No I’m not trying to sell you a used car at a low-low price point, but if you would like some free coffee and donuts they’re over in the corner.
In my last Wii Ware post, I commented that I couldn’t buy Wii points on the fly due to a lack of a Japanese credit card. But since I promised I would review at least one Wii Ware title tonight I was planning to pick up a point card on the way home from work… that is until I found this barcode.
On TV I had seen an ad for Wii Ware that furtively hinted that AU and NTT Docomo cellphone plan subscribers could somehow purchase Wii points, but there was nothing obvious on Nintendo’s main site. I took to wiki and found that since December 20th NTT Docomo and AU users could indeed purchase the points, but how it didn’t say. A bit more searching and I found Nintendo’s Japanese point-purchase page. The page itself was still pretty vague on what to do, but it gave a cellphone URL and the all-important barcode.
Despite the time I spent finding the code, purchasing points on the phone couldn’t have been easier. Just scan the barcode (you can bookmark the site it takes you to so you don’t have to scan it every time), choose the amount of points you want, and they are automatically charged to your phone bill. That’s it! The confirmation screen displays your point number to input into the Wii shop like you would with a point-card.
Unless you are with an unsupported provider (Docomo and AU are the biggest, but not the only) buying with a phone is a convenient and environmentally friendly way alternative to buying points at the convenient store, especially if you are credit-cardless. In fact, I find it rather curious how under-promoted the system was upon its release. However, since the system is SO easy to use, I can just imagine hoards of Japanese kids charging points to plans that their parents are paying for — and a fear of this may be what led Nintendo not to advertise the instructions so heavily.
Very cool.
Very convoluted. Sounds way too complicated for an effective business model. I'd just get a Japanese credit card…
Interesting, I couldn't even get a cell phone without a credit or debit card in the us.
Not for Japan Kale. They are cell-phone nuts out there.
I disagree, Kale. I forget the percentage, but a large amount of Japanese individuals are using smartphones more often then they use regular PC's. Their culture is one of technology and mobility. Assuming that the program works seamlessly and effeciently, it could be a wonderful business model. Little to no overhead. Furthermore, Nintendo, the cell carriers, and the end user all end up content.
My .02.
Scan the bar code .. with your phone somehow?
Meh..I'd rather just go to the store and buy a points car…and yeah, how do you scan a barcode with your phone? That confused me a bit.
Yes, scan the barcode with your phone, japanese cellphones are really advanced and that's why so many use them instead of PCs now because they can do all they need from it.
Apologies if I'm missing something here folks, but here in the UK, I purchased Wii points (and then a non-text-heavy game, Starsoldier R) for my Japanese Wii.. using a normal UK credit-card. Have you tried using your usual card?
Hope that helps… sorry if it's not possible in the U.S.