By now we all know that Club Nintendo will end very soon and that a new rewards program will take its place. What we don't know is, what's it going to be like? Let's discuss. Feel free to use my format if you'd like.

What would I like to see:
I would like to see the same kind of program with both physical rewards and digital rewards, but no surveys. I would also like to see the Amiibos counting as purchases by scanning them into the system. Amiibos don't have unique codes, or codes at all, so it would only register that you have it. I would also like a physical reward at the end of the year after accumulating enough points. It would be nice if all games came with an NFC readable square with the unique code instead of an actual code. You could just scan it into your Wii U or New 3DS. Number codes are also provided for people who don't have a New 3DS. My discussion is based on my guesses mixed with guesses from the NWR podcast, which inspired this thread.

What we'll probably see:
An expanded Digital Deluxe Program where digital games are automatically registered into the system when you buy them digitally. Physical games will likely still have some kind of alphanumerical code. No Amiibo point support. Money vouchers, just like the DDP, after spending a certain amount. Possible Platinum/Gold digital rewards for spending a certain amount in the year, just like Club Nintendo. No physical rewards at all.

Possible Name:
Nintendo Rewards Program
Nintendo Fun Club (Just like the original club in the 80's)
New Club Nintendo (I seriously would not put this past them)

URL to share (right click and copy)

I'd just like to see what they had (have?) in Europe where the coins you earn can be exchanged for eShop money so that I can use them as I see fit instead of choosing from a limited selection.

sirmastersephiroth said:

I would like to see the same kind of program with both physical rewards and digital rewards, but no surveys.

What's in it for Nintendo without the survey?

They should also make a Nintendo app for smart phones that acts as your portal into their universe. Buy games, get rewards, etc.

Jargon said:

I'd just like to see what they had (have?) in Europe where the coins you earn can be exchanged for eShop money so that I can use them as I see fit instead of choosing from a limited selection.

sirmastersephiroth said:

I would like to see the same kind of program with both physical rewards and digital rewards, but no surveys.

What's in it for Nintendo without the survey?

I'd argue the opposite, what's in it for Nintendo by keeping the surveys? I believe that the RFN crew is correct in assuming that the Club Nintendo Surveys were most likely just a major hastle and waste of time for Nintendo for all the reasons they mentioned in their last podcast.

Furthermore, I believe that the Digital Deluxe Program was actually a Beta for the new program. It would seem that it was a successful Beta if they are willing to discontinue Club Nintendo so early in the year, in order to roll out a new program.

And here's the crazier part, I wouldn't be surprised if we see this program come out very, very soon.

@sirmastersephiroth

I haven't heard the podcast so I'll have to see if they persuade me.

Jargon said:

@sirmastersephiroth

I haven't heard the podcast so I'll have to see if they persuade me.

Waits patiently

@sirmastersephiroth

I can see why Nintendo would keep them, (free market research). What were the reasons given for potentially not keeping them?

Shadowlink said:

@sirmastersephiroth

I can see why Nintendo would keep them, (free market research). What were the reasons given for potentially not keeping them?

That's actually one of the reasons why not to keep them. They are basically getting the exact same answers from the exact same people for years and years. Also, a lot of people don't take the surveys seriously, as in they do them lazily or just troll. And that just taints their results. And that is without even considering the actual manpower needed to analyze these surveys. Some of it is automated but that doesn't really take into consideration the written answers.

Basically, It's just too much effort for little reward. After all, if Nintendo were really taking our advice into consideration, they wouldn't make so many asinine decisions. And, if they do take seriously what we write in these surveys then, you have to wonder what the heck people are writing in them. These are just joke statements but still:

"Who needs a second analogue stick these days, the 3DS can work just fine with just one. We'll just use motion controls as a camera. No, we don't mind that when we have to keep our face directly in the middle of the system to keep the 3D effect while moving the system to adjust the camera."

"We don't need a unified profile between all our Nintendo systems, like Sony has. We are perfectly happy losing all our digital games if our system goes kaput. And we love running the risk of losing all of our games and data every time we send one of our systems for simple maintenance. Who needs the simplicity of just being able to redownload everything, anyway?"

