Post by: Aussie Ben PGC on March 20, 2004, 12:19:14 PM
Nintendo Australia has announced that existing GameCube owners will be able to get their own free copy of the Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition bonus disc. The offer closes on the 31st of May, 2004, and is as follows:
Current and New Members of the Nintendo website will be eligible to receive The Legend of Zelda Collector’s Edition disc as a gift. They must complete the following: Purchase two of the games listed below before Monday 31st May, 2004 and visit www.nintendo.com.au for instructions on how to redeem the offer.
Mario Golf™: Toadstool Tour
Kirby™ Air Ride
Pokémon® Channel
1080°® Avalanche
Final Fantasy® Crystal Chronicles™
Metal Gear Solid®: The Twin Snakes
Tak & The Power of JuJu™
I've taken a look at the order form, and here's what NAL want you to do:
1) Buy two games from the above list. Okay, fair enough.
2) Cut out the original barcode from the games (photocopies not accepted). ..Pardon?
3) Attatch the barcodes and your receipt/s to the form.
4) Fill in the form and mail it to Nintendo.
Now, I don't know about everyone else, but this sounds terrible to me. I like to keep the boxes (I even take off the price labels because I'm picky) and chopping your game boxes to bits doesn't sound right to me. I understand that Nintendo needs proof of the purchase, but surely the receipt would be enough proof of that? Why do we need to hack the box to bits as well?
Ah well. At least it's possible for us to get the disc now without having to resort to importing or ludicrously inflated Ebay prices.
Post by: Mario on March 20, 2004, 12:55:24 PM
Post by: ruby_onix on March 20, 2004, 01:01:57 PM
I couldn't do it. So I didn't.
A while later, I eventually saw stacks of sealed copies of Super Metroid in a bargain bin for $10.
I didn't regret not chopping up my box. But I did think to myself that the $10 rebate could've given me a chopped-up version, plus one sealed-copy, complete with the barcode and everything. (I guess my only real regret is that I didn't pick up one of those sealed copies for $10, but I was younger, and didn't see the point in buying a game I already had.)
But yeah, it's something to think about. Do you think that any of the games on the list will eventually be found in a bargain bin, so you can replace your chopped up copy? I still wouldn't want to take scissors to my box, even if I knew it could be replaced, but to get a Zelda game...
Post by: Bloodworth on March 20, 2004, 01:55:41 PM
Post by: wicked on March 20, 2004, 02:30:15 PM
I'm surprised nobody has picked up on this yet. The reason for the receipt AND the game barcode is simple.
Firstly, Nintendo is obliged to send back our receipts. They're effectively our property and serve as the only proof of ownership of that game, or any product. If we need support with that item at a later date, we may need and will then have recognition that the game was purchased at a certain price, new and from a particular retailer. That's standard store principles.
Secondly, the reason Nintendo is doing this is obviously to try and improve software sales (and hardware sales with the disc bundle). However, because it is their responsibility to send back our receipt, it is then very easy for us to take back a game using any store’s return policy. Let’s say we only needed the receipt; we might be able to take the game back and exchange it for cash or for store credit, in which case we might effectively end up swapping it for a Playstation 2 or Xbox game. So while the sales tracking for that game might initially be increased by one, at the end of the day, the sales data for the game will be decreased by one, due to a return. So they are back where they started, with 0 sales for your game. On top of that, the store and possibly Nintendo themselves now have a ‘return’ figure next to that game you returned, which is a negative impact on their market penetration. Now, if everyone that is buying that game only for the disc does that, it could mean many thousand returns for these games. It’s not going to look good for Nintendo when, some hypothetical Electronics Boutique does a financial review at the end of the month, saying that of the 40 copies of Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour we sold, 32 of those were returned. And let’s face it – doing that for two games, sending in receipts, collecting your game and taking the games back to the store means you get the disc for free. And everybody wants that. Nintendo can’t let that happen. Not only is it costing them to produce the disc, you would also be hurting them with game return data.
The PIN system Nintendo of America used was, granted, much more acceptable, as it didn’t require us to cut into our game boxes. But it was the same deal as far as sales tracking goes. Many stores that sold those games with PIN codes refused to return opened games for fear of a ‘used’ code. And who is going to buy a used game that says on the front cover “PIN code inactive”, even if you don’t know what it means.
My feeling is that a PIN system in Australia would require a lot of time and effort for Nintendo Australia, and that’s something they probably couldn’t be bothered with, especially since some of it would have to take place online – something they seem largely to be scared of.
So before you start complaining that Nintendo made an incredibly dumb decision, it’s in fact quite smart. Nintendo would plain be the laughing stock of the industry if 80% of these selected games were returned, and they ended up dishing out 300,000 of these Zelda bonus discs, of which only 2,000 were legitimately earned.
