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DSi's free DSiWare points offer expires October 5 photo

If you've bought a brand new DSi and connected to the DSiWare Store, you should have noticed that you were given 1,000 DSi points, completely free of charge. If you have any sense of taste, you probably haven't spent them yet. Nevertheless, time is running out for the offer, as DSi systems sold after October 5 will not be including the freebie. (The offer officially expires on October 5 at 11:59pm PT.)

Nintendo sent out a warning titled, "Clock is ticking on free DSi points offer." This is ironic since the DSiWare Store has about four downloadable clocks on it. If you still have your points, don't worry. Nintendo has confirmed that the points on your system will last forever if they have to, and won't be expiring along with the offer. 

This is good news for me, since I'm saving those 1,000 points for something truly brilliant, if it ever comes. I know there are a handful of decent titles on DSiWare (obligatory Mario vs. Donkey Kong mention), but it's mostly garbage, especially in the West. Maybe if North America gets that Shmup and Tingle game, I'll be interested. Until then, those points are staying right where they are.

Clock is Ticking on Free Nintendo DSi Points Offer

Time is running out to get free downloadable games and applications for your Nintendo DSi system. Anyone who buys a Nintendo DSi system and connects it to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 12 p.m. Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009, will automatically receive 1,000 Nintendo DSi Points, which can be redeemed for a variety of games and applications.

Users can purchase additional Nintendo DSi Points in the Nintendo DSi Shop in increments of 1,000 for $10 or via a Nintendo Points Card sold at retail locations in increments of 2,000 at a suggested retail price of $19.99.

Nintendo DSi Points do not expire. Nintendo DSi owners who have already received their 1,000 points can hold onto them for as long as they wish. Software in the Nintendo DSi Shop is available at four price points: free, 200 points, 500 points and 800+ points.

The Nintendo DSi Shop is already home to a mix of fun and entertaining downloadable software. In all, more than 35 games and applications are now available. These include:

  • Paper Airplane Chase (200 Nintendo DSi Points)
  • Art Style: PiCTOBiTS (500 Nintendo DSi Points)
  • Dr. Mario Express (500 Nintendo DSi Points)
  • Guitar Rock Tour® (500 Nintendo DSi Points)
  • Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! (800 Nintendo DSi Points)

Additionally, Nintendo DSi owners can download free applications like the Nintendo DSi Browser, which lets users surf the Internet (with wireless broadband access) or Flipnote Studio, which allows people to create animations using images they draw by hand or import as photos from the Nintendo DSi camera album. With a system update, Nintendo DSi owners can also share photos taken on the Nintendo DSi cameras with friends on Facebook.








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13 comments | showing # 1 to 13
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SSKudu's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 13:47
SSKudu
The best thing on it by far at the moment is Flipnote Studio, and that was free. It'd be nice if Nintendo of Europe actually released Mario vs Donkey Kong, or at least showed some indication that they were considering it. I'd thought we were past the times of them releasing stuff months or years behind the US.
Gen Eric Gui's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 13:48
Gen Eric Gui
Mighty Flip Champs and Artstyle: Pictobits would like to have a word with you and your "no games on DSi ware worth it" comment.
sicPOS's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 14:07
sicPOS
This disappoints me, but I'm not getting a DSi until they come out with a color I want (green).
Phoenix Gamma's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 14:51
Phoenix Gamma
Wat?! Mighty Flip Champs and Cube Life are totally worth the money.
eskimo bob's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 15:10
eskimo bob
aww... I'm not getting one until my birthday in November. :/
AstralDrmz's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 15:13
AstralDrmz
Spent mine on Art Style: PiCTOBiTS and Art Style: AQUIA. I regret neither.
JQM78's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 15:43
JQM78
aww.....mommy didn't buy me one for my birthday........damn.

Have not spent my points yet, but I agree with you Jim, nothing but garbage, funny, the only good things on the dsi store are free (the opera internet and the flip-book).....If it comes down to it, I'd probably get the mario vs donkey kong game......but otherwise, it's all garbage that I can honestly say would never get played. Hell, I am backed up about six games on my DSi right now, haven't really touched GTA, two castlevanias, mario kart and trauma center......got caught up in ninja gaiden and new mario bros.
Zonic505's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 16:25
Zonic505
@AstralDrmz: that's EXACTLY how I spent my free points & I don't regret getting either one of those. Heck, ALL the Art Style games (except for maybe Zengage) are great.

Plus I'm hoping that shmup that was added to JPN's DSiWare this week hits the US...
Chack's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 17:01
Chack
So ArtStyle games are worth to buy? Hmm, this is relevant to my interests.

The only thing I bought was Wario Ware Snapped, and the "fun factor" in it is to see my friends with all those ridiculous faces when they finished some mini-games.
DaedHead8's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 17:57
DaedHead8
I bought WarioWare Snapped and Dr. Mario and both were satisfactory "purchases" I put that in quotes because, you know, free points and all.
PEICanada7's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 18:10
PEICanada7
"If you have any sense of taste, you probably haven't spent them yet."

Well a 1000 points only goes so far, and there's plenty of good games to spend those 1000 points on. The ArtStyle series, Mighty Flip Champs, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong just to name a few.
GamingGoddess's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 18:25
GamingGoddess
There is enough good DSiWare that you could have spent the 1000 points on decent games; the problem is the selection is still paltry. It's not so much that there isn't anything worthwhile there, it just feels like there should be a lot more.
Jonathan Holmes's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 19:13
Jonathan Holmes
Question to those who say that DSiWare games are garbage, which DSiWare games have you actually played?

I've played Dr Mario, Wario Ware Snapped, Might Flip Champs, all the Art Style games, Planet Puzzle League, Birds and Beans, Paper Airplane Cahse, and Mario Vs Donkey Kong. All but Wario Ware were worth the purchase.

I agree that DSiWare has too many clocks and not enough games, but a good portion of the games that actually exist are really good.
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