"We really want to buy Super Mario Bros. 20 different times every time we get a new system. Cross Buy is for chumps. You can take your Donkey Kong Tipping Stars Cross Buy and shove it."

"We don't need any more than 32GB of storage for the Wii U. The original PS3 having 60GB of storage was just overkill. It's not like you guys plan to sell digital versions of retail games, anyway."

"Yes, NIntendo please only make 300 scarfs for Hyrule Warriors. It's not like many people want them anyway"

"Don't bother making many limited edition Majora's Mask 3DS units. We're not interested in them."

"And while you're at it, don't bring the regular sized 3DS to the U.S. Reggie's hands are huge, so logically, everyone else's hands here must be huge, too!

"And those faceplates are stupid. Who wants to personalize their systems in such a cool way? You also made the right decision by not allowing the 3DS XL to use faceplates. Decals for the win baby!

"And naming the new 3DS the New 3DS was brilliant and not confusing at all. I can't wait to play the new New Super Mario Bros. game on my new New 3DS XL system."

"And thanks for not including a charger for my new New 3DS. It really makes the box a whole lot lighter, and I'm sure you save a whole lot of money which you'll wisely spend on something more riveting such as Quality of Life stuff. After all, it's not like I was going to give my 3DS to anyone else who actually needed the charger to play the system. And I can't wait for Gamestop to take away some of my trade in credit for not including the charger.

@sirmastersephiroth

I'm fairly certain there's no space in the surveys for that stuff

I did give feedback on specific games a few times. I dunno how far that got.

But you're right, if Nintendo feels they aren't getting anything out of it then, its up to them what they do I guess.

PS. I got a Hyrule Warriors scarf. It's neat

@Shadowlink Did you wait in line for it or did you buy it online?

I basically reem the VC service every survey I fill out. They might actually be listening though - I think it's only a matter of time before they stop using that brand.

After Wii U, I suspect that the Wii name and other names they use are going by the wayside for something fresh.

Was I meant to put more than 10 seconds of thought in to the surveys?

I'd like to see a more streamlined program. Ideally it would work automatically with games with no extra steps to redeem codes or whatever.

@sirmastersephiroth

Online. Preorder through EB's website. Picked it up at launch, no fuss.

@Stephen

I didn't mind the surveys so much in and of themselves, but dear GOD. Save my answers if you're going to ask the same stuff again and again.

I always wondered if anyone actually read the surveys and if they ever did anything with the information. Recently they did have a feature on their website about the best games of 2014 as chosen by Club Nintendo members, and then some positive quotes from members were sometimes used on the game reward pages on the site, but that's the only time I recall seeing that kind of thing. I don't remember them using praise quotes to advertise games, or saying that they're changing something or doing something based on feedback from Club Nintendo. Maybe one reason they're doing away with the site is that the survey information isn't very valuable anymore, if it ever was.

As for a new program, I expect it to be something very similar to the digital deluxe, except work on both Wii U and 3DS. I hope for it to still include physical games, but Nintendo would probably rather encourage people to buy digital.

A working website would be nice

I want it to be invisible and work completely in the background, every time you buy something from the eShop you get a little bit of credit applied automatically to your account, to be used whenever you see fit, for any purchase.

I don't care about physical rewards that only a select few are lucky to get before they're gone, I don't want to ever have to log in to a janky website, I don't want to receive codes via email that have to be entered manually into the eShop, and most of all I never want to fill out a survey again.

Of course, this wouldn't work for people who still buy physical games, so it's not the ideal system, but this is what I'd personally like to see happen, for my buying habits. It would be amazing if physical games came with a code you could enter into the eShop and get credit that way, but I can't imagine Nintendo would do that because they don't receive nearly as much money from retail sales as they do direct sales.

It'd also be nice to have a library of purchasable games that grows, rather than a rotating selection per month. I don't think that's too much to ask, considering that all the VC games are decades old at this point. Some of the best games of all time for sure, but use them to leverage the service and make it more enticing, rather than hope someone will spend yet another $5 on Super Mario Bros. for the third or fourth time.