Post by: Berto2K on March 20, 2004, 03:58:21 PM
Quote
Firstly, Nintendo is obliged to send back our receipts. They're effectively our property and serve as the only proof of ownership of that game, or any product. If we need support with that item at a later date, we may need and will then have recognition that the game was purchased at a certain price, new and from a particular retailer. That's standard store principles.
I would like to ask you wicked if you have ever worked retail? If you have you would know that no company is obligated to send your reciepts or barcodes back to you for any reason. That is why you always make photocopies of paperwork you send off for rebates or promotions so that you have record of them. I have been working 4 years in retail dealing with rebates everyday.
Quote
Secondly, the reason Nintendo is doing this is obviously to try and improve software sales (and hardware sales with the disc bundle). However, because it is their responsibility to send back our receipt, it is then very easy for us to take back a game using any store’s return policy. Let’s say we only needed the receipt; we might be able to take the game back and exchange it for cash or for store credit, in which case we might effectively end up swapping it for a Playstation 2 or Xbox game.
Well duh its because they are trying to increase hardware and software sales, why else run promotions?
I answered the next part already, they have no reason to send your barcode or receipt back. It is supposed to be common practice that stores do not return an item without a barcode still intact with the product. This is exactly why businesses don't take back products without a barcode, because they know from the promotion you are getting something for free or cheaper in the case of rebates. This would be loss revenue for them, and for the company providing the rebate. So if the gamestore was smart, they would not accept any games without the barcode still intact on the gamebox.Quote
So while the sales tracking for that game might initially be increased by one, at the end of the day, the sales data for the game will be decreased by one, due to a return. So they are back where they started, with 0 sales for your game. On top of that, the store and possibly Nintendo themselves now have a ‘return’ figure next to that game you returned, which is a negative impact on their market penetration. Now, if everyone that is buying that game only for the disc does that, it could mean many thousand returns for these games. It’s not going to look good for Nintendo when, some hypothetical Electronics Boutique does a financial review at the end of the month, saying that of the 40 copies of Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour we sold, 32 of those were returned. And let’s face it – doing that for two games, sending in receipts, collecting your game and taking the games back to the store means you get the disc for free. And everybody wants that. Nintendo can’t let that happen. Not only is it costing them to produce the disc, you would also be hurting them with game return data.
This whole paragraph has been negated as well.
Quote
The PIN system Nintendo of America used was, granted, much more acceptable, as it didn’t require us to cut into our game boxes. But it was the same deal as far as sales tracking goes. Many stores that sold those games with PIN codes refused to return opened games for fear of a ‘used’ code. And who is going to buy a used game that says on the front cover “PIN code inactive”, even if you don’t know what it means.
There is an easy way to solve that. If a person wanted to sell back or return a game. the store employee would simply remove the paper with the pin number on it before putting it on the shelf or behind the counter so that the next buyer wouldn't have to worry about it.
Quote
My feeling is that a PIN system in Australia would require a lot of time and effort for Nintendo Australia, and that’s something they probably couldn’t be bothered with, especially since some of it would have to take place online – something they seem largely to be scared of.
That is exactly what Nintendo Australia needs to do, receive a swift kick to the bum. They have been lazy with everything this generation. They have been lackluster on promotions, advertising, and release dates. Its time they caught up to the rest of the global Nintendo corporate and showed that little island of Australia and its neighbors that Nintendo still exists there and has great product. They need to get their act together and start showing that they might care for what they are doing and the company they work for.
Quote
So before you start complaining that Nintendo made an incredibly dumb decision, it’s in fact quite smart. Nintendo would plain be the laughing stock of the industry if 80% of these selected games were returned, and they ended up dishing out 300,000 of these Zelda bonus discs, of which only 2,000 were legitimately earned.
Doesn't that sound too familiar to what happened of the Wind Waker bonus disc in the states? People would pay the $5-$15 downpayment reserve for WW, get the free bonus disc, then never return to pay for the rest of WW and pick it up when it came. Except that it didn't happen very much I can tell you that. Besides, we know the games are good and people will like them. The problem is that NAL hasn't let the regular public know they exist!
Post by: Bartman3010 on March 20, 2004, 04:15:12 PM
I see the point, but I'd rather keep my boxes in tact...
Post by: reviewgamer on March 20, 2004, 05:52:50 PM
Quote
That is exactly what Nintendo Australia needs to do, receive a swift kick to the bum. They have been lazy with everything this generation. They have been lackluster on promotions, advertising, and release dates. Its time they caught up to the rest of the global Nintendo corporate and showed that little island of Australia and its neighbors that Nintendo still exists there and has great product. They need to get their act together and start showing that they might care for what they are doing and the company they work for.
