You can take Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes off that list.. Nintendo Australia removed it from the deal. And yeah, having to cut up our game boxes is ridiculous, but yeah, at least we actually get the disc now, im happy.

I remember once (way back in the SNES days) there was this thing (in America/Canada) where if you bought Super Metroid, you could cut up the box and send in the UPC code to get a $10 rebate (I think you also had to subscribe to Nintendo Power, and got a free Super Metroid Players guide, but that's normal Nintendo Power stuff).

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...

Umm... yeah, is NAL simply incapable of employing the same PIN number system the US has or what? Doesn't make sense to me.

Hi guys.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

I stole pin numbers from rental stores to get my bonus disc. I think I gave a couple to someone (That I got from games I legally owned)

I see the point, but I'd rather keep my boxes in tact...

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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.

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pro tip wicked, i actually want to buy those games regardless of this promotion, not everyone is out to screw Nintendo, NAL is just pathetic at... well everything really, ohwell :\

The sad thing is reviewgamer, is that I don't even live in NAL territory. I live in the US. But through my sometimes daily convos with other Aussies on this site, I have learned all this info. If someone from around the world can see these problems as large as they are, they are bigger then NAL may dream. 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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

The last game review they're written for the site is Resident Evil Zero, which was released over a year ago, and according to their games database there were no N64 games ever released.

NAL are good at changing history!

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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.

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Give me one, I'm too stingy to tear up my boxart

Give me the bonus disc, since I live right near you, and I can make the journey to your place myself!

For the longest time, NOA's website was dull, boring, and unupdated. Then they relaunched with what they have now. Maybe, just hopefully NAL is doing the same thing: redoing the entire website and coming back with a bang!

I really, really highly doubt it
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.

NAL did actually do some good promotions back in the N64 days when it had been released. They had this trailer with 8 tvs and 8 n64s. my dad used to drive it to the places they asked him to and it was actually extremely popular. my dad stopped taking it places round the time my auntie left nintendo, i dont know what happened to the trailer in the end, whether they kept it going with the gamecube or what. since i havent heard about it, they probably removed it.

p.s. we used to keep it overnight at our place with the keys to unlock it.... ^_^

Aaah, yes, NAL did awesome stuff to promote the N64 back in its day. The Tim Ferguson launch ads, the huge Mario Kart 64 billboards, the well advertised price cuts ($299? NOW this is the best thing I've ever seen - God). I want those days back. ;__;

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.

Yeah, a couple of good events over seven or eight years is not good enough. We should all protest outside NAL to bring back Tim Ferguson from his gutter to advertise games again AND host Don't Forget Your Toothbrush!

"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