Club Nintendo AR Card Giveaway for Kid Icarus: Uprising

We knew that Kid Icarus: Uprising would utilize AR Cards for something, but Nintendo’s released just what that something is– sort of, at least. By scanning cards, players can check out those cards’ “Idols,” which will give in-game information about whatever is on the cards: characters, enemies, bosses, weapons, and items. There’s twenty AR Cards in total, and six of them will be bundled with every copy of Kid Icarus: Uprising. It kind of evokes the Civilopedia in Sid Meier’s Civilization games, or maybe the bottom-screen information in Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. Either way, it’s a shame that we don’t have AR Cards used for other practical purposes in-game, but its nice to see them getting some action anyway!

Furthermore, if you’re a Club Nintendo member, you can get a free pack of cards just by going to this link. And not even free in the “oh but you have to pay fake Club coins” sense– there’s no coin deduction involved. We love free stuff and so should you.

Check out the (free!) press release below and let us know what you think!

Nintendo News: Hundreds of AR Cards to Collect in Kid Icarus: Uprising

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Nintendo has revealed new details about how to discover and collect hundreds of special AR Cards to use with Kid Icarus: Uprising, which will launch exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS system on March 23. The cards feature characters, enemies, bosses, weapons and items that appear in Kid Icarus: Uprising. The game recognizes these specially designed AR Cards when viewed using the built-in camera of the Nintendo 3DS. Viewing an AR Card with the game also unlocks the AR Card’s corresponding Idol, which reveals additional information about that card. Players can even snap photos when the AR Card characters come to life and then view them within Nintendo 3DS Camera.

Here is more information about how consumers in the United States can collect these special AR Cards in the coming weeks (quantities are limited, available while supplies last):

Included with Kid Icarus: Uprising: Every copy of Kid Icarus: Uprising will come packed with a selection of six randomly chosen AR Cards from a set of 20 possible AR Cards.

Exclusive Club Nintendo Giveaway: As a special treat for Club Nintendo members, three AR Cards will be given away starting today. Members can receive the Great Reaper, Palutena and Drill Arm cards by visiting http://kidicarusuprising.nintendo.com. Consumers without an existing Club Nintendo membership simply need to sign up to receive these three cards.

Retail: By visiting select GameStop locations and participating in Kid Icarus: Uprising game-play sessions on April 14 from 1-4 p.m., players will receive five AR Cards, including Eggplant Wizard, Skyscraper Club, Fireworks Cannon, Minos and the Fiend’s Cauldron. Consumers who purchase the game on March 23 at Nintendo World in New York will receive the Three Sacred Treasures card as a special gift.

Publications: A selection of AR Cards will also be available through several magazines. In the April issue of Game Informer, subscribers will receive the Power of Flight card. Nintendo Power will feature a pack of three cards including Poseidon, Thanatos – God of Death and Medusa (Battle) in its April issue. Best Buy will also offer three special cards, including Pit, Pandora – The Goddess of Calamity and Samurai Blade in the April issue of @Gamer, its in-store magazine.

Events: At several upcoming events, Nintendo will be handing out packs with a random selection of AR Cards while supplies last. WonderCon (March 16-18, Anaheim, Calif.) and PAX East (April 6-8, Boston) attendees are encouraged to stop by the Nintendo booth for special AR Card packs. Additionally, Nintendo is hosting upcoming Kid Icarus: Uprising multiplayer tournaments at GameStop locations in Los Angeles and New York. Tournament attendees will also receive special AR Card packs. Visit http://kidicarusuprising.nintendo.com for more details.

Consumers who pre-order Kid Icarus: Uprising at GameStop, Best Buy, Amazon.com and Nintendo World will receive a bonus download code for 3D Classics: Kid Icarus, a re-mastered 3D version of the NES original. The download code will be given to customers who pre-ordered Kid Icarus: Uprising when they purchase the game, and must be redeemed by June 20, 2012. Retailers may require a deposit for pre-orders. Kid Icarus: Uprising will carry a suggested retail price of $39.99 in the United States.

For more information on Kid Icarus: Uprising, please visit http://kidicarusuprising.nintendo.com.