Nintendo to Roll Out ‘Interactive’ Prepaid Cards in Japan (April 4, 2013)
Video game giant Nintendo will launch a series of prepaid cards in Japan that feature characters from the popular Super Mario franchise. The cards will be available in monetary denominations of 1,000 yen (US$10.40), 2,000 yen (US$20.81) and 3,000 yen (US$31.21), and will be available starting in late April from convenience stores and other retailers that carry Nintendo prepaid products, including Toys “R” Us stores. The cards can be used to make purchases at the company’s online store to download software and games for Nintendo’s Wii U and 3DS gaming systems.
The cards also will feature an interactive element for users of the handheld 3DS, who can hold the screen of their 3DS over the card and watch a moving, three-dimensional version of the character pop out. Users can interact with the 3-D characters via voice commands. The interactive capability is accessed using a QR code on the card and downloading the free software.