Berto2k, you have hit the nail right on the head. I have been saying that FOR AGES. I've been writing mainly Nintendo reviews for reviewgamer and we have been trying to get Nintendo support for over a year. We finally made it onto their media list through lots bothering and i've been trying to get in contact with them with regards to recieving some kind of support. They just don't seem to care. You can't really get in contact with them through e-mail because their email does not exist or does not work, so the only way is through the phone. You can barely get in touch with PR down there as it's not existant. I've been an avid Nintendo fan ever since my Auntie used to work for them, but my patience and confidence with them is running extremely thin. Microsoft and Sony are very kind to us as are many other publishers we have on board are, but Nintendo....
Post by: DrZoidberg on March 20, 2004, 05:56:22 PM
Post by: Berto2K on March 20, 2004, 07:14:51 PM
Supposedly there was a $10 million AUD advertising budget for last holiday season...where did it go? They had the perfect chance to cash in and gain a namesake for themselves but they failed miserably. Hopefully this can "keep them above water" for the rest of the Cube's life till RE4 comes out. But then they won't be advertising that either....most likely.
Post by: Kabigon on March 20, 2004, 07:20:30 PM
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Originally posted by: Mario
You can take Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes off that list.. Nintendo Australia removed it from the deal.
Luckily I printed an order form when Mgs was still on there. I wonder if they legally have to accept a Mgs barcode and receipt if I decided to use an old order form? It is very dodgy of Nintendo Australia to tamper with the terms and conditions and pretend nothing had changed.
Post by: Aussie Ben PGC on March 20, 2004, 07:54:03 PM
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Originally posted by: Berto2K
They have updated their website what ONE TIME since the cube launched and that was for the price drop down to $199 AUD. Other than that, the release charts are rarely ever updated, games are released as long as a year after anyother region, or even not released at all.
My friend pointed something funny on their release lists: both Beyond Good & Evil and Project BG&E are scheduled for release soon. I know I can't wait!
Post by: reviewgamer on March 20, 2004, 08:02:46 PM
Now with Metal Gear Solid removed for the list, i have no way of getting the collector's edition CD. Unless someone can convince me that Kirby Air Ride is worth buying??
P.S. if you look on their coming soon release list, you will see a game called Evolution Worlds which has been out for over a year, but says TBA.
Post by: Mario on March 20, 2004, 08:18:34 PM
Post by: Uncle Rich AiAi on March 20, 2004, 08:44:03 PM
Post by: DrZoidberg on March 20, 2004, 09:29:07 PM
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Originally posted by: reviewgamer
The only adverts i have ever seen for the gamecube were a small one on Wind Waker and one large billboard on hoddle st. The main problem is, i feel, is that they need a gamer or two working in promotions. Some of the people down there sound like they haven't played a video game in their life!!!
Now with Metal Gear Solid removed for the list, i have no way of getting the collector's edition CD. Unless someone can convince me that Kirby Air Ride is worth buying??
P.S. if you look on their coming soon release list, you will see a game called Evolution Worlds which has been out for over a year, but says TBA.
1080, Mario Golf, Final Fantasy are probably the most own worthy on that list now TTS has been removed, i'll be grabbing Mario Golf, 1080, Pokemon Channel and maybe FF, so i may have two discs
Post by: Shift Key on March 20, 2004, 10:08:53 PM
Post by: Termin8Anakin on March 21, 2004, 01:03:06 AM
Post by: Berto2K on March 21, 2004, 11:38:41 AM
[/wishfull thinking]
Post by: Termin8Anakin on March 21, 2004, 01:04:58 PM
But then I was really surprised and totallu excited when they held the Pokemon Day - which was over a year ago now and they haven't exactly done anything of note since then.
They should stop doing all these big events every fwe years and start doing more little things (like advertising, updating the freakin website and actually giving a damn when a publisher decides to screw us Aussie Nintendo-ers AGAIN) every couple of months at least.
Post by: reviewgamer on March 21, 2004, 01:16:46 PM
p.s. we used to keep it overnight at our place with the keys to unlock it.... ^_^
Post by: Infernal Monkey on March 21, 2004, 01:48:50 PM
Anyway, now that Metal Gear is off the list, I'm not really that worried about chopping out the barcodes. Metal Gear is distributed by Atari, which means there'll be like three and half copies released here. It'll be a rare game soon enough, much like Skies and PSO, and I don't like the hard to come by games in my collection partly destroyed.
Post by: Shift Key on March 21, 2004, 03:41:47 PM
"LET'S SEE THAT AGAIN!" Most annoyingly catchy phrase of the N64 days!
reviewgamer: I remember those Nintendo trucks. One came to this carnival years ago, and i can remember constantly lining up to play Mario 64. Good times.
I'll be getting FF:CC at some point, but the other game? I can't really be bothered to get any of the other games on that list, but I REALLY want Majora's Mask again
