Wii Points
Encyclopedia
Nintendo Points are a currency that Nintendo
uses for its Wii
and Nintendo DSi
systems through the Wii Shop Channel
and Nintendo DSi Shop respectively. Consumers can purchase points by an online credit card
transaction or by purchasing a Nintendo Points Card at retail stores.
Nintendo Points were originally named Wii Points, though with the introduction of the Nintendo DSi and its own download service, they were renamed and new Nintendo Points Cards with new values distributed. Once purchased, Nintendo Points must be converted into either Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points before they can be used, locking the points for use on one platform only. However, some countries still have Wii Points Cards that can also be used as Nintendo Points cards.
The Nintendo Points currency system is not supported on the Nintendo 3DS
, and will eventually become fully obsolete on the Wii and Nintendo DSi as well when Nintendo's real currency-based system becomes standard. In Japan, the Wii and Nintendo DSi shops already converted to the new currency system that is used by the Nintendo 3DS.
-only games that have add-on content that the player can buy with their Wii
Points (for example, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King
).
On December 8, 2006, Nintendo Europe announced that Star Points, which people collect when they buy first-party Nintendo DS and Wii games in Europe, would be able to be used to buy Nintendo Points. On December 7, 2007, the Nintendo Points Card Shop was launched which allows users to purchase virtual Nintendo Points cards with values of 100, 300, 500, 1000, or 2000 Nintendo Points; the shop has faced criticism for going "out of stock" of the virtual product.
When bought via either the Wii Shop Channel or the Nintendo DSi Shop, 1000 Nintendo Points cost US$
10 in the United States
, €
10 in Europe
, £
7 for Wii points (£9 for DSi points) in the United Kingdom
, and ¥
1000 in Japan
. When bought retail, the original Nintendo Points Cards, which had values of 2000 Nintendo Points, cost US$19.99 in the United States, €24.99 in Europe, £19.99 in the United Kingdom and A$
34.99 in Australia
.
for older games, and WiiWare
for new games designed specifically for Wii. They can also be used to purchase games and applications from the Nintendo DSiWare section of the Nintendo DSi Shop.
games depend on the system for which the game was originally developed. Some titles, usually import titles, cost slightly more than these base prices. All prices below are in Wii Points (100 Points = $1). Wiiware
games vary from 500 (Family Ping Pong) to 1000 (Dr. Mario Online RX
) to 1500 (Pokemon Rumble
).
web browser, became available on April 11, 2007 and was free until June 30, 2007. After that period, the browser had a price of 500 Wii Points. On September 1, 2009, the Internet Channel was updated to include improved Adobe Flash support and was once again made free. Those who had purchased the Internet Channel for 500 Wii Points would be given a free NES Virtual Console purchase (not a refund) between October 1 and December 31, 2009.
which are purchased using Wii Points. Some of these games include Mega Man 9
and LONPOS
on WiiWare, as well as Rock Band 2
and Guitar Hero 5
on Wii. Though these games use an in-game interface to purchase content, the user must have previously bought the necessary Nintendo Points through the Wii Shop Channel.
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
uses for its Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
and Nintendo DSi
Nintendo DSi
The is a handheld game system created by Nintendo and launched in 2008 and 2009 in Japan, North America, PAL territories, and other regions. It is the third iteration of the Nintendo DS, and its primary market rival is Sony's PlayStation Portable...
systems through the Wii Shop Channel
Wii Shop Channel
The Wii Shop Channel is an online shop for the Wii video game console that allows users to download Virtual Console and WiiWare games, and new channels. Downloading may require redeeming Wii Points. The channel launched with Wii on November 19, 2006...
and Nintendo DSi Shop respectively. Consumers can purchase points by an online credit card
Credit card
A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...
transaction or by purchasing a Nintendo Points Card at retail stores.
Nintendo Points were originally named Wii Points, though with the introduction of the Nintendo DSi and its own download service, they were renamed and new Nintendo Points Cards with new values distributed. Once purchased, Nintendo Points must be converted into either Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points before they can be used, locking the points for use on one platform only. However, some countries still have Wii Points Cards that can also be used as Nintendo Points cards.
The Nintendo Points currency system is not supported on the Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. The autostereoscopic device is able to project stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or any additional accessories. The Nintendo 3DS features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS series software, including Nintendo DSi software...
, and will eventually become fully obsolete on the Wii and Nintendo DSi as well when Nintendo's real currency-based system becomes standard. In Japan, the Wii and Nintendo DSi shops already converted to the new currency system that is used by the Nintendo 3DS.
