  It seems more like a "gee, that's neato" novelty then something essential to the game.  You would expect such things to be freebies.  It isn't like you paid extra for Star Fox 64 because it came with the Rumble Pak.  That was just a neat freebie that added to the game but was unessential.  So they didn't make you pay for it.

[that Baby guy]

"Pedometer" sounds like something child Pokemon fans would use to detect sexual predators when doing online trading.

I think charging extra for that is a kind of lame.  It seems more like a "gee, that's neato" novelty then something essential to the game.  You would expect such things to be freebies.  It isn't like you paid extra for Star Fox 64 because it came with the Rumble Pak.  That was just a neat freebie that added to the game but was unessential.  So they didn't make you pay for it.

Didn't you have to pay $10 extra for the rumble pack gimmick, too?  I could have sworn they marked up the price of Star Fox for the rumble pack.

Regardless, I'd definitely say the pedometer is gimmicky for a few reasons, mostly that apparently, it's impossible to gain more than one level for whatever Pokemon you send to it.  They reach a new level, and stop gaining experience for your steps.  I think if they unlocked the experience matter, it really would be a great way for Nintendo to encourage healthy activities at the same time.  What do you think, Ian?

[vudu]

It isn't like you paid extra for Star Fox 64 because it came with the Rumble Pak.  That was just a neat freebie that added to the game but was unessential.  So they didn't make you pay for it.

Actually, if I remember correctly--and there's a good chance I don't--the game retailed for $59.99 when it came out.  Later, it was released for $39.99 w/o the Rumble Pak.

[NWR_insanolord]

It isn't like you paid extra for Star Fox 64 because it came with the Rumble Pak.  That was just a neat freebie that added to the game but was unessential.  So they didn't make you pay for it.

Actually, if I remember correctly--and there's a good chance I don't--the game retailed for $59.99 when it came out.  Later, it was released for $39.99 w/o the Rumble Pak.

This is correct; Star Fox 64 was one of the 2 games I bought when I first got my N64 and I got the one without the rumble pak because it was $20 cheaper.

[Stratos]

Weren't most N64 games at the time that price? I recall some being $70-80 before Nintendo did a revamp to lower cartridge costs.

The copy w/o the Rumble Pak was the Players Choice Million Seller version so it made sense the price was lower.

[vudu]

The copy w/o the Rumble Pak was the Players Choice Million Seller version so it made sense the price was lower.

The price wasn't lower!  They took out a $20 accessory and charged $20 less for the game!

[Ian Sane]

Didn't you have to pay $10 extra for the rumble pack gimmick, too?  I could have sworn they marked up the price of Star Fox for the rumble pack.

I tried to look that up but couldn't find any info about that.  Well then I'll just state that forcing people to pay extra for neato gadgets that do nothing is lame.
 
I know I didn't pay extra for the GBA link cable that come with Four Swords or the memory card that came with Animal Crossing and those were more-or-less REQUIRED for those games.
 

 Regardless, I'd definitely say the pedometer is gimmicky for a few reasons, mostly that apparently, it's impossible to gain more than one level for whatever Pokemon you send to it.  They reach a new level, and stop gaining experience for your steps.  I think if they unlocked the experience matter, it really would be a great way for Nintendo to encourage healthy activities at the same time.  What do you think, Ian?

So how do you get a Pokemon to go up more than one level?  Do you have to send it back to your DS and then back to the Pedometer again?  That's lame but then you could bring your DS with you on your walk and do whatever was needed to get the levels to increase.  I imagine Nintendo put it in for balance reasons.  Still, as you said, it would encourage healthy activities.
 
It just doesn't seem like something that one should be forced to pay extra for.
 
My brother is a Pokenut so he probably wants this.  I should inform him of the pre-order bonus.

[Halbred]

Actually, the game would be $35 without the pedometer, so $5 for it seems about right.