Nintendo_Selects

Nintendo Selects

Nintendo Selects

Marketing label by Nintendo

Nintendo Selects (and its predecessor, Player's Choice) is a marketing label previously used by Nintendo to promote best-selling video games on Nintendo game consoles. Nintendo Selects titles were sold at a lower price point (usually $19.99 instead of $49.99) than new releases. The program paralleled other budget range software by Sega (Sega All Stars), Sony (the Greatest Hits and Essentials), and Microsoft (Platinum Hits and Xbox Classics) to promote best-selling games on their consoles as well. In Japan, the discount label was introduced in 2015 for various Nintendo 3DS titles as the Happy Price Selection, although South Korea adopted the Nintendo Selects name at an earlier period. The most recent Nintendo Selects titles were released for the Wii U and 3DS and, as of January 2024, no Nintendo Switch games have been rebranded as Nintendo Selects.

Official banner

History

1996–2010: Player's Choice

In North America and Europe, Nintendo introduced the label on May 20, 1996,[1] as "Player's Choice" both for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and for the Game Boy to distinguish titles that had sold over one million copies. Super NES games had the "Super Nintendo Entertainment System" wordmark written in gold (instead of the usual red) on the box, along with a "Player's Choice" seal. European SNES releases were labeled differently in various markets (such as Mario Classics in Spain and Super Classic Series in UK, Netherlands, Germany and France). All boxes were overhauled in red except Disney games, which received blue boxes.[2] North American NTSC "Player's Choice" games can be identified on the Nintendo 64 by the yellow background of the N64 logo in the upper right corner of the game box. On the GameCube and Game Boy Advance, games are marked in a yellow box on the top of the case. PAL region Player's Choice games have boxes that are colored silver or platinum with Player's Choice markings on the right hand side of a Nintendo 64 box or on the top of a GameCube box.

The Player's Choice line was introduced for GameCube titles in January 2003.[3] However, the sales barrier for games was decreased from 1 million, down to 450,000 by June 2003[4] and eventually only 250,000.[5] The first titles were Super Smash Bros. Melee, Pikmin, and Luigi's Mansion, and they each retailed for US$29.99. Later in the year, when 6 new titles were added, Nintendo split the pricing for different sets of GameCube games, so that some titles would enter in or stay at US$29.99 while others would be reduced immediately to US$19.99.[6] In April 2006, the "Player's Choice" label was applied to Game Boy Advance games, which sell for $19.99 in the United States.[7]

2011–2016: Nintendo Selects

The Player's Choice label was renamed Nintendo Selects on May 15, 2011.[8] The first Wii games added were The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Animal Crossing: City Folk, Mario Super Sluggers and Wii Sports. The New Play Control! version of Pikmin 2 debuted in North America as a Nintendo Selects title, alongside New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis.[9] On February 28, 2013, Nintendo announced that the UK would receive two new Nintendo Selects games: Mario Party 8 and Wii Sports Resort.[10] These launches coincided with the Wii Mini launch, on March 22, 2013.[11] On October 22, 2013, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, Super Mario Galaxy, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Wii Sports + Wii Sports Resort were announced for the new Nintendo Selects Australian line, priced at AU$49.95 and NZ$59.95 with the release date of November 7, 2013.[12]

As of 2014, recommended retail prices are £19.99 in the United Kingdom, US$19.99 in the United States, CDN$19.99 in Canada, A$49.95 in Australia and €29.99 throughout the Eurozone.

On September 28, 2015, Nintendo of Europe announced a Nintendo Selects range of games for the Nintendo 3DS.[13] The label was then expanded to the Wii U alongside select Wii and Nintendo 3DS titles in Canada, released on March 11, 2016, priced at CA$29.99.[14] On March 10, 2016, a range of Nintendo Selects were announced for release on April 15, 2016, in Europe.[15]

Home console titles

Wii U

More information Game, Release date ...

Wii

More information Game, Release date ...
  1. [N 1]
    Also a New Play Control! title.
  2. [N 2]
    Also a New Play Control! title, except in North America.

Minna no Susume Selection (for Japan):

GameCube

PAL-exclusive Player's Choice titles:

Nintendo 64

Due to the use of a more expensive cartridge-based format, all N64 Player's Choice titles retailed for $39.95[16] in the United States and $49.99[17] in Canada.

More information Game, Release date ...

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

More information Game, Release date ...

Satellaview-exclusive Player's Choice Classic SoundLink games:

Handheld titles

Nintendo 3DS

More information Game, Release date ...
  1. [N 1]
    In Japan, it is known as Happy Price Selection rather than Nintendo Selects.

Game Boy Advance

More information Game, Release date ...

Game Boy Color

Game Boy

References

  1. [1]
    "Classic Games Brought to New Generation of Game Players". Nintendo. May 16, 1996. Archived from the original on December 22, 1996. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  2. [2]
    "Super Classic Series European cover art", 19 Jul. 2021
  3. [3]
    Varanini, Giancarlo (2003-01-23). "Nintendo revives Player's Choice". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2006-01-16. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
  4. [4]
    "Activision's Spider-Man® Achieves SCEA's "Greatest Hits," Microsoft's "Platinum Hits," And Nintendo's "Player's Choice" Status". Activision. June 2, 2003. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  5. [5]
    "Player's Choice (Best Selling Nintendo Games, US & EU)". VideoGameGeek. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  6. [6]
    Calvert, Justin (2003-09-09). "Nintendo Player's Choice range grows". GameSpot. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
  7. [7]
    Harris, Craig (2006-07-27). "Player's Choice, Round Two". IGN.com. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
  8. [8]
    Reilly, Jim (2011-05-04). "Nintendo Confirms Wii Price Cut". IGN. Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
  9. [9]
    "PIKMIN 2 MAKES ITS U.S. WII DEBUT, JOINS MARIO POWER TENNIS IN NINTENDO SELECTS". Nintendo Pressroom. 2011-05-14. Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  10. [10]
    "Nintendo Selects". Nintendo. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  11. [11]
    "Wii Mini". Nintendo. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  12. [12]
    "Nintendo Selects range for Wii finally coming to Australia". Vooks. 17 October 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  13. [13]
    "Selection of Nintendo 3DS games to join Nintendo Selects value range on October 16th".
  14. [14]
    "Retailer says new Nintendo Selects are coming on March 11". 12 February 2016.
  15. [15]
    "Must-have Wii U games to join Nintendo Selects range on 15th April".
  16. [16]
    Cogumelo Venenoso (2014-04-22). "Nintendo 64 player's choice 2 (N64): Comercial - Ads (USA)". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  17. [17]
    videofollies (2006-07-20). "Nintendo ad with crossdressing and blackmail". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  18. [18]
    1080: TenEighty Snowboarding (Players Choice) (US, 1999), archived from the original on 2016-09-02, retrieved 2016-09-02
  19. [19]
    Yoshi's Story (Players Choice) (US, 1999), archived from the original on 2016-09-02, retrieved 2016-09-02
  20. [20]
    "Super Nintendo: Wert der Spiele und Konsole 2019 (Liste)". retrovideospiele.com (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  21. [21]
    あなたが選ぶ名作サウンドリンクゲーム. Nintendo.co.jp. Archived 5 June 1997.
  22. [22]
    Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Nintendo 3DS Direct 2016.9.1 プレゼンテーション映像". YouTube.
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