Redeeming points
Nintendo Points are redeemed through the Wii Shop Channel or Nintendo DSi Shop. With Nintendo Points Cards, there is a concealed panel on the back of the card which, when scratched, reveals a code. The code is then entered on to the Wii Shop Channel or Nintendo DSi Shop and the requisite number of Nintendo Points are added to the user's account. Points can also be purchased directly through the Wii Shop Channel or Nintendo DSi Shop using a credit card. These points may then be redeemed on downloadable games and other content in the Wii Shop Channel or the Nintendo DSi Shop, but are not interchangeable between the two systems. In other words, when one redeems their points on one of the two consoles, they are locked to that same console and cannot be transferred to or used on the other. Also, there are some WiiwareWiiWare
WiiWare is a service that allows Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications can only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel under the WiiWare section...
-only games that have add-on content that the player can buy with their Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
Points (for example, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King is a video game developed for the WiiWare service of the Nintendo Wii console by Square Enix...
).
On December 8, 2006, Nintendo Europe announced that Star Points, which people collect when they buy first-party Nintendo DS and Wii games in Europe, would be able to be used to buy Nintendo Points. On December 7, 2007, the Nintendo Points Card Shop was launched which allows users to purchase virtual Nintendo Points cards with values of 100, 300, 500, 1000, or 2000 Nintendo Points; the shop has faced criticism for going "out of stock" of the virtual product.
Pricing and conditions
At retail, Nintendo Points Cards are generally sold in the form of codes on scratch-cards providing 1000, 2000, or 3000 Nintendo Points (in Japan, there is no card which provides 2000 Nintendo Points, though there is one which provides 5000 Nintendo Points). These codes are specific to systems in that region and may not be used elsewhere. Pricing for the points varies by retailer: they may charge a premium above the normal pricing (below) or may clear old stock at a discount. When purchased in either the Wii Shop Channel or Nintendo DSi Shop, Nintendo Points have fixed prices that will not vary except by region.When bought via either the Wii Shop Channel or the Nintendo DSi Shop, 1000 Nintendo Points cost US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
10 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
10 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
7 for Wii points (£9 for DSi points) in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and ¥
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
1000 in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. When bought retail, the original Nintendo Points Cards, which had values of 2000 Nintendo Points, cost US$19.99 in the United States, €24.99 in Europe, £19.99 in the United Kingdom and A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
34.99 in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Purchasable content
Nintendo Points are used to purchase a variety of software on the Wii Shop Channel which is divided into two sections: Virtual ConsoleVirtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
for older games, and WiiWare
WiiWare
WiiWare is a service that allows Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications can only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel under the WiiWare section...
for new games designed specifically for Wii. They can also be used to purchase games and applications from the Nintendo DSiWare section of the Nintendo DSi Shop.
Virtual Console
The Virtual Console lineup consists of titles originally released on past consoles. These titles are run in their original forms through software emulation.Prices
The starting prices of the Virtual ConsoleVirtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
games depend on the system for which the game was originally developed. Some titles, usually import titles, cost slightly more than these base prices. All prices below are in Wii Points (100 Points = $1). Wiiware
WiiWare
WiiWare is a service that allows Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications can only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel under the WiiWare section...
games vary from 500 (Family Ping Pong) to 1000 (Dr. Mario Online RX
Dr. Mario Online Rx
Dr. Mario Online Rx, released as in Japan and as Dr. Mario & Germ Buster in Europe and Australia, is a puzzle video game starring Dr. Mario. It was one of the WiiWare launch games in Japan, Europe, and Australia, and was released on March 25, 2008 and May 20, 2008 . It was released in North...
) to 1500 (Pokemon Rumble
Pokémon Rumble
Pokémon Rumble is a Pokémon video game for WiiWare. It was developed by Ambrella. Pokémon Rumble was rated "E10+" by the ESRB, making it the first Pokémon video game to be given an ESRB rating higher than "E" for Everyone...
).
| Original Format | Default Price | Premium Price | Other Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| NES/Famicom Nintendo Entertainment System The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987... |
500 | 600 | 400 (South Korea) |
| SNES/Super Famicom Super Nintendo Entertainment System The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short... |
800 | 900 | 600 (South Korea) |
| Nintendo 64 Nintendo 64 The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil... |
1000 | 1200 | 800 (South Korea) |
| Sega Genesis/Mega Drive | 800 | 900 | 600 (Japan) |
| TurboGrafx-16/PC-Engine TurboGrafx-16 TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989.... |
600 | 700 | 800 (Europe/North America) |
| TurboGrafx-CD/Super CD-ROM² System | 800 | 900 | |
| Neo-Geo Neo Geo (console) The is a cartridge-based arcade and home video game system released on July 1, 1991 by Japanese game company SNK. Being in the Fourth generation of Gaming, it was the first console in the former Neo Geo family, which only lived through the 1990s... |
900 | ||
| Sega Master System Sega Master System The is a third-generation video game console that was manufactured and released by Sega in 1985 in Japan , 1986 in North America and 1987 in Europe.... /Sega Game Gear Sega Game Gear The was Sega's first handheld game console. It was the third commercially available color handheld console, after the Atari Lynx and the TurboExpress.... |
500 | 600 | |
| MSX MSX MSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation... (Japan only) |
700 | ||
| Commodore 64 Commodore 64 The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595... (North America and PAL regions only) |
500 | ||
| Virtual Console Arcade | 500 | 1000 | 800 (Japan) |
- Note: Most premium games are imports from other regions.
Wii Channels
All Wii Channels currently available in the Wii Shop Channel are free of charge. The final version of the Internet Channel, a modified OperaOpera (web browser)
Opera is a web browser and Internet suite developed by Opera Software with over 200 million users worldwide. The browser handles common Internet-related tasks such as displaying web sites, sending and receiving e-mail messages, managing contacts, chatting on IRC, downloading files via BitTorrent,...
web browser, became available on April 11, 2007 and was free until June 30, 2007. After that period, the browser had a price of 500 Wii Points. On September 1, 2009, the Internet Channel was updated to include improved Adobe Flash support and was once again made free. Those who had purchased the Internet Channel for 500 Wii Points would be given a free NES Virtual Console purchase (not a refund) between October 1 and December 31, 2009.
Nintendo DSiWare
Nintendo DSiWare is currently the only section of the Nintendo DSi Shop and is where downloadable games and applications can be found for purchase using Nintendo DSi Points. Unlike in the Wii Shop Channel, Nintendo DSiWare has fixed price points: DSiWare Free, DSiWare 200, DSiWare 500, and DSiWare 800+.Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Pay & Play
A number of Wii and WiiWare games feature additional downloadable contentDownloadable content
Downloadable content is official additional content for a video game distributed through the Internet. Downloadable content can be of several types, ranging from a single in-game outfit to an entirely new, extensive storyline, similarly to an expansion pack. As such, DLC may add new game modes,...
which are purchased using Wii Points. Some of these games include Mega Man 9
Mega Man 9
Mega Man 9, known in Japan as , is a video game developed by Capcom and Inti Creates. It is the ninth numbered game in the original Mega Man series. Mega Man 9 is the first, new home console game in the original Mega Man series since Mega Man 8 and Mega Man & Bass, which were released at least one...
and LONPOS
Lonpos (video game)
Lonpos is a puzzle video game by Genki for the Wii, based on the logic puzzle of the same name. Released via WiiWare, it costs 800 Wii Points , with additional downloadable content costing 500 Points for each pack consisting of 25 puzzles and a new visual theme.-Gameplay:The object of the game is...
on WiiWare, as well as Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
and Guitar Hero 5
Guitar Hero 5
Guitar Hero 5 is a music video game and the fifth main entry in the Guitar Hero series. The game was developed by Neversoft and published by RedOctane and Activision, and released internationally in September 2009 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, 3 and Wii consoles...
on Wii. Though these games use an in-game interface to purchase content, the user must have previously bought the necessary Nintendo Points through the Wii Shop Channel.
See also
- Wii Shop ChannelWii Shop ChannelThe Wii Shop Channel is an online shop for the Wii video game console that allows users to download Virtual Console and WiiWare games, and new channels. Downloading may require redeeming Wii Points. The channel launched with Wii on November 19, 2006...
- Xbox Live MarketplaceXbox Live MarketplaceThe Xbox Live Marketplace is a virtual market designed for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live members to download purchased or promotional content...
(Microsoft PointsMicrosoft PointsMicrosoft Points are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Games for Windows - Live Marketplace, Windows Live Gallery, and Zune online stores. The points allow users to purchase content without a credit card and to reduce the number of small credit card transaction fees, which Microsoft would...
) - PlayStation StorePlayStation StoreThe PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
(PlayStation Network Card)